WISHES...

[Anonymous]

Hi,
Is there any chance that a future update to the Phrasebooks program would allow the user to add their own phrases (and also categories)? It would really help in studying a language if one was able to add phrases as they learn them in class.

Also, it would be great to have the plural forms included with nouns (as they are included in many dictionary entries (ex (for German word "eye"): Auge nt, -n). When learning nouns (at least in German), one is advised to learn both the singular and plural together. So, having the plural ending would also be really helpful.

Just some thoughts...
Thanks,
Jackie

 

[mikelove]

Possible, but honestly it's doubtful we're going to make very many major improvements to the Berlitz software at this point - sales have been simply dreadful and we just can't justify spending the time on something that represents less than 5% of our revenues. We would have released another minor update already if we weren't so bogged down with PlecoDict, but we are and we haven't and that update won't be ready until the first quarter of 05. It should include most of the improvements I've mentioned prevoiusly on this forum, though.

On the other hand, we are looking into the possibility of integrating some courseware-like features into our dictionary software; probably only for Chinese initially, but we'd certainly love to expand our dictionary offerings to cover other languages at some point. So you might eventually see some version of what you're describing show up in a dictionary product from us.

 

[adamlau]

Anxiously awaiting the first quarter of '05 then...

 

[mikelove]

Well, since that posting the 5% has fallen back to around 1% (in part because of the sales bump from the 1.0 release of PlecoDict), and the main reason for the update never materialized: the font engine in Berlitz is incompatible with the new Palm OS version 6, and we were planning to fix that at some point, but since there are STILL no OS6-based devices on the market it's not really worth the trouble to develop a product for a phantom OS.

 

[The Duelist]

Another Possible Outlet

Hi Mike

:idea: Just wondering if you have considered distributing the Phrase Books through somewhere like:
http://www.handango.com
The site distributes heaps of Palm Software with provides eShop facilities & initial user contact support.

Thanks for Producing Great Software with Great Support. 8)

The Duelist.

BTW: I am definitely going to Purchase a Set of Phrase Books in the Future.

 

[mikelove]

We distributed them on PalmGear for a while, but pulled them when the commissions got too high - between their cut and Berlitz's we would barely get to keep any money ourselves. The rates on PalmGear and Handango are really obscene now, in many cases they'll end up keeping more than 50% of the retail price.

On top of which, they've now started trying to prevent developers from having any direct contact whatsoever with their customers (we would not be allowed to e-mail customers except in response to tech support questions forwarded by PalmGear, and we wouldn't even get to include company contact info in the documentation or about box) which is a requirement we find completely unacceptable.

So while I do appreciate the marketing value of listing on PalmGear and Handango, I'd rather discontinue a product than agree to such ridiculous terms.

Incidentally, whenever you buy Palm or Pocket PC software you'll be doing the developer a big favor by buying it directly from their website instead of from PalmGear/Handango - that way, most of your money goes to developing new products instead of buying Ferraris for greedy executives. Developers are not permitted to list their website addresses on the PalmGear/Handango catalog pages, but they're pretty easy to find with a Google search.