Bitstream Software - EyeBrowse History

The Complete History of EyeBrowse:

Please note that EyeBrowse was originally developed and released as 'Image Browser', up until version 1.5, where the name became EyeBrowse. This was for obvious reasons (Image Browser was a terrible name).

7th September 1998
Image Browser first conceived by Kristan Dyson, as a textbook excercise. Not intended as any more than just that, an excercise in Visual Basic 5.

25th September
Kristan works on Image Browser, developing his skills in VB5. He starts to create the first beta.

3rd October 1998
First ever beta version of Image Browser compiled and sent to 5 people, including Paul Wolfenden. Feedback is negative. Kristan carries on with the next version.

18th October 1998
Image Browser beta 1.1 is compiled and feedback was again poor. Paul's constant complaints get ignored.
Beta 1.2 and 1.3 follow shortly. The feedback begins to get better. A little.

24th October 1998
Image Browser beta 2.1 is made and gets considerably better. The interface is even worse than previous versions. Paul makes sure Kristan knows this.

8th November 1998
Image Browser beta 3.0 is compiled and the interface is still terrible. Beta 3.1 to 3.4 follow within the same day. Paul gets the Image Browser source code and creates his own interface for it.

10th November 1998
Programmer Kristan invites Paul to work on Image Browser, to design the interface.

15th November 1998
Image Browser is given a new interface and then sent to the beta testers as beta 3.6. The feedback is now good.

16th November 1998
Bitstream is decided on as the name that Kristan and Paul would be releasing all future programs under.

17th November 1998
Bitstream website is launched on Freeserve. Paul becomes a 'Visual Developer' - handling the IB interface, the graphics and the Bitstream website, as well as promotion for IB.

19th November 1998
Image Browser version 1 is given to the beta testers and some bugs fixed.

21st November 1998
Beta testers get the first version of Image Browser (1.0a). Bugs are fixed and final version of Image Browser is release officially.

22nd November 1998
Many bugs still present are reported by users. Work starts on fixing them.

23rd November 1998
Bitstream website is fully uploaded. The website has many problems, hyperlinks fade into the background etc. Feedback is received about Image Browser 1.0a, the users want scroll bars! Feedback - very good. Bugs are still there! Most of them are fixed by night.

24th November 1998
Image Browser 1.0a is withdrawn. At 1pm Image Browser 1.0b is released and has no major bugs. Interface slightly changed and the program runs better. Receive feedback from people still requesting scroll bars. By the end of the day Image Browser has been downloaded 48 times, and no bugs reported. Paul sends a new interface design to Kristan, for the next release of Image Browser. It is greatly improved over version 1.0.

25th November 1998
12am to 3am telephone conversation between Paul (Graphic Design) and Kristan (Programmer) about the next version of Image Browser. Image Browser version 1.5 has many new features determined. It is decided to introduce the much requested scroll bars for the next version and a re-design of the interface, which can be maximised.

27th November 1998

First beta of Image Browser 1.5 is released internally. The requested scroll bars make their first appearance, along with animated GIF viewing support.

29th November 1998

Image Browser 1.5 beta 2 is sent to Paul for evaluation. This version has full-screen scroll bar support, image sizes shown in kilobytes and the image type shown as well. We have a good feeling about this version.

30th November 1998

Image Browser 1.5 makes it to beta 3. A very impressive version with one major bug. Easily fixed though, this version shows what IB 1.5 is really capable of in so little time.

Image Browser is officially renamed 'EyeBrowse'. This may seem a little odd to us all at first, but we decided we needed a proper name, instead of the unoriginal and common 'Image Browser'. Tell us if you hate it!

1st December 1998

The first beta of EyeBrowse under its new name is released internally. Now sports a new interface to go with the change of the product name.

2nd December 1998

Beta 4 of EB 1.5 is released among Bitstream members (that means Kris and Paul then). It is good! The favourites folders work and are a brilliant new feature.

4th December 1998

Yep, another beta, this time numero 5. Full of features that are not yet implemented, but the ones that are just get better and better. A good look at what the final version shall be like.

6th December 1998

The final beta gets sent to our single beta tester, David Cole. This is it, no more betas, the real thing is being compiled today. The release of this version shall mark an important step in Bitstream's drive to become a mainstream freeware producer. David utterly fails to send any sort fo beta test report at all. We won't forgive you David!

7th December 1998

Our most major release so far! Version 1.5 of EyeBrowse lands on our site, with the intention of making your image browsing easier. Kris and Paul might finally get a little rest, there hasn't been any at all in the past two weeks since EyeBrowse 1.5 was announced nearly two weeks ago.

23rd December 1998

EyeBrowse 1.5.1 is released internally amongst Bitstream members. This version fixes a few bugs in the update function of previous versions. EB 1.5.1 is not intended for official release.

27th December 1998

Another minor update to EyeBrowse is made and placed into version 1.5.2. Again, this version shall not be released outside of Bitstream. Any changes shall be present in EyeBrowse 2 when it is released.

2nd January 1999

Version 1.5.3 of EyeBrowse gets another internal release. This version is a sort of pseudo beta of EyeBrowse 2, as new features designed for EB 2 are starting to be implemented. These include continuosly updated scroll bars and a tile image function.

16th January 1999

Proper development on EyeBrowse 1.75/2.0 begins. A very early internal release is made, with barely any features (old and new) implemented. However, it does showcase the new tile image and zoom functions, as well as giving a small demonstration of the new menu systems.

22 February 1999

Development on EyeBrowse 1.75 and 2 are very much under way, EB, I believe, will be a success and the development time itself proves an awful lot!