Newsgator Forums / Technical Support and Requests / TopStyle / TS 4... Q2 of 08? / Latest Posts

RE: TS 4... Q2 of 08?

kibitzer — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 16:24:39 GMT

Stefan -- props to you for delivering on your promise. This is a very good sign. Thank you!

RE: TS 4... Q2 of 08?

Jack Brewster — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 11:03:26 GMT

woot

RE: TS 4... Q2 of 08?

critter42 — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 07:30:03 GMT

Doesn't look like we will be:
[url=http://svanas.dynip.com:8080/beta.html#]TopStyle 4 beta 1[/url]

:)

RE: TS 4... Q2 of 08?

Mike Gale — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 18:22:39 GMT

I see that Stephan van As (at http://svanas.dynip.com:8080/faq.html) suggested a Beta of 4 by end 2008. It's very close to that.

I hope we won't be disappointed.

(In my case I've been using utf-8 for some time so I'll need to see whether TS can win me back!!)

RE: TS 4... Q2 of 08?

DSeguin — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 10:15:22 GMT

Great news. I'm still a loyal TS user, I'll be the first in line to buy an upgrade.

RE: TS 4... Q2 of 08?

kibitzer — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 14:09:12 GMT

This is good news.

However, as a TopStyle user of 5+ years, I'm afraid my attitude is "let's wait and see."

You will pardon my scepticism, but I'll be very surprised if we see anything of TS4 in the near future.

RE: TS 4... Q2 of 08?

FataL — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 15:57:47 GMT

Great news! Really great!

RE: TS 4... Q2 of 08?

Alan Palmer — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 12:42:33 GMT

Yay! A beta by the end of the year! :hehe: How about just before Christmas, Stefan, so I can give myself a present? ;)

RE: TS 4... Q2 of 08?

Nick Bradbury — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 12:03:31 GMT

Wow, Jack linked to me faster than I could link to myself :)

So yes, there's finally some good news in the world of TopStyle - check out my blog post for details.

Thanks,

RE: TS 4... Q2 of 08?

Jack Brewster — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 11:31:24 GMT

Looks like I'm faster than the NG guys. :)

[url=http://www.rassoc.com/gregr/weblog/2008/12/09/topstyle-acquired/]TopStyle acquired[/url]

See [url=http://www.topstyle4.com/]the new FAQ[/url] for roadmap/timeline, etc.

[url=http://nick.typepad.com/blog/2008/12/ann-topstyle-ac.html]Nick's blog post[/url].

RE: TS 4... Q2 of 08?

DavidONE — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 01:18:05 GMT

[quote][b]David Sims (11/12/2008)[/b][hr]
[Nick] said that, "When I do return to TS4, it will be my primary focus (i.e.: FeedDemon will be secondary), ..."[/quote]

Now look at http://nick.typepad.com/blog/. Word counts in title / content of articles are as follows:

* 'FeedDemon' = 31
* 'TopStyle' = 0 (zero)

There must be a definition of 'primary focus' that I'm not aware of.

[quote][b]Nick Bradbury (11/7/2008)[/b][hr]
I can say that there will be an announcement in a couple of weeks (hopefully sooner!) involving TopStyle's future,...[/quote]

That was three weeks ago. Yes, it is harsh to criticise missing a deadline by a week (so far), but it's entirely consistent with what has been happening for years.

Since NG bought up Bradsoft (May 2005) we've had promises piled on assurances piled on stony silence with a sprinkling of sincere apologies. We were reassured by both NG and Nick, at point of sale, that TopStyle was an important product and would receive active development. It took two and a half years to see a minor update (3.5).

If NG is sincere and values its long-term customers, may I suggest that if TS4 arrives it is offered as free upgrade for those of us who have endured the broken promises for the last three and a half years. It would be a start in rebuilding confidence that NG really does care about its customers, as Nick and others at NG have repeatedly claimed. Deeds speak louder than words.

