NewsGator Acquires FeedDemon, TopStyle...and Me!

Yes, it's true: NewsGator has acquired FeedDemon and TopStyle, and brought me on board in the process.

Wow! How did this happen?

As regular visitors to my support forums know, the biggest request - by far - that FeedDemon customers have had is the ability to synchronize their subscriptions between multiple computers. They use FeedDemon on one PC at home, on another at the office, on a laptop while traveling, etc., and they want their feeds to be synched between them.

If someone reads an item on one computer, it shouldn't show up as unread on another computer. And when they subscribe to a feed, it should automatically appear on any computer they use. Basically, provide the convenience of a web-based aggregator with the power and speed of a Windows desktop application.

I toyed with various hack-ish ways to do this, and even considered creating my own web-based sync service, but in the end came to the conclusion that to really do this right, I needed to join forces with someone who already had the server-side piece in place.

Why NewsGator? I thought they were just an Outlook plug-in?

I used to think that, too. But shortly after I decided I needed to join forces with someone, I read this post in NewsGator founder Greg Reinacker's blog, in which he laid out NewsGator's plans. This post really opened my eyes to where they were headed - let's just say, I was impressed.

Funny enough, soon afterwards I got an email from Greg asking whether I'd consider joining forces with NewsGator. Truth is, if I hadn't already read Greg's blog post and been so impressed with the direction NewsGator was headed, chances are I would've turned him down - but because I read that post, I flew out to meet with the folks at NewsGator (score one for transparency through blogging!).

Long story short: we agreed that I should come on board and bring FeedDemon and TopStyle with me.

So what does this mean for FeedDemon customers?

I think you're going to like this :)

NewsGator uses a subscription model, and FeedDemon will become part of their subscription plans. All existing FeedDemon customers will get a two-year business standard subscription for free - and this includes upgrades to FeedDemon. In other words, if you've already bought FeedDemon, you'll get brand new versions of FeedDemon and a subscription to NewsGator Online free for the next two years.

Are there going to be changes in FeedDemon as a result of this?

Certainly. The most obvious will be that FeedDemon will integrate very closely with NewsGator's online synchronization platform, enabling using FeedDemon on multiple computers while maintaining state between all of them. You could even use FeedDemon on your home computer, NewsGator Outlook Edition while at work, and NewsGator Mobile Edition while traveling, and still have everything synched between devices.

Beyond that, having a server-side piece offers a lot of interesting possibilities. Coupling a rich desktop client with a first-rate server-side aggregator provides the best of both worlds: you get the power of a Windows application and all the flexibility of a web-based approach. There have been a number of features I've been wanting to add to FeedDemon that required a server-side piece which I can now provide.

While these changes won't happen overnight, we've already been working hard on a new release of FeedDemon - version 1.51 - which will include much better integration than currently exists. You should expect to see the first beta of FeedDemon 1.51 a couple of weeks from now.

And what about TopStyle customers?

While the acquisition obviously came to pass because of FeedDemon, NewsGator has made it clear that they're committed to TopStyle as well. This was an important part of the deal for me. I use TopStyle every single day, and I personally couldn't work without it. I'm already developing TopStyle 3.12, a free upgrade for existing TopStyle customers which will be released as a NewsGator product.

Oh, and you'll get the same deal as FeedDemon customers: a free two-year subscription. For the record, TopStyle has a lot of users - even more than FeedDemon - so this is a very generous offer from the folks at NewsGator, and it illustrates their commitment to the product.

So, what about you, Nick? Are you moving? And will you still be doing support?

Although I'll be working for NewsGator (my official title is "Architect of Client Products"), I'll be staying here in Tennessee, with frequent trips to NewsGator's offices in Denver.

I'll continue to be active in the support forums - I need to, in order to understand what my customers need - but I'll be handing over the support reigns to the folks at NewsGator. In fact, NewsGator has already taken over some of the support for FeedDemon - they're the "reinforcements" I mentioned in this post last month. The mysterious "Ron" I talked about is actually NewsGator's Ronnie Gilbertson, who will no doubt be relieved that he's no longer a secret!

And to illustrate their commitment to FeedDemon and TopStyle, NewsGator has already hired Jack Brewster to help support both products. Jack starts next month, and he's been a very frequent contributor to my support forums over the years (sometimes I think he knows TopStyle and FeedDemon better than I do). Welcome aboard, Jack - glad you could join us!

Patience is a virtue :)

So, there are obviously some major changes underway here, and we've got a lot to do to integrate my site, support system, etc., with NewsGator's.

As long as this post is, I know it leaves a ton of questions unanswered, and I'll try to address them here over the next few weeks. In the meantime, I do ask for your patience while we get everything sorted out. The entire process will likely take several weeks, and it's possible there will be a few hiccups along the way.

The end result, though, will be something special. I'm excited to have this opportunity to take my software to a whole new level, and I look forward to entering this new chapter in my life.

Comments

[Randy]

Congratulations Nick! Well deserved reward for the hard work and vision you provide to the software industry. The fact that you single-handedly created not one but two applications at the top of their respective categories speaks for itself. Well done.

Best wishes in the new venture.

[Matt Zur]

Wow! First I get done watching an amazing episode of 24, and then launch FeedDemon to hear the great news! Congrats Nick! I'm looking forward to everything that's coming and wish you all the best! From Dexnet to Allaire to Macromedia to BradSoft to Newsgator... quite the resume there :)

[Zook]

Hmm, you are telling this if it were a good thing (which it actually might be for you and for the FeedDemon users).
For me as a TopStyle user it sounds as if TopStyle is going down the drains. If it's not developed by you it'll be a totally different thing; we all know your precious way of thinking, implementing and supporting. You might say "Oh, it'll still be developed by me!" but let's be honest: decisions about features, priorities, GUI, etc. won't be in your hands alone. Well, future will show. Sincere congrats, anyway.

