We’re pleased to announce the release of Odysseus 1.0 Beta 9!

Here’s what’s new...


Improved Mailbox Format (as of Beta 7)
- New format allows for faster operation and smaller mailbox sizes

Checking Email
- Fixed compatibility issues with Maillennium POP3 servers (AT&T)

Encoding
- Fixed an issue where International languages did not display properly on both platforms
- Odysseus now encodes outgoing headers to UTF-8 for International compatibility

Importing
- Faster import of Eudora mailboxes
- Odysseus now does a better job of preserving the encoding of imported messages

Misc
- Numerous stability improvements



What’s Next?

IMAP, Printing, Manual Filtering, Windows Interface issues, as well as general polish and bug fixes, are all areas where we will be focusing in Beta 10.


[PLEASE DO NOT POST TO UPDATE SITES]

For download links, go to our Odysseus page...

To discuss this build, go to our Forums...

We’re pleased to announce the release of Odysseus 1.0 Beta 8!

Here’s what’s new...


Improved Mailbox Format
- New format allows for faster operation and smaller mailbox sizes

Sending Email
- Fixed Authentication Error when sending via some servers

Checking Email
- Fixed an issue that could result in blank emails being downloaded

Encoding
- Fixed an issue where International languages did not display properly on Windows
- Odysseus now encodes outgoing headers to UTF-8 for International compatibility

Interface
- Odysseus remembers selection point when deleting messages
- If windows were displayed on a second display during last session, Odysseus will move them to the main display if the secondary is disconnected

Search
- Now possible to search specific email parts (Anywhere, Headers, Body, Attachment)
- Fixed accuracy issues when doing a multi-criteria search

Eudora Mailbox Import
- Significant speed increase over previous builds


With this version featuring a modification to the mailbox format, on first launch Odysseus will update the mailboxes. Once this process has finished, restart Odysseus and compact your mailboxes for best results.



To discuss this build, go to our Forums...

We’re pleased to announce the release of Odysseus 1.0 Beta 7!

This build continues to improve on existing features, while adding a couple of critical ones...

Email Download
- Added progress download when downloading email with attachments
- Improved compatibility with POP3 servers
- Odysseus no longer hangs when downloading attachments

Email Import
- Improved speed when importing Eudora email in tandem with large Attachment folder

Encoding
- Fixed crash when encountering malformed/improperly encoded HTML email
- Improved Unicode support

Address Book
- Added ability to import multiple Nickname files
- Added Apple Address Book autofill

Message Viewing
- Corrected Date sort for Search results
- Message Window remembers size and location
- Added message title to Message Window
- Added Unified Preview option (similar to implementation in Classic)
- Fixed issue where fonts weren’t properly updated when opening new Classic windows

Message Composition
- Improved formatting of message replies
- Moved insertion point for Replies, Signatures, and Stationery
- Fixed issues that could cause HTML emails to not display correctly

Misc Fixes
- Fixed a number of issues that could cause crashes


What’s left? For the remainder of this week, we will be focusing on Filters, IMAP, and Windows Interface, leading up to 1.0 next week. If you don’t see a favorite feature in Odysseus as it stands right now... don’t be discouraged. We will be continuing to implement the remaining features in subsequent releases. Our goal right now is simply to get 1.0 out the door with the most commonly used features, with the remaining to follow shortly thereafter.

We want to especially emphasize the amount of work that will be going into the Windows version over the next few days. While both version share feature parity already, the Windows version needs considerable work in the Interface Department. We’ve already started, and will continue, so that by next week both versions will have not only feature parity, but interface parity as well.


For more information, go to our Odysseus Page...

We’re pleased to announce the release of Odysseus 1.0 Beta 6!

This is a bug fix build that address a couple of issues that presented themselves in Beta 5. For the features that were implemented in Beta 5, see this post...

For more information, go to our Odysseus Page...

We’re pleased to announce the release of Odysseus 1.0 Beta 5!