If that isn't offered, there will be at least one customer who will not be paying a penny to NG, nor recommending TS to anyone, as I have in the past - no matter how good TS4 is.

RE: TS 4... Q2 of 08?

David Sims — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 09:58:40 GMT

[b]Ditto Louise and Alan...I have enormous respect for your talent and dedication, Nick.[/b] Come this November 27th, I will have been using TopStyle for an incredible 8 years! A number of years ago, I went so far as to say [i](back on the old Bradsoft forums)[/i] that TS was the best software I had ever used, and I meant it! I also still use HomeSite, which as everyone knows is also your baby--with both these programs I continue to manage and build out a 5,000-page site. Obviously, if someone with my limited talents can produce this, HomeSite and TopStyle are both very capable software programs. My admiration for you as a person, and for your prodigious gifts, remains undiminished in spite of this sad saga.

But as Louise stated earlier here, [i]"I am very disappointed."[/i] I was quite honored you asked me to test-drive the TS4 beta this past March; but due to an unfortunate set of circumstances [i](communication problems within the tester group and then your father's health situation)[/i] the "new" TopStyle was put on "hiatus." You said that, "When I do return to TS4, it will be my primary focus (i.e.: FeedDemon will be secondary), and I'll do everything I can to make it the release you've been waiting for." Well, I understand 100% about family and health matters, absolutely...for me, they always come first. But imagine my "horror" upon opening up FeedDemon to see your blog in October ask the question: [url=http://nick.typepad.com/blog/2008/10/tagging-in-feed.html]Tagging in FeedDemon: What Would You Like to See?[/url] ... and then [url=http://nick.typepad.com/blog/2008/10/feeddemon-taggi.html]another post the following day[/url] ... and then on October 27th mention of a [url=http://nick.typepad.com/blog/2008/10/really-simple-s.html]new beta version of FeedDemon[/url] ... and then on October 31st a nice discussion about [url=http://nick.typepad.com/blog/2008/10/the-great-toolb.html]slaughtering icons in FeedDemon[/url] ... and a "final question" on November 3rd (just 9 days ago), asking in relation to further development of FeedDemon "[url=http://nick.typepad.com/blog/2008/11/helpless-icon-c.html]While I’m still in the mood to clean up FeedDemon, where else should I target for simplification?[/url]"

Apparently FeedDemon is still No. 1.

Maybe I am being small, Nick. If that is the case, please forgive me, it's unintentional and no doubt a personal shortcoming. However, I have got to believe that I am not the only TS customer who has watched this kind of constant development of and improvement to FeedDemon for years, in fact since [url=http://nick.typepad.com/blog/2005/05/newsgator_acqui.html]NewsGator Acquired FeedDemon, TopStyle...and You![/url], and has thought, "what about TopStyle?" There have been many comments from disgruntled TS customers and, I have to believe, the ever-expanding group of ex-TS users--here are a few from this forum posted over the past 2-1/2 years:

* [i] I eagerly await an announcement on Nick's blog, or some word in here of TopStyle 4, but nothing ever comes.[/i] (5/10/2006)

* [i] If we don't hear something soon I'm going to have to take a look at a few alternatives myself. The complete lack of any news/info/encouragement only fuels the idea that TS is more or less "dead". This was my biggest fear during the whole NewsGator aquisition... and that fear has never left me.[/i] (5/10/2006)

* [i] yes - this forum is pretty sterile, we seem to have lost that intimacy we once had as TS users.[/i] (5/11/2006)

* [i] I, too, am sad to see what is (not) happening here...the datestamp on my TS3 file shows that I obtained it on July 8, 2002! ... TS 3.1 came (for me, at least) on July 31, 2003 ... and TS 3.12 is dated November 28, 2005.[/i] (5/11/2006)

* [i] Not trying to be a jerk... but if a timeframe can't be followed don't state one. I love TopStyle and want to know what's going on with it... but due to no response... I guess I can assume what I didn't want to.[/i] (6/3/2006)

