I can see that there is a general consensus that cab is the way to go. Well i beg to differ!
I actually think that the fact that most apps first installs on the PC and then on to the PPC, is the best thing since sliced bread.
I dont use Outlook. I really think its the worst piece of c***p ever made.
So to be forced to use ActiveSync just to sync Outlook with the equally bad PocketInbox is utterly insane.
Having used a PPC for quite a while now, i've learned that like with any MS OS it's generally a good idea to do a hard reset and reinstall everything from scratch now and again. And this is where AS really shines - with all my apps already installed once, I can just open AS and install it all again from there.
Yes, I know I could do that from a cab file folder on my SD-card, but it is so much more convenient to have them listed by their names than to figure out exactly what "xxyyzz~1.cab" is.
Having said that, I totally agree with everybody here, who wants the cab files made available together with an installer. I'm all for giving people the option to choose themselves.
If CAB files are to be distributed as well as EXE files then for the love of god put the CAB file in a ZIP file because PIE just does not do CAB files
And I 2nd the motion of developers to STOP PUTTING USELESS files on my PC I reckon over half of my Add/Remove programs option are PPC things on my PC its just not needed
And 3rdly STOP putting a whole folder in the Startmenu for a PPC program on my PC that only contains a shortcut to a readme file.
Ok, to the 4 people so far that have voted the PPC is perfect: Thanks for reading the site Windows Mobility Developent Team, but you are distorting the results of the poll. :wink: :rotfl:
I am currently developing a piece of software that is in beta testing. I have opted to use the route of creating an .exe file that is run on the PPC. I had to go as far as spelling this out on the download page at Handago since alot of people thought the file needed to be run from the desktop and it would not install.
I also will be putting up CAB files on Handango and have each of those two options available on our website for users to download whichever they choose.
I prefer to be able to download and install all of my applications directly on my ppc. Unfortunately this is not the way I do it most of the time because I do not like to install all of my apps to main memory. If M$ were to fix the CAB files to allow the end user to specify a location then I would use CAB files 100% of the time.
On a side note, Handango does allow developers to upload CAB files to there mobile site, which is great and fine. The issue we have with this is that our software installation file is an .exe file that runs on the ppc. We can't upload the ppc installation file to the mobile site because they only allow CAB files uploaded there.
I've said this before, but we have to remember that we are not average users. The fact that we frequent this site is evidence of this. We like to tweak, customize, edit, enhance, etc. We use PIM replacements, Today plug-ins, registry tweaks, and the like. The average user has a VCR which flashes "12:00." He or she wants to push a button and go. He or she cannot comprehend anything more than that. For them, the issue is that ActiveSync is far from perfect.
If you think I'm exaggerating, think of how many friends you have to help with the simplest PC or PPC tasks. How many of your friends have called you in desperation, when their computers crashed or slowed to a crawl? You go to the house, find a cable or DSL connection, no firewall of any kind, antivirus software that is disabled or has never had its virus definitions updated, no security updates for the OS or other programs, spyware all over the place, several hundred MB's of temporary internet files, half a gig of files in the Temp folder, etc. The screen's brightness and contrast are all messed up, the image is horribly off-center and noticeably pincushioned, the mouse pointer jitters across the screen until you take the mouse apart and remove the hairball.....and then you look over at the display on the VCR -- flash, flash. This is the average user.
I'm a developer, and I would have to agree with DinarSoft's comments. Most people (who are truly novices at using a Pocket PC), have their device attached to their ActiveSync cradle and simply want to run an executable on their Desktop PC to install the software. So we provide the user with a Desktop installer to perform this function. Asking these novices to copy a file from their Desktop PC to their Pocket PC and run it seems like a monumental task to some. Of course, anyone reading this discussion forum wouldn't think so :wink:
The growing base of wireless-based Pocket PC devices, it does make sense for us to provide our software in the form of CAB files for easy download and installation. So, we'll most likely continue to distribute our software as Desktop PC-run exe files, and also as CAB files for those who know how to use them.
If CAB files are to be distributed as well as EXE files then for the love of god put the CAB file in a ZIP file because PIE just does not do CAB files
Hmm never had an issue with downloading a cab on my 5555. Maybe you're trying a CAB for the wrong processor?
PIE's problem with downloading CAB's is related to how the web page is set up. Janak explained this one time I just can't remember all the tech details
OK, so as an advanced user I've lost my perspective...maybe your right that the everyday users just want to launch an install from the desktop.
Most of my argument regarding Activesync installs is fueled by the stuff that gets plunked onto my hard drive and in my start menu and on my desktop without asking me. Either stop doing that or give me more options during the install process to customize and control what its going to the PC. This is really getting to be a contentious point with my "friends" in IT who figure that any PC problem I have is related to a piece of PPC software that I installed.
And yes...I am a wireless user as well and want to be able to grab updates or install new apps when hooked up via GPRS or WiFi.
Well you won't get any money from the Mac camp, that's for sure. As for cab installation on a mac, it will in fact ask where you want to install the cab, and no, the cab file is not automatically deleted. I know it's believed that we are a small segment of customers, but we are potential customers none-the-less. A decision such as the one you made needlessly frustrates users and alienates potiential customers. Smart move.
Quote:
Originally Posted by DinarSoft
There are some problems with cab files installation
some of them have work arounds (like the cab file being deleted after the installation, ...)
some other don't, like the fact that you can't control where the program gets installed, with cab file installation the program always goes to the main memory !
Also for newbies a .cab file is not the best way to install files, we've seen too many people asking about what to do with a cab file (the first thing most newbies do is open it with winzip and then they don't know what to do next)
As a developer we thought about this issue when we started selling our products (PC-exe?, cab?, PPC-exe?, zi pfile ?....etc)
- if we ship .cab files our support line will be flodded by EMails from people asking about what to do ?
- if we ship .zip file with an .exe and a .cab this will even confuse people more (what is this file, and what is that other one ?) and some people might not have any unzipping software (Strange but true)
- if we ship .exe we "might" get EMails from people asking for .cab files and then we can send the .cab file to them. like what happened with our HandyMenu product (read the original message)
So we voted for the 3rd option because we thought this will be the best option for us. (and in fact we only got 2 requests for .cab files so far)
Unlick HAndAnGo some other companies provide different links for .cab/.zip/.exe/... and it's then up to the buyer to choose. However HandAnGo provide developers with the ability to upload one file only
So we still think (from a adeveloper point of view) PC .exe files are the best solution (for now at least)
PIE Handles CABS fine.
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