This build continues to improve on existing features, while adding a couple of critical ones...

Message Composition
- Added ability to save Draft Messages
- Added ability to edit saved messages
- Fixed issues with Address Book autofill when using Odysseus Address Book

Address Book
- Odysseus now imports all Eudora Address Book information
- Fixed issue when listing Addresses and Phone Numbers
- Fixed issues with saving Addresses when using Odysseus Address Book
- Added ability to delete Addresses

Importing
- Odysseus now imports Attachments when importing email

Mail Viewing
- Improved encoding issues with International characters
- Improved inline image display
- Fixed Date sorting
- Odysseus now verifies HTML code to prevent crashes from malformed HTML
- Odysseus now shows which mailboxes have new mail

Interface
- Classic Task Window now respects preferences regarding visibility
- Classic Toolbar now respects preferences regarding visibility

Search
- Fixed issue when searching for Attachment names
- Misc fixes when displaying search results

Misc Bug Fixes and Stability Improvements


For more information, go to our Odysseus Page...

We’re pleased to announce the release of Odysseus 1.0 Beta 4!

This build adds very few new features, instead focusing on polishing the existing application. Here’s the list of what’s new and improved...

Address Book
- Eudora Nickname Import

Interface
- Odysseus “Remembers” Last Open Mailbox(es)
- Collapsable Classic Windows
- Improved Handling of Message Preview
- Added Accounts Tab to Mailbox List

Mail Checking
- Added Ability to Check Individual Accounts (via Accounts Tab

Mail Completion
- Odysseus Address Book Autocompletes While Typing in Message Composition Window
- Launch Composition Window for Individual Account (via Accounts Tab)

Message Display
- Improved Inline Image Display
- Improved HTML Email Display

Misc Bug Fixes and Stability Improvements


The next build will continue along the same path as Beta 4. We’re still refining Odysseus and working hard to add the finishing touches to it. Given the large number of new features that were added in Beta 1, 2, and 3, most of the remaining builds will only add a couple of new features each, instead focusing on perfecting what’s already in place.


For more information, go to our Odysseus Page...

We’re pleased to announce the release of Odysseus 1.0 Beta 3!

What a difference a month makes... This build is the single biggest build we’ve yet released, in terms of adding polish and moving Odysseus towards a finished application.

What’s New:

Preferences
- Accounts
- Checking Mail
- Sending Mail
- Replying
- Attachments
- Junk Mail
- Fonts & Display
- Mailbox Display
- Notifications
- Address Book
- Spell Checking
- Interface & Toolbars


Improved Importing
- Fixed an issue that could cause Odysseus to crash when importing
- Odysseus now imports entire Eudora Mail Folder, preserving mailbox hierarchy


Other Features
- Timed Checking
- Timed Sending (Hold down the Option/Alt key when clicking Send button)
- Ability to Toggle Manual Checking
- Leave on Server Settings
- Reply to All
- Ability to Set Junk Filter Strictness (Off, Low, Medium, High)
- Ability to Reset Junk Filters
- Display, List, and Print Fonts
- Ability to Set HMTL vs Plain Text Display Preference
- Cosmetic Mailbox Display Additions
- Ability to Turn On or Off Mailbox Preview
- Ability to Set "Read Delay" (Messages will automatically be marked "Read" if opened in new window)
- Sound Notifications Can Be Turned Off
- Support for French, German, Italian, and Spanish Spell Checking
- Interface Enhancements
- In Classic Mode Odysseus will now remember the size and position of every individual mail window
- In both Modes, the Message Window Splitter can be collapsed so as to completely hide the Message Preview. The Splitter will remember its position for each window.

- New Icon


What’s left to do? There are a couple of features left to implement... although in comparison to what’s been do so far, they’re relatively minor features. These include Printing, Eudora Nickname importing, and Address Book improvements. Aside from that however, the majority of the remaining time will be spent fixing bugs, improving performance, and generally enhancing the application as much as possible.

