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Author Topic: Is this project dead?  (Read 37380 times)

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« Reply #75 on: August 18, 2014, 15:29 »
+3
And look at the mentality that puts bunhill down just because he doesnt have an SY site.

I built a dummy site using Symbiostock on a LAMP server at home to look at the software.


Which points directly back to the statement I made about how people aren't sheep. Maybe people aren't jumping on the SY wagon because ITS NOT THE RIGHT CHOICE.


OK, I got work to do. Enough of this madness.

So you are indirectly calling the ones that jumped in and still believe in the project "sheeps" ?  Is that not a direct insult even if you are right ?

Most of your posts dont include single argument and it seems to me you are just one person who magnetically try to trash somebody's efforts down because things are not in the way you imagine them...






Shelma1

  • stockcoalition.org
« Reply #76 on: August 18, 2014, 15:30 »
0
I'd be interested in an illustration project, but we'd need funding for marketing. (Kickstarter?) But your site is successful, no?

« Reply #77 on: August 18, 2014, 15:34 »
0
I continue to be vocal about the issues with the software because i believe people have the right to know all sides of a story. And i am even more vocal when bullies show up and start blaming me and telling me i dont have any right to my opinion and adding minuses to my posts just because they "don't like me." You better believe I am NOT going to let it drop and go on my merry way.


Both Ron and bunhill have made excellent points. And look at the mentality that puts bunhill down just because he doesnt have an SY site. This blind, worshipping following of Leo just baffles me. As a person, I am sure he is a good guy. Did he do a good thing writing this software? Yeah. But it's like that saying "The operation was a success but the patient died." Can you build a site with it? Yeah. Is it successful? Not so much.


It was LEOs choice to not charge, so don't be putting that blame on anybody, including me. From the start, for the life of me, I couldn't figure out why he didn't put it up on Themeforest or something.

There is no blind worshipping of Leo except in your own mind.

Exactly. As I sad in earlier thread like this: Just ignore her. Obviously she needs this kind of intention. She pretends to be interested in an objective exchange of views, but she never was ...

Waka Waka

« Reply #78 on: August 18, 2014, 16:00 »
+2
@ Chromaco - if you and Leo know what really went wrong with the project, why not come out and say it? Why let the speculating go on and on? There was a poll up asking who wanted to pay a subscription and when 9 people said no, everything was taken down and that was the end of it. If that is incorrect, come out and spill the truth.

@ Chromaco - I am not looking for continued development, but with every version something else was added, with bugs, and then the bug fixing continued. But on the next version again something new was added and bugs had to be fixed. At some point, bugs where stacking up, and that cost a lot of time fixing. Every feature was added when the previous feature wasnt yet bug free. To be honest, I havent used my site for months, I dont even know what the last version is, what bugs are left, if the licence system is fixed, if the batch editor is fixed, if the shopping cart is fixed. All these features never reached maturity. And all suggestions to fix something never materialised because the next feature was added. Thats why I am upset that the project got cancelled as I have the idea it was fully finished.

@ Chromaco - I had loads of ideas and suggestions, many went ignored. A proper working mobile version is more important then anything else. I still cant show my site to someone on a smartphone as it is just crap. I had all the facts and figures why a mobile site is eminent. No one took it serious. And I offered to pay for a mobile version.

And I still dont know why you have a ton of sales, and no one else does  ;)

Waka Waka

« Reply #79 on: August 18, 2014, 16:05 »
+2
never been with leo, or symbio; so not a "worshipper nor an anti-cult"
 but allow me 2 add my tuppence worth ... without pointing at anyone here.

 i like the idea of hosting ur own site , from the start i read of leo,
but now even more, given the current situation with is and ss. only i don't have time for now 2 immerse myself globally, as i have more or less turn back 2 local work.

i realise some did not find it worth it, due 2 no sales . but the no sales has nothing 2 do with leo's making. it is ur own portfolio, if some others r selling in the same "connection" (4 lack of a better word, as i m told not 2 use "co-op" when describing symbio.)

anyway, like the co-op stocksy, it rises n falls with the network. symbio is only as strong as its weakest link. i like the idea, as it is one step in the current sorry state of ms to find a viable alternative.

as 2 whether it be fair 2 pay leo or not, why not then give him a percentage?
since we give ss , is, etc a large %age n we have absolutely no control of where we r in the search placement, or when they decide 2 switch-off our portfolio when we reach a certain pay-out point.
(not my idea of conspiracy, but just quoting some long-timers from the forum itself ie"port falls off a cliff").
If you could start using correct punctuation, write full words and capitalise sentences and "I", maybe I could make something of your comment. Sorry, but I have hard time decoding that.

