Author Topic: Circuit Studio Dead? (again!) (Read 71957 times)

EE-digger · « **Reply #75 on:** January 21, 2021, 03:13:30 pm »

Quote from: voltsandjolts on December 10, 2020, 09:15:02 am

There is a new version of CS on the way, rebranded and with new features.
I think the sensible thing would be to wait and test that to see if it suits your needs.

I'm not really in "the loop" but rebranded as what? I've spent two weeks with the CS eval package and several years with AD. Fairly pleased with CS at the price and feature set but it's missing a few important (to me) features. One is being able to interrogate a net name in schematic. I don't want to have to name every net around components in a diff path (eg. USB cm chokes, protection, etc.) and while cross probing works, showing net name when floating over it or looking at it properties should be basic. I have Diptrace also and even this allows net interrogation, a basic feature.

Also, it would be nice to be able to globally color and change width of a net. I know all about hierarchical design so please don't get me going on that. There is a time and place for it.

Regarding rebranding, a related thought I had the other day is that Altium / Element14 should focus on expanding the market for this package. Several important parts of that are NAME RECOGNITION and a STABLE, SUPPORTED product. Most people would like stability in a product since they've invested considerable time in it.

Hey, how about " Altium Lite ", following Autodesk's early lead with Autocad. My apologies if this has already been suggested.

johnboxall · « **Reply #76 on:** January 21, 2021, 10:39:24 pm »

Quote from: negativ3 on January 21, 2021, 09:49:45 am

I wonder if CS owners will get access to Circuitmaker Pro or is a Altium shaped shaft approaching again?

https://resources.altium.com/p/coming-soon-altium-circuitmaker-pror

"Altium will continue to support existing Altium CircuitStudio customers; current users who are on a valid subscription will have the option to upgrade to Altium CircuitMaker Pro at no additional cost after the Beta cycle is successfully completed"

EE-digger · « **Reply #77 on:** January 21, 2021, 11:27:24 pm »

I'm in the loop now, thanks. Fortunately, it sounds decent. Being closer to the AD code base is a good thing. May pick up a lot of features that were not "killed off".

Wait a minute, wasn't Circuit Maker the one which was cloud based with several goofy price points and you had to share designs with the world?
I want locally installed executables, permanent license, local storage of MY libraries, MY work, cloud access only where needed for free or purchased libraries.

Joel_l · « **Reply #78 on:** January 22, 2021, 07:05:03 pm »

If it's ever released, it's not the same as the cloud version. All will be local

VEGETA · « **Reply #79 on:** January 22, 2021, 08:20:35 pm »

It is good that their project is still active, but keep changing stuff is really bad. I think if they went for free version, 300$ version, then full AD would be best.

I posted previously that CS lacks the panelizing feature which is a must for any professional tool. Workarounds are for KiCAD and such packages, not for 500$ one.

kaz911 · « **Reply #80 on:** January 27, 2021, 08:33:17 am »

I find it slightly odd that the beta is still running. (But not surprising)

Either is was not really a BETA (definition : Feature Complete - all known bugs exterminated or documented - might still have unknown bugs)

- or it really was really a ALPHA release? (Not feature complete - lots of bugs...)

I think the term "SOON" needs to be redefined... (As in "Coming Soon: Altium CircuitMaker Pro®) - as we are redefining the meaning of so many other words at the moment why not add SOON to the list?

Joel_l · « **Reply #81 on:** January 27, 2021, 10:59:51 pm »

Or a, lets see how many people bite and renew their subscription.

Mark19960 · « **Reply #82 on:** January 28, 2021, 11:15:51 pm »

I have a sub but I will question that when it comes due if this is still "beta".
I don't know anyone that has the beta personally.
My guess is that anyone using the beta is under some NDA that they can't even disclose that they have it.

but, obligatory.... anyone here have the beta?

Joel_l · « **Reply #83 on:** January 29, 2021, 12:12:03 am »

There is someone on the Element14 site in the CS forum that claims to be a Beta tester.

negativ3 · « **Reply #84 on:** January 30, 2021, 08:43:13 am »

Quote from: Joel_l on January 27, 2021, 10:59:51 pm

Or a, lets see how many people bite and renew their subscription.

This. CS lack of updates should automatically upgrade those on subs at the time of the CMPro announcement, not at the time of release.

H.O · « **Reply #85 on:** January 30, 2021, 10:57:54 am »

Quote from: Joel_l on January 27, 2021, 10:59:51 pm

Or a, lets see how many people bite and renew their subscription.

Yeah, had it not been near right impossible to actually make that purchase I probably would have renewed when the CMPro discussion started a couple of months ago.
But despite JamesH trying to help it's simply impossible from here. In-app I can only purchase NEW licenses. Unfortunately I get the feeling that, one way or another, they're pulling an Autodesk on us...

