Coming soon: the next version of BookSmart

Yes, it’s true, we’re getting close to releasing the next version of BookSmart. And for the first time, we’d like to give our Forum community a preview of what’s to come. This release is completely focused on improving overall user experience and usability by addressing several pain points a lot of you have experienced. Yes, we’re throwing in a few new things, but for the most part, you’ll be seeing a more solid BookSmart, thanks to our amazing engineering team. 

So, what are *some* of the things can you expect in BookSmart 1.9.3?

And for those of you who want to know when, all we can tell you is … very soon. The last time we released a new version, we mentioned a potential due date in the Forums, and when it slipped a few weeks, there was a lot of disappointment. This time around, we want to keep that disappointment to a minimum.

Thanks for your patience. We’ll keep you updated when we can.  

The Blurberati 

Hi Tony;

I agree – good news indeed…

I suspect that the upgrade will go the way of the past…

You will be able to open any current work-in-progress in the new release, but not all features of the new release will be available to existing projects…

With that, and Bruce’s recommendation to hold-off for the moment on large format, large volume books, I’ve decided to wait patiently before starting my next project…

It’ll also give me the opportunity to work around any new bugs! (He said, tongue-in-cheek!)

Cheers;

Lee

Hmm. Second link didn’t work. Anyway, here is why it is critical to back up, and for you to make certain users are alerted:

http://forums.blurb.com/forums/1/topics/953

Until I can import from my self-hosted wordpress blog, I cant use BookSmart.

Hi Jack;

I am NOT Blurb staff, merely another user, so my comments are my "best guess supposition" only, based on past Blurb performance…

However, IF I’m right, then the answer to your question will be NO.

There’s no doubt that you will be able to open your existing project in the new release, it’s just that some features MAY not be available…

If you’re a long way into a project, and the current release is doint its stuff for you, I wouldn’t worry about it… but… if you haven’t started out, then it may be worth the wait to see the new feature set!

Cheers;

Lee

I hope they include a double-truck feature, that is one photo spread across two pages, I really hate trying to do complicated things with photoshop and custom designed templates it gives me a major headache

I’m still hanging out, waiting to be able to utilize BookSmart with my self-hosted wordpress blog…..

Hi johnxe22 et. al,

Sorry to hear about that. Please fill out a crash report with your email address next time BookSmart fails and prompts you with a report form.

As Kathy mentioned above, we compile and analyze those crash reports to help improve BookSmart. BookSmart 1.9.3, which is coming up, will be more stable thanks to all of you out there who have taken the few extra seconds to send in those reports.

And, as always, I’ll emphasize that writing to customer service (click here to fill out the form) is the only way to get prompt, one-one tech support. Forums are great for communicating with fellow Blurbarians, and filling out crash reports help us to fix longer-term software issues. But submitting a tech support incident is THE way to get help when you really need it. 

Cheers!
Jeremy

Michal,

You are right. Thanks for the reminder. We had every intention of doing this but it appears it got lost in the holiday shuffle.

I wiil see about getting this request in place before the next release. 

– Kathy 

Yes..I agree with lots of what’s been said…my top list I’m hoping is in the new version:

1.  let us save to any drive.  I would love to use blurb with my students, but my computer lab is in a "frozen" state, meaning we cannot save to c: as it is deleted upon rebooting.  I can’t use it in an educational setting until I can tell it where to save.

2.  give us more flexibility to change the sizes of text and picture boxes, or add our own to a layout.  The ability to "snap" to other boxes would keep it neat and aligned for those non-designers out there.  (or use a pica grid, with a tool to snap on and off to it)

3.  have a "recently used" list of layouts and borders, etc. so it is easy to reapply to other text/picture boxes

4.  let me set a default font

5.  Blurb staff….take a look at what online yearbook publishers offer.  I am a yearbook adviser and currently use yearbookavenue through jostens.com. and they have a fantastic flexible program.  They have just launched a scrapbook/photobook area called hubbub.  If it’s anything like their flexible yearbook stuff, they are going to win over the people who want flexibility to design layouts on their own. 

6.  Once I make my own layouts within blurb….none of this importing from photoshop or indesign stuff, let me save them so I can re-use them 

export book (low res) as pdf or jpgs. I want to show my friends to check it on spelling etc … I could use CutePDF … but CutePDF only allows me to print 1 page at a time … having 60 pages is not fun anymore. Also, I’ve tried selecting all the pages and then print to CutePDF ….. BookSmart crashed …

update jpgs instead of deleting current jpgs in my book and then import the new one.

build in photoeditor … for example brightness,sharpen, convert to b&w

Well .. I do hope the new version will come soon … anyways .. keep up the good work guys! 

what about adding images to the spine for a wrap around effect? (like in 1.8)

what about adding new book sizes?

what about adding sloppy and artistic borders?

what about more updated design themes? 

How soon is soon for 1.9.3….?  I’m planning a new book with lots of text….my old version was tedious and frustrating….and time consuming….will this new version handle text with more alacrity?

i hope the issue of it slowing to a crawl is addressed…  i’m on an almost-new mac and this software hardly functions…