« Reply #80 on: August 18, 2014, 16:08 »
+1
Ron tell me what you want. I'll see if I can help you. The VAT is coming although for the life of me I can't understand why Leo continues to work on it. If it wasn't for some interested parties behind the scene I'm sure it wouldn't be worth his time. Is there something else you would like?

Waka Waka

« Reply #81 on: August 18, 2014, 16:16 »
+2
Ron tell me what you want. I'll see if I can help you. The VAT is coming although for the life of me I can't understand why Leo continues to work on it. If it wasn't for some interested parties behind the scene I'm sure it wouldn't be worth his time. Is there something else you would like?
I dont think after all my criticism I am in a position to ask for anything. And I dont know what has been fixed, or what not. I need to check that. I will PM you for an email address as I will close this account soon. Still no desire to come back to MSG, but I needed to get information about Symbio and the other forum is dead.

As for the VAT plugin, I have no idea why he is still working on it either. But he started that VAT plugin months ago when the project was still ongoing. I guess he wants to finish it and be done with. If the VAT plugin comes at a reasonable price I will buy it.

« Reply #82 on: August 18, 2014, 16:16 »
-4
If you could start using correct punctuation, write full words and capitalise sentences and "I", maybe I could make something of your comment. Sorry, but I have hard time decoding that.

LMAO i wasn't asking u ;D ;D ;D ;D

Waka Waka

« Reply #83 on: August 18, 2014, 16:18 »
0
LMBO !! You joined the discussion, so it would be polite to write in a language we all understand  ;D ;D ;D ;D

sandorgora

« Reply #84 on: August 18, 2014, 16:23 »
+2
Dona Nobis Pacem  :-[

« Reply #85 on: August 18, 2014, 16:27 »
-5
LMBO !! You joined the discussion, so it would be polite to write in a language we all understand  ;D ;D ;D ;D
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D rofl

« Reply #86 on: August 18, 2014, 16:39 »
+1
Ron tell me what you want. I'll see if I can help you. The VAT is coming although for the life of me I can't understand why Leo continues to work on it. If it wasn't for some interested parties behind the scene I'm sure it wouldn't be worth his time. Is there something else you would like?
I dont think after all my criticism I am in a position to ask for anything. And I dont know what has been fixed, or what not. I need to check that. I will PM you for an email address as I will close this account soon. Still no desire to come back to MSG, but I needed to get information about Symbio and the other forum is dead.

As for the VAT plugin, I have no idea why he is still working on it either. But he started that VAT plugin months ago when the project was still ongoing. I guess he wants to finish it and be done with. If the VAT plugin comes at a reasonable price I will buy it.
Fair enough. Still it bothers Leo that people are having issues. His biggest problem was balancing income with requests. He probably should have said no to a lot of these things. Licensing systems, batch editors, VAT etc. You asked what went wrong? In part it was never enough. Always more add ons. Bells and whistles. A forum. A central search. Better SEO, social networking, twitter integration. Payoneer integration. People were unhappy with their network partners. Other people had better partners. My network isn't working but his is. It's unfair because that network is better than mine. I'm not selling right away so it must be the theme. And on and on and on. It's exhausting. A lot of this should have come much later into the project and most if it should have come in the form of paid add ons. Yes Leo probably mismanaged the growth but he did his best. If the theme had stayed simple it probably would have been more pristine but people still would have been unhappy.

« Reply #87 on: August 18, 2014, 16:43 »
-4
Dona Nobis Pacem  :-[


fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt

 ;)

« Reply #88 on: August 18, 2014, 16:45 »
0
The VAT thing was always going to be important - certainly for any sites which want to sell images to EU customers.

Valo

« Reply #89 on: August 18, 2014, 16:49 »
+1
Yep heating up nicely :)

Waka Waka

« Reply #90 on: August 18, 2014, 16:51 »
+1
Ron tell me what you want. I'll see if I can help you. The VAT is coming although for the life of me I can't understand why Leo continues to work on it. If it wasn't for some interested parties behind the scene I'm sure it wouldn't be worth his time. Is there something else you would like?
I dont think after all my criticism I am in a position to ask for anything. And I dont know what has been fixed, or what not. I need to check that. I will PM you for an email address as I will close this account soon. Still no desire to come back to MSG, but I needed to get information about Symbio and the other forum is dead.

As for the VAT plugin, I have no idea why he is still working on it either. But he started that VAT plugin months ago when the project was still ongoing. I guess he wants to finish it and be done with. If the VAT plugin comes at a reasonable price I will buy it.
Fair enough. Still it bothers Leo that people are having issues. His biggest problem was balancing income with requests. He probably should have said no to a lot of these things. Licensing systems, batch editors, VAT etc. You asked what went wrong? In part it was never enough. Always more add ons. Bells and whistles. A forum. A central search. Better SEO, social networking, twitter integration. Payoneer integration. People were unhappy with their network partners. Other people had better partners. My network isn't working but his is. It's unfair because that network is better than mine. I'm not selling right away so it must be the theme. And on and on and on. It's exhausting. A lot of this should have come much later into the project and most if it should have come in the form of paid add ons. Yes Leo probably mismanaged the growth but he did his best. If the theme had stayed simple it probably would have been more pristine but people still would have been unhappy.
Thats what I mean, stuff was being added to fast, when the previous feature wasnt fully stable. I never understood that. I dont use any of the bells and whistles, the only things that were truly needed was a good search feature and a batch editor and I paid for that.

