Re: Garmin Mapsource version 6.xx beta has a time bomb - it shut down and refused to operate

Jerry M wrote...
> Read this. Mapsource did notify us that beta's would expire. And if you
> have betas installed you should have saved the previous full version
> download exe file then you could have reinstalled it right away when
> beta expired.
> Changes made from version 5.4 to 6.1:
> Added code so that MapSource beta builds now expire 60 days after their
> build date. After expiration, the application will instruct the user on
> how to update their application to the latest version.

I sincerely hope that this is supposed to be an attempt at irony, otherwise
it is the most idiotic comment I have read in a very long time!

The list runs to a total of nearly 650 changes over 25 software upgrades
back to version 2.03 and the line you mention is inserted at random, 33
entries down a list of 112 changes, in an update of 4 revisions ago. It's
reminiscent of a plot-line in a novel by Douglas Adams, involving plans on
public display in the bottom of a locked filing cabinet in a disused
lavatory with a sign on the door saying "Beware of the Leopard"!

Any sane person would reasonably assume that only the changes made since the
revision he or she is currently using will be of any relevance whatsoever -
the rest being merely irrelevant ancient history. However this change does
NOT apply to the update from version 5.4 to 6.1 at all, since these were
both release versions, obviously neither of which contained this feature.
Rather Garmin made a change to the way they that they would issue all BETA
versions of software starting from v6.1 BETA. Any company who had not given
the job of documenting software upgrades to a mindless semi-moron would have
ensured that this information was inserted where it should be - in the notes
at the top of the list - and displayed EVERY TIME that a beta version of
software were being offered. Note also that the release notes say "expire
60 days after their BUILD date" - so not only do you have to read all the
notes to every update Garmin has ever issued but you also have to take
careful note of the release date of any beta you may consider installing,
otherwise you may find that it ceases to work 10 minutes after you have
installed it or indeed may already have expired if you happen to have
downloaded it when convenient for later appraisal!

The principal of beta testing is to save money by getting your customers to
do the most time consuming and expensive part of your quality control for
you - long term exhaustive testing - and such volunteers should be treated
with rather more respect.

Oh - and your advice about saving the previous full version's installation
file should apply to each and every RELEASE "upgrade" as well - so that you
can return to a version that you are happy with if and when you discover
unacceptable unpleasantness in the latest update. I know that I'm not the
only user who is of the opinion that from here on MapSource updates are
primarily DOWNGRADES, with few or no significantly useful added features
relevant to our needs but with useful functionality systematically being
removed (eg real-time tracking in this update and PCX file support in the
next). Consequently it is highly unlikely that I will update my version of
MapSource ever again.

David


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