To: All WinTOTAL Aurora (version 5) users
From: Adam Calvery, VP Appraisal Products, a la mode, inc.
Re: Aurora: June 2nd update is ready

The update scheduled for today is now available on our servers. To download and install it, click the "Get Updates" button on the toolbar in your Appraisal Desktop. For a detailed list of what’s changed, click here to go to the update page on our Aurora status website.

Next, I’m compelled to remind you that two weeks ago I asked for your feedback by way of a short survey. For those who haven’t filled it out, realize that the survey asks for your satisfaction level with specific features of WinTOTAL. If you're of the opinion that products get changed because of the “squeaky wheels” or a vocal minority with whom you may disagree, you need to fill out the survey.

Surveys are a great way to make sure we don't get skewed feedback resulting in us altering something which was popular, and they help us keep tabs on where we may be slipping or succeeding, so we can either correct or continue what you want to see us do. That’s not just theoretical. Most of you will recall that we sent out a survey asking about Athena’s billing and tracking system. The people who responded stated overwhelmingly (75%+) that they didn’t use the tracking reports and didn’t want them. Those who said they did use them were almost exclusively also XSite owners, so we listened to what we were told, and killed it on the desktop and moved it to the web. We don’t just make this stuff up.

You and your peers are the ones who drive these decisions, if we hear from you. If you want our decisions to reflect your own priorities, you have to speak up. This survey is how that happens. It's only a handful of questions and won't take more than a couple minutes of your time. So far, we’ve heard from less than 10% of you. Are you sure those 10% reflect your views? To fill out the survey and influence what we do, click here.

In addition to the survey, I wanted to touch on several other items you can read about in greater detail on the Aurora Status website, but I want to make sure and mention them here too:

• We’ve gathered feedback from showing initial versions of the new Desktop Billing to alpha and beta testers, and will begin our formal internal testing process on Monday. Our goal is to have it ready for a "public beta" release in four weeks.
• The new Net.X Connect will be released in three weeks, on June 23rd. If you haven't already, please make sure to find out more about it on the Aurora Status website. It will be a much needed and anticipated change if you sync orders and status with your XSite.
• With the most recent Windows Vista (Beta 2) release, you can bet software companies across the globe are installing and testing their products on it. While it's scheduled for release sometime next year, we're already testing our products on this new operating system. We'll keep you posted on what you can expect with Vista and our products via the Aurora Status website as we go forward.

For those of you joining us in Orlando next week for the Annual Summer Convention, we can't wait to see you there. As always, thanks for your business.

Adam Calvery
VP, Appraisal Products
a la mode, inc