MusicBee 3.6 finally becoming official release?

[sveakul]

Does anyone besides me think it might be a good idea to finally make the 3.6.x version the official release version on the Downloads page??

We are continually asking people in the forums to "first update to 3.6"--I mean continually.  Also, having to apply incremental updates from a forum post completely "throws" a lot of people, many of whom have no idea of what they have now or how to update that without missing supplemental files that aren't normally made available except in the complete version packages.

So I would urge Steven to make the COMPLETE 3.6 version now available on the download site, in the Installer and Portable versions, containing the full complement of updated files.  Guess what I left out (Microsoft Store!)--but it should have a description added that that version would be unable to be patched regularly like the others, and is not designed for people used to having unrestricted access to settings files, etc.  Right now all it says is "Get MusicBee for Windows 10 with auto update feature"--wow, I want THAT one!" says Jo/e Newbie.

Likewise, the Portable Edition's full description is, "This edition can be installed in other locations, such as another partition or USB drive."  About as exciting as a turkey dog.  BTW, an installer application can be installed on a "separate partition" too.  It should say, "This edition is installed to a single folder of your choice, either on a fixed or removable drive (USB, etc.).  That folder then contains all the files and settings needed to run MusicBee, with no entries made to the Registry or files created in Windows system folders--makes backups as easy as copying a single folder!"

Finally, it would save confusion to package the Portable Edition as a single zipped folder with its contents already containing the necessary internal paths instead of having another exe to run.  In other words, posted as  "MusicBeePortable_3_6 .zip", which when opened would contain the folder "MusicBeePortable 3_6", which can then be unzipped to the desired user location, suggested as "C:\MusicBeePortable 3_6" in a short readme.txt.  Wouldn't this make it a lot easier on users who now open the zip and are faced with a single *.exe file?--"Now what do I do?  Is this the single file that runs MusicBee?"  Don't dismiss, I've SEEN the latter posted, people who download the Portable and ask "how come every time I run the exe file it tries to install another copy??"

Anyhow that's my two cents.

[tjinc]

Does anyone besides me think it might be a good idea to finally make the 3.6.x version the official release version on the Downloads page?

Yes, I agree with this - it has been solid enough for some time now I think, and there are plenty of new features that people ask about that are included in this version.

[hiccup]

…it has been solid enough for some time now I think, and there are plenty of new features that people ask about that are included in this version.

It's a pity that the download page was never modified/redesigned following the many suggestions over the years to have it explain alpha/beta/patch versions.
It's probably the main reason for many (new) MusicBee users being confused about MusicBee versions and updates.
The download page doesn't even mention the existence of 'patches' or update versions, it doesn't mention drawbacks of using the 'Store' version, etc.)
And as a result, forum members have been needing to provide support and explanations on this matter for a long time now.
A lot of that could have been avoided if the download page only had a slightly better structure and a little bit more information.

Ah well, there is now 3.6 RC1
So I am guessing it's feature complete, and it will take not more than a couple of weeks before 3.6 final will be released.

[Zak]

Store version should die.

Is there a reason for keeping it apart from people not knowing how to unzip a file and double-click the one with the .exe in its name?

[Ziggi]

@Zak

Store version are very convenient if properly maintained.

Not everybody is a music player psycho-fan who begins a day with checking out new updates. Not everybody is interested in each and every minor feature. Personally, I hate frequent update notifications, like in case of Firefox for instance!

Music player is of secondary importance for me, and I simply dislike visiting product page, download new update, unpack and install it - this is an obsolete, old-fashioned way!

Either it should be an "auto-update" process, or it should go through Windows Store.

I simply do not understand why it's possible to update Android or MacOS versions of so many programs, but it is somehow "impossible" to update a Windows Store version every few months to keep it roughly in pace with product development rather than lagging two or three years behind.

I repeat - I am not interested in "RC" or "beta" versions at all! I am only interested in major updates and critical patches. If you are a die-hard fan, then stay with your daily monitoring - I do not care. But if an app producer decided to release a Windows Store version - he/she is responsible for major updates on this distro platform too.

3.6 release definitely should be uploaded to Windows Store. Point!

[BoringName]

Not everybody is a music player psycho-fan who begins a day with checking out new updates. Not everybody is interested in each and every minor feature. Personally, I hate frequent update notifications, like in case of Firefox for instance!

You posted something like this in the other thread, no idea where you are getting the idea that you get constantly notified about updates from, you don't. You can install a non store version (portable or not) and you don't get notified about updates. There is a plugin that provides that functionality if you want it.

If you go portable, you choose when you want to check for updates. That can be daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, never....

If this was a commercial product that Steven was charging money for, you may have a point about keeping the store version updated. It's not so you have to take what you are given and be happy it exists at all.

[hiccup]

@Zak
Not everybody is a music player psycho-fan who begins a day with checking out new updates. Not everybody is interested in each and every minor feature. Personally, I hate frequent update notifications...

What nonsense.

Simply install a recent version of MusicBee. (preferably Portable, else Install)
Enjoy it.
Until you run into a bug or an issue. In that case, sacrifice 60 seconds of your life to do a patch update which has a big chance of solving your issue.

This is what most sensible users of any Windows software have, and will be doing.
Regarding MusicBee I would be surprised if you will find the need to do this more than once a year.
(considering you say you have been MusicBee Store for a longer time, and have never reported any bug or issue with it even once)

It looks to me that you are expecting lots of effort by the sole developer of MusicBee (who is and has been doing this all for free), but you are unwilling to make any sort of effort yourself.

My dislike for the Store version equals my dislike for attitudes like yours.