Staying informed about Deep-Sky Planner (getting the most for your money!)
There are several ways to stay informed about Deep-Sky Planner and discuss it with other users. We offer
Yahoo Group
YouTube videos
developer's blog
Facebook page.
If you already have a Facebook account and are ready to get Deep-Sky Planner announcements, just click Like below (thank you!):
If not, please read on...
Why Facebook?
Most astronomy software products have a Yahoo Group page where product developers and users can communicate with each other. So why use Facebook?
In the case of Deep-Sky Planner, a fraction of the user base has actually joined the deepskyplanner Yahoo Group. After researching this for some time, we've come to the conclusion that a presence on Facebook allows product announcements to reach a far wider audience than the Yahoo Group. Facebook reportedly has 800 million users and half of them log in every day. Odds are, you are one of them. Facebook also allows more content to reach the audience - images, videos and audio recordings. It also allows product promotions like discount coupons for interested buyers.
We still view the Yahoo Group as a good way to discuss issues with the user base, but we will use Facebook for brief announcements. We will also continue to use the What's Happening at Knightware blog to make longer posts on various topics.
The downside?
Perhaps the downside is that astronomy software users aren't used to going to Facebook for product announcements. We'd like to change that, at least for Deep-Sky Planner users. The intent is to use Facebook to make short and relevant announcements because neither users nor developers have time to waste, but we do want you to stay informed.
How can I get Deep-Sky Planner announcements through Facebook?
- You can bookmark the Deep-Sky Planner Facebook page and visit regularly. No Facebook account is needed, but you have to remember to visit.
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A more convenient alternative is to let Facebook bring the announcement to you. Create a Facebook account if necessary, and 'Like' the Deep-Sky Planner Facebook page. If you do this, Deep-Sky Planner announcements will appear in your Facebook feed. They will be identified by the icon shown to the right.
If you 'Like' the Deep-Sky Planner Facebook page, Knightware will not attempt to contact you individually on Facebook, nor take your personal information in any way. The only thing you will see on your Facebook page is postings from the Deep-Sky Planner page which accomplishes our intended purpose, to keep users informed in a convenient and succinct way.
How do I create a Facebook account?
Facebook makes it rather easy to create a personal account: just visit facebook.com and fill out the sign up form.
If your privacy is a concern, you should visit the Privacy Settings page for your account and set the default to either Friends (those that you choose to see your page) or Custom. You might also set secure browsing by visiting the Security page under Account Settings. If you want more help, you might ask a friend or neighbor to help. Knightware found a fountain of Facebook knowledge among college students!
Start receiving announcements now!
Click the Like button to start receiving announcements from Knightware: If you don't have an account, you'll be prompted to create one.By the way, the Send button allows you to send a link to the Deep-Sky Planner Facebook page in a message to your Facebook friends, to the group wall of one of your Facebook groups, or in an email to any email address you choose.
Thanks for staying informed about Deep-Sky Planner and for sharing our Facebook page with your friends!