Blogging to Paradise

Or is it “features added and bugs fixed?” Try it and let us know! ;-)Yes, it’s true! We’ve managed to push out another update to SonicMood. This one fixes a few more bugs and add some features, including a few that are “under the hood.” For example, the way SonicMood handles Mood files that are added to an existing file is more logical. If a Mood in the added file has the same name as one in the current file, then that Mood’s settings will replace the settings of the Mood in the current file. Previously, the original Mood’s settings would be kept.This version of SonicMood adds some more “note patterns”, too, thanks to the work of one of our users, Patrick EL MELANIE. If you haven’t downloaded and played any of his Mood files, maybe you should. They’re here: http://www.sonicmood.com/MoodSharing.htm and they’re free! :)I’ve also posted a MIDI file I recorded using SonicMood that captures one of Patrick’s Moods, “Taiko Rhythms”. It’s a lively Mood with a real nice beat! Proof that SonicMood can do more than create slow, semi-random sounds! :)Enjoy!

Well, we got v4.8.5 out, then rushed out v4.8.5.1 to fix some rather annoying bugs. Now we’re working hard on another bug fix version (v4.8.5.2) that’ll squish even more bugs we’ve found!We’ve also made a new page on the web site (“Sharing”) at http://www.sonicmood.com/MoodSharing.htm that contains extra soundfiles and some Mood files users have contributed. Stop by and pick up some new Moods if you’d like.Well, it’s May already and the yard’s a mess. We are threatening to go out and start a cleanup (to be fair, Laura did a bit yesterday while I was pounding the keyboard). So it’s time to GTD (Get Things Done!) :)Hope you all have a great weekend!John

It’s Monday, and although I haven’t yet gone to bed I’m saying it’s Monday…

Amy and her new boyfriend, Tevarus, have been visiting since last Wednesday (I think it was). They drove up in the afternoon and got here about 8:30 PM.

Tevarus seems like a great guy. He’s a lot of fun and I wish now I’d had more time to spend with the both of them and Laura. I’m going crazy with SonicMood and the business now that I’ve teamed up with Robert Mitton - a real go-getter…

They (Laura, Amy, and Tevarus) set up the ping-pong table in the living room and everyone had a blast playing! It’s been too long since I’d played
They also played Rummy on the back porch (they ALL smoke! <cough>) and had fun. I enjoyed just watching but I did provide some music
They also played Trivial Pursuit which was great - I love to kibitz! And today (Sunday) they played Monopoly, but didn’t finish (dinner intervened).

They bought beer (honey wheat, very good) and we all had a bit to drink. Also one day Laura made margaritas; Yum!

I got Amy’s taxes done, I hope… That’s been a bit of a pain!

Anyway, they’re leaving today (Monday), I guess. I wish I’d had more time to spend with them… And I know Laura will miss Amy terribly when she’s left. What can you do?

Actually, spring has been here since last Wednesday night. And it shows. Cherry blossoms are on the trees (cherry trees only :). Grass growing tall already (sigh). Somewhat warmer, although we still have our cooler days with clouds floating ominously by.

So I raked the pine needles in the driveway - one of my least favorite things to do… But it’s trash day and I wanted to fill the “lawn waste” bin before I took out the trash. Yard work is in our future, I’m afraid. To that end I got a new battery for the “tractor” and put it in. It works.

I posted SonicMood v4.8.5 beta 2 yesterday. It fixes some bugs and adds some features - I think it’s a nice update from v4.8.1.

Got a new Apple keyboard, just started using it. It’s the low-profile aluminum one that has keys like the notebooks do. It’s kind of nice and looks great.

Paid the property tax, but still haven’t started on the income tax (groan). I’ve got to get moving, but I’m even less excited about that than I was about raking…

That’s it!

SonicMood is the featured promotion on MUPromo.com today (January 24th, 2008). You can buy your copy for 40% off: just $5.95 USD.

We made it! Amy’s married and my legs are killing me from all the dancing at the reception. What a great wedding! And what a great father’s day!

Yes, it’s true Amy’s getting hitched this coming Saturday (June 16th). I’ve never been “father of the bride” before, so I’m just a little bit excited! I’m flying down (the wedding’s not here) Friday to meet my wife (she’s going down earlier to help out a bit), so we’ll be away from the “store” for a few days (Friday, Sat, Sunday). If you send email over that period I’ll answer it as soon as we return. We’ve decided to NOT run the automated registration program while we’re gone. So, if you register SonicMood over the weekend (starting Friday), or if you encounter problems, you’ll have to wait till we return late Sunday. I’ll take care of registrations Sunday (we should be in by 8pm PDT) and help requests Monday am.

Thanks for your understanding. I wouldn’t miss this for the world!

OK, we’ve got the bug previously mentioned (crashes on “Create a Mood”) fixed, plus a few other small tweaks

So, go get it!

Time for me to start thinking about v 4.8!

I finally got the website updated and am reasonably satisfied with the way the new version looks and acts, so we’ve officially released SonicMood v4.7.5 today…

It seems I’m always struggling with “one more thing” to add or change … But I wrestled myself to the floor and convinced myself that “it’s time” to let this one go. I hope you all like it!

UPDATE: We’ve found a bug in v4.7.5 - if you try to use the “Create a Mood” menu item from the “Moods” menu, then click the “Create” button in the window that opens, SonicMood will crash. We have a fix which we’ll be posting (as v4.7.6) in a few days. Meanwhile, don’t use “Create a Mood”. Thanks!

Bit of Paradise Products finally has a venue for user/developer communication! More to follow