I see my last comment got voted down as well, and it doesnt even have any criticism. LOL. Closing my account, this place is still toxic. Brrrrrrr.

Anyway, you have my email address.  :)

Waka Waka

« Reply #91 on: August 18, 2014, 16:51 »
0
Yep heating up nicely :)
Get used to it !  ;)

« Reply #92 on: August 18, 2014, 17:04 »
0
I agree about the VAT. Some serious people got involved regarding that one but that was way to late. Leo was already done because there were also innumerable threads started about multi language capability and dozens and dozens of threads regarding problems which resulted when people added their own code. Leo spent many hours fixing things for people. Many of these problems were related to people using non recommended hosting companies. The main problem was that there was to much ability for people to break their own sites. I think if someone were to follow in his footsteps they would need to seriously limit the ability of site owners to make modifications. Still there were a number of capable people who spent many hours of their own helping people. Those individual know who you are and you deserve a round of praise. I still think a lot more good came out of this than bad. It's just the bad is more fun to talk about.
@waka. I don't use any of them either. Not one. I set my sites up exactly like the tutorials said and used the recommended hosting. I've only had 1 issue which had to do with a certain version of the safari browser but it was pretty easy to solve.

« Reply #93 on: August 18, 2014, 17:19 »
0
Quote
Leo spent many hours fixing things for people.

I agree. I download lots of wordpress themes for clients, and basically what you get is a forum for questions and answers, and sometimes the developers ask for private emails. Once a day they usually go through and answer the emails. I see a lot of answers to questions wanting major deviations from what the theme provides, and the developer answers "you can't do it without a lot of extra time and coding. Sorry." I think that's more than fair when I am paying $45-$75 for a theme.

But some modifications being asked for were basic ones that photographers need. Basically, what the agencies offered is what photographers need in a theme.

Don't blame the people asking for stuff when all the developer has to do is say "Sorry, no, not at this time." Period.

Leo

« Reply #94 on: August 18, 2014, 17:55 »
+3
In all the feverish argumentation, there is a problem beneath the problem.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Limits_to_Growth

Symbiostock is another group within Microstock, so it inherits the issues, concerns, and players.

There is also the issue that Symbiostock's main issues are not mainly of utility but philosophy.

I can see through numerous conversations that there are perhaps 2 or 3 main schools of thought on how to continue, if it continues. Symbiostock could be divided between several  networks reflecting it's member's ideas and purposes, and be led independently. Then instead of conflicting within forum rants, they would move productively in separate directions reflecting their members, instead of trying to stick together and move in different directions - in effect going nowhere.

There comes a point when a system becomes burdensome to itself, and a division is needed to maintain health and growth. It works from a cellular level, to colonies of animals, to human society, and even ideas and yes software and online networks.

Its no coincidence that growth stopped as the sites approached 180 in number. More voices, more visions, more need, and too much on one person. Problems of morale ensue when some people make sales and others don't. I think the network has to be divided and restructured to reflect the 2 or 3 main schools of thought behind the project.

I'm a person who loves coding, but of limited time and ability in other areas, everyone could have seen this coming.

I'm moving in a separate and private direction with a newer version Symbiostock...division number one. There are those who have different ideas with great potential...Bunhill, personalities you've seen come in and speak of the greater picture. People like them, given time and resources, could turn Symbiostock into something amazing, or even make something spin off from it that is better yet. Yet there is always a trade-off, because stronger business models require unflattering decisions.

In any case, what happened with Symbio's start was natural, and the threshold of growth...also natural. It could die or go on...at this point its a question of qualified people of correct skills from levels of content (ie, images) to business (management) to coding (development) taking things in an independent direction or two.

If the message wasn't clear though its this:

Symbiostock needs to be divided into groups and separate networks, with their own leadership, development, and ways of benefiting, reflecting the groups of thought and differing priorities within the current network.
 

« Reply #95 on: August 18, 2014, 18:17 »
-1
  .
 ....What is to believe when the developer himself says, without running around the bush, the project is done and he is pulling out?

It is on the developer website for everyone to read. But then someone else comes out, speaking for the developer, saying it is not true.

Why are the two people running this project contradicting each other.

Which one is it, is it dead or is it not dead? If it is not dead, why are the two blog posts up saying it is?