[u]from NG: We have plans to start development on the [b]next version (4.0) soon with a purposed release sometime in 2006[/b].[/u] (6/5/2006)

* [i]I'd like to echo what others have said in that I miss the community that was built around Bradsoft pre-FeedDemon. I don't see it returning with the current set up here. Also, the responsiveness of Nick to feedback was a big part of the 'feature set' of TopStyle and it's been sorely missed the last few years. So much so that I've looked at other web editors recently.[/i] (6/16/2006)

* [i]Honestly I don't see how this is good news. I guess I was naive in hoping that work was being done on TopStyle 4.0 and just not being announced until the feature set and release date was more firm. Now it sounds like ZERO work has been done, and ZERO work will be done until such time as a new programmer is hired to do it. At that point we will have a new developer whose talent has not been demonstrated and who has no familiarity with the codebase or potentially even the community. At that point really, what's the difference with just switching to some other software?[/i] (6/28/2006)

* [i]Personally, I voted for new features wth my feet. I followed up on the original poster in this thread and ended up at http://www.blumentals.net/rapidcss/. I felt instantly at ease with the product and haven't looked back since. I was a very happy user of TopStyle and recommended it to may people, right up until TopStyle chose to abandon me. And yes, I do feel abandoned. Nick has to look after his future and I feel no animosity towards him for making that decision. I just would have prefered some honesty over the future of TopStyle. Just my opinion as an ex-user.[/i] (8/2/2006)

* [i]I think it is a shame that Newsgator is letting a once-very-good-piece-of-software die a slow death. But I'm more disappointed in Nick, because apparently, he didn't negotiate a future for TopStyle with Newsgator. I'm also surprised that Newsgator is still selling TopStyle at $79,95. You can't sell software which is no longer maintained and no longer up to date with such a pricatag...[/i] (12/29/2006)

* [i]Title says it all. [Sell TopStyle to someone who cares...] TopStyle was a great product and it still could be, if someone actually took interest in it. Purchasing a good product with a dedicated user-base and then let it die a slow death (while still selling it) is a disgrace.[/i] (12/29/2006)

* [i]I'm disappointed that since buying the product back in April 05, it's been taken over by newsgator, had a minor update to 3.12 - that was almost certainly already in the works, and been ignored for eighteen months. So much for lifetime updates (IIRC). I bought having seen the vibrant forum over at bradsoft, signs of active discussion and development. Here we are in 2007 and who knows when or if another build will be forthcoming. Good product it may have been, but it needs active development. No sign of a beta forum, or feature list, or anything on Nick's blog. Looks like I'll now be another voting with my feet.[/i] (1/15/2007)

* [i]Sure they're interested in TopStyle... I mean they are selling it but thats about it. Squeeze all the juice you can I guess before you have to throw away the fruit.[/i] (6/8/2007)

* [i]It seems NewsGator is less about "SEARCH. SUBSCRIBE. SYNCHRONIZE." and more about "SELL, STAGNATE, GET SCREWED." For TopStyle customers at least.[/i] (6/11/2007)

* [i]To continue to sell version 3.5 to new customers they must expect questions on what the upgrade path and what the price will be of the new product. Even if it was a ball park figure where they said that it would be no more than half the full retail value (as Matt said happened in the past). I did not realise that the other software products that NG write do not have a cost. I would have thought that makes answering revenue earning questions on TopStyle like this one, quite a high priority. I have not purchased the product yet but would be willing to do so if the question was answered.[/i] (9/24/2008)

* [i]I've asked about upgrade policy on this forum and have received no reply. My TopStyle 3.5 trial period has just expired today and I won't be buying this version...At the current price and with little support, I'll just wait for 4.0. I'll miss TopStyle, but buying it now requires a leap of faith I'm not prepared to take.[/i] (9/25/2008)

