TILES, At no time during purchase did it state BETA until download????

Got a Stardock email for Tiles.
 
Thought it looked cool and brought it.
 
At no time during the purchase or in the email did it say it was BETA.
 
When I went to My Account to download it after purchase it says it's BETA.
 
 
 
Why is BETA not stated in the email or at any time during purchase????

 

Also cost was $9.46 AUD (invoice) but charged $12.00 AUD.
 
 
 
Seems to be false advertising.

9,064 views 22 replies
Reply #2 Top

If someone can buy it, the requirements need an update ...

Reply #4 Top

Quoting tazgecko, reply 2
If someone can buy it, the requirements need an update ...
End of tazgecko's quote

That 'was' the requirement...it's only just been made publicly accessible.

Reply #5 Top

It might be, dnxdnx that like the sys reqs quoted by tazgecko the "beta" part just hasn't been updated to read Tiles v. 1.0 . There are rarely idle hands at Stardock, from what I hear. Perhaps the developer can relate to your complaint.

Just a question, though: Is it working for you? Has it crashed, etc.? If it doesn't crash/cause problems with other software, it doesn't fulfill the definition of "beta", does it?

In other words, "A rose by any other name..."

http://www.techterms.com/definition/betasoftware 

 

As for the charge, that's something you'd have to check out with sales@stardock.com so open a ticket there.

Reply #6 Top

The download as of an hour ago is Tiles_095_beta_setup.

Already opened a ticket querying the BETA not being stated and also the cost.

 

The Stardock email received yesterday actually says Full Version at $9.95 with no mention of Beta.

 

But as stated when you purchase it and go to myaccount to download it is the beta.

Reply #7 Top

Quoting DrJBHL, reply 5
Is it working for you? Has it crashed, etc.? If it doesn't crash/cause problems with other software, it doesn't fulfill the definition of "beta", does it?

In other words, "A rose by any other name..."
End of DrJBHL's quote

Reply #8 Top

A click on More Information near the top of this page LINK reveals this info:

 

Specifications

Title: Tiles

Version: 0.98 (beta)

Developer: Stardock Software

Requires: Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7

Price: Free (optional DLC is available for purchase)

but to be honest, how many people are going to go there?

Perhaps this information should be more publicly visible and included in the product announcements and/or the My Account page.

 

Reply #9 Top

Are you sure the price difference isn't caused by your credit card provider?

Some companies charge an additional fee when transactions are not in your currency and I believe the Stardock store transactions would be in USD and the amount shown in AUD is simply an estimate based on exchange rates as Stardock have no way of knowing what rate your credit card company will use and any fees they may add on.

Reply #10 Top

Quoting Wizard1956, reply 8
A click on More Information near the top of this page LINK reveals this info:

 

Specifications

Title: Tiles

Version: 0.98 (beta)

Developer: Stardock Software

Requires: Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7

Price: Free (optional DLC is available for purchase)

but to be honest, how many people are going to go there?

Perhaps this information should be more publicly visible and included in the product announcements and/or the My Account page.

 
End of Wizard1956's quote

 

As you said should be more publicly visible and the download was 0.95 Beta not 0.98 Beta, so that link (more info) shows Tiles .98 BETA Media Guide.pdf would even be wrong.

 

As for the difference in cost, haven't had that problem when buying from stardock in past.

And it's an Authorized pledge (visa debit card) which is sitting on my bank account, so will have to wait for it to go through on monday to see what the final amount is i suppose.

Reply #11 Top

Quoting c242, reply 7
Quoting DrJBHL, reply 5Is it working for you? Has it crashed, etc.? If it doesn't crash/cause problems with other software, it doesn't fulfill the definition of "beta", does it?

In other words, "A rose by any other name..."
End of c242's quote

 

So you pay for a Mercedes, go to pick it up and it's a ford even though the ford works perfectly it's not what you paid for:)

And even if it works, that's not the point anyway.

Reply #12 Top

To top it off, just started impule/gamestop and tiles is listed under updates even though i didn't install it through impulse/gamestop as i brought it through the Stardock store.

So I thought, wonder if it will update but I need to register it with Impulse/Gamestop before it will update.

Impulse/Gamestop doesn't recognize the serial number.

 

Is this normal???

Reply #13 Top

Quoting dnxdnx, reply 11
So you pay for a Mercedes, go to pick it up and it's a ford even though the ford works perfectly it's not what you paid for:)

And even if it works, that's not the point anyway.
End of dnxdnx's quote

A lot of 'normal' programs you purchase will refer to themselves as something like "Photoshop 10" but when you look into the deatails it'll be 10.21.3 or some such....the minor numbering shows a continuance of 'beta' although the product is public release.  Many proggies NEED constant revision even after being freed for public consumption.

MOST skinning programs constantly 'chase' the products they skin...eg the OS ...so are in a constant state of flux.

Whether or not a release has the descriptor 'beta' on it means little other than indicating revisions are on-going.

Heavens...Litestep has been ongoing for a decade and a half....and last time I checked it was version 0.27 ....  IF it ever got to a 1.0 level release I think ALL of its users would simply faint from shock.

