fruux blog http://blog.fruux.com Thu, 18 Dec 2008 09:48:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 en hourly 1 fruux and the “Desktop AppStore” http://blog.fruux.com/2008/12/16/fruux-and-the-desktop-appstore/ http://blog.fruux.com/2008/12/16/fruux-and-the-desktop-appstore/#comments Tue, 16 Dec 2008 10:29:43 +0000 Dominik http://blog.fruux.com/?p=182 Months ago we submitted fruux to Apples’ Software Download Page, but yesterday we got the notice (on request) that they won’t publish fruux:

Hi,

fruux’s feature-set is too similar to Apple’s MobileMe (http://www.me.com).

Regards,

Apple Downloads

http://www.apple.com/downloads/

That kind of raises the question if it makes sense to put more work into our iPhone client. They even rejected our desktop app, so probably they will also reject our iPhone client. So allocating resources (time, money, sleepless nights, …) to our iPhone client is kind of a gamble if they reject it. Apple really has to fix this random rejection policy - especially because there are several sync applications both on the Apple Downloads Page and in the AppStore.

UPDATE 2008-12-17:

We just recieved another Email from Cupertino (we asked, why they rejected our listing, but listed several other sync applications):

Hi,

Those applications are restricted to syncing calendars (including Google calendars, which MobileMe does not do). fruux’s feature set has more parity with MobileMe in that it also syncs addresses and bookmarks.

Regards,

Apple Downloads
 http://www.apple.com/downloads/

It looks like this is “not entirely appropiate”.

  • It’s wrong that those apps only sync iCal, some of them also sync contacts

Some random thoughts:

  • fruux is all about social syncing (that kind of differenciates fruux from MobileMe!?!)
  • Will Apple also ban Microsoft Messenger for similarities with iChat?
  • Or Firefox for similarities with Safari?
  • Should we continue working on our iPhone client?

Additionally we’d like to add some thoughts to an excellent write-up (AppStore, crappy ringtone apps, serious development, …) by Craig Hockenberry:

  • Developing a product (including software) means investing (time, money, resources)
  • Apples “rejection policy” is “not entirely” clear, sometimes they even reject apps for using private apis, which in fact don’t use private apis
  • Developing a product which is undistributable (because it’s rejected from the AppStore) is like investing your (time/money/resources) at a roulette desk in a casino and betting on the wrong number. 
  • There must be many great apps that are not even developed, because the developers can’t afford this rejection lottery!?

UPDATE 2008-12-18:
We just recieved another email from Cupertino, which sounds like good news.

Hi,

Once distinguishing features (such as Social Syncing) are implemented and out of beta in fruux, we can certainly take another look.

Regards,

Apple Downloads
http://www.apple.com/downloads/

The iPhone development gamble problem (see above) stays the same, but at least it is not entirely hopeless. We’ll still change our roadmap and focus on Mac development first before we continue working on our iPhone client.

]]> http://blog.fruux.com/2008/12/16/fruux-and-the-desktop-appstore/feed/ fruux + Box.net (or) Dropbox = ♥ ? http://blog.fruux.com/2008/10/26/fruux-plus-box-or-dropbox-equals-heart/ http://blog.fruux.com/2008/10/26/fruux-plus-box-or-dropbox-equals-heart/#comments Sun, 26 Oct 2008 12:31:40 +0000 Dominik http://blog.fruux.com/?p=178 Bookmarks, Contacts, Tasks, Calendars and Events in sync with fruux, but still looking for a solution for your files? Box.net and Dropbox might be worth a look. If you are looking for an iDisk replacement, you might see their services as a welcome addition to fruux.

(fruux is not affiliated with Box.net or Dropbox)

]]> http://blog.fruux.com/2008/10/26/fruux-plus-box-or-dropbox-equals-heart/feed/ Apple Wishlist http://blog.fruux.com/2008/10/20/apple-wishlist/ http://blog.fruux.com/2008/10/20/apple-wishlist/#comments Mon, 20 Oct 2008 12:39:35 +0000 Dominik http://blog.fruux.com/?p=168
  • Rechargeable wireless Mighty Mouse with a Scroll Ball that does not suck!!!
  • Mail.app with builtin GPG and S/MIME support (also on iPhone)
  • Ability to forward text messages on iPhone
  • Different signatures for each mail account on iPhone
  • Installer and/or Cydia in AppStore :-)

    • Your wishes?

     

    UPDATE:
    Looks like someone had the same idea:
    TechCrunch: Please Fix The iPhone: A To-Do List for Steve Jobs

    ]]>     http://blog.fruux.com/2008/10/20/apple-wishlist/feed/     press roundup, bugs and howto support fruux http://blog.fruux.com/2008/10/14/press-roundup-bugs-and-howto-support-fruux/ http://blog.fruux.com/2008/10/14/press-roundup-bugs-and-howto-support-fruux/#comments Tue, 14 Oct 2008 22:02:12 +0000 Dominik http://blog.fruux.com/?p=161 During the last days our project got a lot of attention around the globe. We got reams of emails including lots of feature requests, bug reports and dozens of motivating comments (we used some of them as user comments on our main site).

