Migration plan away from TodayPlus

[epsilonx]

As dp1don said (http://www.dark-mojo.com/todayplus/viewtopic.php?t=1375&start=60), because we've not had any recent communication from srs we should begin developing plans to migrate away from TodayPlus.  I'd also suggest that we discuss this on a different forum, just in case this forum dies around the same time.

Can anyone provide any forum space for this discussion?

There are a lot of ideas we can all come up with.  We might start contacting OmegaOne, Microsoft, and other such companies, requesting that similar software to TodayPlus be developed, for example.  srs is truly talented, but only one person; if he disappears, so does TodayPlus.  OmegaOne and other companies typically have much larger programming resource pools available to them, and I for one would be willing to pay for a TodayPlus replacement (I've offered to pay for TodayPlus, even in beta).

Now with the .NET framework gaining traction in the programming community it becomes easier to create programs for Pocket PC.  srs has done a great job with TodayPlus, but is not the only programmer out there.

[pli7]

Eitel,

Can you give us an indication how long you plan to keep this forum alive, in case TodayPlus does die and this community would like to continue some form of discussion of Today Plug-in related interests?

Thanks,
pli7

[epsilonx]

BTW, I've emailed OmegaOne with some suggestions but they've replied that their current products cover similar tasks that TodayPlus does.  After looking a bit deeper, I'm inclined to agree.  Although not nearly as customizable and skinnable, the necessities are almost all there.  Next stop, Microsoft.

[Lordtwisted]

Did anybody think that srs was paid to stop preduction of todayplus. I mean todayplus does alot and that would hurt alot of companys sales, thats a fact. and since software companys like to split there products up instead of all in one single program, that way they make a sh*t load of more money. Just a thought. It defintly happens.


Lordtwisted

[fishboy]

I was wondering if there might be a conspiracy theory out there.  

[epsilonx]

If not, I'm sure we could start one...  I bet srs actually works for OmegaOne or some such company.  They decided to try an all-in-one solution and instead of beta-testing it through their company they did it this way, so they could "reach" more people.  Now that they're all hooked on TodayPlus, OmegaOne will release some updates to their products that will make them the only logical solution, and spring a discount shortly after February 29...

[Kevhead]

Why switch?  Is this software going to die?  It works fine for me, does it expire.  I remember reading someone says it does, but I see no indications.

I like TodayPlus and im keeping it!

Peace!

[jhollin1138]

At this rate anything is possible.  Maybe someone did pay him to stop the project.  Maybe also, someone paid him to finish the project and release it as a final version under a new name (no I don't think it was Lordtwisted and TodayAdv).  Either way, I am sure srs would have announced that he was ending the project.

I find it more likely that one of two things (or both) happened:

1) SRS got feed up with recent backlash that was caused by the expiration date being included; he then felt his fear of having to "support" TodayPlus was coming true. (Keep in mind, one of the reasons he mentioned repeatedly that he was not going to sell TodayPlus was that he would feel obligated to "support" it.)

2) Something happened to srs that caused him to abandon TodayPlus, maybe not something physically but something else.  (Remembering back to the Brighthand thread, srs indicated that he wanted to work on TodayPlus as a summer project before school started up again.)

If you want my opinion, I feel it was mostly point 1 and partly point 2.  When the expiration date thing blow-up, he felt he needed to defend his reasoning to include one.  Now he was forced to have to "support" TodayPlus beyond the level that he was able to support it, because he was back in school.  SRS in the past had shown to sometimes take criticism to much to heart when it came to TodayPlus.  Now he was forced to support TodayPlus, study for classes and defend his reasoning to include an expiration date into TodayPlus.  This would account for his sudden departure without an announcement of the end of the TodayPlus project.

I saw an end coming to TodayPlus, I am actually shocked it lasted as long as it did.  I just wish I had a copy of TodayPlus that would run after February 29.  My life with my PPC will never be the same again.  Helpfully PPX is as much fun.

[jhollin1138]

Why switch?  Is this software going to die?  It works fine for me, does it expire.  I remember reading someone says it does, but I see no indications.

I like TodayPlus and im keeping it!

Yes it does expire.  To test for yourself do the following:
1) Set your date of your PPC to March 1, 2004.
2) Do a soft-reset
3) Observe that TodayPlus doesn't load.
4) Set your date back to today
5) Do another soft-reset
6) Watch TodayPlus load this time.

[joelw135]

I heard that srs was taken by aliens! Anyone spot any lights in the sky?

[fishboy]

2) Do a soft-reset

You don't have to due a soft reset, just reloading the plugin via Start|Settings|Today| Items or clicking on the "Reload Plugin" button in the Config application will have the same affect.  So even performing skin edits that require the skin to be reloaded after the expiration date will cause it to not reload.

Of course, as mentioned before, you could set the PPC date before 3/1/04 before resetting or reloading the plugin as above, then set the date back to normal.  

So the future options are:

1) Stop using TP.
2) Manually adjust the date whenever the TP needs to be reload
3) Find someone to write a small app that automates the manual steps (backs out the date, reloads the plugin, then resets the date).  Maybe even add a soft reset option.
4) Find someone to hack TP so it does not expire.

[joelw135]

I feel like an expectant father, just waiting for the day to come. I wish srs would just give us an answer. There is a lot of hours devoted to this program that will be a waste. It would be nice to see a full working version by the end of the month. I have spent countless hours in here, but I have to admit that it was fun, so not a total waste. Plus the fact that I have meet some very talented people.

[fishboy]

I am dissappointed as well.  I had a new Skin Reference and my first full blown skin ready to be release for version 0.12.0, that may never see their debut.

[epsilonx]

2) Do a soft-reset

So the future options are:
1) Stop using TP.
2) Manually adjust the date whenever the TP needs to be reload
3) Find someone to write a small app that automates the manual steps (backs out the date, reloads the plugin, then resets the date).  Maybe even add a soft reset option.
4) Find someone to hack TP so it does not expire.

I'm going to employ option #2 until I fully migrate to other applications.  I rarely soft-reset even though I use a lot of apps, so that's a minor annoyance compared to getting rid of TP right away.

[jhollin1138]

You don't have to due a soft reset, just reloading the plugin via Start|Settings|Today| Items or clicking on the "Reload Plugin" button in the Config application will have the same affect...

You are right.  Since I have an e740, soft-resets are daily occurrences almost.  They come to me like second nature as the easiest thing to do all the time.