New Version Coming Out??

[garyv]

Just curious, as Resco and Mastersoft have just released new versions of their Sudoku PocketPC games, does Astraware have any plans to release a new version too?

Assuming the answer is yes, is a new version likely to be released in 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year? Of course I understand that everything is subject to change, but it would be nice to have a "rough" idea when a new version might be appearing.

Thanks in advance,
Gary

[Howard]

We have a rolling set of updates planned, each adding (or changing) something important.

Our next revision will deal with making the menus and forms much better and easier to use, and versions after that will be adding specific feature sets.

I'm hoping that we'll be rolling new versions ever 6-8 weeks throughout the year, but that certainly won't hold for sure, this time the upgrade is pretty hefty, so is taking a bit longer.

Howard.

[davidb]

It's been about 4 months since the 1.30 version came out. Are there more updates coming?

[Howard]

Yes - mostly looking at fixes on various new devices where controls are a bit strange, then coming back to add some more features.

[Pappy]

It's now been nearly an additional 3 months. Any news?

[Howard]

An update coming "soon", I was hoping for new features soon too, but those will be in a later release.

In the past I've found that whenever I've tried to predict release dates things conspire to make the predictions wildly inaccurate - so I'm going to stop making predictions.

Howard.

[banner]

Is there any chance that the new version will support newer Smartphones like the Dash and the Q better? The current Smartphone version of Sudoku works, but it is somewhat squished due to the different orientation.

[Kieren]

Is there any chance that the new version will support newer Smartphones like the Dash and the Q better? The current Smartphone version of Sudoku works, but it is somewhat squished due to the different orientation.

There is a very good chance that the next update to Sudoku will include native support for landscape QVGA devices like the Q and the Dash (as with expanding 240x240 support for devices like the Treo 700w/wx/750v, we also want to expand support for these smartphones too!)

Warmest regards,
Kieren

[Franko515]

will there be another update before christmas?

[Howard]

will there be another update before christmas?
No, but hopefully early next year.

[Franko515]

Just wondered if the new release was gonna be soon

[Howard]

Another version is expected, but won't be immediate. Was there are particular feature that you were desperate for?

[banner]

I'm waiting for a version that looks better on my Dash. It's got the QVGA landscape screen which means that the puzzle is a lot smaller than I'd like. Still readable, but it takes more effort.

[Franko515]

Another version is expected, but won't be immediate. Was there are particular feature that you were desperate for?

Nah, no particular feature. Every now and again I lose my puzzle packs (twice in like 7 months) and I just wondered if the problem has been solved (im using a Treo 650)

[Zxanphorian]

I have two quick suggestions for Astraware Sudoku:

1. Ability to open a puzzle of your choice from a list of puzzles (like "Easy 01", "Easy 02", etc)
2. Ability to save custom puzzles from newspapers, etc.

[Paravan]

Since there is no release date for the new version, could you maybe tell us about some of the new features we can expect? thanks in advance!

[Howard]

The main element of our next release will be to bring the game up to speed with our latest framework, which will help with a number of devices. We're hoping to have better messages for when there have been network or puzzle problems, and if all goes well, a better puzzle management system too.

Most people are quite happy with the interface and game features, so those aren't the highest priority. The main frustrations tend to be when things aren't working right getting puzzles downloaded etc., or the game running right on some of the more recent devices.

[Paravan]

The main element of our next release will be to bring the game up to speed with our latest framework, which will help with a number of devices. We're hoping to have better messages for when there have been network or puzzle problems, and if all goes well, a better puzzle management system too.

Most people are quite happy with the interface and game features, so those aren't the highest priority. The main frustrations tend to be when things aren't working right getting puzzles downloaded etc., or the game running right on some of the more recent devices.

Thanks for your quick answer!!

The reason that I prefer Astraware Sudoku over the others. (I think I tried more than 40 different ones on Palm en Windows Mobile. Is the interface to place your numbers.

But if I look to the competition there are some with options like skins, coloring, multiple input modes, puzzle generation (Real helpful hints describing what techniques you will need to solve the puzzle like x/xy/xyz-wings, naked triples etc.), filters, real landscape support.

So I really hope Astraware would implement features like described above in Astraware Sudoku so it will STAY THE BEST Sudoku available for handheld devices!

Edit: After some brainstorming I try to explain wich features would be in my opinion good to become the ultimate Sudoku:

Coloring:
If you add this option Astraware Sudoku is one of the few sudokus available to use all known techniques to solve the most difficult Sudokus.

Skins:
This will (hopefully) motivate the community to create real nice skins and will beat many competitors because Astraware Sudoku could look as good as they look.

Multiple input system:
As I mentioned before, Astraware Sudoku is my choice because of the input system. But I think many people choose their favorite sudoku on the input system. And if I look to the competition there are more nice input methods which you could use to extend the input system. (If you want to know the features I can think of, just let me know)

Filters/Board rotation:
You can't do this on paper so I don't think this is not a really required option, but there aren't many other Sudokus who supports but it would be a nice addition.

Helpful, explaining hints:
This would be very nice for people who want to learn Sudoku or want to become a better Sudoku player. (I realize this is not possible on paper and you could copy your puzzle to advanced sudoku programs on the PC). But I think it could really help people to make their decision for which Sudoku they would choose because it would be one of the features you won't find in many other Sudoku's.

Better puzzle management system:
You already mentioned you're looking to add this feature. It would be indeed nice to choose your puzzle and the option to save your puzzle on certain points.

Puzzle generator:
I don't know how difficult this is, but for learners and hardcore players I think it would be nice to have a generator wherein you can choose one or more key elements you will need to solve the puzzle, like x-wing etc.

This are just my 2 cents. Thanks for your time!! And please let me (us) know what you think about it.