* [i]I must say that my faith in NG has been sorely tested, as well. The current situation is almost worse than it was a year or so ago. At least then we knew that no new version was likely in the near future, if ever. We have since been told that a developer for TS had been recruited and that work on version 4.0 had started. Later we heard that a pre-alpha version was being tested, and that a beta should be available soon. That was many months ago, without any more news ...[/i] (11/5/2008)

* [i]I hated it when NG got involved. I think it was obvious that TS was additional baggage to them and that FD was the focus - and regardless of the protests by Nick and NG that was not the case it has truly turned out to be the case - IMO.[/i] (11/7/2008)

[b]There...enough venting, you get the point. It's all very well that, "there is good news coming, and it does involve a new version of TopStyle being developed" (11/11/2008), but I think we've all seen this kind of "great news" before. I for one would like to actually [u]see[/u] a new TopStyle, and not just hear about it.[/b]

Here are my requests (yet again) in no particular order:

1--full Unicode support

2--full support (if it's not there already) for .gif, .jpg, .png, and .ico files

3--control over color, style, and other presentational attributes of code in the editor, with the ability to create different code presentations for different types of code--CSS, (X)HTML, XML, PHP, Javascript, etc.--as in HomeSite, Dreamweaver, and other editors

4--a feature to automate the process of "merging" css files, so for example one could take 5 different style sheets and create a 6th one that would contain all the "common" features of the 5 style sheets, then eliminate those specific properties and declarations from the 5 sheets, the purpose of which could either be to create fewer style sheets in a site altogether, or to at least put common elements in a single place so that long-term maintenance would be easier

5--a code compressor...run your CSS, (X)HTML, Javascript, PHP, whatever through it and it leaves your file untouched but produces a greatly compacted and optimized file for putting on the server to speed sites up and save bandwidth; optimization settings could be included for white space reduction, merging attributes listed multiple times among various selectors, reducing color values to fewer characters where possible, there are probably others

6--a feature to clearly and visually show "computed" styles of elements in a webpage, so you can see, for example, which properties and declarations are acting upon a particular part of a page, for troubleshooting, learning, etc.

7--a feature like WinMerge that would compare two files, be they CSS, (X)HTML, or whatever; useful for instantly identifying differences in various versions of the same documents, useful for comparing differences in various css files such as finding screen and print style sheet differences, etc.--such a diff tool would work on CSS, (X)HTML, XML, Javascript, PHP, and TXT files at a minimum, perhaps also others

8--a feature to assist in the creation of a validating RSS feed for the site you're working on

9--inclusion of "tons" of useful code snippets, for CSS, (X)HTML, Javascript, PHP, etc.; for example, the two Javascripts included in the tips & tricks of the TS Help to serve either browser- or platform-specific css files could be included as useful snippets--in any case, a LOT of snippets should be included

10--inclusion of "frameworks" such as to include the files and documentation for the Yahoo User Interface open-source framework, at least the CSS parts of it: reset, base, font, and grids--perhaps there could be some interface between such resources and the snippet functionality in TS---in any case, a number of frameworks might be nice (like in Aptana Studio)

11--inclusion of pre-made layouts by professional designers, perhaps categorized by what level of CSS spec they meet, perhaps by which browser levels they work in, perhaps by type of site (blog, 2-col, 3-col, elastic, etc.) -- these could be used as-is for developing sites or could be adapted by the user, they could be used as learning tools for customers to enhance their knowledge of how CSS works -- in any case, a selection of ready-made, pre-tested code (full-blown finished products, not just snippets) would be nice; Style Master, Dreamweaver, and various WebAssist products all have this to some degree or another

12--inclusion of webpage versions of the W3C standards for CSS, (X)HTML, etc. could be useful and, as text files, relatively small in footprint and useful for reference

13--PDF versions of books like "Eric Meyer on CSS" and "More Eric Meyer on CSS" along with all the code samples could be a nice little thing for folks to get along with the software and, again, would serve a very useful educational function