[Chetan]

Congratulations, Nick. Hope you'll enjoy your new way of working and things turn out good for you.

[Raanan]

Congratulations Nick!
I'm a user of TopStyle (Pro) for ages and NewsGator Online is my RSS aggregator (I have to have it on-line, I'm working on 4, sometimes 5 different computers, using a desktop application is just not possible).
NewsGator seems like a great company to work with.

Have fun.

BTW, what will happen to TopStyle?

[Scott Barnes]

Congrats Nick..

So how long before Adobe acquires NewsGator ;)

hehe

[Albert]

Congrats Nick. I'm using your FeedDemon everyday - I'm impressed with your services (really personal, many great feature updates). You bet, that I like that you leave FeedDemon customers with great offer from Newsgator. Not many softwares company did that - thus I really appreciate it. Wish you all the success ahead :)

[Neil T.]

Nick, that's brilliant news - congratulations!

[Patrick Schriner]

Congratulations to you! I hope everything will work out as nice as it looks. You sure seem excited :-)

How about the pricing model? Will the prices for Topstyle Pro & Feeddemon change? Will there still be volume discounts?

[Sarah]

Congratulations - this is a major deal for you and I hope it all works out :)

[Arvind]

Congratulations. Quick question, what happens to the Bloglines integration, will that remain?

[Neville Hobson]

Many congrats, Nick. I wish you and Newsgator every success. And, no, I'm not just saying that because of the sweet deal for customers you mention ;)

[Richard Rutter]

Since ditching my PC for a Mac, I've really missed FeedDemon (and don't get me started on the lack of TopStyle), however one bonus was that I found Shrook. Shrook is an news reader for Mac which from the start provided a mechanism of syncing between computers and a web-based service, something I found essential when travelling with work. I'm glad to see that's made it into FeedDemon too. All the needs to happen now is the port to Mac... (please, please please).

[Doug Stanton]

While this is great for Nick and FD users it does, in fact, signal the end for Top Style. I'm not buying the "...and Top Style users will benefit, too!" malarky.

Top Style has suffered greatly from the birth of Feed Demon in the form of delayed developement - it has become the second child, still loved but pushed to the background by the newborn.

Time to start the auditioning of other editing products as the future is bleak for TS - despite the promises of otherwise.

In spite of all of that... I do wish you the best of luck, Nick, and congrats on the sell out.

Doug

[wOOw]

Pfff ...

Bye bye Topstyle. Welcome to the bloatware.

[nah]

"Although I'll be working for NewsGator (my official title is "Architect of Client Products"), I'll be staying here in Tennessee, with frequent trips to NewsGator's offices in Denver."

It really means: "I've sold my toys. Period." ... 'Architect of Client Products'?, LOL, c'mon Nick, grow up :P. On one year Topstyle & Feedemon will be history and will be replaced with some kind of useless and bloat programs. YOU know it, it happens everyday.

I only think about one word for all of this: coward.

[Morgan]

WOW! Excellent news :)

Can't wait to see what will happen in the near future!

Thanks for the 3 year subscription as well ;)

[Jim]

On one hand I think it's great news for FeedDemon (though I don't generally like subscription software). I would have rather seen Nick just sell off FeedDemon and keep TopStyle.

I can't see what a company based around RSS would have any interest at all in a CSS program...

Anyway - it sound's like Nick's happy and that's all that really matters! :)

Maybe he'll have more time to work on... Homesite :P

Jim

[Joseph Thomas]

I don't see a need to attack Nick for taking this route, the sell out was inevitable. He has a family to feed and it has to be damn tough as an independent programmer selling "cult status" software.

I totally agree that this will be the end of Top Style - as one post suggests, NG has no interest in an html editor; it was a consession to obtain Nick's talents - I don't even see it as becoming "bloatware", I just don't see it progressing past a few token upgrades.

Another poster suggests that FeedDemon killed Top Style - I think that is very much the case. But programmers' interests change. 3.12 is way overdue and the promise of 4.0 is fading fast.

I personally have no interest in FD, although I bought it to help Nick in his quest to provide for his family, I'm more interested in Top Style so this "deal" is no big deal to me except for the dissappointment of losing Top Style and the loss another great programmer to the ... well you know. ;)

Congrats Nick! Enjoy the good life!

Joe

[Matt Sephton]

Congrats, Nick! You're an example to ever developer out there - you're always on the cutting edge. Keep up the great work.

[Paul Speranza]

Good for you Nick! I think this is an awesome idea and now you'll have a team to drive it. I can't wait.

[If..Else]

As a happy FD user, I have to say congratulations!

[gservito]

Just: congratulations; it's important to hear about nice folks coming out ahead. FeedDemon and TopStyle - and once Homesite - were *invaluable* tools. I do share the concern that Newgator will bury TopStyle like Macromedia buried Homesite...

[Steve]

First of all congratulations on the news! This will make me want to use FeedDemon even more than I do now.

I now have the song "History Repeating" (Propellerheads) running through my head. I'm a long time HomeSite user (since 97!) and remember when first Allaire then Macromedia acquired HomeSite. I really hope that TopStyle doesn't languish in the way HomeSite does now. Sadly I've been unable to find any other editor that works as well as HomeSite for my needs - still using 5.5 every day.

Good luck Nick!

[mbg]

Congratulations! This sounds like a very good outcome for FeedDemon users.