SageTV 7 beta starts on Thursday May 20, 2010!

[Fuzzy]

Considering the point of a beta is to TEST the software, and provide feedback/bug reports to the developer, you SHOULD be required to use the most recent builds. Many beta softwares out there have time limits on them, for this very reason...

[kevine]

Perfect timing too. Beta during the rerun season is the best time. Can't wait. I may even tie this in to beta WHS (Vail) as well.

[jpaddock3000]

OK, the west coast is now up. How about releasing the software?

[osburnfamily]

Originally Posted by jpaddock3000

OK, the west coast is now up. How about releasing the software?

Sorry, I missed some posts (that darn work thing). Did anyone mention if the MCE IR Blaster is now supported in 7?

[bialio]

Originally Posted by Lucas

BTW in what state is the Serenity theme?

Version 0.1 of 'Serenity V7' is already in the Plugin Repository. It addresses only the most significant issue I have with the Default UI - which is the color of the highlight. I was having real trouble tracking where the selection is with the default (transparent white). I made it orange.

That and some flashy background images is about it so far.

I can't say too much - meinmaui is trying to lock me back into the phoenix coding cave....

[razrsharpe]

Originally Posted by sic0048

OK - so I guess each Sage7 beta release will work for 21 days? That seems a little unusual, but probably the easiest to code. I guess it means that if you start down the beta trail, you have to keep up with it to ensure your system will continue to work.

I think there is some confusion on the trial.

When you install v7 for the first time you get 21 days (from the first time you installed v7) to evaluate it and decide if you want to purchase a license. The 21 day trial is not reset at the beginning of each new beta. This is how it worked with the private beta and I don't see Sage changing the process now.

And to everyone who is complaining about a $40 upgrade fee.... IMHO it is CHEAP considering all of the new features and work that went into the software. I can tell you that v7 is well worth the upgrade price. I mean come on 2 people can't even go out to dinner for $40. And just remember for alot of us it means we don't have to rent a crappy $15/month HDDVR from the calbeco.

[sic0048]

Originally Posted by razrsharpe

I think there is some confusion on the trial.

When you install v7 for the first time you get 21 days (from the first time you installed v7) to evaluate it and decide if you want to purchase a license. The 21 day trial is not reset at the beginning of each new beta. This is how it worked with the private beta and I don't see Sage changing the process now.

OK - thanks for the information. I just wanted to be sure I understood how it works!

[sic0048]

Any specific information on how the HD-PVR is going to work better under V7?

Or any beta users that have a HD-PVR want to comment on their experiences?

Thanks!

[gibsonpa]

Originally Posted by razrsharpe

And to everyone who is complaining about a $40 upgrade fee.... IMHO it is CHEAP considering all of the new features and work that went into the software. I can tell you that v7 is well worth the upgrade price.

$40 seems CHEAP to me as well!

[brainbone]

Originally Posted by David G

* Blue strips - those are apparently part of a new UI element, so I'm not sure what they do, but here they're pretty visually jarring color-wise and draw attention to themselves.

My guess is that the "blue strips" come from the background image you have selected. A different image will likely change that.

[razrsharpe]

Originally Posted by brainbone

My guess is that the "blue strips" come from the background image you have selected. A different image will likely change that.

yes that's true...

[mr_lore]

Brent has spoken!


geektonic

RT @SageTV V7 public beta starts tomorrow! ME: Or, make that today... Should be soon now.
about 2 hours ago via web


I've been F5'n ever since...

[BitBass]

Sorry but the license issue still has me confused. I get that the unlicensed beta will die after 21 days and that new betas will not extend that window, at least if you're upgrading it. I suppose you could download a new beta and install it on a new machine starting over with your settings.

I also get that I can upgrade my 6.x version to 7.x for $39.99. What's not clear is if the upgrade license will be available immediately. I'm kind of used to the licensing not getting worked out until the beta period is over. Is that not the case here? We'll be able to buy the upgrade license very soon?

[Fuzzy]

As much as I love sage, Even i don't see me buying into the beta period any time soon. I don't like paying for any BETA software, so my options are either put sage on my production server (at which case, I have 21 days to use it, and no way to downgrade back to my purchased v6), or just wait 'til the beta's over and buy the final.

