CTStump
The majority opinion really can't be gauged by forum activity. A lot of users who use the software dont have an account...
Good points, CT.
This makes me think of something: unlike most other freeware programs, BandLab can easily get a pretty accurate idea of how many people are
actually using Cakewalk. Not just the usual "we're up to 750,000 downloads," which could go either way, maybe someone downloaded it and tried it and deleted it, or they downloaded it and put it on the school server and 500 students all install it every time there's an update.
By requiring users to register and use
BandLab Assistant to install and update, BL have very cleverly built in a way to log not only initial install, but how many systems a given registered user installs it on, and whether they are bothering to install updates. Not precise, of course, as anyone could create multiple user accounts, or go around installing it on a classroom full of computers, but a pretty good idea.
If they stick around long enough to download an update, that means they're interested, and 2 updates means over a month of interest, and you can safely call that person a User. Installing on multiple computers means they're in love. And it can also notice whether the interest in Cakewalk translates into interest in BandLab-in-the-browser.
That little app that some people were so scared of
can be used to collect data and I think they would be missing out not to use it for that purpose. Just not the kind of data those poor folks were worried about.
I would just love to get a look at those stats a year after the Gibson announcement....companies don't tend to publicize how many licenses they've sold, but of course they let the stock analysts know. And BandLab in their wisdom have built in a way to report pretty accurately to shareholders, investors, and analysts how well this investment is faring in the marketplace.