CSE HTML Validator Std/Pro v8.0 BETA 2A/3 Now Available

[Albert Wiersch]

CSE HTML Validator Pro v8.00 BETA 3 is now available to licensed v8.0x professional users.

CSE HTML Validator Std v8.00 BETA 2A is now available to licensed v8.0x standard users. NOTE: We weren't originally planning to release a standard edition BETA, but we have changed our mind.

Please download the BETA and provide feedback to help improve it before the final release. The release of v8.00 is scheduled for early October.

I recommend that you simply install v8.0 BETA in addition to any other CSE HTML Validator version/edition that you have already installed. Then you can always revert back if you have a problem. If you have a previous v8.0 BETA installed, then simply install the new v8.0 BETA over your current v8.0 BETA installation.

Here is the revision history for v8.0 BETA:
http://www.htmlvalidator.com/htmlval/be ... ryv80.html

To download v8.0 BETA (Pro):
http://www.htmlvalidator.com/htmlval/ph ... rsionin=80

To download v8.0 BETA (Std):
http://www.htmlvalidator.com/htmlval/ph ... sionin=801

Hint: Load your current version and do an update check (Help->Check for New Program Version or Help->Check for Updates). This should open a browser window with your registration number and PIN number already filled out. Just select v8.00 BETA and download.

IMPORTANT! CSE HTML Validator v8.0 drops support for Windows 95, 98, and Me. Now requires Windows 2000, Windows XP, or above.

IMPORTANT! A v8.0x key is required. V7.0x registration keys WILL NOT WORK with this BETA release. You can obtain a new key from the web site at
https://www.htmlvalidator.com/htmlval/p ... foform.php

An upgrade may need to be purchased. Please purchase one if necessary to support the program. You'll be able to use all future v8.0x releases.

If you need to upgrade to v8.0x pro, then you can do so here:
https://www.htmlvalidator.com/htmlval/p ... estep1.php

Feedback should be posted to the BETA Discussion forum. Please let me know what you think!

Additional upgrade information:

Those needing to purchase an upgrade before using this BETA will find this additional information useful.

The release date for v8.0 professional has been set to October 9, 2006. The standard edition release date is October 16, 2006. We expect v8.0 to be released on time on those dates. We have programmed our upgrade system to work from these dates. This means that the free upgrade period is calculated based on the expected release dates in October. Professional edition purchases receive one year of free upgrades, so if you purchased or upgraded after October 9, 2005, then you'll receive a free v8.0 upgrade (applies to pro edition only). If you purchased or upgraded before October 9, 2005, then an upgrade purchase will be required.

If you need to purchase an upgrade to use v8.0, then your upgrade date will be recognized by our upgrade system as being made on the respective release date. So if you purchase an upgrade to v8.0 pro, then you're upgrade date will be recorded as October 9, 2006 and you'll receive free major upgrades until October 9, 2007. Minor updates are always free.

I hope this clears up any confusion.

On a final note, I personally appreciate the purchasing of upgrades. They help us to continue providing great service and developing new versions! Thank you!

[Daniel Lacroix]

Albert,

When I try the check for Updates from the v8 Beta 1, I got the following 2 messages.

Windows cannot find 'h'. Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again. To search for a file, click the Start button, and then click Search.

Followed by The operating system was unable to open the document 'h'. If this document is a URL or HTML document, then you may need an installed web browser and /or an active Internet connection to view it. (hInstApp error number 2)

To get the latest Beta I had to go to the download for registered users page and enter the necessary information.

Update: I use the link from the email you sent me.

Daniel

[Albert Wiersch]

Thanks Daniel,

This should already be fixed in BETA 1C.

[TomasF]

On a final note, I personally appreciate the purchasing of upgrades. They help us to continue providing great service and developing new versions! Thank you!

Well, I just thought I'd post something I've been keeping to myself so far. First of all, let me say that this isn't because I'm against the concept of paying for upgrades or even paying for software. I've been a licensed user of HTML Validator since 1996 (wow, that's 10 years already), and I currently have a v7.0 Pro license.

What does make me react tho, is having to pay to beta test an application.
I mean, I don't normally mind helping companies and individual developers do their QA and such, thus saving them costs and helping them make a better and thus more marketable product, for no financial compensation. In general, it's a trade where you get a sneek peak at the software and new features in return for doing the testing.

But from there to actually pay for access to doing the QA is a questionable practice imo. I've seen big corps with highly hyped or otherwise popular software get away with it, but I can't think of any other small shareware developer I license software from that does this.

I guess this doesn't do much to or from as the betas of HTML Validator always seem to fall on periods when I'm too busy with other stuff to use it much anyway, but I react to the principle of it.

[Albert Wiersch]

Hello TomasF,

I can understand your view on this. Here is our reasoning for why we do it the way we do. I hope you can understand it as well.

1. I would not say that we charge to test BETA software. The charge is to upgrade to the next release version. As a bonus to upgrading early, users can also test the BETA version if they wish to.

2. If users do not wish to test the BETA or upgrade early, then that is fine and of course we have no problem with that. Users may upgrade when v8.0 is released or whenever they wish.

3. Our BETAs are usually pretty stable, and if there is a major issue, it is usually corrected right away. In a way, it would be unfair to our paid users if unpaid users get better functionality than paid users get by using v8.0.

4. Some users, per our upgrade policy, will get a free v8.0 upgrade. This depends on when the program was last purchased or upgraded and the edition. Because these users are already licensed for the release of v8.0, they can download the v8.0 BETA without having to upgrade to v8.0.

5. Both users and us benefit from BETA testing, but that does not mean that since we benefit that the BETA should be open to all. Also, having too many BETA testers can also make things more difficult. We prefer to keep the number of users who test the BETA software smaller and higher quality. That way we can offer better service to those who do test it. Furthermore, we are very responsive to requests while in a "strong" development cycle, so users can benefit greatly if they have a particular request that gets implemented for the next BETA.

6. If users do not wish to test the BETA version, then we recommend that they opt-out of BETA mailings.

7. If a user does not wish (or is not sure if they want) to upgrade to v8.0 early and start using the BETA, then they are welcome to wait until the evaluation version of v8.0 is ready. They can then evaluate the program and determine whether the upgrade makes sense for them. However, it makes sense that priority and support is given to paid v8.0 users first, so paid v8.0 users will get to use v8.0 first.

I hope this helps with why we have the system that we do.

However, due to feedback, I will consider making the BETAs available to all paid users for the next BETA cycle. If it works well then I may continue doing it that way.