    Here is just a short excerpt of sites featuring fruux:

    We even found a podcast, mentioning fruux (@ 21:20), besides that many people twittered about fruux and we even heard unrelated people talking about fruux in the streets!

    Of course we especially liked the content that was produced by our own users, like:

    Thank you!

    We are still working hard on our next bugfix release and hope to implement many of your feature requests very soon.

    If you like our work and want to support the project, please file your bugs (if we don’t know about them, we can’t fix them)! Are there any fruux screencasts out there?

    If you want to help even more, have a look at our -support us- site.

    ]]>     http://blog.fruux.com/2008/10/14/press-roundup-bugs-and-howto-support-fruux/feed/     whats next? http://blog.fruux.com/2008/10/04/whats-next/ http://blog.fruux.com/2008/10/04/whats-next/#comments Sat, 04 Oct 2008 17:53:12 +0000 Dominik http://blog.fruux.com/?p=151 You might have noticed our roadmap, so you know that we have high aims with fruux - but we need your help to make it happen. Especially we’d like to know which features you want to see in our next version! Please add your comments below! Feature requests like “Please add Safari bookmark syncing” might be implemented earlier, than “Please add a Windows client and FileSyncing”. :-)

    We recently added a french localization to our software, which was donated by our user linathael over at HardMac.com/MacBidouille.com, then screwed up by our french inability and luckily corrected with the help of several comments from other french fruux users (Thank you, Emmanuel, Pierre, Virginie, Jean)! If you’d like to see fruux localized in your language and want to donate your free time, please let us know. We’ll provide you with the localizable strings.

    ]]>     http://blog.fruux.com/2008/10/04/whats-next/feed/     fruux v0.7.1 - iCal bugfixes http://blog.fruux.com/2008/10/01/fruux-v071-ical-bugfixes/ http://blog.fruux.com/2008/10/01/fruux-v071-ical-bugfixes/#comments Wed, 01 Oct 2008 17:31:02 +0000 Dominik http://blog.fruux.com/?p=141 fruux Preference Pane IconToday we released fruux v0.7.1, besides several iCal syncing related bugfixes this version includes a french localization, which was generously donated from linathael over at HardMac.com/MacBidouille.com (Thank you, linathael!).

    We are also working hard on our main site at fruux.com. It’s still work in progress, but you’ll find our changelog and also our roadmap there.

    Please always remember, that fruux is still in beta.
    Backup your data:

    • Addressbook: File -> Export -> Addressbook Archive
    • iCal: File -> Backup iCal…

    If you are affected by any bugs, please let us know (support @ fruux . com). We are pretty responsive and will do our best to get any bugs you might experience resolved as fast as possible.

    Can’t wait for the new version? Here are the update instructions:

    • Start “System Preferences”
    • Start “fruux”
    • Click “Synchronize Now”
    • If you don’t already have v0.7.1 installed, the “New version availiable” message will appear
    • After a few seconds you’ll be asked if you want to replace the current version. Click “Replace”
    • Wait a few seconds, until the new version is installed
    • Click “Synchronize Now”
    • If the System asks you for permission to use the fruux Keychain item, click “Allow”
    ]]>     http://blog.fruux.com/2008/10/01/fruux-v071-ical-bugfixes/feed/     fruux v0.7 rollout http://blog.fruux.com/2008/09/29/fruux-v07-rollout/ http://blog.fruux.com/2008/09/29/fruux-v07-rollout/#comments Mon, 29 Sep 2008 11:28:14 +0000 Dominik http://blog.fruux.com/?p=118 We are happy that our fruux v0.7 rollout went quite smoothly.

    However we’re still not entirely satisfied, because some of you are affected by bugs.
    There are currently three known issues with iCal syncing:

    • if you heavily use recurring events, your sync might break (we’re working on this one)
    • Obviously some of our users from russia are affected by an encoding bug (we’re working on this one)
    • Some users have problems with duplication and repeating sync conflicts (so far all of them used other sync systems in addition to fruux, we’re working on this one, too)

    Only very few users are struck by those bugs, but still we are extremely sorry for any inconvenience caused! Please keep in mind that fruux is still in beta. We’re working really hard fixing those bugs as fast as possible.

    If you are affected by bugs or need help, please get in touch with us:
    support (at) fruux . com

    (Please don’t forget to enter your correct emailaddress, if you use our contact form. If you email directly to our support emailaddress, please include the file ~/Library/Application Support/Fruux/Sync.log).

    Some of our users already work with our addressbook syncing in productive enviroments. If you need addressbook syncing e.g. in your office and there is no way you could wait for our bugfix release, please contact us. We might be able to offer you a customized version of fruux, which just syncs your addressbook.

    Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any problems concerning fruux! Thank you for your support.

