Micro ISV Digest

A weekly roundup of Micro ISV news, announcements and relevant blog posts.

News and Announcements

• BugNinja launched TaskUnit.com, a web task list service. Update.
• Brett Romero launched a beta version of Simple Deploy, a web application deployment tool. Via BoS.
• Andrey Butov and I started a beta program for Asteroid Jane, our new BlackBerry game.
• Nicolas Cadilhac is looking for beta testers for SmartFieldPackEditor.Net, a new .net component.
• A new version of Surfulator was released.
• Nick Bradbury on the Micro ISV Show.
• BugNinja points out Kuler, Adobe's colour scheme social network.
• Find Projects on the Go BIG network.

Relevant Blog Posts and Articles

• No Market Too Small, from Ian Landsman.
• Deriving your demand curve using exchange rate fluctuations, from Joel Spolsky.
• In praise of Single-Tasking, from Scott Meade.
• Finding a bad-ass co-founder Pt2, from Andrew Chen.
• Quality vs Scope, from GameDevBlog.
• Impressions of Google Checkout, from Andy Brice.
• An overview of a new digital download sales service, from Patrick McKenzie.
• Sales tips from Rug dealers, from OnStartups.
• Controversy is good, from EfCN.

Further (mostly relevant) Reading

• 10 tips to manage a customer crisis, from Jim Logan.
• Be more productive by taking a break, from Instigator.
• Do it anyway / Set a deadline, from Center Networks.
• Essential Firefox add-ons for entrpreneurs, from Nick Hebb.
• 10 questions with Seth Godin, from Guy Kawasaki.

Tags: microisv digest entrepreneurship startups shareware

The Black Hole Critter Bug

As many of you already know, I'm working on some game development projects with Andrey Butov. It's been working out very well, and it shouldn't be long now until we actually release something. The first game will be for the BlackBerry, but hopefully our first PC/Mac game won't be too far behind.

The actual work presents slightly different challenges and rewards than the regular development I've been doing on my existing products, and there's been a lot more to do outside the basic IDE. But, the bugs are usually the same, even if they do have much more interesting manifestations.

A couple of weeks ago, after some minor tweaking, we noticed something a little odd. One of our slimy critters was flat out refusing to move when asked. After a brief wild goose chase, I tracked it down to a simple +/- change, which effectively gave the poor thing an infinite weight. On our team, this will now forever be known as the Black Hole Critter Bug.

I don't know about you, but I think Black Hole Critter Bugs sound a lot more exciting than Divide By Zeros.

The system works

Just popped over to my Squidoo lenses page, and it seems I owe a bigger thank you than I thought to Bob and Patrick for their links to the Micro ISV Toolkit on Squidoo.

It's currently ranked #349 overall, and #18 in computers and technology. It's not that long ago that I'd forgotten all about it, and it was ranked as low as #68,500. Also, thanks to the three people who rated it.

Micro ISV Digest

A weekly roundup of Micro ISV news, announcements and relevant blog posts.

News and Announcements

• Real Agent Accelerator was released, a real estate business management tool. Via BoS.
• Anthony Presley launched Time Forge, an employee scheduling system. Via BoS.
• Jason released ChineseBuddy, a chinese learning tool. Via BoS.
• A new version of SourceGear Vault was released.
• Paul Lefebvre made Ultra Toolbar opensource.
• Andrea Nagar on the Bits du Jour experience. BoS.
• Chris (goCRM) tried GiveAwayOftheDay.
• A new free Internet Marketing eBook from Conversation Marketing.

Relevant Blog Posts and Articles

• 30 ways to promote your web application with little or no money, from Roberto Alamos.
• What don't you need to start a business, from Instigator.
• The essence of duct tape marketing, from Guy Kawasaki.
• Top 50 ways of selling more software, from Dave Collins. Also, Adwords Preferred Cost Option.
• Choosing your negative keywords, on BoS.
• CrazyEgg vs Google Analytics, from Patrick McKenzie. Also, Trust your customers.
• Don't do what your users say, from Handord Lemoore.
• Finding Startup ideas for the average joe, from Andrew Chen.
• Small business blogs from WSJ, via EfCN.
• What's the difference between an entrepreneur and a robot, from Wil Schroter.

Further (mostly relevant) Reading

• The Passion of the Developers, on Lost Garden.
• Must-have mISV tools, on BoS. Also, productivity tips.
• Not settling, from Seth Godin.
• Designing cars, and Don't be a hero, on 37 signals.
• More good links from Follow Steph.

Tags: microisv digest entrepreneurship startups shareware

Micro ISV Digest

A weekly roundup of Micro ISV news, announcements and relevant blog posts.

News and Announcements

• SpoiltChild Design launched When is my Wedding?
• A new version of the Krypton library was released.
• Dennis Crane of Dr Explain, launched a new Micro ISV blog.
• The Daily Hub is a new social bookmarking site for business geeks.
• Pam Slim chats with Guy Kawasaki.
• Google Checkout is now available in the UK.
• StartupSpark are looking for an entrepreneur blogger.
• Microsoft are hosting a free Office Live event.
• The battle of the Micro ISV search engines began. Fedor Chenkov's ISVoogle indexes a lot of great ISV produced and related content. Bob Walsh's Micro ISV Search is more focused on non-coding, related topics.

