Exclusive Preview: Courier for Mac by Realmac Software

[Master Chief]

Update:

Ok. The trial [unregistered version] can now be downloaded – after a short initial hiccup [wouldn't let you publish]. Courier comes with [only] two themes and supports up to five deliveries. After that you need to register.

And like I said [expected really] it does need a few tweaks [a bit of feedback for Nik Fletcher]:

1.) You cannot simply click on a service, but you have to drag them onto an envelop.
2.) You cannot delete multiple envelops at a time.
3.) There's no iDisk support.
4.) I can't seem to toggle the slider with a key combo
5.) There's a resize icon on the app window, but I cannot resize it.
6.) I find the Airmail theme a bit misleading, you're after all not going to sent items per Airmail.
7.) It currently uses 194.5 MB of memory, which I find a bit too much for one single empty envelop, and an application that hasn't got anything to do, yet.
8.) There's no keyboard support to add services, and for a number of other things.
9.) The About / Preferences dialogs are a bit simple.
10.) "Send Diagnostic Information" under Preference is ON by default, without using the users consent.

But hey. Give it a go yourself.

 

[nikf]

Hi there

Thanks for the feedback. We've done a tonne of work, but as with any app - a 1.0 will have a couple of rough edges. We're working on them, and will be putting out a 1.0.1 release once we've gathered together the launch feedback, decided what's most pressing and set our developers to work on it.

1.) You cannot simply click on a service, but you have to drag them onto an envelop.
2.) You cannot delete multiple envelops at a time.

Consider these noted

3.) There's no iDisk support.

It's something we've considered, but I can't say any more at the moment. We'll be looking into it.

4.) I can't seem to toggle the slider with a key combo

Cmd + Opt + A (It's on the View menu -> Activity)

5.) There's a resize icon on the app window, but I cannot resize it.

You can - however it's horizontal-only for the time being.

6.) I find the Airmail theme a bit misleading, you're after all not going to sent items per Airmail.

Not sure what to reply to this one - it's a theme. If it's not to your taste, there's auto-selection (and another design available too). The designs are going to be opened up to designers in the near future so third-parties can design their own envelopes.

7.) It currently uses 194.5 MB of memory, which I find a bit too much for one single empty envelop, and an application that hasn't got anything to do, yet.

That definitely isn't right. We're garbage collected, but that doesn't excuse the usage. Any idea of the steps you took to get that (such as "I watched the getting started video") would be appreciated.

8.) There's no keyboard support to add services, and for a number of other things.

Consider it noted for consideration: if you could elaborate on the 'other things' I'll be sure to get them into our feedback system.

9.) The About / Preferences dialogs are a bit simple.

I'm not sure what else we could put into these without adding cruft. There's few preferences by design.

10.) "Send Diagnostic Information" under Preference is ON by default, without using the users consent.

Given that this is entirely anonymous, we feel that's acceptable. The only information include system specs (so processors / OS X release) to guide development, however we will be looking at the UX for this aspect of the app.

Thanks for the feedback: there's plenty more coming for Courier, in both finesse and features and hopefully we'll have 1.0.1 out soon to smooth over some of these areas. Folks always use apps differently to how we conceive them, and whilst we had a fairly large test group we can't account for every workflow at 1.0!

Kind Regards,

Nik

 

[leontief]

Hi there

Thanks for the feedback. We've done a tonne of work, but as with any app - a 1.0 will have a couple of rough edges. We're working on them, and will be putting out a 1.0.1 release once we've gathered together the launch feedback, decided what's most pressing and set our developers to work on it.



Nik

See this is the usefulness of previewing apps like this. There are fewer Mac apps, fewer options if you will, so we have to maximize the ability of developers to make those that exist better.

Remember all of you later adopters, the community is one of the things that makes macs different.

And yes, Arn, is completely right, there have always been prerelease reviews like this, from day two. Scroll on past if you do not care, after all its not like we are downloading the site on 14kb modems anymore.

 

[bassism]

Sadly, the 64 bit mac requirement kind of put an end to my attempt to try the app out.