EE-digger · « **Reply #86 on:** January 31, 2021, 01:27:25 pm »

Before I bit for CS a few weeks ago, I asked some questions about CM Pro, Altium source will not be divulged here. It is supposedly at level 3 Beta.

If this were a vaccine, we'd be getting our shots soon

Three is better than one at least.

H.O. - CS maintenance has a part number and price at Element14/Farnell/Newark. Would this work for you in SE? I would hope that once there's a release, you get a big smile when you check for updates online.

H.O · « **Reply #87 on:** January 31, 2021, 03:29:48 pm »

Quote from: EE-digger on January 31, 2021, 01:27:25 pm

H.O. - CS maintenance has a part number and price at Element14/Farnell/Newark. Would this work for you in SE? I would hope that once there's a release, you get a big smile when you check for updates online.

Nope, they don't want my money. In order to buy from them you have to have registered business.

EE-digger · « **Reply #88 on:** February 02, 2021, 12:54:04 am »

If I worked for Altium, you would have whatever you need, gratis

(but sorry, no free AD unless I get one too)

kaz911 · « **Reply #89 on:** April 10, 2021, 09:14:10 am »

That beta really takes time...

I guess release is scheduled for when everyones subscriptions have run out....

Joel_l · « **Reply #90 on:** April 11, 2021, 05:08:41 pm »

Nothing here surprises me. Altium continues to lose credibility.

kaz911 · « **Reply #91 on:** May 04, 2021, 09:52:55 am »

Well it seems like a few things are happening....

1. Via Element 14 - some "hidden" YouTube videos about CircuitMaker Pro : from Dec 2020

2. My current 1.5.2 license screen now says my license is for CircuitMaker Pro?....

Joel_l · « **Reply #92 on:** May 05, 2021, 12:38:48 am »

Do you have a current maintenance subscription?

Update: Answered my own question, I let my subscription lapse years ago and my license page is saying CircuitMaker Pro, the actual program is still CircuitSudio

negativ3 · « **Reply #93 on:** May 05, 2021, 07:32:48 am »

Taking two weeks to update my subscription status is taking the "christ-on-a-bike" saying a bit far. C'mon Newark/Altium, this should be child's play at this stage.

Mine also shows Circuitmaker Pro.

H.O · « **Reply #94 on:** May 05, 2021, 10:15:14 am »

Yeah, some 7 months ago, when the news about the "Pro version" first surfaced, JamesH from Altium tried to rectify the situation for me but his efforts was fruitless. I could not renew subscription from within the software and Farnell don't want my money since I don't have a company account.

(I have not tried for several months now).

It might have been for the best though since another 7 months without any updates now have passed...

Joel_l · « **Reply #95 on:** May 05, 2021, 03:34:53 pm »

What ever they are doing, for me to buy in again,

I will try the demo and it needs to be a noticeable improvement over CS that I have now.

I will assume it will be years and years before it is ever touched again, so the CircuitMaker Pro that is released will have to stand on its own as being worth the subscription renewal.

CS throws up on itself with bigger projects, the Altium excuse was they did that on purpose to limit project size, the reality is that it is based on an ancient code base and poor database management ( IMO ).

In any case, I will evaluate what comes out and act accordingly.

kaz911 · « **Reply #96 on:** July 26, 2021, 10:28:15 am »

Well - is it dead yet? Are we there yet?

Seems like we are going to hit the 1 year mark post CircuitMaker Pro announcement soon (in 2 months - September 22)

So what are the odds it will "launch" before the 1 year mark - if it will launch at all?

johnboxall · « **Reply #97 on:** July 26, 2021, 10:07:16 pm »

I wouldn't be putting any money on it (or in it). I know a lot of rusted-on Altium/CS fans won't like me saying this, but KiCAD is just sweeping up the cheap end of the market and heading up - and has an Altium importer as well.

Any prospective CS buyer who can use Google will see that CS isn't really loved and may think twice, or "give KiCAD a go" and just stay there.

2N3055 · « **Reply #98 on:** July 26, 2021, 11:14:38 pm »

Usability of Kicad GUI is very questionable. I wait for version 6 to see if they fixed basic drawing functions. Right now it is really very much behind how nice is to draw in Circuit Studio.
Also some basic things are still missing.

On the other hand, CircuitStudio is a deliberately cut down version from Altium and will never be allowed to have any advanced features.
And if Kicad keeps advancing, it will surpass it in power. And if they fix ergonomics and functionality issues (as they seem to be doing so far) it might as well be good enough for low/mid range work..

H.O · « **Reply #99 on:** July 29, 2021, 02:26:37 pm »

Yeah, I really don't understand what they're up to.
In my quest to renew my subscription I've tried three different ways of contacting "them". Sent email to pcbsoftware@element14.com, to altiumsupport@farnell.com and used the Contact Us form at https://www.altium.com/circuitstudio/contact-us. All without getting a single reply - nothing.


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Author Topic: Circuit Studio Dead? (again!) (Read 71957 times)

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