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Sparrow for Windows was just a few weeks away
51–60 of 72 posts
Re: Sparrow for Windows was just a few weeks away
#52The IP situation is interesting. Was there any code re-use? Does the code you wrote belong to Sparrow? If the answer is "no" to both, you may be able to release it.
No code was reused. Just Jean-Marc's artwork. Plan was to port LibEtPan in Windows and replace current email engine during Beta, but.. you know.. dead.
Why wouldn't you start with libetpan? It has been available for years, and it's well known Sparrow used it. This story smells fishier by the moment.
Re: Sparrow for Windows was just a few weeks away
#53Something doesn't make sense. From the ambiguity of your description, it sounds as though you own the code, and that you had no formal business relationship with Sparrow, and that you accepted no money from Sparrow (it is really strange that Sparrow would even encourage you into such a position, and that you would put yourself there --- you left them in the situation where they could turn your work down, and develop…
Source code, or it didn't happen.
Re: Sparrow for Windows was just a few weeks away
#54The IP situation is interesting. Was there any code re-use? Does the code you wrote belong to Sparrow? If the answer is "no" to both, you may be able to release it.
No code was reused. Just Jean-Marc's artwork. Plan was to port LibEtPan in Windows and replace current email engine during Beta, but.. you know.. dead.
Why is it dead. The Sparrow team won't work on it any more... but they weren't going to work on the Windows version anyway. If you were writing it, why not keep doing so?
Obviously you might have to change the artwork, since that belongs to google now. Otherwise, it sounds like this is just an email client that YOU wrote.
Re: Sparrow for Windows was just a few weeks away
#55I have heard from some reliable sources that Microsoft is quite happy to pay for design+development of applications that are built for their new devices (wp7/8). Perhaps you could reach out to them and see if they would acquire your work. It's not the best free market alternative, but it might get your product to live and prosper. Imagine, if Sparrow (Microsoft eMail Light) gets included in every new tablet? Sure, they've got Outlook, but maybe users would dig a lighter (simpler) new alternative?
Re: Sparrow for Windows was just a few weeks away
#56> I know that Europe cannot really maintain a talented team like the one Dom and Dinh Viet would need to take Sparrow to new heights. Really? All of Europe can't provide a team for an e-mail client?
Yeah, I thought that was weird, too. If he "knows" that, I have to wonder what else he "knows".
As a European, I feel insulted and pity his display of ignorance and arrogance.
Re: Sparrow for Windows was just a few weeks away
#57Earlier quoted context omitted.
I've been using Postbox, and I couldn't be happier with it.
Postbox was my next solution. Is it better than Thunderbird? I've been somewhat happy with Thunderbird actually, in terms of performance and stability. It's just that the whole codebase seems unwieldy (try developing extensions for it) and may not be around a lot longer.
I bought Postbox and really like it. They've based it on Thunderbird 2 which is the version I like--3 made some UI changes I don't prefer. By continuing to update 2's code, I get an up-to-date e-mail client that acts how I want. Plus, with a couple of settings tweaks, it can look just like Sparrow, it's available for Mac AND Windows, it supports Gmail's tags (I don't use Gmail so I can't check that), and even does the social network integration. It's also the same price as Sparrow (actually, 4 cents cheaper) at USD$9.95.
Re: Sparrow for Windows was just a few weeks away
#58"Another feeling is the Google effect: I know that Europe cannot really maintain a talented team like the one Dom and Dinh Viet would need to take Sparrow to new heights. "
Is this a serious remark (honest question)?
Re: Sparrow for Windows was just a few weeks away
#59this is very sad... google acts like a giant black-howl they are prepared to take on any rival startup take their ideas and on most cases throw them in the bin!
παρόλ' αυτα μπράβο Πάνο!
Re: Sparrow for Windows was just a few weeks away
#60I get what the OP is hassled about. He committed time and energy on developing a product, time and energy he wasn't paid for, but it didn't matter because he believed in the product. He was going to prove that Windows apps could look good, and he was tieing it into an existing, loved brand. In other words, he was doing good, for people who appreciated it. That was enough for him.
However, since it's been bought out by Google, he's lost all the passion for the application. It's just going to get swallowed up by the shark, and no-one really cares. So, what is the point of releasing an awesome version for it?
Obviously, he's got plenty of options at this time. But, the motivation, the passion, the brand recognition, the love, it's all disappeared. Take the magic out of the cauldron and you're just left with boiled, icky bits.
I don't know enough about the application, or the platform, etc, but open-source it, and make it a client that can connect to multiple platforms. Sounds good?