Nik, since you're hanging out on the forums anyway, would it be possible to give some insight into the choice to make the app 64 bit only? I'm assuming it's a technical thing, but I have to admit it seems somewhat of a strange choice for an app that doesn't seem it would benefit highly from 64 bit-ness.

It would seem to me that at least a portion of the mom and pop market might be running 32 bit macs, without knowing about the differences between 32 and 64, and end up confused when the app won't work for them. Not to mention there are a lot of CD macs out there.

 

[DMann]

Last time I checked AidenShaw's sig it stated his opposition to Prop 8. Not sure how a request for equality can be construed as breaking forum rules on 'sexual content'. Perhaps to make MR a nicer environment you could try a little harder to conceal your homophobia.

I'n not at all homophobic.

However, being that signatures promoting one's sexual orientation are not condoned by forum rules, nor are sigs which plug particular Windows products, among other 'causes,' the environment here would be slightly more pleasant without the OT propaganda, IMO.

Because updates are different than never-before seen products. Also, Realmac is a major company in the indie Mac world.

Agreed, Realmac and it's products are pertinent to this site - front page, and all.

 

[DylanLikesPorn]

And yes, Arn, is completely right, there have always been prerelease reviews like this...

Umm, no.

The problem is, when this piece of front page "news" features writing like this "There is no limit to the number of envelopes you can create and you can even include multiple destinations for a single envelope" it sounds like an advertorial. Did "Marianne Schultz" actually try to create an unlimited number of envelopes, or is she just spewing marketing BS? See, that is the problem there.

Another gem: "Perhaps most importantly, Courier also integrates the envelopes you've set up with the Mac OS Services menu accessible with a right mouse click, making it easy and convenient to choose items to share and upload." Does this not sound like marketing crap she's been fed by Realmac?

MacRumors needs to stop wasting people's time with "previews" like this, especially these "utilities". While they are at it, why not also preview some file renaming utilities.

 

[LagunaSol]

MacRumors needs to stop wasting people's time with "previews" like this, especially these "utilities". While they are at it, why not also preview some file renaming utilities.

The only "time wasted" is the time you spend reading an article you aren't interested in and/or griping about said article in the forums.

As leontief said, scroll on past, people. It's not that hard.

 

[Master Chief]

Hi there

Thanks for the feedback. We've done a tonne of work, but as with any app - a 1.0 will have a couple of rough edges. We're working on them, and will be putting out a 1.0.1 release once we've gathered together the launch feedback, decided what's most pressing and set our developers to work on it.

You're welcome. And I fully understand that initial software releases can have rough edges, hence my use of "[expected really]". No worries.

Cmd + Opt + A (It's on the View menu -> Activity)

Right, but I found it on the "Windows" menu. Never mind.

You can - however it's horizontal-only for the time being.

Sure, but we're talking Mac application development here, with GUI guidelines, and that widget means something to people like me, and thus if it doesn't work as intended, people get confused. I sure was.

Not sure what to reply to this one - it's a theme. If it's not to your taste, there's auto-selection (and another design available too). The designs are going to be opened up to designers in the near future so third-parties can design their own envelopes.

It's not about my [personal] taste but more about the confusion. It's not logical. It isn't connecting the dots.

Note: Simply ask 100 people, who have never seen Courier, and simply ask them what that image means to them. I tell you this; the first thing I said was 'Par Avion'?

That definitely isn't right. We're garbage collected, but that doesn't excuse the usage. Any idea of the steps you took to get that (such as "I watched the getting started video") would be appreciated.

I haven't checked – not using the same computer at the moment – but I remember noticing that 'Activity View' did add something like ±100 MB. And yeah, I also watched the video.

Consider it noted for consideration: if you could elaborate on the 'other things' I'll be sure to get them into our feedback system.

Thanks. And I was referring to Zoom and Delete.

I'm not sure what else we could put into these without adding cruft. There's few preferences by design.

Yeah. I'm such a style nit. Forget about it.

Given that this is entirely anonymous, we feel that's acceptable.

I'm not going to argue about business decisions, and it might indeed be acceptable, but people might wonder about why it is enabled by default. Some may even think that it forwards data at first startup, and then a check box isn't going to help them anymore.

