Try the Impulse Preview

from JoeUser Forums

2008-03-26_2115

Want to try out the latest beta preview of Impulse?

You can get it here:

http://storage.stardock.com/files/Impulse_setup.exe

 

FAQ:

  1. What is Impulse?  Impulse is Stardock's successor to Stardock Central. It is designed to merge all of Stardock's various digital networks into a single platform (TotalGaming.net, WinCustomize.com, and Object Desktop.net).  With it, users can buy, download and update a wide variety of software.
  2. Will Impulse replace Stardock Central? Eventually. But we expect to keep both going for a long time so that fans of Stardock Central don't feel pushed to get Impulse.
  3. What will be on Impulse? Eventually, everything. Right now, it's mostly Stardock titles and a handful of indie games. With Impulse, we are opening it up to all publishers of all venues - games, utilities, applications. On the games side, we expect parity with Steam and Direct2Drive by the end of 2008. On the non-game side, we hope to have most major utilities and a number of major applications available on it.
  4. Does Impulse have DRM? Impulse does not use DRM as it's traditionally thought of. It uses a technology called SSD (Secure Software Delivery) which ensures that the content is transferred to the user in secure form.  Users are able to install their games onto multiple machines using their accounts within reason (the system does evaluate geographic locations of multiple installs and a number of other metrics to flag possible "warez" accounts). Stardock is also working on a new technology tentatively called Secure Virtual Machines (SVM). More information on SVMs will be released later.  Overall, Impulse is largely invisible to users. They do not need an Internet connection to play games, they can re-download the full retail game from it even if they purchased it elsewhere, and there is no "phoning home" during the launch of games.

 

This preview is designed to test out usability as well as find bugs prior to release that may have slipped past us.  We have an extensive feature set prepared for Impulse that will be delivered over the coming months.  We are still getting the final kinks out, however and the Impulse Store and Website are being overhauled from what is in the beta.

102,045 views 41 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Should I uninstall SDC?
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Should I uninstall SDC?
End of quote
No need to.  I'd keep it in case something goes wrong with Impulse . . but Impulse is the way to go!
Elemental: Reforged
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

Loving the Impulse so far.

The Updates tab is great, as is the fact that the tab itself turns red when you have an update ready.

 

Are people tending to use it in windowed or full-screen mode? The app "feels" like its designed to work best in windowed mode, IMO - the positioning of icons and text, etc.

Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Are people tending to use it in windowed or full-screen mode? The app "feels" like its designed to work best in windowed mode, IMO - the positioning of icons and text, etc.
End of quote


Good question, I suppose it would depend at what resolution you run at. I'm running at 1680x1050 so I don't have to run full screen to see everthing.

Until I read your reply though I was running in full screen.  :SURPRISED: 
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I run almost everything windowed.  How else could I see my Dreams?  :)
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
According to a post Brad made in the Sneak Previews thread, the different version numbers you'll see in Impulse over SDC are due to the fact that it behaves differently on the back end. So exactly what the updated versions specifically are is still unclear, but at least Stardock acknowledges that this is normal behavior.

-HM
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Should I uninstall SDC?
End of quote

If you start using Impulse as your download manager, there is no need to keep SDC unless you want to use SDC archive files.  We will support SDC archives in a later version of Impulse, however at this time you may want to keep SDC around.

Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top

According to a post Brad made in the Sneak Previews thread, the different version numbers you'll see in Impulse over SDC are due to the fact that it behaves differently on the back end. So exactly what the updated versions specifically are is still unclear, but at least Stardock acknowledges that this is normal behavior.-HM
End of quote

Correct.  The reason is because each application is published independently.  If the version is a bit different it is probably an incremental update like a readme.txt change or some other small update.

 

Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I'm showing an update of
DesktopX 3.49[rc].017
to
DesktopX Professional 3.49h[a].020

I didn't upgrade to the "Professional" version.
I have the "standard" version that comes with ODNT.

Mistake? Error in my account? Everybody upgraded to the Pro version?
Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I installed Impulse and it does seem better than SDC. It also seems to use less disk space than SDC. I will wait until some of the kinks get worked out before I uninstall SDC, but it does seem the best way to go.
Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
With Impulse, we are opening it up to all publishers of all venues - games, utilities, applications.
End of quote


So this is purchased adware? Anyone using this application will be served ads by any company you allow on Impulse? I don't think I'm understanding this right.

