XYplorer Lifetime License 51% discount on BitsDuJour on Monday 8 Nov 2010

[Winkie]

[attach]

[tomos]

The license will also stay valid for The-App-Formerly-Known-As-XYplorer.

wow,
he's changing the name to FlexyFiles...

[Darwin]

Yeah... I noticed that as well. Definitely prefer XYPlorer!

[Bionic71]

can't see myself buying any flexyfile management software, what is wrong with xyplorer?
i always felt it was a catchy name and i'll buy a license if he just keeps the name.
if they now must change it then let the users brainstorm for a little while longer, flexyfile.. what is that? 

[Shades]

First of all, let me say that I did a test drive with this software once and if it wasn't for DOpus, this one would have won the title of my best file-manager.

XYPlorer is a well known name in file-manager land...but let's be honest, it isn't much of a name. I understand the need for change. FleXYfile is more descriptive and still has the XY reference, but that doesn't mean that it is a good name.

Unfortunately I cannot come up with a better name that includes the XY reference...at least not at this time of night (it's about 04:00 at the time of writing)

[DonL]

FYI, the new name will be an alternative, not a replacement. XYplorer will not stop to exist (and being developed). Other than the name, both products will be 100% identical, they will even have the same icon and the same short name ("XY"). It's really just the name, a purely cosmetic and superficial difference. And there is only one reason for it: I got bored with the reaction to "XYplorer" -- 90% find the name totally idiotic, difficult/unclear to pronounce, difficult/unclear to spell.

Don (XY dev)

PS: Those of you who find FlexyFiles idiotic: You don't need to tell me. There is no way to please all, and I won't revise the decision anyway.

[Curt]

PS: Those of you who find FlexyFiles idiotic: You don't need to tell me. There is no way to please all, and I won't revise the decision anyway.

-fair. 


Are you launching a new company name at the same time, like Acme Inc. ? 

[Darwin]

Thanks for posting in this thread, Don. I'm a bit of a "we fear change" type when it comes to software name changes. I was also unimpressed when another DC regular who is also a software developer (Pierre Landry) changed the name of his product from SQLNotes to InfoQube... my objections seem rather silly a year on!

[Tuxman]

"Flexyfiles". Geez, what a boring name.

[tomos]

Well I'm happy to hear the XYplorer name is also being kept
I thought the criteria list for the new name was good:

MUST
- The name must be easily pronouncable for most people on this planet.
- When you see the name you must know how it is pronounced.
- When you hear the name you must have a good idea about how it is written/spelled.
- It should be catchy and memorable, without sounding like the name of a virus.
- The name must not be used already by any other well-known software.
- The name must not be a registered trademark like "explorer".
- The domain http://www.(name).com must be available.

NICE TO HAVE (but not essential)
- The name should have some connection to file management (fantasy allowed)
- If the name contains the sequence -xy- then I don't have to remake the icons. :wink:

I guess in many non-english languages, the letters XY dont exactly roll of the tongue (even when spoken as letters)

[Tuxman]

In German, they are pronounced like "xee".  

[xtabber]

Some of us older folk still fondly remember XyWrite (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XyWrite).

[Darwin]

xy in English is pronounced "zye" as in "xylophone"

EDIT: I should clarify that it's pronounced this way at the beginning of a word, but completely differently at the end.

[Curt]

xy in English is pronounced "zye" as in "xylophone"

how do I know that this one is xy-plorer and not xyp-lorer or x-yplorer?
The three words are equally meaningless to Joe I.T. Average.

[Winkie]

how do I know that this one is xy-plorer and not xyp-lorer or x-yplorer?

What about x-y-plorer? This never-ending discussion was the reason for the new name...

Back to the product/deal: DC discussion goes on here

(also updated the first post a bit)

[Darwin]

xy in English is pronounced "zye" as in "xylophone"

how do I know that this one is xy-plorer and not xyp-lorer or x-yplorer?
The three words are equally meaningless to Joe I.T. Average.

Good point, Curt. I'm pretty sure that it's meant to be X-Y-Plorer.

[CodeTRUCKER]

...
PS: Those of you who find FlexyFiles idiotic: You don't need to tell me. There is no way to please all, and I won't revise the decision anyway.

DonL, I can respect that as your perrogative, but if I may be so bold as to suggest...

"Fle-XY-files" (pronounced flex-ee-files).

or like Shades alluded to...

"FleXYfiles"

Either one keeps your decided name change and still highlights the "XY" heritage all of us have come to know so affectionately.

[Curt]

Why should XYplorer customers care what name the new product has?:

XYplorer will not stop to exist (and being developed). Other than the name, both products will be 100% identical,  

[Darwin]

Why should XYplorer customers care what name the new product has?:

XYplorer will not stop to exist (and being developed). Other than the name, both products will be 100% identical, 

Because it's there! Just plain orneriness (or cussedness)... at least in my case!

[CodeTRUCKER]

Why should XYplorer customers care what name the new product has?:
...

Curt,

You might be correct as far as a "customer" is concerned, but I am thinking of it as a business owner myself.  Imagine what Microsoft would lose if they changed their name to "Software Giant?"  Yet, on the "customer" side, it always provokes some insecurity whenever a long-standing and successful product gets a face-lift.  Maybe it shouldn't, but that is just human nature. 

Frankly, I think DonL is making a mistake if he does not maintain some "XY" name recognition, especially since he has enjoyed success, but as the Big Kahuna it is his prerogative to do whatever he wishes. 

[CodeTRUCKER]

Hey DonL,

Hindsight is always 20-20, but just for fun consider what might have happened if you would have named it "YXplorer."  
The ambiguity is delicious!

CT

[rssapphire]

I just bought a copy about an hour ago. Even though I have DO, I couldn't resist XYplorer at this price -- especially with lifetime free upgrades and usable on all my PCs. It will be my main file manager on my laptop and on my USB stick for use on other computers. Who knows, it might someday replace DO on my main PC as well.

[tomos]

That looks good already:

"FleXYfiles"

that was one of the stipulations for the new name -XY- he can now continue with e.g. the new XY icon

Frankly, I think DonL is making a mistake if he does not maintain some "XY" name recognition

eh, he plans to ('maintain some "XY" name recognition'). Also says he's going to keep the old name too.

[Renegade]

I'm waffling on this... Is it worth it? Will it save me time? Should I go for DOpus instead?

Only a few hours left, so please chime in quick.

[CodeTRUCKER]

That looks good already:

"FleXYfiles"

that was one of the stipulations for the new name -XY- he can now continue with e.g. the new XY icon

Hey Tomos, thanks for the 

Frankly, I think DonL is making a mistake if he does not maintain some "XY" name recognition

eh, he plans to ('maintain some "XY" name recognition'). Also says he's going to keep the old name too.

Hmmm... Just for clarity... DonL wrote "FlexyFiles" (note the lower-case "xy") above.  My suggestion and what I was referring to is to "maintain" highlighting the "XY" as in "FleXYfiles" (upper-case "XY," lower-case "f").

I intended no criticism of the name he has chosen; on the contrary, I love the way "FleXYfiles" rolls off the tongue!  I was suggesting the observation of one of the cardinal rules of marketing products... "consistent branding."

At any rate, I am off to take advantage of a great discount!  Kudos to DonL!