You really shouldn't have to PAY to be a beta tester.

[jpaddock3000]

Originally Posted by Fuzzy

You really shouldn't have to PAY to be a beta tester.

I 2nd that!

[Jason]

Originally Posted by Fuzzy

As much as I love sage, Even i don't see me buying into the beta period any time soon. I don't like paying for any BETA software, so my options are either put sage on my production server (at which case, I have 21 days to use it, and no way to downgrade back to my purchased v6), or just wait 'til the beta's over and buy the final.

You really shouldn't have to PAY to be a beta tester.

Fuzzy-

As with anything, you have to pay to play...

Having said that, working with the BETA so far has been much more enjoyable. Stability wise, (and with my setup, this is saying a lot!) it is much better. Feature wise, it is a step in the right direction. The direction being that developers now have HUGE opportunities for improvement. Couple the internals with the new plugin repository, and upgrades for new users are now super simple.

As far as the package being a 'BETA', I am sure that most of use gmail... beta means different things to different folks... in Google's case, beta was nothing short of goes, "who is finally going to pull the title off the website?'. In Sage's case, from what I have seen so far, it may not be long in the beta category either.

-Jason

[nick_l]

Originally Posted by aperry

Hmm, so if I pay for this upgrade, does that mean that if I ever have to reinstall, I'll now have to enter three separate codes to get it working?

Right now, to get v6 reinstalled, which I've had to do a few times, I have to enter my original code, then I have to exit the program and restart it and enter my upgrade code. So is this version going to require me to do that a 3rd time?

I really hope I get a code such that is all I have to enter. Just the one, nothing more.

Ok, I know all viewpoints are valid and criticism can be good, but I just have to say it, Thats the most trivial complaint ever.

As chandler would say: "Oh, I know. This must be so hard. Oh, no! Two women love me. They're both gorgeous and sexy. My wallet's too small for my fifties, and my diamond shoes are too tight!"

[vividweb]

Originally Posted by Fuzzy

You really shouldn't have to PAY to be a beta tester.

You don't HAVE to be a beta tester. Wait until it comes out as stable and then purchase/decide.

[can3gxw]

I can't wait to try this out... question though - can I not "install" Sage v7 to the same HTPC as my v6, except choose a different installation folder? For example - Sage v6 is currently installed to Program Files\Sage - can I not install v7 to, say "c:\Sage7" and run them in tandem? Otherwise, my only plan during testing is to rebuild my HTPC (which I kinda was planning on anyway) on a new drive and keep my current setup safe. I'm running WinXP and it's rock solid and set up just the way I like.

Once the beta is done, will the updates after that simply update it to the release version? What about the 21 day limit? Are we expected to pay the upgrade fee for a beta version (I think I read something like this earlier in the thread, but couldn't see the response)?

I will NOT be one that will be whining about the cost - $40 is meager compared to the joys that Sage has brought... I just want to make sure that I have "the plan" in my head.

ALSO - what about the other two MANDATORY (LOL) plugins that I use religiously - Sage WebUI and BMT? Will these be supported in Sage 7?

[paulbeers]

Originally Posted by Jason

Fuzzy-

As with anything, you have to pay to play...

Having said that, working with the BETA so far has been much more enjoyable. Stability wise, (and with my setup, this is saying a lot!) it is much better. Feature wise, it is a step in the right direction. The direction being that developers now have HUGE opportunities for improvement. Couple the internals with the new plugin repository, and upgrades for new users are now super simple.

As far as the package being a 'BETA', I am sure that most of use gmail... beta means different things to different folks... in Google's case, beta was nothing short of goes, "who is finally going to pull the title off the website?'. In Sage's case, from what I have seen so far, it may not be long in the beta category either.

-Jason

I have to agree. BETA really has different meanings to different companies. I have used Sage Beta version since 2.0 days and they have always been stable and usually worth the upgrade even if they had a few loose ends to tie up. I purchased many software titles that weren't BETA, only to feel like they weren't even BETA worthy (more like Alpha status). These titles needed several updates before they were even stable enough to be called usable.....

Sage gets all of that out of the way with the privae Beta testing that goes on...