The only information include system specs (so processors / OS X release) to guide development, however we will be looking at the UX for this aspect of the app.

Which is fine and dandy for someone who knows what is going on in the background, but it is a mystery to end-users.

Thanks for the feedback: there's plenty more coming for Courier, in both finesse and features and hopefully we'll have 1.0.1 out soon to smooth over some of these areas. Folks always use apps differently to how we conceive them, and whilst we had a fairly large test group we can't account for every workflow at 1.0!

Oh trust me. I know how software development works. I've been doing it for like 25 years already. I know how mad people can get over the silliest features. Just look at what some of the people here dump. Hideous.

Have a nice one. Kind regards,

Chief

 

[el-extranjero]

Hi there
Thanks for the feedback. We've done a tonne of work, but as with any app - a 1.0 will have a couple of rough edges. We're working on them, and will be putting out a 1.0.1 release once we've gathered together the launch feedback, decided what's most pressing and set our developers to work on it.

yep it's a 1.0 version, but the Courier App is stunningly beautiful with its simple interface design.
Good work, RealMacSoftware people.

 

[GorillaPaws]

Thanks for the feedback: there's plenty more coming for Courier, in both finesse and features and hopefully we'll have 1.0.1 out soon to smooth over some of these areas. Folks always use apps differently to how we conceive them, and whilst we had a fairly large test group we can't account for every workflow at 1.0!

Hi Nik,

So I've been playing around with Courier and had a few comments about the interface.

1. The envelopes don't seem to be re-orderable (perhaps intentional?).

2. When you create a new envelope, the "untitled" should already be selected and ready to be overwritten.

3. This is going to sound really nitpicky, but when you scroll, the "embossed" names on the shelf (which look gorgeous btw) will move across the grain, basically ruining the illusion of being carved into the shelf. If you wanted to do it right, I would think technically the entire shelf should scroll horizontally and the names should "follow" the shelf.

4. Is there a reason why the primary toggle switch is smaller than 50% of the hole? Is that so it's clear which side the button's on? or is there some other reason? Typically when I think of a toggle control the moving piece is about 50% of the area. I did notice that when the switch is toggled the Core Animation Flip is consistent depending on which way you're going (nice touch).

5. Here's a tiny little bug: when you toggle from the envelopes to the activity view, the switch itself animates, and then the views flip. When you toggle back the other way, the animation of the switch toggling and the views flipping occur simultaneously (I suspect the latter is the intended behavior).

6. I'd love to hear about the thinking behind the horizontal UI, perhaps in a blog post? It works fine with very few envelopes, but as you add a bunch it starts to become a bit clunky. I suspect most people will only ever need a few though so the point may be moot.

7. The icon is really impressive.

 

[nikf]

Right, but I found it on the "Windows" menu. Never mind.

Ahem. Sorry about that. 12 hours in the office does funky things to your mind, when working from memory

With regards to the resizeable items: we hear you. But we're going to need to spend some further time thinking about how the app would scale vertically!

-N

 

[Dooger]

I'n not at all homophobic.

However, being that signatures promoting one's sexual orientation are not condoned by forum rules, nor are sigs which plug particular Windows products, among other 'causes,' the environment here would be slightly more pleasant without the OT propaganda, IMO.

Perhaps you should check your facts. His sig doesn't state his sexual orientation, it merely states his opposition to Prop 8. You don't have to be gay to realise that it's a flagrant breach of civil liberty.

And anyway, where in the forum rules does it state that users are prohibited from stating sexual orientation? Perhaps you're deliberately misinterpreting the rules so you can bully someone whose lifestyle doesn't match up to your high moral standards.

 

[DMann]

yep it's a 1.0 version, but the Courier App is stunningly beautiful with its simple interface design.
Good work, RealMacSoftware people.

Agreed.

Hopefully this will become trend-setting.

Perhaps you should check your facts. His sig doesn't state his sexual orientation.

It most certainly did, in a patronizing way, until enough people around here complained about it.

