To:        All WinTOTAL Aurora (version 5) users
From:    Adam Calvery, VP Appraisal Products, a la mode, inc.
Re:        Aurora: June 29th update is ready

Our vastly improved new “net.X Connect” system is now out, and available in today’s update, in addition to numerous other improvements.  To download and install it, click the "Get Updates" button on the toolbar in your Appraisal Desktop.

As a refresher, those of you who are XSite users told us that you wanted full control over what gets synced with your XSite, and when.  We listened.  We took our net.X backbone, which streams data to and from our various programs (whether it’s an XSite, the Vault, orders from management companies or lenders, or your street maps and flood data), and added a “Connect” feature to give you better control over how the XSite-specific data is being synced over the net.X backbone. 

In addition to having control over what syncs up, many of our testers who use satellite and dial-up Internet connections (or laptops in the field with a cellular card) have cited having control over when it syncs as perhaps the biggest improvement.  Because net.X Connect works like a queue now, you can sync when it’s convenient, rather than hitting the Sync button and being forced to go get a cup of coffee when running over a slow connection.  Even on fast connections, it’s a major benefit.

For more detailed information about net.X Connect and the rest of today’s update, click here.

I’m sure you’re as busy as I am, but I need to quickly make you aware of several other important items:

·         The public beta release of desktop billing should be the last week of July.  If you’re interested in using it sooner as an alpha tester, we’ll have a version available for download on July 10th on the Aurora status website.

·         We’re in the latter stages of our Marshall & Swift integration with Aurora.  You’ll love it.  It launches SwiftEstimator.com on demand, passes the subject information seamlessly, and transfers the completed cost estimate into your report.  We’ll keep you posted on a release date, pricing tiers, and so on.

·         Back in January I sent an e-mail to Aurora users that mentioned support hold times being three minutes, and some of you called me an idiot.  I won’t disagree, because the stats were skewed by hang-ups, late night periods, etc., and I should have caught that.  However, lately you’ve been telling me that you’re indeed seeing a substantial real-world difference, and that makes sense.  You’re seeing that for more than a month now, our call volume and hold times have returned to normal pre-upgrade levels.  Mind you, we’re not thinking we’re done.  We’re working hard every day to give you better, faster service than anyone else on a more substantial and efficient product than any other.

That’s it for today.  I hope I haven’t taken too much of your time.  Don’t forget that you can send any feedback directly to me at debug@alamode.com. 

As always, thanks for your business.


Adam Calvery
VP, Appraisal Products
a la mode, inc.