Preview of new Stardock download store / updater

By on November 12, 2011 3:04:25 PM from JoeUser Forums JoeUser Forums

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So with Impulse over to Gamestop and the digital distribution competition no longer something we’re participating in we’ve developed a new digital updating client – Stardock Central (what’s old is new again).

But unlike the old “big” client, the new one is very…very simple.

image

(sorry for the lame screenshot, I’m caught up on my games on this new machine and haven’t installed any apps yet).

Your Stardock purchases will show up here once you login. Just pick what you want to install (or update) and press a button and it’ll use our massively fast CDN to install it (we have a long-term agreement with our CDN except now the only thing using its bandwidth is our stuff so the download speeds are kind of ridiculous – it’s like being the only guy on a 1 gigabyte line).

image

The new settings includes an option to have it simply update your software automatically.  So you can either choose to stick with older versions or always have it up to date.

..

OK, let’s say you don’t like to have to install a client at all.  That’s fine too.  You can update your software and games via the web as well:

image

Pick whether it’s software or games and it’ll look at your account, when you last updated, and off you go.  The installer will figure out what you need to install (i.e. if you have multiple machines with different versions) and off you go.

It’s designed to be as streamlined as possible.

 

UPDATE: TRY THE LATEST VERSION HERE:

http://www.stardock.com/products/stardockcentral/

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November 13, 2011 4:48:56 AM from Sins of a Solar Empire Forums Sins of a Solar Empire Forums

...we’ve developed a new digital updating client – Stardock Central (what’s old is new again).

But unlike the old “big” client, the new one is very…very simple.

Well, the old SC ( http://sdc.stardock.com/sdcentral_setup.exe ) was pretty good and simple... and it was "platinium" ( work perfectly ) on Linux...

Why change something who was working perfectly? Hope that your new client will not use feature who can be found only in win7 by example...

A advice, try to have finish these new Stardock Central before the release of SOASE Rebellion, so that information about it can be writted in the manual of the boxed release !!!

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November 13, 2011 4:56:56 AM from Sins of a Solar Empire Forums Sins of a Solar Empire Forums

Please, please, please provide an offline installation archive capability for purchased software--preferably an executable that will create an installation cd disk.

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November 13, 2011 9:25:05 AM from Elemental Forums Elemental Forums

I'm not a fan of the button design colors myself.  I'd rather see a color scheme that matches Stardock's logo, not something that looks like it would be on the 360.

 

Trivial quibble. 

 

Will the web updater do pre-release versions of just official?  If I don't have to use a client, I probably won't, unless the program client gives a real advantage.

 

The one thing I miss about Impulse is the graphics card checker.  Steam's version works just as well though.

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November 13, 2011 9:40:06 AM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

it will be available in what year?

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November 13, 2011 10:18:53 AM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

It was my understanding that the new software installation program would only be for customization software and would not include games.  Is that true?

 

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November 13, 2011 10:21:16 AM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

Excellent, thanks for the update Brad!

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November 13, 2011 10:59:27 AM from JoeUser Forums JoeUser Forums
Katrinakat - The OP & reply #13 imply games will be included without specifically stating it. So I think the answer to your question is "No."
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November 13, 2011 11:15:37 AM from Sins of a Solar Empire Forums Sins of a Solar Empire Forums

Almost time to uninstall Impulse.

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November 13, 2011 12:26:32 PM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

Looks simple and updates my stuff. Gimme!

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November 13, 2011 1:41:10 PM from Elemental Forums Elemental Forums

Quoting Katrinakat,
It was my understanding that the new software installation program would only be for customization software and would not include games.  Is that true?

 

It'll do games and software.

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November 13, 2011 1:48:49 PM from Sins of a Solar Empire Forums Sins of a Solar Empire Forums

This is very exciting news.

 

One of the features I liked about the old Impulse was the 'pre-release versions available' functionality it had. Will this support this for 'pre-ordered' access to betas?

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November 13, 2011 5:52:43 PM from Elemental Forums Elemental Forums

Can't wait to update Sins with this. 

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November 13, 2011 6:15:31 PM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

SO WHEN IS IT COMING ???

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November 13, 2011 7:01:56 PM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

As is common with Stardock, it will be here when it gets here, not before. 

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November 13, 2011 8:43:17 PM from Elemental Forums Elemental Forums

Before the E:FE beta, so after turkey day. 

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November 14, 2011 8:44:34 PM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

Will the new SDC be able to make/restore backups? I know it's all about "simple is better" but archiving is a vital function. Along with release dates and changelogs.

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November 14, 2011 10:26:20 PM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

Quoting Bebi Bulma,
Will the new SDC be able to make/restore backups? I know it's all about "simple is better" but archiving is a vital function. Along with release dates and changelogs.
Every download is a full installer.  Restore as you like. 

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November 14, 2011 10:26:22 PM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

Now for the $64,000 question... being I see nothing in the screenshots/OP!!  Will the new Stardock Central allow us to archive our apps... as per Impulse?  For me [many others, I presume] this is an important feature - saves a lot of downloading when one has to reformat and is on metered bandwith - and it allows the return to older versions should a beta/new version have bugs, etc. 

Not only that, user based archives would help reduce load/demand on Stardock's servers... so, what's the go?

*Edit*

Every download is a full backup.  Restore as you like.

Thanks Zu... didn't see this when I began to reply.  Anyhow, it answers my question.

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November 15, 2011 5:45:35 AM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

SO WHEN IS IT COMING ???

Hypersoon son, hypersoon

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November 15, 2011 6:59:18 AM from Elemental Forums Elemental Forums

So i can get EWoM over SDC, and i guess EFE too.

How is it with SoaSE and its upcoming expansion? WIll it work, since its distributed by Stardock. Just to make sure i get that right, because if your answer is "yes", i will deinstall Impulse.

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November 15, 2011 1:36:52 PM from Sins of a Solar Empire Forums Sins of a Solar Empire Forums

It most likely will.

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November 15, 2011 1:54:23 PM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

Quoting Philly0381,
As is common with Stardock, it will be here when it gets here, not before. 

yes so true, in may be in 2012 at the earliest or even 2013. Remember they do things on SD time, like it's in the mail time

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November 15, 2011 2:02:59 PM from Stardock Forums Stardock Forums

Looks great, excited for the new Stardock Central

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November 15, 2011 2:11:42 PM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

I just think it should be released ASAP to those willing to test it. It cannot be worse than lurking on the website for updates everyday.

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November 15, 2011 3:05:20 PM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

Quoting OldMsgt,
yes so true, in may be in 2012 at the earliest or even 2013. Remember they do things on SD time, like it's in the mail time

Yep, I can't wait to hear the reactions from people who are still able to post in the community on just how they like it.

 

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