MacGourmet News

One benefit of the partnership with Mariner Software is that they are going to be advertising MacGourmet Deluxe in popular Mac magazines, right along with their other applications.

They are currently running a series of magazine ads that feature interesting people doing interesting things with the products they sell. So, are you an interesting person using MacGourmet in an interesting way? Want to be featured in an ad for MacGourmet Deluxe? If you answer "yes" and "yes" then send an email message to macgourmet [at] advenio.com telling me who you are, what makes you interesting, and how you are using MacGourmet!

Mealplan, a brand-new new plug-in for MacGourmet, will add a whole new suite of ways for you to use the recipes in your library.

Plan your weekly meals and print schedules for each week. Make and print menus. Send your meal plans to iCal in one easy step. Mealplan can do all this and more.

Mealplan will be available in the same way that Nutrition is, as an optional add-on to MacGourmet. You'll be able to try it out, and if you like it, you be able to add it to MacGourmet for an introductory price of just $9.95. If you don't need it, you won't be forced to pay an upgrade fee to get something you don't want (MacGourmet 2.3, which is required, will be a free update). Mealplan will also be part of MacGourmet Deluxe.

Mealplan is getting close to release and I'm looking for some help shaking out any remaining issues. If interested, just click on the link to send a request to macgourmet [at] advenio.com. Thanks!

Labels: Beta

The latest beta of the next MacGourmet update, version 2.3 is now available for testing in the Test Kitchen, along with updated versions of Nutrition and the Amazon.com Shopping plug-ins. Note that the plug-in format has changed, so to use these new versions, you'll need to use MacGourmet 2.3. The details can be found in the Test Kitchen.

Version 2.3 has the following changes:

1. All-new shopping list editor, with simple pantry/favorites and column ordering/hiding functionality added.
   
   You'll want to add some often used items to your favorites list. Auto-fill when creating new shopping lists depends on existing shopping lists, and favorites. So, if you want item aisles, categories, and stores filled in when you make a new shopping list, you'll want to have a master shopping list you keep/and or a well managed favorites list.


2. Improved application and document icons (Still being revised).


3. All-new shopping list recipe box display theme, and print theme. Shopping lists are now displayed in a much cleaner way. There is also now a print theme specifically for shopping lists called "Notebook."


4. New display theme: Stacked, that is geared more towards widescreen displays.


5. New print theme: 'Formally', that includes more information in the printout, like nutritional info, if calculated.


6. Widescreen mode (the new default) gets new mouse-over popups that display more information. If you hover your mouse over a row in the table, more information will get displayed. These can be turned off in preferences if you want.


7. Nutrition is now a "1st class" feature when the plug-in is installed, it has a menu in the main menubar instead of being in the Tools menu.


8. Instead of displaying standard "blank" image when an empty list is selected, helpful context sensitive tip "blurbs" are displayed. You can turn these off in the Help menu.


9. App does a better job of keeping the editor on top of the main window, so that it doesn't get "lost" in the background.


10. MacGourmet now has automatic updating, which will get tested in the beta. Please turn update checks to "Automatically" in Update preferences.

So If you're interested in helping test the new version, just head on over to the Test Kitchen and grab the files. Current testers can just let their beta 2 copy update automatically.

Also coming soon, the full details and beta for meal planning...

With the press release officially announcing the partnership with Mariner Software to release MacGourmet Deluxe, I thought I'd post some basic questions and answers about what this really means to new, future, and existing MacGourmet users:

Q: What does this all mean, really?
A: MacGourmet Deluxe is an all new "bundle" that will make the current version of MacGourmet, packaged with all the features you can optionally add to it (like Nutrition, with a couple more in the pipeline), available in retail stores around the world. If you are a current MacGourmet user, nothing really changes for you, unless you want to upgrade to Deluxe (see below). Version 2.3 will be a free update, as will Nutrition 1.2, and you will still be able to buy MacGourmet for $24.95 and add Nutrition to it if you want to, just like you always have.

Q: Why did Advenio do this?
A: This partnership allows MacGourmet to be available in many ways it wasn't before, and it provides much needed help with the things that people have been waiting for, like a German and French version of MacGourmet. Among other things, this parnership also makes it possible to do things like show MacGourmet at Macworld.

Q: Does this mean someone else will be developing MacGourmet now?
A: Nope, MacGourmet will still be developed and updated in the same ways it always has. This partnership doesn't change the development of the product or ownership.

Q: Will the original version still be offered?
A: Yes, the "standard" version will still be available for sale for $24.95, just like it always has been. You can also add Nutrition to it, just as before, and you'll be able to add Mealplan to the standard version as well (more on this later). Nothing on that front changes. MacGourmet version 2.3 will also be a free upgrade.

Q: Will I have to upgrade to Deluxe just to get new features?
A: Nope, you don't have to upgrade unless you want everything in one package.

Q: When will it be released?
A: It is expected to be released on or around late May/early June.

Q: How much will MacGourmet Deluxe cost?
A: $49.95 - boxed for retail, $44.95 - download.

Q: Can I upgrade from the original version of MacGourmet?
A: Yes, if you want to, an upgrade to Deluxe will be available for sale for $9.95.

Q: How can I upgrade to MacGourmet Deluxe?
A: When the time comes, you will be able to purchase a new license from the Mariner web site using your existing MacGourmet serial #. You will then be issued a new MacGourmet Deluxe serial number.

Q: Is there a competitive upgrade?
A: Yes, an upgrade will be available from competing products for $29.95 (proof of purchase required).

Q: What will happen to the Advenio site?
A: For the most part, nothing. What this partnership does is allow MacGourmet to be available in retail stores around the world. It also gives us a great partner that will help make MacGourmet an even bigger success.