14--a CSSdef for Konqueror (my site does get visitors who use this browser)

15--a CSSdef for Safari 3 (my site also gets visitors who use this browser)

16--an "Import Layout" option to the Layout Manager dialog, so users can bring in a layout that someone might share with them

17--make clicking on external links in the HELP file open up the user's default browser instead of automatically opening up IE

18--add profiles to test for mobile specs, such as Opera Mini, Opera Mobile, Opera Devices, WebKit, Netfront, perhaps others -- this might provide some unique functionality for TS4, offering useful tools and another selling point for future developers, maybe even a tie-in for creating content for Newsgator Go or the Newsgator Mobile RSS Reader for iPhone, or even your Widget Framework

19--functionality to directly tie code versioning system(s) into TS, as Dreamweaver has in CS4 which provides a Subversion client into the main program

[b]
Sorry about this ridiculously long comment; I'm just [i]so[/i] fed up about hearing how everyone is "committed" to TopStyle. I won't be bothering you with any more comments, requests, etc.[/b]

I do hope there will be a TopStyle 4, that's why I've gone to the trouble of checking back here year in, year out and today producing this comment; TopStyle is a great program that deserves a future. And, selfishly, there are features [i](see list above)[/i] I want for myself in TopStyle--that's why I've come back repeatedly over the many years waiting for an upgrade, because I want more of a great thing to help me in my daily work. But I won't be coming back anymore, not til I hear that there is actually a new TopStyle WITH A LOT OF NEW AND IMPROVED FEATURES. My list plus other folks' requests are reasonable, I believe, for a product that initially came out in a version 3 at least 6 years ago...there's a lot to catch up on.

[b]My best wishes for whatever you and Newsgator decide but, as Louise said, "Just tell us."[/b]

[b]AND THEN FOLLOW THROUGH.[/b]

RE: TS 4... Q2 of 08?

Alan Palmer — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 08:52:05 GMT

I must say that I agree with Louise's last post pretty well 100%. I feel that I should also point out that it is my faith in NewsGator that has been badly undermined by this affair. My faith in Nick himself has never wavered since I became a user of the early versions of HomeSite way back when,

I have always received remarkably prompt and helpful support from Nick, who is well-known for listening to his users and bringing in features that they need (not necessarily the same as those some of them want ...).

I have Nick to thank in a way for keeping me up-to-date with developments on the Interweb. ;)

When Nick announced he was bringing out a CSS editor I was a little dubious about it, feeling that HTML 2.0 was good enough ... I was of course soon won over to the CSS cause. Similarly, I had hardly heard of RSS when Nick brought out the betas of FeedDemon. I couldn't see much use for a feed reader myself, but I gave it a go. Now I can't do without it.

RE: TS 4... Q2 of 08?

Nick Bradbury — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 18:27:50 GMT

Louise, thank you for your very kind reply. You're right that I do feel bound to see TopStyle developed further, and the way things have been going I've been unable to fulfill that goal. But there is good news coming, and it does involve a new version of TopStyle being developed.

BTW, I should add that I still rely on TopStyle every single day - it's what I use when developing FeedDemon's newspapers, for example - so on top of everything else, I have a purely selfish reason for wanting a new TopStyle :)

RE: TS 4... Q2 of 08?

Louise — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 17:08:19 GMT

Nick, none of us who have been long term users of your programs have anything other than the greatest regard for your integrity. HomeSite was before our time but it was on the recommendation and assurances by Alan Palmer (and Norelle?) of its value to our organisation we took out our first license for TopStyle 1.? against the opposition of management

Throughout that we time you have been unfailing caring, even at the time when you were seriously ill and should have been ignoring the program and us while you went about recovery. All of us developed a great regard for you as a person as well as a very talented programmer.

None of this means we own your talent. You, just as the rest of us , have the right to go fry other fish and follow your own destiny.

