Whats happening with Photopost

[Swanny]

I'm excited to hear that the UI might be refreshed / redesigned. In my opinion, the PP products are overdue for an update to the look, which could help bring a more "web 2.0" type look. Something cleaner, with less visible lines, borders, tables, etc. Clean is nice.

With that said, I'm disappointed to hear that this might involve Javascript and AJAX. I don't really have a problem with them but if you add too much code you're going to slow down my 7 installations of your products. Google has already publicly stated that faster sites get a boost in rankings with all else being equal.

So don't go overboard on the scripts for the presentation and extra features. Or, offer the option to enable all these extra JS/AJAX scripts, social sharing buttons, etc. Have the "base" install as a good, clean, fast-loading code templates. I care more about a fast site than I do a fancy looking one. And so does Google.

[Alfa1]

I found the comparison, though that doesnt seem very promising as vbG seems to be missing important functions. Is there a demo?

Swanny: JS doesnt have to slow down anything at all. I agree that speed is important.
CDN support would help in this respect. And it would also help reduce our costs.

[Michael P]

There is a demo at: PhotoPost vBGallery

As I said, the products are not the same and the features are different, but the level of integration that you are looking for is mostly there with vBGallery. vBGallery is not PRO redesigned as a plug-in for vB.

Integrated profile page: http://www.michaelpierce.com/xforum/members/16-allonge

[Steff]

the original post was started with the words

it seems to me it's kinda grinded to a halt. The blog at the top is very outdated in terms of activity. Photopost seems to be losing it's luster with no new developments mentioned that I have seen. It seems to be falling behind in many areas.

Is there something new on the horizon, or is Photopost slowly heading to the graveyard?

I'm fast beginning to think the same. Days goes by without a response not even an acknowledgement, or suggestion.... support is no longer! Is there a buy out going on with all enthusiasts something like that...Because right now I don't see that enthusiasm

[jdougher]

It's a dying product, as I see it, supported by the hangers-on. Really it needs tons of work. There must be a way to integrate the product with popular image editing applications to make it easy for folks to add images to the galleries from their favorite image editing/browsing apps: Lightroom, etc.

[Steff]

I'm beginning to you might be right... just lately I'm getting blanked by support and I have to ask why... I'm paying them after all!

[Steff]

There must be a way to integrate the product with popular image editing applications to make it easy for folks to add images to the galleries from their favorite image editing/browsing apps: Lightroom, etc.

Alot of the free galleries already do

[Chuck S]

Originally Posted by Steff

I'm beginning to you might be right... just lately I'm getting blanked by support and I have to ask why... I'm paying them after all!

From what I see from your posts you have always been answered and not had to wait that long. There is not someone here 24/7 to answer you immediately but there is someone here through out the day. Alot of people get a response within the hour some even minutes after while depending on the time of day one might have to wait a couple hours for a response or overnight depending on when one posts but we always respond.

The product is always supported and always being developed and improved.

[Michael P]

Originally Posted by Steff

the original post was started with the words
I'm fast beginning to think the same. Days goes by without a response not even an acknowledgement, or suggestion.... support is no longer! Is there a buy out going on with all enthusiasts something like that...Because right now I don't see that enthusiasm

Can you post links to demonstrate this? This is far from a dying product and remains the most integrated gallery with the most features available for so many platforms. Chuck and I are still here, I'm coming up on 9 years as an active developer for this product.

[Steff]

I'm not expecting someone on beg and call... but the last few posts have not been answered until now... In two cases the posts had been up for more than two days... Is that reasonable?
In one case I mentioned that I was going to post a support ticket because it was the third day and still no response... not even an acknowledgement.
Clearly guys this thread wasn't started by me but it does show that others are thinking similar things.
The irony of this is that I've had more response from Photo Post from this thread than I have for support the past few weeks.

[Steff]

@ Michael P
Here is the support ticket:

[PhotoPost Sales #AMT-11761-539]: Sales Form: email delays

Here's the thread two days on and no response... nothing at all:
Email notifications PartII
Here's another that took three days before a response :
IE Cookies??
Here's another 5 days on and nothing not a thing:
Image Views

[Michael P]

Thank you, Steff. Let me try and explain, on the PhotoPost PRO side we have Chuck for support who handles the vast majority of the inquiries (which is the majority of the support requests we get).

On the vBGallery side, it's a little less structured as we depend on volunteers and myself to deal with those tickets. I'll take a look at your open items and see what I can do for you but given the amount of items that are being addressed on a daily basis I don't think it's fair to call us out for saying the products are "dead" - that's just not true. We've continued to offer product updates throughout the years to support all the new releases of vB and struggle to balance the need to almost constantly be updating that product with all these dot releases from vB and handle support.

[Steff]

I don't think it's fair to call us out for saying the products are "dead" - that's just not true

I don't believe I said that on this thread. I did comment on the fact that some free galleries have more options, but then again they probably have a huge team with lots of resources.
I'm generally happy with PhotoPost, in fact I have more than one copy. What I don't understand is how a commercial software is so reliant on volunteers. Now I know how you structure support for VBGallery I will be a little more sympathetic towards open tickets. Perhaps as I learn more about VBgallery I will not need to ask for support as often. I have no intentions on posting support questions up unless I've already exhausted other avenues like research and so on.
I've had no problems with the quality of support, as it is excellent... my only gripe was that it wasn't there for me when I asked for it.

[Michael P]

We're a small company, we dont have the resources for more staff than we already have. Not in these times, anyways. Our level of support is directly related to our sales numbers. In good years we had more, these days a little less. But our dedication to product development and support is still very much there.

[jalmz]

Still. the open source software is the best.... hahayz

[Steff]

Still. the open source software is the best.... hahayz

Personally I disagree. Photopost is a rock solid script and well coded. I've spent many years using open source scripts and they often have lots of baggage that comes with the scripts. Most notably the amount of patches and security fixes.
Also Open Source projects are often dogged with constant changes to the development and support teams that can have adverse effects on the overall product and its direction in the market. Just as an example of that look at Coppermine or MKPortal. In my honest opinion Open Source is great for a starter script, but as you take your business or website more seriously, commercial is a must. Sure I agree that a lot of "free" software have more features... but I'm comfortable in the knowledge that Photopost scripts are still the best. Better at integration with Vbulletin than any I've seen with any other script and the PP Pro script is incredibly powerful and very versatile.
In fact we've gone from Free software to commercial and now own several copies, and wouldn't dream of stepping back to Open Source....

[Chuck S]

Open Source is fine for people who do not have money but there is an old saying you get what you pay for. There is no support and the coding in general is off in several directions one of the issues you have with multi developers handling the code.

No script is going to have ever feature one wants. I can tell you the next big release of PhotoPost is going to be all about the UI.

[Allan]

Photopost for Xenforo is will be planned ?

[Chuck S]

That is something already being looked into.

[Allan]

Originally Posted by Chuck S

That is something already being looked into.

Do you have date to release, demo ou screen ?