ILance 3.0.0 Beta 2.8c Released

[Peter]

ILance 3.0.0 Beta 2.8c

The release of ILance 3.0.0 Beta 2.8c includes fixes for various issues within the existing bug tracker and a few updated templates.

We strongly encourage existing beta testing customers to do a full-upgrade to this latest beta 2.8c version rather than an update (from a previous version). A good example would be to simply install this new version into a new folder on your server. (ie: yourdomain.com/ilance328/).

Beta testers may discuss the 2.8 release here (http://www.ilance.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=448)

Beta 2.7 to 2.8 Bug Repair List

Login Form layout in Firefox (http://www.ilance.ca/forum/bugs.php?do=showdetails&id=184)
Pathway Broken Links (http://www.ilance.ca/forum/bugs.php?do=showdetails&id=191)
{_escrow_account_confirmed} (http://www.ilance.ca/forum/bugs.php?do=showdetails&id=198)
Visitor IP (http://www.ilance.ca/forum/bugs.php?do=showdetails&id=183)
various related template updates
Featured Requests Flagged For Future Updates

My CP (http://www.ilance.ca/forum/bugs.php?do=showdetails&id=197)
Product Auction Buying Activity ( Escrow) (http://www.ilance.ca/forum/bugs.php?do=showdetails&id=199)
Just a little thing.... (http://www.ilance.ca/forum/bugs.php?do=showdetails&id=196)
Edit Product Auction (http://www.ilance.ca/forum/bugs.php?do=showdetails&id=195)
Separating services and products (http://www.ilance.ca/forum/bugs.php?do=showdetails&id=190)
v3.0.0 Installer: Compare Templates During Install! (http://www.ilance.ca/forum/bugs.php?do=showdetails&id=182)
Sort by City (http://www.ilance.ca/forum/bugs.php?do=showdetails&id=180)
Downloading The Latest Version 3.0.0 Beta 2.8c
To download this latest release, please log-in to your ILance Forum Account and click the top menu nav link "Store (http://www.ilance.ca/forum/purchase.php)" to place a new free order for this release (OR) if you already placed an order for beta 2.7, just click "My Licenses" and click "Download".

Please Note
Only Verified ILance beta testers may download the new beta 2.8 release. If you have any trouble placing your order, please click "HelpDesk (http://www.ilance.ca/forum/helpdesk.php)" to submit a support ticket.

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Regards,

Peter Salzmann
ILance Product Manager
http://www.ilance.ca (http://www.ilance.ca/)

[Arcturus]

I know I should discuss this release in the other thread, but I think here is more relevant as it is in reference to flagged updates listed here. I've noticed there are a few feature requests that have been "flagged for future" in the bug/feature tracker, but they are not listed here. Also, some of the requests flagged for future listed in the last release notes aren't listed here anymore. I haven't taken a look yet at 2.8 but have these been incorporated already or flagged for a future update after 2.9? Just interested in the proposed process here :)

[Peter]

Flagged for future on the major ones will most likely be implemented after the RC 1 or before (depending on the nature of the feature request).

What I think will happen is ILance would like to provide customers with on going enhancements during their support period (6 or 12 month intervals) which would ensure the customer is receiving not only support, but a section on the forum that will (one way or another) provide feature rich modifications and plugins as an added bonus to the support plan for the 3.0.0 solution. Of course, major enhancements such as Stores, for obvious reasons will be provided most likely as a seperate commercial application that closely integrates with ILance 3.0.0.

Basically, you'll be able to download unlimited addons, plugins and enhancements created by ILance (and) by actual customers along with outside developers (such as those whom create modifications for ILance for their customers) whom maybe want to integrate ILance with a forum software, or something else like integration of user accounts to another 3rd party app, etc. If they decide to release their codes or code logic, this may be one of the theads in the new modification forum for 3.0.0.

I'm sure you know what I mean about integration into 3rd party apps. For example, wouldn't it be nice to be a owner of a software such as VBulletin, and have your "latest auctions posted" from ILance show up as "New Threads" on your community forums? Things like this will be coming very soon.

With the move towards XML driven data management systems within v3.0.0, should be an endless avenue for on-going development, addons, plugins, cosmetic enhancements and so on for everyone to be a part of. This is the major reason v3 has taken this long to date, to make it a better product not only for your customers, but the people that have to work with it on a daily (or on going basis). ;)

Regards,

Peter

[Arcturus]

Thanks Peter, I believe that's a good way of doing it - getting the core ilance software out there for rc1 and providing additional addons closer to this release. That way those addons won't actually affect the structure as it happens in beta releases. I wonder though which suggestions will be provided as a commercial release and which won't. Suggestions such as providers under 18, multiple category listings, promotional codes, profile groups, etc, would they be provided at a cost?

Actually my original query was in regards to the features implemented for next release that seem to have been removed. For example, providers under 18 was listed under the 2.7 release notes to be added in the future, but in 2.8 it's been removed. Just need some clarification if possible :)

[Peter]

Suggestions such as providers under 18, multiple category listings, promotional codes, profile groups, etc, would they be provided at a cost?These are considered "minor" modifications and you can be sure that these types of features will be available to existing members for free download in the proper forum. For me, I'd be one of those developers constantly adding new features to the free download section, and will be creating anything that helps me along with my operations while running v3.

The ones that will not be free will be the ones that actually make you money in the end. For example, Stores will be addon that will drive potential income to your marketplace. So would LanceAds, but from what it appears, LanceAds will be an integrated part of the base 3.0.0 platform. Then again, a developer might create an addon that takes him/her 1 month, and may feel the need to release it as GPL to existing ILance customers. You'll get that too.

So, anything that would make you money and / or anything that would most likely take up more than 1 day to complete would maybe be considered a commercial addon.

For commercial addons (not created by ILance) is where it might get tricky. What would be extremely handy would be to extend the ILance online store (new store recently launched) that will allow "Certain" customers ie: Licensed Customers whom are active license holders of ILance to be able to create ILance products and sell them though the ILance online store to "ILance customers". There will be a strict rule of development thumb that will need to be addressed to ensure the "commerical" authors are able to support their customers or provide adequate information to their product listing that will address the fact if the product is "AS IS" or "Fully Supported for X days/months/years/etc".

At least all this would be nice when RC 1 is here. We'll see what happens.

Regards,

Peter

[php4ever]

So what is the status of iLance. I know the last email I got said something about the lance alert not yet being compatable with iLance 3....

Nice work thus far though.

Jared

[Peter]

Thanks Jared,

Yes, LanceAlert for ILance 3.0.0 is almost ready. Due to the structure of the service auction + product auctions, the application was in need of new upgrades to meet the new requirements of the 3.0.0 system.

The new LanceAlert application will be completely driven by Skins that you can easily create within Photoshop, etc. For example, find the attached files that will be the "Skin" for this particular release. From a designers perspective, the new skin feature is an excellent feature to meet the requirements of the existing web site branding.

It's almost ready for 3.0.0.

Regards,
Peter

[Peter]

So what is the status of iLance.
The status is ILance 3.0.0 v2.9 was just released moments ago. We are preparing the release notification announcement.

The ILance beta series will go to Beta v3.0 which will be the pre-release for the new ILance v3.0.0. After this release will come the main Release Candidate 1.

Regards,
Peter