What, though, if a feature you’re accustomed to from Eudora® doesn’t appear to be making it into Odysseus 1.0? Not to worry. As we stated last year when we first announced our plan to develop Odysseus, our primary goal for 1.0 was simply to duplicate the most common functionality in Eudora®, with the more advanced features and abilities coming in subsequent releases. So if a particular feature isn’t in 1.0... look for it in 1.0.1. If it’s not in 1.0.1... look for it in 1.0.2. If it’s not in... well you get the idea. With Odysseus under active development, if something you like is missing, it’s only a matter of time before we get it added in. And more often than not, it’ll be added in sooner rather than later.


For more information, go to our Odysseus Page...

We want to let everyone know that we are extending the Pre-Registration offer again. We’ve been hard at work over the last week and half adding in the remaining features that the first two betas were lacking.

As a result, and since we decided to take the extra time to implement these features rather than release another build last week, we’re extending the pre-registration.

We want to let everyone know that we are extending the Pre-Registration offer to August 18th. While tremendous progress has been made in the last couple of weeks, in terms of adding both features and polish, there’s still too many things left to do to warrant ending the pre-registration on the 11th.

The good news is, this week will see some significant updates to Odysseus that should make some serious headway toward closing the gap to 1.0 Final...

We’re pleased to announce Odysseus 1.0 Beta 2! Here’s a list of what’s new in this build...

What’s Improved:

• Improved Search (Fixed an issue that could lead to duplicate results)
• Improved HTML Email (Fixed multiple issues that could cause malformed HTML emails to crash Odysseus)
• Fixed Unrecoverable Error on Check
• Improved Compatibility With Yahoo! / AT&T/ SBC
• Fixed Tab Order on Message Composition Window
• Fixed Tab in Message Body on Message Composition Menu (No longer tabs back to header fields)
• Improved Mailbox Menu (New mailboxes show up immediately)
• Improved Transfer Menu (New mailboxes show up immediately)
• Streamlined Account and Account Extras Preferences
• Improved Incoming & Outgoing Port Selection (Odysseus will not automatically select ports based on user input)
• Approximately 1 dozen minor bug fixes

What’s left to do? There are a number of features left to implement... although in comparison to what’s been do so far, they’re relatively minor features. These include Timed Sending and Receiving, Printing, Delete Messages From Server options, etc. In addition to those features, some existing features, such as Preferences and Importing, need to be improved and expanded. Aside from that however, the majority of the remaining time will be spent fixing bugs, improving performance, and generally enhancing the application as much as possible.

What, though, if a feature you’re accustomed to from Eudora® doesn’t appear to be making it into Odysseus 1.0? Not to worry. As we stated last year when we first announced our plan to develop Odysseus, our primary goal for 1.0 was simply to duplicate the most common functionality in Eudora®, with the more advanced features and abilities coming in subsequent releases. So if a particular feature isn’t in 1.0... look for it in 1.0.1. If it’s not in 1.0.1... look for it in 1.0.2. If it’s not in... well you get the idea. With Odysseus under active development, if something you like is missing, it’s only a matter of time before we get it added in. And more often than not, it’ll be added in sooner rather than later.

What about IMAP? At present, there are two things to remember about IMAP in this build...

1. When setting up an IMAP account, Odysseus will (like most IMAP clients) create a local copy of whatever mailboxes are residing on the server. Once the email has been retrieved, there is no way to manually move a message out of those mailboxes, whether it be into another IMAP mailbox, or a local non-IMAP mailbox. This ability will be enabled in Beta 2.
2. Although there is no way to manually move a message out of an IMAP mailbox, if you have a filter setup to do it, Odysseus will successfully move the message in question to the assigned mailbox. Per the IMAP specification, Odysseus will then REMOVE the message from the ONLINE IMAP MAILBOX. This is in stark contrast to how Odysseus currently handles POP3 email, as Odysseus NEVER deletes email that it has retrieved from a POP3 account... and will not even feature that option until 1.0 final. Unfortunately, due to the inherent differences between POP3 and IMAP, it was necessary to build this functionality in from this stage.

