Daylite 3.9 is actually a fairly substantial update from 3.8. This mainly stems from the fact that 3.9 uses PostgreSQL rather than OpenBase, and it runs Postgres on a dedicated server (not that this increases complexity too much as it’s going to discover those databases using Bonjour). This gives the application speed and the developers a number of new options they hadn’t had before. The MarketCircle developers will likely be able to come to market with new changes faster, thus being able to make you more productive with your productivity app. Also expect more 3rd party developers. Why? Because PostgreSQL is way more popular than OpenBase, is flexible for exchanging data and allows for a number of existing developers to integrate with Daylite. But more importantly, the short term gain is raw, unfettered speed.
Before you look to install Daylite 3.9, make sure all your boxen have at minimum 10.4.11 or 10.5.6. Also make sure they have a Gig of RAM and that they’re a 1GHz G4 or better. Finally, like with Workgroup Manager, 640×480 just isn’t enough (I don’t think it’s enough to even load my web site without scrolling, but that’s aside from the point). So make sure you have 1024×768 or better.
Because of the migration from OpenBase to PostgreSQL there’s a little work in migrating the database to be done. To get started, perform a final sync on your 3.8 users. Then disconnected them and disable synchronization, backing up your database when you are done. Those 3.8 users should not sync again. You can go ahead and upgrade them to 3.9 while the server is offline. Now install the 3.9 package and install your licenses, just as you would in Daylite 3.8 and below). Then go to the File menu (from within Daylite) and select Database and then Migrate Database. Then enter some admin credentials and click on Migrate. The database will then be migrated and the admin password reset.
The application is snappier, both on a LAN and over the WAN. If you’re using Daylite 3.9 over a WAN (and you don’t have a VPN) then one of the first things you’ll look for is the TCP ports to open up. 6113 through 6116 for the server-side app. The new Daylite Touch will also need 6117.
Daylight 3.9 also brings Daylite Touch into focus. Daylite Touch is the answer to the fact that people don’t just want CRM or what have you on their desktops. They want it on the handheld as well. Daylite Touch allows you to access that. More on Daylite Touch in later posts.
There are a few other features to note as well (other than speed and handheld synchronization). Most of the new features revolve around being able to associate data, be it contacts, calendars or notes, with other data – thus providing a more robust object oriented model for data management within the app. There are also some GUI enhancements to make it easier to find objects on the screen (mostly trying to unify the Daylite Touch interface with that of the fat client). For users sync’ing data, this update should improve the experience, although I haven’t managed to verify that just yet. There are a number of minor bug fixes as well.
All in all, 3.9 is a substantial upgrade. I would think that an upgrade where the backend database is migrated to another solution, the server is split into its own component and handheld over-the-air sync is introduced would alone be worthy of a full version number. This really makes me take more and more notice of Daylite; they are just on the ball these days at MarketCircle and I can say I am truly looking forward to seeing what 4.0 has in store for us. Hold-out users of Now who need a server based solution finally have a good upgrade path, albeit one with a slightly different (and more robust) workflow.
