Handful of Nothing

We are now already testing the update that will fix most of the bugs the users found on the first version. It has been also a lot of work to really dig down the design problems and try to solve them (but most of those are bigger and will be out of this bug fix release).

Now is time for us to schedule the next release that will bring some of the missing features to Canola2. But let me talk first of some of things we are solving:
(so some of this are indeed in the update) but not everything and… Cover part is both in canola-tuning (downloading, finding embedded, cover.jpg) + canola (selecting from multiple available covers)

1. Compilation or SoundTrack albums being replicated N times: We did a wizard that helps you merge albums in that situation.
2. Cover Art support: Canola-tuning now looks for a local file inside the folder, looks also for the id3 tag art and in the end downloads it from the internet
3. Cover Art selection: The first support is coming : you will be able to choose a correct or another cover for an already downloaded cover.
4. Podcast downloading / playblack and remembering state : Kenneth did the download manager again, so we improved the whole podcast + added better error messages
5. MP4 not playing when mplayer installed : Mplayer has some problems with those files, so now it’s by default played by the default media player always
6. Some Pictures not appearing at all in the application: A user sent us the pictures we found the problem and fixed!
7. Support for WMA and WMV files: It’s also on the scanner, thus we think is not a final support

Also, we are already baking up some surprises for the real Update (feature update) coming in february : More video applications, more audio applications, more options for the podcast (auto download, current download, download all)

The work is going on quite hard and we are really excited to see that what we imagined is happening: We have a lot of great feedback, suggestions, bugs from the users and now it’s time to give back to you the help in the form of an update.

So, we are already testing it, planning to release on monday (then we are able to fast solve any problems).

It has been a great project to work on, and I’m more happy to be able to find time to answer all the emails, and give each user the respected time and respect. Even not being a opensource project I believe we are doing a great work of keeping all users as friends and co-developers and always on the loop and more than that: Really listen to the request and evolving the software the way they need and that fits our concept for Canola.

Link: sevenload.com

This was I would say more educated than Jobs review for the segway design but still a punch on the face of any one. But there’s one point… it’s always (I do that myself a lot) to criticize when you’re outside and have no knowledge of any restrictions. So it’s not unusual to have bad design due to engineering limitations and to get a smack on a face on something that wasn’t too much your fault must really hurts.

Busy day, Apple unveiled the really thin Macbook Air (of course its also because it doesn’t have Optic drive) and finally we can set a pin in the maps application on the iPhone. Nice laptop and nice iPhone software addition,but just like I thought that curling page effect just to show more buttonsand the lack of a little bit more ports can be a little bit too much.

But I really want to try out the Air notebook, it seems really light for those incredible exhaustive trips overseas. Looking forward of course to try out the new touchpad with the full multi touch support. It should come also as an update for all macbook pro owners (I wish).

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So my vacations were officially over yesterday, I’m full speed at work again, and back in the office in friday I think (now I think I will arrive in brazil 16:30 friday). The guys are baking up the first minor update to Canola2, as we had this time between the holidays to visit our families, and I’m trying to figure out the last pieces of some puzzle (read design problems) that are happening. The various artists albums are a small but annoying problem (but it seems to exist a part of compilation on id3).

This is the “iPhone” like phone that iRiver came with. It shows you a probably flash based UI that shows another face of the flash as UI: it’s just not enough. While it can display nice graphics, it just can handle real transitions in a big screen (everyone that develops for bigger than QVGA screen knows this problems)

My question: Why to copy in such way, and put out the thing that captivates the people most? I don’t get it. you copy to try to achieve the same, not to be lame at most. Dumb move.