    ]]>     http://blog.fruux.com/2008/09/29/fruux-v07-rollout/feed/     Is XMPP popular? Who knows? We do! http://blog.fruux.com/2008/09/25/is-xmpp-popular-who-knows-we-do/ http://blog.fruux.com/2008/09/25/is-xmpp-popular-who-knows-we-do/#comments Thu, 25 Sep 2008 20:45:37 +0000 Dominik http://blog.fruux.com/?p=105 Did we mention, that we don’t really like those proprietary IM protocols?
    We wanted to know how popular our favorite protocol XMPP (a.k.a. Jabber) actually is, so we gathered some ANONYMOUS statistics from our systems.

    While XMPP in it’s early days was a “geek-only protocol”, it actually looks like it’s on a triumphal course.
    (Our current userbase probably consists of a lot of geeks, but since most of us still have several “normal people” in our addressbooks, those stats are actually representative)

    XMPP is close on AIMs heels. 27% of our users IM contacts are XMPP contacts. Thats great!
    Our educated guess is: In one or two years XMPP will be in the pole position!

    ]]>     http://blog.fruux.com/2008/09/25/is-xmpp-popular-who-knows-we-do/feed/     What the fruux? http://blog.fruux.com/2008/09/15/what-the-fruux/ http://blog.fruux.com/2008/09/15/what-the-fruux/#comments Mon, 15 Sep 2008 11:13:42 +0000 Dominik http://blog.fruux.com/?p=64 fruux Preference Pane IconWe got a couple of mails from people asking us, what exactly fruux is about. I guess our marketing sucks :-)

    What is fruux about?

    • syncing data (currently addressbooks) between multiple macs devices

    What about the future?

    • sync even more data (calendars, bookmarks, preferences)
    • iPhone syncing
    • adding social-syncing
    • more details in our roadmap

    Any demo video?

    • Thanks to Joshua from MacGasm there is a nice screencast covering fruux. It’s availiable at blip.tv.
      (The video shows an older version of fruux. If you watched the video and wonder what went wrong at about 1:20 - Address Book.app and the Apple SyncServices only update a record, if it is not currently opened. Joshua worked around by closing Address Book.app and syncing again. Just clicking on another contact and then back on the “demo contact” would have worked, too. The sync actually went fine, Address Book.app just didn’t update itself with the new data, because the changed contact was currently opened. In “real live” you probably won’t even recognize this behaviour of Address Book.app and Apples SyncServices, because you won’t sit on both machines, have the same contact opened and wait for the change to appear) :-)

    FAQ

    • Is my data safe?
      • fruux uses industry standard SSL encryption (like your bank does for your homebanking) and we will never ever give a third party access to your data!
    • Should I backup my addressbook before I start using fruux?
      • You should even backup your addressbook when your are not using fruux! fruux is betasoftware. We store a quadrillion (not exactly) contacts and so far nothing went wrong, but there might always be some edge case (for example if you use any other third party sync app) where bad things could happen. So please backup your addressbook (Launch Address Book.app -> File -> Export -> Save Address Book Archive).
    • fruux is free, may I support you?
      • Why not. You could donate via Paypal, or just shop at Amazon.com or Amazon.de. It’s also possible to list your website/company on our supporters page. We might also blog about your company and how nice your donation was.
      • Help spreading the word. Blog about fruux, produce screencasts, upload screenshots (if your article/video/… is nice, we’ll probably link it here), tell your friends, show others that you use fruux at iusethis.com, if you are a Facebook user please “fan” our fruux @ facebook page, follow us on Twitter (it’s low volume, usually we just use it for important stuff) and so on.

    More questions?

    Try fruux?

    ]]>     http://blog.fruux.com/2008/09/15/what-the-fruux/feed/     fruux v0.6 & public beta http://blog.fruux.com/2008/09/12/fruux-v06-public-beta/ http://blog.fruux.com/2008/09/12/fruux-v06-public-beta/#comments Fri, 12 Sep 2008 14:22:08 +0000 Dominik http://blog.fruux.com/?p=57 fruux Preference Pane IconAlthough we are a bit late, we are pleased to announce fruux 0.6. This version still contains no iCal syncing (sorry for that), but we changed a ton of internal stuff, that allows us to include new features in the next version, give you even better performance and reliability as well.

    public beta
    This version allows new users to join our beta test. Just download it and register a fruux account yourself (you need a valid emailadress, otherwise you wont be able to activate it).

    Changelog:

    • (FEATURE) self registration feature (allows new users to create a fruux account)
    • (FEATURE) fruux autoupdater (allows us to deliver new features to you)
    • (FIXES) A ton of bugfixes and performance optimizations

    If you are are current fruux betatester, this is (hopefully) the last time you have to update your fruux client manually. Please download the new client version and follow our update instructions.

    Please contact us if you need help, experience bugs, have a suggestion or simply want to tell us how much you love fruux ;-)

    If you are interested in speeding up development, feel free to support us and please suggest your top priority feature!

    ]]>     http://blog.fruux.com/2008/09/12/fruux-v06-public-beta/feed/