From: Ray Byrne <ray@in4media.co.uk>
Date: August 8, 2012 3:32:33 PM MDT
To: Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Astro_IIDC] Astro IIDC announcement
Hi Milton,
It was Alan's material that I found on the web that led me to Astro IIDC - so Alan your advocacy works I'm sure. You can certainly count me in on any promotional work on the web or other media if you felt it would help. My very out of date business website is <http://www.raycreative.co.uk> which shows a small sample of what I do. I think I know how you feel I'm sure those of us who run our own businesses have been struggling badly and I've also had 2 life threatening diseases to cope with too. I believe you should do what your heart tells you to do. But I'm sure you know we are all very fond of you and wish you the best whatever you decide.
Kind regards
Ray
On 8 Aug 2012, at 21:37, Alan Friedman wrote:
Thank you for your reply, Milton… the additional insight is very helpful.
On my own responsibility for promoting Astro IIDC, you are right to point out that it is missing from my website and blog. Both are largely picture sites and my skills as a web programmer are amateur at best. But I have added a credit and link to Astro IIDC on the page about Little Big Man that is linked below each of my images. I do get quite a few requests for this information:
http://www.avertedimagination.com/img_pages/little_big_man.html
I will also write a blog post and Facebook entry to talk about Astro IIDC specifically.
The talks and articles I have prepared on image processing do feature Astro IIDC prominently. I mentioned earlier a new book in the works for which I just completed a chapter on solar imaging. The content is completely based on my workflow in Astro IIDC. I can't talk about this too much yet, but it is a project coordinated by Rob Gendler and I believe it will be a fantastic resource when it sees release next year. I do hope to be able to leave the Astro IIDC references and screenshots in place. You are also, of course, welcome to post any of my images on the Astro IIDC site. I'm sure others here would be happy to share, help you compile an Astro IIDC gallery as well as work on other promotional projects to encourage new users.
Knowing that you would like to continue is the key. I'm more than willing to collaborate with you and other members of this community on efforts to make that work out.
cheers,
Alan
On Aug 8, 2012, at 3:50 PM, Milton Aupperle wrote:
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
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