From: Milton Aupperle <milton@outcastsoft.com>

Date: August 8, 2012 1:50:20 PM MDT

To: Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com

Subject: Re: [Astro_IIDC] Astro IIDC announcement


Hi Alan;


On 8-Aug-12, at 12:12 PM, Alan Friedman wrote:




Hi everyone,


On Aug 7, 2012, at 11:52 AM, Milton Aupperle wrote:



I am officially putting the potential shutdown on the Astro IIDC web

site today. The "100 new user line in the sand" is drawn, so on

September 15th if it isn't met Astro IIDC is done.


Milton Aupperle



I've followed Milton's announcement and everyone's comments during a recent trip out of town. I share your thoughtfully expressed empathy and disappointment with the announced demise of Astro IIDC.


I have a few comments and thoughts to share. First, I am uncertain as to whether Milton has any interest in continuing Astro IIDC at this point in time. As a business owner since the late 1970s, I can understand the frustration and exhaustion experienced during the past several years. It is all around us.


If it made money, I'd love to continue - but I can not continue using money from my Retirement Savings to keep it afloat. So it swims on it's own or we shut it down and I move on.


I think the announcement on the website should be highly effective in quashing any new orders for the product between now and the deadline.


I totally agree. But continuing to sell software that may go tits up in a month is simply not acceptable by me. I have to be able to live with my conscience and sleep at night - lying to people does not allow me to do that. And frankly, there is a liability issue there too on disclosure of the state of things.


The proposals by long time users for additional funding to keep the project alive are very generous. But are we talking about a line in the sand total of $10,000 which will serve to forestall the demise only until the beginning of 2013?


As I said before 100 new sales / licenses keeps me afloat until January 2013. After that, I have no idea what will happen. This simply buys some time.


If I understand John's idea of a "golden key" correctly, that seems to me a very good suggestion for a closure to the development side of the software while allowing users to have a version worthy of additional investment… one that can be used with different cameras and computers for some time into the future. As a new license option, this would have real potential to bring in funds from both new and old users. I have versions of software that still run well a decade or more after the last release.


The issue is the only way a "Golden Key" works is not tying the license to hardware. As soon as you do that, you have software theft. And please don't anyone take that personally - but from past software ventures I can guarantee that well over 2/3 's of the people pirate software. Universities and schools were exceedingly bad for this in the past.


The price of Astro IIDC was low because it's close to impossible to run the software illegally. Opening it up means the cost goes up dramatically - which kills the economics because you can get a free capture package with your Windows camera when you all run your Windows Virtual boxes.


And if I hear about another Mac user that says he images on the Mac, but runs everything in a virtual box with Windows I'll throw up. They are not imaging on the Mac at all - they are imaging with Windows! Which is why I have left the MacAstronomers list as it's over run with windows users and promoters. They don't promote the Mac platform at all - and don't help me or other Mac developers in the slightest. The name should change to "WindowsAstronomers" to reflect it's current state.


Software development and sales is not my area of business… but that never stopped me from offering observations and suggestions. 8^) While the user community for Astro IIDC has apparently stagnated and perhaps dwindled in recent years, the market for streaming cameras in astronomy and especially in solar imaging appears to be robust. What is missing from the myriad of wonderful features in Astro IIDC is effective marketing. The website and documentation do not offer a compelling case for the potential of this software. In my opinion it would take attention to this side of the business to realize any meaningful growth in sales. Further discussion of this would require input from Milton's as whether this coincides with his business and personal goals at this point in time.


Very true. Marketing is never been my strong suite. I am somewhat reclusive and frankly am happiest dealign with technical rather than promotional aspects. I don't schmooze well and I am more a technical writer that documents features - not inspires.


It's a viscous cycle. One needs money to advertise and there is no money coming in - therefore I can't afford to mount advertising campaigns to boost sales. It costs several thousand dollars to do a trade show (that's 15 to 25 new Sales),  I used to do them all the time in the 1990's for my GIS business. I have had two offers to be a lecturer (with paid expenses - thanks to Jeff Terry) over the past 8 years, but the timing did not work out (moving / lease issues both times).


Each new release I send a flurry of press release out to various Mac web sites and about 20% will post it. Unless it's an Apple press release - most Mac webs site simply don't care. And Apple used to have a web site for Developers to list their software - but they shut that down as soon as they started the Mac Store to force developers onto the Store. I have explained why Astro IIDC can not go there - especially now that Apple has sand boxed it and cut out hardware access in Lion or higher (except WiFi).


It's funny, but with all the challenges of work and money and trying to get enough of it to send a couple of kids to college in my old age… it's the wonderful and completely unreimbursed astronomy side of my life that keeps it all afloat.



Not to nitpick or point fingers Alan or be too belligerent, but I don't see any references to Astro IIDC on the Averted Image site at all. Maybe I missed it or I'm looking in the wrong place, but after looking at a dozen images or your "follow me" blog, I never see Astro IIDC mentioned anywhere. Maybe I am not on any of the lists you are on where you do promote it and just don't know it. But it would be nice to be mentioned on your site.


I have also expected my Users to do their part and be somewhat proactive too. I can't be everywhere or on every list. Some of you did do this like the "Made with Astro IIDC" banners that Stephen asked for or wrote reviews like Jim Chung did as have others (Alan and others)  which I am eternally great full for.


Milton J. Aupperle