You don't have to be gay to realise that it's a flagrant breach of civil liberty.

I completely agree.

Perhaps you're deliberately misinterpreting the rules so you can bully someone whose lifestyle doesn't match up to your high moral standards.

Perhaps it has nothing to do with lifestyle, and more to do with self-righteousness, and moralistic double-standards, i.e. "bashing the arrogant fanbois."

 

[Dooger]

It most certainly did, in a patronizing way, until enough people around here complained about it.

So he changed his sig and yet you're still whining about him? Vendetta much?

Perhaps it has nothing to do with lifestyle, and more to do with self-righteousness, and moralistic double-standards, i.e. "bashing the arrogant fanbois."

If this was the problem you had with him then why didn't you say it in the first place? Here's what you actually complained about...

I concur - both the user name and sig are flagrantly inappropriate for this site, the latter, especially, being in discordance with the forum rules pertaining to 'sexual content.'

So which is it? Wanna try moving the goalposts again to hide your bigotry?

 

[DMann]

If this was the problem you had with him...

Problem(s), as in one of several.

The sig has been modified, thank you for pointing that out.

...then why didn't you say it in the first place?

You didn't ask.

So which is it? Wanna try moving the goalposts again to hide your bigotry?
Which is it?

Which is it?

You're eliminating goalposts, to make accusations.

Who's resorting to bigotry here?

As I stated, it has nothing to do with lifestyle.

However, if you feel that a Mac centric forum is an appropriate venue to proselytize, and promote one's OT causes, then you're most certainly entitled to your opinion.

 

[Dooger]

However, if you feel that a Mac centric forum is an appropriate venue to proselytize, and promote one's OT causes, then you're most certainly entitled to your opinion.

As long as I'm not AidenShaw? Maybe you should try and put a little thought into your arguments before spewing them onto a page and contradicting yourself in the process.

BTW what do you mean by "OT causes"? You think the fight for equality is OT yet you agree that Prop 8 is a breach of civil liberty?

And finally, you seem to think this is an inappropriate venue for this debate considering it's a Apple news site? Well maybe you shouldn't read this link.

 

[DMann]

Maybe you should try and put a little thought into your arguments before spewing them onto a page and contradicting yourself in the process.

Vendetta much?

BTW what do you mean by "OT causes"? You think the fight for equality is OT yet you agree that Prop 8 is a breach of civil liberty?

FYI, OT stands for 'Off-Topic,' which is precisely what this discussion has digressed into.

Besides, what does my support for equality have anything to do with the fact that this topic is "off-topic" in these threads?

I happen to be a fan of the lifestyle of Polygamy, yet I refrain from posting sigs suggesting that everyone "talk about it with their ..... friends, ...... colleagues, and ..... relatives."

Nor do I reside on Windows forums, posting links in my sig selling OS X - that would be spamming.

And finally, you seem to think this is an inappropriate venue for this debate considering it's a Apple news site?

Again, off-topic, in regard to the subject matter of these threads.

I suppose if they had supported the NRA, you feel that would become appropriate subject matter for these threads.

Sometimes, threads are dedicated to off-topic subjects, discussions, and debates, which are unrelated to Apple.

Perhaps, we ought to continue this OT discussion there.

 

[Dooger]

I've seen scores of sigs that have nothing to do with Apple. Is this the only user's sig you've felt the need to comment on? Because if it is, why did you single him out? I wonder...

And sorry if this is a little too "OT" for you but you were the one who used this actual thread to raise issue with AidenShaw even though he hadn't even posted anything in it. It's pretty pathetic to single people out for abuse, especially when they're not there to defend themselves.

 

[DMann]

I've seen scores of sigs that have nothing to do with Apple. Is this the only user's sig you've felt the need to comment on? Because if it is, why did you single him out? I wonder...

And sorry if this is a little too "OT" for you but you were the one who used this actual thread to raise issue with AidenShaw even though he hadn't even posted anything in it.

Why don't you check your facts, yourself.

I didn't bring it up in the first place - does "I concur" mean anything to you?

Again, if you wish to continue discussing this further, we can do so at the appropriate thread.