Maybe it is because you are the sort of person you are that you feel bound to further develop the program into the future, although you have other demands on your time and skills, and agreed to develop TopStyle 4. (I don't think anything was promised beyond the version you released after joining NewsGator.)

Of course users of your program are always going to live in hope that you will continue development, I suspect even when you are in a nursing home. (Look at your HomeSite users.); more so now with the mooted changes in direction for web authoring, especially CSS. Whatever you developed for us we would be unrequited

We understand you are a man of your word, and you don't like to fail anybody, but all of us will understand if you cannot deliver, temporarily or for the foreseeable future. Just tell us. (Explanation is not an entitlement)

regards, Louise

RE: TS 4... Q2 of 08?

Nick Bradbury — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 13:14:22 GMT

I honestly don't blame any of you for feeling this way. TopStyle has lagged behind, and version 4.0 has been delayed far too long. It would be easy for me to blame NewsGator for this, but for the most part it's my fault - I got so caught up in FeedDemon and family concerns that I've really let TopStyle slide.

I can say that there will be an announcement in a couple of weeks (hopefully sooner!) involving TopStyle's future, and it includes details on TS4 (it will happen) and beyond. I know I've tested everyone's patience beyond reason already, but please bear with me a little while longer - there is good news coming, we're just dotting the I's before we make the announcement.

Thanks and apologies,

RE: TS 4... Q2 of 08?

David Sims — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 11:14:48 GMT

@ Alan, Louise, Daf:

I am TOTALLY with you guys...I don't even know why I keep hoping on a TopStyle 4 (I thought I was beyond doing anything which is obviously sheer stupidity). I [i]used to believe[/i] NG and Nick Bradbury when they said that there would be a TS4. Like Alan, I also believe the situation today is worse than when we had no hope of an impending TS4...and like Louise and Daf, I am [i]very disappointed[/i] and [i]really[/i] miss the old community. NG clearly has different fish to fry, which is very very very very sad.

To anyone who would purchase TS3.5, I would still say that it is in many ways a remarkable program; that said, you are (for all intents and purposes) on your own for tech support and do not expect any future version.

I will believe in TopStyle 4 when I have it running smoothly on my computer...and not a second before!

:angry:

RE: TS 4... Q2 of 08?

Daf — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 05:31:06 GMT

Ditto on all of that. I hated it when NG got involved. I think it was obvious that TS was additional baggage to them and that FD was the focus - and regardless of the protests by Nick and NG that was not the case it has truly turned out to be the case - IMO.

Great last point, Louise! I really, really miss the old community - I remember way back to the Bradsoft newsgroups. Good times.

RE: TS 4... Q2 of 08?

Louise — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 20:34:43 GMT

I'm sorry to say that I am with Alan on this. I am very disappointed.

If Top Style 4 cannot be rolled out because of lack of resources so be it. Nobody has a right to expect anything but what is disconcerting is the hanging out the possibility when nothing is going to happen.

While I am at it, I must say that I am dismayed that requests for support and guidance are more often than not ignored. Since Jack Brewster is no longer moderating, there seems to be nobody in the position to do it, unless Nick pops up. This was not the case before Newsgator when there was a large Top Style community to assist with using the program and authoring web pages especially CSS.

It all smells somewhat terminal and I have just about accepted that position.

Louise

RE: TS 4... Q2 of 08?

Alan Palmer — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 08:39:10 GMT

I must say that my faith in NG has been sorely tested, as well.

The current situation is almost worse than it was a year or so ago. At least then we knew that no new version was likely in the near future, if ever. We have since been told that a developer for TS had been recruited and that work on version 4.0 had started. Later we heard that a pre-alpha version was being tested, and that a beta should be available soon. That was many months ago, without any more news ... :angry:

RE: TS 4... Q2 of 08?

