Newsletter May 2009
Hi there,
Alwin here, with the Collectorz.com Newsletter.
Today, I've got a full update on our iPhone adventures.
But first, there is some very important and exciting news
I want to share with you.
Important, because it's about the biggest project in Collectorz.com history.
Exciting, because it's the kind of project that looks good on paper, but
the full potential of the thing doesn't really come to life until after you
actually start building it. Kind of like the Internet... great idea in the
70's when a handful of tech junkies sat around doing experiments, but who
could have guessed that it would turn out like this??
That's the way this project has been.
We got into it and the ideas started flowing like mad.
We've had countless brainstorm sessions here at the office...
Robbert and his crack-shot development team showing the current state of
the project, the rest of us commenting, asking questions and suggesting
changes and additions. And yes, we've had several "back to the drawing
board" moments too.
It has been incredible. The ideas keep popping up like a kettle full of
hot popcorn, so a couple of weeks ago I had to tell the team: "Guys, what
you have right now, today, will already blow 'em away. So, let's wrap this
up and start working towards a polished 1.0 release. And *then* move on to
make an even better, cooler and feature-rich 1.1, 1.2., and beyond.
I bet that if I hadn't put my foot down, we'd still be sitting around
sipping coffee and gushing out new ideas. Version 1.0 would be years in
development. Sure, we'd have lots of fun, but it's not likely the product
would ever see the light of day :-)
So we just had to get it out the door...
Plus, I simply can't wait to hear what you guys think of it!
I am so excited about this that I don't know where to start! There's so
much to tell, so many cool things I want to show you. In fact, I actually
sat down a few days ago and wrote a super long Connect newsletter telling
you every little detail, but it ended up being an endless blurb of
incoherent ravings :-) (yes, even worse than this one).
So I scrapped it all.
Instead, I'll just explain briefly what it is.
First, let's start with the name... drumroll, if you please...
* Collectorz.com Connect *
It is BIG. But, like I said, today, I've only got time and space to give
you an overview... something to wet your appetite. If you want the full-
meal deal and all the juicy entrees and appetizers that go with it, you'll
have to join the "Connect Preview Club".
Club Members will get weekly updates, screenshots, and dozens of other cool
factoids on what is going on behind the scenes. In other words, you'll get
the deluxe treatment. And, as always, as a Preview Club Member, you'll get
a front-row Joe spot at the official launch of Connect...
... which means you'll be among the first to give it a try.
So, what exactly is Collectorz.com Connect?
Connect is our new online service for cataloging and sharing collections.
Highlights:
* Movies, Music, Books, Comics and Games: There will be five different
Connect editions: Movie Collector Connect, Music Collector Connect, Book
Collector Connect, Comic Collector Connect and Game Collector Connect.
* Fully web-based applications. No downloads or installs necessary.
* Access from any computer (Windows, Mac, Linux, etc...). Just go to the
Connect website and log in to your account to manage your collection.
* Access from mobile devices: Browse your collection from any mobile device
that connects to the internet.
* Data stored online: all data and images are stored on the Collectorz.com
servers and automatically backed up on a daily basis.
* Publish / Share your collection. Use the optional "Publish My Collection"
feature to allow others to view your collection. Now just email the public
URL to friends and family.
* Two-way synching to Win/Mac apps: Synchronize your collection back and
forth between Connect and your Windows or Mac software.
* Subscription based: Connect will use a subscription based licensing
model. Subscriptions will include all future upgrades.
In summary, Collectorz.com Connect will be two things:
1. A full cataloging solution for new users
(as an alternative for our Windows and Mac edition)
2. An additional sharing / mobile-access service for existing Windows / Mac
users. There will be a special account level (at a reduced price) for users
who just want to use the sharing features.
And hey, maybe some of you will like it so much that you will say farewell
to your trusted Windows or Mac software and stick to using the Connect
online edition only.
If anything, Connect will be a perfect solution for Mac users
collecting comics and video games.
* Connect Questions ? *
I am sure you will have lots of questions about this new service.
If so, I recommend to sign up for the Connect Preview Club. Club members
will get instant access to the Connect Preview Page, which includes answers
to common questions PLUS the first sneak preview screenshot of Movie
Collector Connect.
For other burning questions you may have, please use the new
Connect section on our forum:
http://www.collectorz.com/phpbb2/viewforum.php?f=41
(For now, please do not contact Support about Connect through the regular
support forms. We'd like to keep the conversation in one central place. To
put it a little more blunt... if you send Connect questions to the support
desk, we'll be forced to ignore you! But ALL questions will be answered in
the forum. Thank you!)
** Collectorz.com apps for iPhone and iPod Touch **
On May 10 our iPhone companion app for Movie Collector, Clz Movies, has
been released in Apple's App Store. Check it out here:
http://www.collectorz.com/movie/iphone-app.php
And it's a big, blockbuster success. Bigger than I expected, I must admit.
Many of you purchased the app immediately on launch day... Thank YOU! This
sure helps to motivate us to get the other apps out ASAP :-)
The Clz Music app is finished already. We have just submitted it to Apple.
If all goes well, it will be available in the App Store early June.
Dinh (our stellar iPhone Apps programmer), has already started working on
the other apps (Clz Books, Clz Comics and Clz Games).
We are hoping to submit them all to Apple before the end of June.
Wanna stay up to date with then latest new on our iPhone apps?
Wanna see some sneak preview screenshots of Clz Music for iPhone?
Then join the iPhone Apps Preview Club and we'll instantly give you access
to the special iPhone Apps Preview page.
Enjoy!
Alwin
Collectorz.com
http://www.collectorz.com
For daily updates on everything we're doing: http://twitter.com/collectorz