LiveCode 4.6 released

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kevinmiller
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LiveCode 4.6 released

Post by kevinmiller » Tue Mar 22, 2011 6:22 pm

Dear Forum Members,

We’re delighted to announce the launch of LiveCode 4.6, bringing you over 30 new features and refinements requested by our users and including 100 core and document bug fixes.

To celebrate the launch of LiveCode 4.6 we’re giving you the chance to win an iPad 2. Buy or upgrade within the first 7 days to be entered into our competition. Click here for more details:

http://www.runrev.com/products/livecode ... a=46LAUNCH

Upgrade now: http://www.runrev.com/store/account/login/

So what’s new? We've brought you a whole raft of improvements in 4.6, many designed to improve your experience on iOS, as well as refinements to enhance your use of desktop.

20 New Mobile Features for Better Data Management, Better Multimedia, Better Apps. These iOS improvements include:

* Support for SQLite: Manipulate data using industry standard data storage within your app. Whether you want to write an address book, manage a diet sheet or catalogue products in your store.
* Native Video support and multi channel sounds: Gives your apps a richer multimedia user experience. Full screen or region specific video playback, intersperse your video with commentary, full control over in app audio.
* Native text control: Give your apps that iOS look and feel.
* Custom Fonts: create unique interfaces and tailor your fonts to your needs.
* Support for iOS 4.3 simulator: a must have for any serious iOS developer.

For a full list of iOS features click here: http://runrev.com/products/livecode/new ... a=46LAUNCH

Upgrade now: http://www.runrev.com/store/account/login/

Your Top 10 Most Requested Desktop Refinements, these include:

* Improved encryption support: Cryptographic random data generation, sha-1 digest support and public key encryption support combine to give Standards' compliant data security for those sensitive projects
* Large Image Support for OS X: You asked, we delivered. Now you can manipulate any image that will fit in memory.
* Snapshot objects with and without graphic effects and blending: render beautiful interfaces with minimal effort.

To read a full list of desktop refinements click here: http://runrev.com/products/livecode/new ... a=46LAUNCH

Upgrade now: http://www.runrev.com/store/account/login/

Make the most of LiveCode – get the latest 4.6 release today.

Kind regards,

Kevin Miller
RunRev CEO
Kevin Miller ~ kevin@livecode.com ~ http://www.livecode.com/
LiveCode: Everyone can create apps

dvnmedia
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Re: LiveCode 4.6 released

Post by dvnmedia » Wed Mar 23, 2011 12:58 am

I'm disappointed that I will have to pay to upgrade from iOS 4.5 to 4.6 especially as 4.5 implements so few of iOS functions and is buggy enough for 4.6 to fix 100 of them. The final release only came out a few months ago and already we have to pay to get a version with the bugs removed. I would have expected updates for at least a year or until the bugs were fixed and a few more of the iOS functions were implemented. I'm not sure if long term Livecode is worth the investment of time and money to learn a new language. Objective-C may take longer to learn but I wouldn't keep getting stung for a bug fixing update.

observ3
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Re: LiveCode 4.6 released

Post by observ3 » Wed Mar 23, 2011 3:26 am

I'm glad to see the updates, but it would be nice if some things could be drag and drop. Why not have another tool palette for iOS tools that you can drag out and modify, just like all other standard UI elements? Or integrate it, i.e.: If the app is running on iOS, have the standard behavior be to convert text fields to iOS text fields.

Overall though, I still love writing in LiveCode. :-)
Check out my LiveCode program, WriteSpire, on the App Store!

Mark
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Re: LiveCode 4.6 released

Post by Mark » Thu Mar 24, 2011 10:30 am

Dvnmedia,

I know exactly how you feel. I've been paying a lot of money without getting my "favourite" bugs fixed, although in one case RunRev has been very kind and patched a (unicode) feature, which was a real show-stopper for me.

I believe the solution is to set a few minimal requirements that need to be fulfilled before you buy a new license. For me, this would be unicode capabilities of exactly the same quality that we find in Apple's XCode, seamless movie handling (QuickTime & WMP), and a perfectly stable script editor plus debugger, which never freezes nor drops out of debugging mode.

Don't get intimidated by RunRev's licensing structure. If you buy a license once every two years and only if you like the feature set and the list of bug fixes, you won't lose more money than if you buy an update with a discount every year.

Kind regards,

Mark
The biggest LiveCode group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/livecode.developers
The book "Programming LiveCode for the Real Beginner"! Get it here! http://tinyurl.com/book-livecode

kevinmiller
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Re: LiveCode 4.6 released

Post by kevinmiller » Sat Mar 26, 2011 11:48 am

Thanks for the feedback.

To put this in context, this is the first paid upgrade in 6 months, coming hot on the heels of 3 substantial free upgrades that we made available during that time. Some people will be entitled to this upgrade free too, depending on the time of license you hold and the date you last purchased. If you have any questions about that, please contact support@runrev.com.

To answer the value for money point - LiveCode is a good investment if your time is valuable. And we have inexpensive personal licenses for hobbyists and educators. LiveCode will always be many times more productive than something like XCode for many tasks, even once you are expert in both.

