Okay, enough teasing: FeedDemon 1.6 Beta 1 is now available to existing FeedDemon customers.
But before you download it, let me warn you up front that this is even more of a beta than most of my betas - in other words, it's still buggy and incomplete. It's more than likely that you'll encounter problems while using beta 1, so please don't download it if you're expecting a finished product. If you're even the slightest bit uncomfortable using unfinished, pre-release software, you're better off skipping this beta and waiting for the final release of version 1.6.
...
You're still here? Good, because despite the beta warts I'm pretty excited about version 1.6, and I think you're going to like it, too. As the release notes illustrate, there are an awful lot of changes in this version, most of which were the result of your feature requests. But enough talk - here's the Q&A to help you get started:
Q: I'm using the trial version of FeedDemon. Can I use the beta?
A: Sorry, this beta is only available to those who have purchased FeedDemon.
Q: Should I install the beta in a different folder than my existing version?
A: Nope, the beta should be installed directly on top of your existing version.
Q: FeedDemon is asking me to activate it using my NewsGator Online account. What's that all about?
A: FeedDemon's new synchronization features use NewsGator Online, so an account is required to get started. Note that all existing FeedDemon customers get a FREE two-year Business Standard Plan, so you don't need to buy anything - just click the link at the bottom of FeedDemon's welcome screen to claim your free subscription, then activate FeedDemon using the login you just created. BTW, you don't have to use the sync features if you don't want to - I've designed version 1.6 to enable both "private" and "synchronized" folders, so you can continue to keep your feeds stuck on one computer if you like.
Q: How do I use the new synchronization features?
A: Synching is enabled on a per-folder basis. To enable synching for a specific folder, select Edit > Folder Properties and choose the option to sync the folder with NewsGator Online (as described in my teaser last week).
Q: How do I give feedback on the beta?
A: All feedback about the beta should be posted in the new FeedDemon Beta Forum. If you're posting a bug report, please be sure to include the exact steps to reproduce the problems (or, if you can't reproduce the bug, let us know that, too). Note that this forum is on NewGator's site, so you may need to register before posting.
Q: So where can I get the beta?
A: Right here.
Enjoy :)