In case you missed them, the Download Links are located here...

To discuss this build, please see this Forum Posting...

We want to let everyone know that the window to Pre-Register Odysseus for $19.95 officially expires 12:00 AM August 11, 2008. Starting 12:01 AM August 11th, Odysseus will be the standard $39.95. Given that we’ve said from Day One that pre-registration would be available until 1.0... well... we’ll let you come to your own conclusions about that...

In all seriousness though, we would like to give a heartfelt thanks to everyone who pre-registered Odysseus. By helping to support the project early on, you helped to reinforce what we were counting on... that the market for a Eudora® style email client is alive and well!

Let the countdown begin to 1.0 Final!

We’re pleased to announce Odysseus 1.0 Beta 1! Here’s a list of what’s new in this build...

What’s New:

• Standard Filters
• Junk Filtering
• Searching
• Spell Checking (Inline)
• Return Receipts
• IMAP Support (Not 100%... although very close - see below) **
• Mailbox Menu
• Transfer Menu
• Ability To Change Message Status
• Ability To Change Message Priority
• Ability To Change Message Account

What’s Improved:

• Improved HTML Handling (Fixed an issue that would cause some HTML messages to crash Odysseus)
• Odysseus Now Forwards and Redirects All Message Parts (Plain Text, HTML, and Attachments)
• Improved UTF-8 Support (both Sending and Receiving)
• Classic Windows Remember Position and Size (For each mailbox that is opened)
• Improved Message Status Notifications
• Improved Handling of Signatures
• Prevent Loading of Junk Messages
• Improved Handling of Multiple Composition Windows
• Improved Handling of Duplicate Messages
• Fixed “1/31/00” Date Bug
• Sent Message Now Display Proper Status
• Fixed HTML Resize Content Issue
• Approximately 3 Dozen Minor Bug Fixes

What’s left to do? There are a couple of features left to implement... although in comparison to what’s been do so far, they’re relatively minor features. These include Timed Sending and Receiving, Printing, Delete Messages From Server options, etc. In addition to those features, some existing features, such as Preferences and Importing, need to be improved and expanded. Aside from that however, the majority of the remaining time will be spent fixing bugs, improving performance, and generally enhancing the application as much as possible.

What, though, if a feature you’re accustomed to from Eudora® doesn’t appear to be making it into Odysseus 1.0? Not to worry. As we stated last year when we first announced our plan to develop Odysseus, our primary goal for 1.0 was simply to duplicate the most common functionality in Eudora®, with the more advanced features and abilities coming in subsequent releases. So if a particular feature isn’t in 1.0... look for it in 1.0.1. If it’s not in 1.0.1... look for it in 1.0.2. If it’s not in... well you get the idea. With Odysseus under active development, if something you like is missing, it’s only a matter of time before we get it added in. And more often than not, it’ll be added in sooner rather than later.

What about IMAP? At present, there are two things to remember about IMAP in this build...

1. When setting up an IMAP account, Odysseus will (like most IMAP clients) create a local copy of whatever mailboxes are residing on the server. Once the email has been retrieved, there is no way to manually move a message out of those mailboxes, whether it be into another IMAP mailbox, or a local non-IMAP mailbox. This ability will be enabled in Beta 2.
2. Although there is no way to manually move a message out of an IMAP mailbox, if you have a filter setup to do it, Odysseus will successfully move the message in question to the assigned mailbox. Per the IMAP specification, Odysseus will then REMOVE the message from the ONLINE IMAP MAILBOX. This is in stark contrast to how Odysseus currently handles POP3 email, as Odysseus NEVER deletes email that it has retrieved from a POP3 account... and will not even feature that option until 1.0 final. Unfortunately, due to the inherent differences between POP3 and IMAP, it was necessary to build this functionality in from this stage.

In case you missed them, the Download Links are located here...

To discuss this build, please see this Forum Posting...