The application itself is beautiful but it is already adware. Opening it up everyone is quite a statement. Is there going to be a way to disable advertising in this program or is everyone going to have to live with whatever is published within Impulse just to download, and update their purchased Stardock software?

Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I'm sure there is a fine line here unhappycamper88, but I'm taking it what Draginol is talking about would be more like seeing MyColors skins for sale versus straight out ads.

I too wouldn't want to see sidebar ads, but a seperate tab works for me. That way if I don't want to see them I don't hit the tab.  ;) 
Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top

With Impulse, we are opening it up to all publishers of all venues - games, utilities, applications.So this is purchased adware? Anyone using this application will be served ads by any company you allow on Impulse? I don't think I'm understanding this right.The application itself is beautiful but it is already adware. Opening it up everyone is quite a statement. Is there going to be a way to disable advertising in this program or is everyone going to have to live with whatever is published within Impulse just to download, and update their purchased Stardock software?
End of quote

Philly is spot on.  The ads would ONLY appear on the store.  There will be no pop-ups and no "in content" ads.

Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Philly is spot on.
End of quote


All right, that's my one for the year, I now get to goof off and make silly meaningless statements. :LOL:  :LOL:  :LOL:  :LOL: 
Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I have mixed feelings about opening Impulse to other publishers.
I expect a lot form Stardock; from their people, products and services.  And they have (almost) never let me down.
The weakest link (for me) is TGN.  Maybe the games they sell just aren't for me but they all seemed lower tier than what they created themselves of "collaborated" with (Sins of a Solar Empire).

I want Stardock to only sell the best of the best.  Apps that they would use day to day.  I am not sure that the Impulse's success and high quality product will always go hand-in-hand.

Now  . . I've been honest with my concerns. . . . but to continue being honest . . come of my closest friends work there and I'm honored to be a part of what they do.  I expect that my concerns will amount to nothing.  We'll have to see.  :)
Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Good concerns Zubaz. :HOT: 

I would expect that the other publishers products have to be as high of a quality product as we have come to expect from Stardock. They would also have to exhibit the same quality customer support. To be anything less would not make a good impression on future perspective customers. :) 
Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Looking great, guys. Just downloaded the latest version and I am very impressed. Only issue I can see is with one particular update. Impulse shows I have Windowblinds Beta 6.09g.(b).135 installed and that there is another available for download version Beta 6.09d.(b).124. It would appear to be asking me to install an earlier version? Maybe I'm missing something? Anyone have any ideas?  :NOTSURE: 
Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Leo you are seeing correctly. So far that's the only one that seems not to show the most current update available or at least from what I see. It's been mentioned in other posts and has been acknowledge. ;) 
Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Leo you are seeing correctly. So far that's the only one that seems not to show the most current update available or at least from what I see. It's been mentioned in other posts and has been acknowledge.  
End of quote


Thanks, Phil. I kept looking at the version numbers and letters and thinking I was going nuts or missing something. I guess the guys will get it fixed soon.  :) 
Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I ran the installer and everything went fine, but then when I try and run it I get an error message:

Impulse was not able to create it's temporary directories. Please
try again, permitting administrator access when required.

But I did permit access, am I doing something wrong? :NOTSURE:
Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top
One thing I'm not seeing, (or I'm just missing it somewhere) is the ability to see the version notes, or change log for a given update to see what's new, like you can in SDC.

Is it not a planned feature for Impulse? or just not implemented yet ?

Reply #22 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I installed on 2 different computers (both XP) and both installed with out a hitch.

Now- trying to update the software - thats a different story :()

Reply #23 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Ok, I see where to enable archiving in Impulse .. just not seeing where and how to restore those archives.

Assuming that will come later?


~note to myself to open SDC and archive everything I updated in Impulse~  ;) 
Reply #24 from WinCustomize Forums Top
doesn't work for me either..all i get is log on & i don't see a log on button.
so i'm stopped before i can even open the door..
Reply #25 from WinCustomize Forums Top


Two of these are coming up when I start Impulse.