Dolphin U and Dolphin Classic

Two weeks of Dolphin 8 Private Preview passed and the feedback from the first group of testers has been absolutely invaluable! We have made quite a few improvements, changes and reassessments. Perhaps the most notable one is that Dolphin 7 and Dolphin 8 will now be separated into two different products - Dolphin Classic (current D7) and Dolphin U (current D8).

Together with the first group of testers we have clearly realised that Dolphin 8 is so different, both in function and in purpose, that it would make sense not only to continue developing both Dolphins for a long time simultaneously, but also to name them differently as well. Furthermore, we should  stay away from focusing too much on version numbers, because we plan to start producing more frequent incremental updates. Numbers will change often and will not be indicative of the update "grade".  

What we all know and love as Dolphin 7.x will be known as Dolphin Classic. We will keep updating it gradually, implementing the best ideas from both products while focusing on what it has always been good at - social networking. 

Now, the new kid in town is quite different. It’s a lot more universal. By design Dolphin 8 is all about mixing and matching Extensions and creating any kind of social website seamlessly. It may work as a standalone weblog or a company publishing platform, but we still use the word “social”, because unlike most other CMSs Dolphin puts prominence of user profiles as the first priority. Still "social software", but flexibility of having a super-granular control over features combination results in something rather extraordinary - an unlimited creative potential.  Moreover, this Dolphin is a tightly unified system that fuses site configuration, content management, control over design and extensions market into one integral platform. Universal, Unlimited and Unified - three powerful U-words that may sound daring, but somehow the new Dolphin makes it look like a child’s play, making it possible for just one person, U, to control it. See what I did there? :) Say hello to Dolphin U. 

And Licenses... What's gonna happen to Licenses?!

I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse.

(Don Corleone)

Dolphin U will be offering a different "licensing" approach. The core will be completely free. No paid license for link removal will be required. Some of the extensions, however, would be only available for a fee. Most extensions will be offered by third-party developers and some will come from BoonEx directly. Think about it as of, say, a free smartphone with only core apps included and a variety of apps available for purchase from the smartphone manufacturer and their 3-rd party partners. 

Dolphin Classic Licenses, however, have always been advertised as permanent and with unlimited version updates. This means, that even though Dolphin U and Dolphin Classic are separate products, the current Dolphin Classic license covers either. You can keep using Dolphin Classic or switch to Dolphin U and download all Boonex-made paid extensions free of charge. Think about it as of a non-expiring "all-you-can-eat" coupon, that will soon turn out to be a very smart price-capping.

In other words - if I were you, I'd run and grab a few more licenses pronto! This promise will always be honoured, but current Dolphin Classic licensing packages will eventually be re-adjusted. So, think quick!

When is Dolphin U coming out?

Developer Preview starts today. Leading developers from BoonEx Market will be invited to have an early look and get their Extensions ready when the platform officially launches. The official launch itself is not far-off either, since we've decided to make it available starting from the first BETA. However bumpy the first ride may be, it will be a good fun!