My installed version of Windowblinds calls itself 'WB7' ....which sounds 'final' until you notice... '7.3 build 308' ....so it, too is a point release.

Does it impact on functionality?

No.

Reply #14 Top

Impulse is now owned by GameStop and not to be used to install or update Stardock products.

Please refer here - https://forums.wincustomize.com/409931

"Anyway, at the moment we are in a transition period.  Specifically, we are transitioning away from Impulse being your main download and update method.  Going forward, you can access all of your registrations and download links for Stardock software by logging in here:

https://store.stardock.com/myaccount/products

This will give you a list of everything that is on your account, along with your serial numbers and installer download links.  That's right, download links directly to the latest stable version of the software."

and here - https://forums.wincustomize.com/413462

If you have a ticket number then post it here in a comment.

Do not resend another request email until you hear back from a support tech as tickets are answered on a first-in first-out and sending another email will move your position in the response queue.

Support are off for the weekend.

Reply #15 Top

Quoting Jafo, reply 13
Quoting dnxdnx, reply 11So you pay for a Mercedes, go to pick it up and it's a ford even though the ford works perfectly it's not what you paid for:)

And even if it works, that's not the point anyway.

A lot of 'normal' programs you purchase will refer to themselves as something like "Photoshop 10" but when you look into the deatails it'll be 10.21.3 or some such....the minor numbering shows a continuance of 'beta' although the product is public release.  Many proggies NEED constant revision even after being freed for public consumption.

MOST skinning programs constantly 'chase' the products they skin...eg the OS ...so are in a constant state of flux.

Whether or not a release has the descriptor 'beta' on it means little other than indicating revisions are on-going.

Heavens...Litestep has been ongoing for a decade and a half....and last time I checked it was version 0.27 ....  IF it ever got to a 1.0 level release I think ALL of its users would simply faint from shock.

My installed version of Windowblinds calls itself 'WB7' ....which sounds 'final' until you notice... '7.3 build 308' ....so it, too is a point release.

Does it impact on functionality?

No.
End of Jafo's quote

 

So it's a BETA i paid for, then why not state that in the email that was sent and on the purchase page?

Why leave it until you go to myaccount to download (after you purchased it) and then see it is BETA and the download is Tiles_095_beta_setup.

Ok, i get the Impulse/Gamestop bit but if there is an update from the 0.95 Beta (going by gamestop) that i ended up buying, what is it and why isn't the updated version being given when brought?

 

Also, object dock and windowsblinds 7 in myaccount show production not beta like Tiles.

Your Photoshop 10 analogy are updates on a final release product. Not buying a Beta as final and then finding a Beta when you go to download.

 

Reply #16 Top

Much ado.

SD have a generous refund policy if that is your preference.

Reply #17 Top

I can't find my email for verification [I'd likely dumped it as I already had the Tiles Beta installed] and maybe it'd help a few if there were emblazoned in bold red "BETA" but as previously noted, it's systemic with skinnable releases that they are on-going revisional works.  If something is released into the wild new it's almost always a WIP aka 'beta'.

Provided it works there's no drama...and if it has issues the process will see them revised anyway.

It's really mostly semanics and Daiwa's somewhat correct....;)

Reply #18 Top

I have the email.

I't might only be semantics but just seems a little underhanded even though the program works.

So 0.95 Beta is the latest?

 

PS:this is the link to email https://www.stardock.com/media/Mailers/tiles_mailer/index.html after you click on Having trouble viewing this email? click here

 



     

 

 


 

 

 


 
 
 



  

  
 


 

 

   
 
 

 


                 

   

 


   

   

 


   

 
Reply #19 Top

Interesting, on the email if you click on the Having trouble viewing this email? click here

When you click on it and it takes you to the above link, the tab on IE shows Tiles 0.98 Beta Now Available.

But the download is 0.95 Beta with no update.

Sorry for being a pain as it's a good product but whole purchase is confusing, if you don't advise people what they are buying.

Reply #20 Top

dnxdnx ....you've been here for a while now... UserID number indicates that.  You'd surely be aware of Stardock's policy of getting early vers of their proggies out to their eager user base....

...and then there's :- https://forums.wincustomize.com/413574 where the third word is 'Beta'.

...dates to 17th, or one day prior to this thread.

Then there's :-  https://forums.wincustomize.com/406240 which is MARCH 10.

"Tiles is currently in beta exclusively on Stardock’s Object Desktop software network. Users can get Object Desktop at www.objectdesktop.com. It is expected to be generally released this Summer."

 

Reply #21 Top

Sorry Jafo.

Maybe i should have checked all those links before buying full version through the email purchase link but i didn't and was just surprised it said beta after i purchased it.

I'll make this my last comment and forget about it.

 

Can you please advise if the current beta is 0.98 or 0.95 as i got 0.95 when when purchased and no update.

 

P.S: Think i found answer, apparently it's 0.98 but purchased download hasn't been updated to 0.98 from 0.95?

Reply #22 Top

Yes, and yes ...;)