Relevant Blog Posts and Articles

• The wide world of web apps, from Phil.
• 10 Questions to ask before you write any code, from Andy Brice.
• Startup Financing Q&A, from OnStartups.
• Avoid the top 3 we mistakes, from Dave Collins on MyMicroISV.
• I have a great job, why aren't I happy, from EfCN.
• Stop listening to the experts, from Andrey Butov.
• Time Management series, on GameDevBlog.
• 2 ways customers can do your marketing, from Scott Meade.
• Advice on free trials, from MyMicroISV.
• Features vs Ideology, from Ian Landsman.

Further (mostly relevant) Reading

• Memo to the very small, from Seth Godin.
• The carnival of Entrepreneurs.
• 10 obvious strategies to ruthlessly acquire users.
• Embracing Iterative Design.
• Simplicity: The ultimate sophistication.
• Pearls before Breakfast.
• Cringe City.

Tags: microisv digest entrepreneurship startups shareware

Micro ISV Search Engine

Normally when I see something interesting and Micro ISV related, I just add it to the list of links for the next monday's digest. But, that's six whole days away, and this is cool enough for a post of it's own.

Fedor Chenkov emailed me about his new site ISVoogle, a google custom search engine that only looks at ISV related sites, blogs and forums. Check it out, and keep it handy for the next time you want to do a Micro ISV related search.

An instant addition to my mISV toolkit Squidoo lens.

Tag: micro isv

Micro ISV Digest

A weekly roundup of Micro ISV news, announcements and relevant blog posts.

News and Announcements

• Andre Oporto released an RC1 version of EdgeRM, a Micro ISV requirements management system. Via BoS.
• Ted Graham launched LinkedCells, an Excel data sharing Addin. Via BoS.
• Averina released a new code signing library. Via BoS.
• A new beta version of the Krypton Toolkit was released.
• A new version of FusionDesk was released.
• A new version of InfoCaptor was released.
• A new version of LandlordMax was released.
• Kevin Epstein (Stupid Marketing) on the Micro ISV Show.
• Andy Brice started a blog, Successful Software.

Relevant Blog Posts and Articles

• A Kalzumeus update from Patrick.
• When Google Adwords fails, from Dave Collins on MyMicroISV.
• I'm crazy for CrazyEgg, from BugNinja.
• Brandon Doyle's Micro ISV Story, on BoS.
• Why not all great hackepreneurs get picked by Y-Combinator, from OnStartups.
• How much money will my software make (and what does that have to do with aliens), from Andy Brice.
• Disney World, Five Man Electric Band and Good software design, from Scott Meade.
• Business for Geeks: Piracy, from Keith Casey.
• Startup Simulator, via StartupSpark.
• It was customer map week: Ian, Jon, Gurocks.

Further (mostly relevant) Reading

• Microsoft is Dead, from Paul Graham. Also, comment from Gapingvoid (now on MS payroll).
• The Carnival of Entrepreneurs.
• An unusual website, via 37signals.
• WikiSummaries (via Bob).
• If architects had to work like programmers.

Tags: microisv digest entrepreneurship startups shareware

New Flash Game - Quickdraw

I've just uploaded a simple new Flash game to the site.

Play Quickdraw

I hope you like it.

Tags: flash games

Broken Silence

Wow, it's been a while... 3 whole months without a (non-digest) post here. Rather than let the anticipation and expectation levels rise any further, here's a quick update.

Firstly, I'm still here. I hang out in all the same old haunts, follow all the same blogs, even if I have mostly been limited to just lurking and skimming for potential digest items lately.

Working with Andrey on games is working out very well so far. We seem to have a good mix of skills and interests, so we've been able to complement each other nicely. Plus, he pops up for a chat most days, which really helps to break that feeling of isolation that Micro ISVers will know all about.

Bob and Patrick both linked to one of my old Squidoo lenses last week, which shamed me into updating it a little:-

Micro ISV Toolkit on Squidoo

If there are any really useful Micro ISV tools/services that I haven't included, please feel free to suggest them here.

Finally for now, after all the April Fool's day pranks, I'm sure I'm not the only one relieved to hear that the 8-bit Tie is for real.

Micro ISV Digest

A weekly roundup of Micro ISV news, announcements and relevant blog posts.

News and Announcements

• A new version of SmartInspect was released.
• Another sucessful launch for Ian M Jones.
• Joel Spolsky on the Scoble Show.
• Jessica Livingston on The Micro ISV Show.
• Paul Graham at Startup School 2007.

Relevant Blog Posts and Articles

• A status update from Jon (NGEdit).
• What's with the long tail, from Dave Collins on MyMicroISV.
• Why to not not start a startup, from Paul Graham.
• Continuing Phil's chimsoft post-mortem, part 4 and summing up.
• Fewer hurdles = more sales, from Bob Walsh.
• How not to give your software away for free, from On Startups.
• People have no idea why they are doing what they are doing, from 37 signals.

Further (mostly relevant) Reading

• The carnival of entrepreneurs.
• Everything good is bad for you.
• Video Games Conquer Retirees (NYTimes).
• Does multitasking really make you more productive?
• The best headlines are not just written for Google or Digg.

Tags: microisv digest entrepreneurship startups shareware