Daf — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 03:03:31 GMT

[quote][b]tranglos (9/25/2008)[/b][hr]... but buying it now requires a leap of faith I'm not prepared to take.[/quote]

The last couple of years, for us long time users, has been all about a [b]"leap of faith"[/b] - it continues to be so. I used to check here a couple times a week for news on 4.0 - then it was once a week, then a couple times a month ... this is my first visit since March and there has been no movement. Our faith is being sorely tested. :Whistling: ;)

RE: TS 4... Q2 of 08?

tranglos — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 11:32:47 GMT

David, I'm in the same position as you. I've asked about upgrade policy on this forum and have received no reply. My TopStyle 3.5 trial period has just expired today and I won't be buying this version. 3.5 does not support utf-8, which means it's not very useful for editing HTML (though still fone for CSS). At the current price and with little support, I'll just wait for 4.0. I'll miss TopStyle, but buying it now requires a leap of faith I'm not prepared to take.

RE: TS 4... Q2 of 08?

djpvjc — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 03:50:22 GMT

Hello Alan,

Once again thank you for the response.

I am totally appreciative of help that is given on forums, especially as members time is given freely. I have worked in IT for many years and have resolved many many problems by using the knowledge obtained on forums, and contribute myself when I have ideas and answers. I have often found solutions to problems that I could not find on manufactures support facilities (including MS). I'm also very pleased to hear that there is an email address for TopStyle support as I had not seen that advertised anywhere.

I'm not really asking what date the software is going to be released or the features that are going to be in the next version.

But, what I know is (through reading this forum) that there is going to be a new TopStyle version 4.0 in the not too distant future. To continue to sell version 3.5 to new customers they must expect questions on what the upgrade path and what the price will be of the new product. Even if it was a ball park figure where they said that it would be no more than half the full retail value (as Matt said happened in the past). I did not realise that the other software products that NG write do not have a cost. I would have thought that makes answering revenue earning questions on TopStyle like this one, quite a high priority. I have not purchased the product yet but would be willing to do so if the question was answered.

In the meantime I have reverted to Kompozer which is nowhere near as good as TopStyle 3.5 (in my opinion, but I can use it until v4.0 if I have to), I am reluctant to buy TopStyle at the moment.

Once again I appreciate your input and I'm am definately not having a pop at you or other contributors to the forum.

Kind regards

David.

RE: TS 4... Q2 of 08?

zurdog — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 16:46:16 GMT

I can't speak to what will happen with 4.0, but past history has put an upgrade around half of what the full price of the product is. Again, this does not mean 4.0 upgrade will follow the same history.

RE: TS 4... Q2 of 08?

Alan Palmer — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 09:53:13 GMT

You won't find many developers making promises about release dates of software. Even during beta testing bugs can often be found that require the dismantling and rewriting of large chunks of code. It's far better not to give out any definite information until the product is ready to ship than to explain why promises have been broken. C.f. Microsoft and the release of Vista ...

Don't underestimate the value of peer support in the forums. There are a lot of very knowledgeable TopStyle users here, and the developers monitor the forums and often step in if there's a particularly difficult problem. In addition, unlike the other NG software, TS is paid for, so you would be entitled to email support. At the moment you would get an automated message in reply suggesting you post in the support forums, but they monitor the messages and TS users would receive a reply.

Note to NG: If you aren't going to already, I suggest you set up a separate mailbox for TS support once TS4 is available.

I also know that at least one of TopStyle's rival editors only offers support through forums, and they won't reply to email requests for support.

RE: TS 4... Q2 of 08?

djpvjc — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 04:35:43 GMT

It looks like you are right Alan and I thank you for your input.

As Newgator point you towards this forum for support, I would have thought that they would reply to queries, especially pre-sales ones.

It also suggests to me that should I encounter a issue with the software in the future, I may well have to resolve it on my own.

Oh well thanks again,

David.

RE: TS 4... Q2 of 08?

Alan Palmer — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 03:39:35 GMT

Until a beta version is released you are unlikely to hear anything official from NG ...