[Alison]

Hi Paravan

I noticed your comment about hints and thought maybe you're not aware of the website that we put together to accompany Astraware Sudoku. Howard spent quite a lot of time writing about the various solving techniques. The site is at http://www.sudokuoftheday.com.

We hope you find it useful!

Kind regards
Alison

[Paravan]

Hi Paravan

I noticed your comment about hints and thought maybe you're not aware of the website that we put together to accompany Astraware Sudoku. Howard spent quite a lot of time writing about the various solving techniques. The site is at http://www.sudokuoftheday.com.

We hope you find it useful!

Kind regards
Alison

Thanks, but I already knew about that great guide, in fact this guide is the first start i took to playing Sudoku at a higher level.

But what I tried to mention is that there are Sudokus available which shows you which technique you could use if you're stuck in the game.

[jstorm1031]

[quote
Thanks, but I already knew about that great guide, in fact this guide is the first start i took to playing Sudoku at a higher level.

But what I tried to mention is that there are Sudokus available which shows you which technique you could use if you're stuck in the game.[/quote]

Paravan - actually this is available in Astraware Sudoku. If you tap on the graffiti screen one time, a small box will come up telling you the current rating (say, the puzzle was a "Tricky" to begin with, but you have solved it to the point where it is a "Medium", it will tell you that. It also gives a set of codes for what is left to do to solve the puzzle. (sct = Single Candidate Test (naked single)
spt = Single Position Test (hidden single)
clt = Candidate Line Test
dpt = Double Pair Test
mlt = Multi-line test
dj2 = Naked Pairs. (Disjoint Subsets / 2)
dj3 = Naked Triples
dj4 = Naked Quad
us2 = Hidden Pairs. (Unique Subsets / 2)
us3 = Hidden Triples
us3 = Hidden Quad
xwg = X-Wing
sf3 = Swordfish 3
sf4 = Swordfish 4
fct = Forcing Chains Test)

This has helped me tremendously. Best of all, it doesn't count as a hint, so it will not affect your score in a Game of the Day.

jstorm

[Howard]

If you have a keyboard on your PDA, it is a "." that lists the remaining difficulty and required techniques to finish the puzzle. ( In graffiti that would normally be a double-tap on the graffiti area. )

[Paravan]

If you have a keyboard on your PDA, it is a "." that lists the remaining difficulty and required techniques to finish the puzzle. ( In graffiti that would normally be a double-tap on the graffiti area. )

Nice, thank you both! Id didn't know about this feature.

[Unregistered]

Another version is expected, but won't be immediate. Was there are particular feature that you were desperate for?


Two main features:

1) Some variation of a "sticky" input mode. That is, easier entry of the same candidates in more than one cell. My preference would be a "repeat" gesture, which would remember the changes of the most recently changed cell and then duplicate those changes in the presently selected cell. For instance, if I just toggled candidates 3,5 in cell R2C2. I could then choose cell R2C3 and one gesture or button would toggle candidates 3,5.

2) Very often, puzzles I enter from newspapers or books cannot be solved by AWS's solver. Subsequently, I am prevented from proceding with the puzzle. If the solver cannot be improved at this time, could you please add an option to turn off error checking and allow the user to proceed? Perhaps after partially solving the puzzle, the error checking could be toggled back on.

Thanks.
Scott

[Unregistered]

I have now used this program on 3 differnt PDAs, it had a good deal of trouble on 2 out of the 3 where if the program was exited in the middle of a puzzle you could not renter until you rebooted the phone and the program could not be endtasked.

With newer AKUs of WM5 it seems to be far more stable, although I think in some part to HTC's X-Button program now being bundled with HTC windows mobile devices.

It has been over a year since the release of 1.3 and while I think the program is nice it does have many flaws and areas of improvement. I have not purchased the program yet as I refuse to in its current state. I am planning to purchase as soon as the new version is released, but as I have waited most of a year for this to happen I doubt it will be soon.

To be clear, I will not buy 1.3, I will buy 1.4 or later.

It does raise a red flag to note that on more than one occassion every couple months someone from Astraware says to expect the new version soon.

It was even suggested in decemember that a new version would be released the begining of 2007, as we enter the second half of 2007 that is obviously not the case.

If Astraware does not release a newer better working version soon I will be forced to accept another companies product.

[Howard]

The next version is in fact almost a complete rewrite to our new framework (although the main interface will be the same and familiar to existing users). It will be going through beta testing shortly, and will have better stability on new devices, support for new resolutions, and some more of the most important features. Experience tells us that beta tests take at least a month or two until we're happy that issues are resolved and the product is ready for release.

I think it is worth the wait, but that's a decision up to the individual :)

Howard.

[Unregistered]

The next version is in fact almost a complete rewrite to our new framework (although the main interface will be the same and familiar to existing users). It will be going through beta testing shortly, and will have better stability on new devices, support for new resolutions, and some more of the most important features. Experience tells us that beta tests take at least a month or two until we're happy that issues are resolved and the product is ready for release.

I think it is worth the wait, but that's a decision up to the individual :)

Howard.

In that case, could we please help beta-test? :)

Pappy

[Howard]

In that case, could we please help beta-test? :)

Pappy

We do welcome more beta testers - here's a link to find out more : (How To Become An Astraware Beta Tester) (http://www.astraware.com/support/showQuestion.php?id=12)

Howard.

[Paravan]

Howard and the Astraware team THANKS for the 1.40 update!!! i immedeatly purchased a 'real' license ;), you guys deserve it!!!

Please keep the updates coming, themes or so would be nice!!!

[nighthawk700]

Will there be a 1.40 for the OS 4? I use Astraware Sudoku on my Treo 600. Granted, it has OS 5, but if I remember right, it used a LOT of memory and battery power. I preferred the OS 4 because of that.

Thanks