Finally, please bear in mind you don't have to buy every upgrade. You can assess each one on its merits and make a decision based on your needs.

I hope this helps.
Kevin Miller ~ kevin@livecode.com ~ http://www.livecode.com/
LiveCode: Everyone can create apps

Mark
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Re: LiveCode 4.6 released

Post by Mark » Sat Mar 26, 2011 12:00 pm

Finally, please bear in mind you don't have to buy every upgrade. You can assess each one on its merits and make a decision based on your needs.
Right. That's what I tried to point out.

Mark
The biggest LiveCode group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/livecode.developers
The book "Programming LiveCode for the Real Beginner"! Get it here! http://tinyurl.com/book-livecode

bangkok
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Re: LiveCode 4.6 released

Post by bangkok » Sat Mar 26, 2011 1:43 pm

Regarding the pricing, the upgrades issues... I would like to add my feeling.

If you look at other software companies, the model is more or less the same. Take for instance FileMaker. Superb piece of software... Ever year they release an "upgrade", sorry a new version, with a perfect regularity... The price of the upgrade costs a lot. And with every version comes a few more functions...

But the size of FM and RunRev can't be compared.

Eventually, and I'm very sorry for such a platitude, a company must make profit. In order to survive first, and to grow second.

I'm lucky, I can afford, and I'm willing to pay each and every upgrade of LiveCode (for desktop, mobile is not my thing). By giving my hard earned money to RunRev, for a few new functions and bug fixed, I hope RunRev can survive and grow , in order to work and to release many new versions (which will help me, save time, save money in my work).

So it's like an... investment. :)

Do you want for instance a totally revamped textfield object with the future version 5 ? An even better LiveCode ? I do ! So I'm okay to pay all those upgrades.

But again, I'm a fan. So I'm not totally neutral.

John
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Re: LiveCode 4.6 released

Post by John » Sun Mar 27, 2011 9:39 pm

I am glad to see that there is active development and support but, like others, I am a little taken aback about paid upgrades so soon after 4.5. I have looked and did not see (perhaps I missed it) RunRev's policy on this. It would seem that a good policy would be to indicate, in the store at the time of purchase, that the purchase price includes updates for 3 months or 6 months (whatever the policy is). That way there would be no complaints as everyone would understand what they are getting into. In my case it has been less than 6 months and a purchase is required. I could decide to skip this one but I don't know if future updates are costs are cumulative. Again a policy statement would be helpful.

deebee
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Re: LiveCode 4.6 released

Post by deebee » Sun Mar 27, 2011 10:05 pm

John wrote:It would seem that a good policy would be to indicate, in the store at the time of purchase, that the purchase price includes updates for 3 months or 6 months (whatever the policy is). That way there would be no complaints as everyone would understand what they are getting into.
There was a 90 day upgrade disclaimer when I purchased. But, that was before the website update. Not sure if you just missed it, or if it got lost in the rev to livecode transition.

John
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Re: LiveCode 4.6 released

Post by John » Mon Mar 28, 2011 12:03 am

deebee,

It might very well have been there and I was not paying attention or have since forgotten. I did look around the sight and the information didn't seem to be easily found. I would like to know the policy regarding skipping an update. Can I purchase every other update without a penalty? For me, this is a hobby that makes a little money on the side and, with my mix of addons and the rate of updates, it looks like it will cost about $300 a year to stay current. Good that there a lot of updates I suppose and I do like the product but the additional expense is a consideration.

kevinmiller
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Re: LiveCode 4.6 released

Post by kevinmiller » Mon Mar 28, 2011 11:13 am

There is a 90 day period within which you will receive a free update to any new version that comes out in that period.

We also don't charge for minor updates to the current version, e.g. 4.6.1, 4.6.2. We made 3 such updates available to the 4.5 series and some of them turned out to be substantial with dozens of refinements. 4.5 shipped 6 months ago, so while this is the 4th new version in 6 months, it is also the first paid upgrade in 6 months.

Personal license upgrades start from just $33 for this upgrade for a single platform (e.g. iOS). Commercial upgrades are a bit more, ranging typically from $89 to $149 to 4.6 if you have a couple of different platform options. If you're a professional developer, you might want to consider LiveCode Complete which includes all upgrades, platforms and membership to the LiveCode Developer Program for a single fixed annual fee.

If you're on a budget you can choose to skip a version. But please remember, all your upgrade revenue goes right back into expanding the LiveCode platform and adding those features and refinements you all want.
Kevin Miller ~ kevin@livecode.com ~ http://www.livecode.com/
LiveCode: Everyone can create apps

observ3
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Re: LiveCode 4.6 released

Post by observ3 » Wed Mar 30, 2011 11:21 pm

I had a thought the other day...
On one hand it is frustrating to come up against limitations and bugs (especially iPad apps running slow now), but at the same time... I am still a beginner programmer (even after 2-3 years, since it's just a hobby) and in many ways it's nice to have the platform growing up along with me. I've been learning a lot about programming methods as the iterations of LiveCode for iOS are released...

Just a positive thought :-)
Check out my LiveCode program, WriteSpire, on the App Store!

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