CrossLoop 2.10 and 2.11

Some of you might not have noticed it so here is a little post on the quick release of our 2 new versions.

CrossLoop 2.10

1. We added a new account login and creation page on the client for users. There were multiple reasons for this:

a) We saw a lot of people requesting the need to track their sessions. This enables them to build a reputation with each minute they engaged with CrossLoop to leverage their expertise (not very different from an airline pilot who logs every minute of his flight to enhance his credentials).

Furthermore, users who were being helped, wanted to support their vendors with ratings and customer testimonials. which without an account were not considered towards the overall reputation of the person helping them. Customer testimonials are a huge asset for any business - we show  off ours here and so we wanted to make sure you could easily capture and market it even more easily.

Very very importantly, there is study that strongly recommends collection of ratings and reviews. Mediapost reports here about a study that
(i) 68% of online shoppers read reviews before buying
(ii) 64% of consumers surveyed by Forrester said that user ratings and reviews were the kinds of features that they wanted to see on Web sites

CrossLoop is enabling that for all ....so bringing ratings and reviews done by your customers to potentially news ones, makes it extremely powerful! So make sure you capture them (on your profile) and use your Public URL in your signature, for example, to market those.

b) The two editable fields of our UI - Computer Name and Access Code - confused people and created a bigger learning curve. Now with a quick one-time only account creation, we only have the Access Code that can still be edited.
Many have asked for a regular password that comes along with an account to connect easily with their trusted contacts for example, instead of an editable Access Code field

Make sure to confirm your account (an email is sent to confirm the validity of the email submitted while creating the account) since the ratings are 'escrowed' until you do.

c) Furthermore, we are working on some more exciting stuff coming soon that will make it a more seamless and compelling experience. Stay close to this blog!

2. Optimization of our software to avoid the many frequent false-positives caused by anti-virus softwares. This will always continue to be a work-in-progress for a small company like ours. Thank you for all the feedback on this.

3. A two step download since the pop-up blockers were confusing users when they couldn't see the instruction box to click through and install the software

The details of V2.10 are here

CrossLoop 2.11

1) This was a biggie - Many Vista users wrote in with the issues they faced while connecting due to UAC that is built into Vista. We have significantly made it a better experience. The step by step explanation is here   

Again - as I said before - I genuinely believe I am a marketer first for you!

Finally, let me end this post and head home with this neat mention here in PC Magazine that recognizes our product as one of "91 Utilities to Supercharge Windows"

Download v2.11 here

Good Afternoon, Good Luck and have a great weekend!

Comments

[TMehta]

I have been facing this problem while connecting to a remote host - at my end crossloop shows launching viewer and then connected - even the timer starts to tick but the viewer never opens! No warnings or error messages. I have an account and I do log in, but is this due to the other computer not having an account or not being logged in?

Pardon me if this is a wrong place for this post.

[MylesJ]

Since you added the requirement to add an account every single user has had a problem figuring it out.

Maybe a way to cover both cases is to provide a way for the person who is making the connection to provide support for the account creation function as well.

You could have the dialog come up on the first connection if no account had been set up.

The only thing better for the naive/afraid/inept end user would be a big button that said "Click here and let the person on the other end handle everything". You perform some download and IP magic then and pop out a connect code for them to read/email/fax to the other end.

[Marc]

Why make the "Create an Account" dialog so forceful/pushy in the first place? It's obtrusive, and goes against the streamlined appeal of CrossLoop in the first place. Yes, you CAN click the X to close the login window, but a novice user just gets confused by the strong-handed registration window. Trust me, I've already heard the complaints.

[MiCCAS]

Mayur: That's incorrect, just click the X when that window opens and it will allow you to use the application without having to login/register/etc.

[Mayur Jobanputra]

I have watched and used crossloop for about a year now as a peripheral service I provide to my clients (web design). I have to say overall the product is excellent and easy to use. However, recently you have required that users login with a registered email address. i find thats a problem. I liked the "good old days" when users could download, install, click host, and give me a number. That was about as much as they could handle at one sitting. Now, the requirement of being able to login is adding extra complexity. Suggestion: Allow the technical expert to create a profile for the user, and give the user access to a special area to download the software (eg: visit www.crossloop.com, click "download partner" ..enter 10 digit number.. install software..etc

[MiCCAS]

Let me hear you say it... CROSSLOOP ROCKS!