RE: TS 4... Q2 of 08?

djpvjc — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 04:02:31 GMT

I've checked in the NG knowledgebase and it is saying that major releases are not free upgrades. So I have to make a decision whether to purchase and then pay for an upgrade, delay my purchase, or go and look for something else. The last would be a shame as this program appears to work rather nicely with the PHP and MySQL installed on my machine.

I would have thought that someone from NG would have posted a reply, but it has not been the case. Perhaps if someone from NG is out there they could tell me what the upgrade price from 3.5 to 4.0 is likely to be.

kind regards,

RE: TS 4... Q2 of 08?

Alan Palmer — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 05:06:54 GMT

I can't speak for Newsgator, but you are probably correct; in the past such an upgrade would not be free. However, people who bought the old versions within a few months of the new versions being released were allowed a free upgrade.

I suppose that a lot depends on when version 4.0 is released; at the moment we have heard no real news.

RE: TS 4... Q2 of 08?

djpvjc — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 09:16:20 GMT

Having just finished my trial of TS 3.5 I was ready to buy the product, after reading this thread I am of the mind that I should wait for TS 4. It would appear that this is only a few months away and as it is a major version update I would assume that the upgrade will not be free to TS 3.5 users.

Or am I wrong? how does the upgrade policy work? is it based on major versions or is it based on free upgrades over a certain time period.

Could it be back to the drawing board / download sites,

djpvjc.

RE: TS 4... Q2 of 08?

zurdog — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 11:17:35 GMT

I know TS4 is in development. I can't speak on a release date, however it is definitely in the works.

RE: TS 4... Q2 of 08?

FataL — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 13:13:01 GMT

Here is fresh [url=http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2008/06/19/css-editors-reviewed/]CSS editors comparison[/url], but I would like to see TopStyle 4 there... ;)

Can we expect beta this summer?

RE: TS 4... Q2 of 08?

DSeguin — Wed, 21 May 2008 09:02:15 GMT

I just want to add that I, too, am anxiously awaiting the next release. I use TS for hours and hours every day. I love it but it really could use an upgrade.

RE: TS 4... Q2 of 08?

Jack Brewster — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 21:51:46 GMT

[url=http://www.newsgator.com/download/secureDownload.aspx]According to this page[/url] (reached from the TS product page, though the link is pretty buried):

If you purchased a version prior to 3.0, the upgrade is available for $24.95. Contact support and be sure to include proof-of-purchase such as an order number or email receipt.

Of course, it doesn't mention how to contact them - sigh (Keith, little help?) - you should be able to email support@newsgator.com for assistance. Ignore the auto-responder that tells you to come to the forums. After seeing this thread, I'd bet that Keith@NG will be on the lookout for an email from you.

RE: TS 4... Q2 of 08?

itlarry — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 17:54:50 GMT

Nick, sorry to bother you, but I have been trying to upgrade my Top Style Pro 2.5 to the latest, but unable to find out how to do this. Newsgator site has not helped so far.

Any wisdom here?

Thanks!

ITLarry

RE: TS 4... Q2 of 08?

FataL — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 13:59:39 GMT

Great news! :w00t:
Fingers crossed...

RE: TS 4... Q2 of 08?

David Sims — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 13:07:15 GMT

No problem...that'll be something to look forward to! :)

RE: TS 4... Q2 of 08?

Nick Bradbury — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 12:56:06 GMT

Sorry, David - I can't mention the new features yet, since we're still testing many of them. I do expect to talk about the new stuff in a few weeks, though.

RE: TS 4... Q2 of 08?

David Sims — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 11:14:31 GMT

Would it be possible to give us an idea of new features that are definitely included and/or possibly included in ver. 4? :unsure:

RE: TS 4... Q2 of 08?

Nick Bradbury — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 10:59:33 GMT

Hi Matt,

I'm running a pre-alpha build of TopStyle 4.0 right now - our hope is to have it in beta within the next couple of months (sooner rather than later).

Best,