Why is the forum being closed, reinstated, being closed, reinstated, and now read only? At least on three occasions I was told that the project had to come to an end.

......I paid for plugins that later were given away for free, thats not the way forward to make money, if that is your plan.
..,..If I had paid nothing for this software you wouldnt have heard one word of criticism from me, but I paid 155 dollar. That entitles me to have criticism. Period.

first - there's no contradiction -- leo did say the project was done, BUT he later changed his mind and has indicated he will continue to support the software if WP or other changes require it.

the forum was taken offline, but it has been back  back online for several WEEKS, yet you repeat you claim it's read only.  simple fact -- the forum is open.

you also misrepresented the facts when you claimed in your early posts that you had paid a lot of money for the SOFTWARE which is just no t true -- the software has ALWAYS been free, and a fully functional site can be setup for free.  only later did you admit that you paid for the EXTRAs.   I can understand your frustration after being such a strong supporter, and my clarifications here are not meant as a personal attack, but rather to make these facts clear to the lurkers and future readers who may not know the details

« Reply #96 on: August 18, 2014, 18:23 »
-1
Its typical for all sorts of grassroot campains that they waste a lot of time on endless debating and end up in fractions of people with the same vision.
Its also typical that they only reach limited results.

...And that (former) (cult) member become hostile towards eachother.

Amazing is the tendency that (former) members absolutely have to take the dirty laundry out in public.
But so it is, it happens all the time. Especially among politicians.

« Reply #97 on: August 18, 2014, 18:31 »
-1

@ Chromaco - I am not looking for continued development, but with every version something else was added, with bugs, and then the bug fixing continued. But on the next version again something new was added and bugs had to be fixed. At some point, bugs where stacking up, and that cost a lot of time fixing. Every feature was added when the previous feature wasnt yet bug free. To be honest, I havent used my site for months, I dont even know what the last version is, what bugs are left, .....

 

it would help keep the temperature down if you did your research before making claims then -- you admit you havent used the latest versions which have been running successfully for months -- there were only a few instances where a new version broke something essential, and ALL of those problems were fixed quickly


Mark Windom Photography

« Reply #98 on: August 18, 2014, 18:36 »
+6
never been with leo, or symbio; so not a "worshipper nor an anti-cult"
 but allow me 2 add my tuppence worth ... without pointing at anyone here.

 i like the idea of hosting ur own site , from the start i read of leo,
but now even more, given the current situation with is and ss. only i don't have time for now 2 immerse myself globally, as i have more or less turn back 2 local work.

i realise some did not find it worth it, due 2 no sales . but the no sales has nothing 2 do with leo's making. it is ur own portfolio, if some others r selling in the same "connection" (4 lack of a better word, as i m told not 2 use "co-op" when describing symbio.)

anyway, like the co-op stocksy, it rises n falls with the network. symbio is only as strong as its weakest link. i like the idea, as it is one step in the current sorry state of ms to find a viable alternative.

as 2 whether it be fair 2 pay leo or not, why not then give him a percentage?
since we give ss , is, etc a large %age n we have absolutely no control of where we r in the search placement, or when they decide 2 switch-off our portfolio when we reach a certain pay-out point.
(not my idea of conspiracy, but just quoting some long-timers from the forum itself ie"port falls off a cliff").
If you could start using correct punctuation, write full words and capitalise sentences and "I", maybe I could make something of your comment. Sorry, but I have hard time decoding that.

Sorry, but I've got to agree with Ron.  You seem to have some good things to 'say' but, honestly, I can't get through your posts with the texting-like vocabulary.

« Reply #99 on: August 18, 2014, 18:52 »
0
I was just about to correct Ron's misconception about the forum being read only but I see that Steve beat me to it.  It's been available for weeks and mentioned here and on our FB group more than once. For anyone that is looking for it you can find it here where Steve generously offered to host it.  http://pix-now.com/community/

That said, it is quiet with minimal posting.  I attribute that mostly to the loss of momentum without the influx of new sites but also because people are not fiddling with their sites and the current version(s) are stable.  Without the regular addition of enhancements things seem to be sailing smoothly.  I'm also selective now on where I will spend my time helping others on the forum too after my last experience.  Without going into great detail I'll just say that someone complained long and loud about a single registration problem and no support.  I spent time doing test registrations on his site and could not duplicate it.  Others tried to help too.  Leo chimed in and offered help.  I offered up the suggestion of a plug in I use that can be set up to allow about 15+ social login ID's to sign into your Symbio site.  I have no idea if he ever got the problem fixed but it seemed like it was possibly a problem with the registrants provider blocking something since others couldn't duplicate it.  He came back a few days later with continued complaining and never acknowledged those that offered help.  After I had that experience I can see why Leo lost his spirit to continue as he saw that magnified.




 

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