Suggestions for PhaseOne Regarding Support of Media Pro
I am now ready to move over to Media Pro, given that version 1.0.1 is pretty functional. Like other users who have been with the product for many years, I see a definite need to get back to the close relationship with the developers, like we users had with iView's developers that made this program great. Media Pro obviously needs to grow, even catch up, and users are where it starts. Here are my suggestions for doing that:
1) Add subtopic on the forum for Feature Requests. This is pretty old school, and standard for interaction with a user base via a forum.
Another avenue of support for Feature Request could be something like Get Satisfaction . Users can post suggestions and other users can vote on whether they think it is a good idea or not. Dropbox.com's Votebox is another prime example that has directly made their program better, time and time again. How else is PhaseOne going to know what most users want out of Media Pro, without doing something along these lines?
I have absolutely no idea, at this point, what other users have suggested as improvements to Media Pro via PhaseOne's support ticket system.
2) Add subtopic on the forum for Scripts/Scripting. Users want to share their workflow add-ons with others, and discover new ones. The iView crew did a good job of facilitating this type of sharing between users.
For example: I have over 100 AppleScripts that I have worked on, some for over 10 years, but where do I submit the ones others might find useful? To the general thread of the forum where they will quickly get lost in the mishmash? Scripting is critical to DAM software, since everyone's workflow is a bit different. Several features added via scripting turned into compiled features of the core of iView Media Pro. (Note: A quick thanks for NOT breaking AppleScript support on your way to Media Pro 1. All my EM 2 scripts work fine so far. Much appreciated!)
3) Add subtopic on the forum for HTML Export Themes and Integration with Third-Party Web Photo Apps. While self-contained exported HTML galleries are still used, integration with existing Web app systems, like Gallery, Picassa or SmugMug, etc. are where photographers are keen on uploading their media. There needs to be a place where users can work together to come up with solutions for Media Pro in this regard. Many DAM apps, like Lightroom, Aperture, and even the lowly iPhoto, have add-ons to facilitate bridging to Web apps; meanwhile, Expression Media's slow, ostensible death no doubt kept third-party developers from working on solutions.
4) Implement a public Bug Tracking system. There are many bugs remaining, but no way for users to know what has been submitted, or which ones are being addressed. Why should I waste my time writing a support ticket about a bug I found while 3 other people are doing the same thing, at the same time... maybe? As an extensive user and contributor to the program, I should be able to just quickly look at all submitted bugs. Pretty commonplace, even for closed-source projects.
I'm glad to see Media Pro functioning and back on track to being a 'go to' DAM solution. I think PhaseOne, Media Pro and its users can all benefit from more collaboration. Above are what I think are good starting points.
Larry
1) Add subtopic on the forum for Feature Requests. This is pretty old school, and standard for interaction with a user base via a forum.
Another avenue of support for Feature Request could be something like Get Satisfaction . Users can post suggestions and other users can vote on whether they think it is a good idea or not. Dropbox.com's Votebox is another prime example that has directly made their program better, time and time again. How else is PhaseOne going to know what most users want out of Media Pro, without doing something along these lines?
I have absolutely no idea, at this point, what other users have suggested as improvements to Media Pro via PhaseOne's support ticket system.
2) Add subtopic on the forum for Scripts/Scripting. Users want to share their workflow add-ons with others, and discover new ones. The iView crew did a good job of facilitating this type of sharing between users.
For example: I have over 100 AppleScripts that I have worked on, some for over 10 years, but where do I submit the ones others might find useful? To the general thread of the forum where they will quickly get lost in the mishmash? Scripting is critical to DAM software, since everyone's workflow is a bit different. Several features added via scripting turned into compiled features of the core of iView Media Pro. (Note: A quick thanks for NOT breaking AppleScript support on your way to Media Pro 1. All my EM 2 scripts work fine so far. Much appreciated!)
3) Add subtopic on the forum for HTML Export Themes and Integration with Third-Party Web Photo Apps. While self-contained exported HTML galleries are still used, integration with existing Web app systems, like Gallery, Picassa or SmugMug, etc. are where photographers are keen on uploading their media. There needs to be a place where users can work together to come up with solutions for Media Pro in this regard. Many DAM apps, like Lightroom, Aperture, and even the lowly iPhoto, have add-ons to facilitate bridging to Web apps; meanwhile, Expression Media's slow, ostensible death no doubt kept third-party developers from working on solutions.
4) Implement a public Bug Tracking system. There are many bugs remaining, but no way for users to know what has been submitted, or which ones are being addressed. Why should I waste my time writing a support ticket about a bug I found while 3 other people are doing the same thing, at the same time... maybe? As an extensive user and contributor to the program, I should be able to just quickly look at all submitted bugs. Pretty commonplace, even for closed-source projects.
I'm glad to see Media Pro functioning and back on track to being a 'go to' DAM solution. I think PhaseOne, Media Pro and its users can all benefit from more collaboration. Above are what I think are good starting points.
Larry
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Seems like good ideas.. would like to see them implemented as well! 0 -
Agree, and want to add to the list:
5) Enable support contact also for users of PhaseOne software only.
The contact form appears to demand the entry of both hardware components and serial number. This excludes all users which purchased MediaPro but don't have PhaseOne hardware.0 -
I would like to see the Devs actually reply to posts here in the forusm.. would give a nice level of confidence... 0 -
I concur with your suggestions. Transparency of what is suggested, and / or in play with the community is bound to help improve the product. 0 -
@Larry: Very good ideas! Hopefully Phase One is open for the thoughts and will realize them. That would be great.
--- Off topic ON ---
Another point: I'm very interested in your scripts Larry. Can we get in contact to talk more in detail about it? My email is michael at photoars.de (without space and with @ sign)?
I see many tasks which can be done with scripts and I'm also affine with programming but I haven't done it till now ... maybe you will have what I need.
--- Off topic OFF ---
Best regards, Michael0 -
@Larry,
Totally agree, your suggestions are so simple, immediately obvious and helpful, that, I fear, PO in their parallel universe will not hear or understand them. They call it a "proper manner" wasting users time in creating "support-cases" ( forcing them to use a goofy entry-form); they prefer wasting their own time (probably) reading 250 "support-cases" about the same issue.
In Germany in the 1960s a whole (camera-)industry died of an illness called arrogance and hubris and the belief in personal unsurpassability. It's not very pleasant and at the end senseless to speak with such people.
My impression is, regrettably, that:
they will not hear or understand, what experienced users say;
they don't want the knowledge of users;
they believe in the unimportance of users wishes.
So, my personal conclusion with this behavior is:
1. waiting, if or when they create at least a usable application (perhaps they understand the language of money).
2. waiting, hoping their decision to learn in a pathological way will not be too hard for them.
3. waiting, if CameraBits is faster than PO with a usable DAM solution, I will migrate. My patience with unwilling and autistic software-shops is exhausted.
It's a shame for the fantastic iView, yes, but what will you do?
Good luck!
Stefan0 -
Phase One have always stated their forums are for users to share experiences and not for official support or feedback. I don't think they have the resources to do that. Phase One do respond to their official feedback/support system.
Microsoft use to unofficially look at Peter Krogh's forums.
It seems more tech companies are moving to social media for support and feedback.
-- Robert.0
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