I’d like to take a moment and explain this whole Alpha vs. Beta thing and how the process looks:

Our definition of Beta is “a publicly available version”. Up until two weeks ago, you could download the latest Beta from our homepage by clicking the giant green “Download” button. The latest Beta version is numbered 1.0.780.0, and it has several known issues (if you have Soluto installed you can see the version number by Ctrl-clicking the tray icon). It was built with certain considerations regarding scalability in mind, but milestones we thought we would hit in 6 months we already hit a month ago. So we had to change our development plans, postpone the next cool major features (way beyond the boot), and built a new version that focuses on scale.

Before releasing a version to the public (“making it Beta”), we need to verify it works on a smaller sample. Here’s how that works:

1. Our R&D team provides a version to our QA team that installs the version on many test machines.
2. If everything looks fine, all of Soluto’s employees install the version on their work and home PCs.
3. If everything looks fine, we ask several friends and family members to install the version.

If we feel the version is solid after the steps above, we move it to an “Alpha” stage. This means we are ready to provide it to a few hundreds or a few thousands of brave users who are willing to give it a spin. There is no open or public way to get the Alpha version, you need to sign-up to our Alpha Team, and once there’s a version available we send it to you.

Even the Alpha Team is layered… We start by sending the version to ~100 people (chosen at random), then wait for feedback – both by automatically monitoring numerous metrics and by listening to the users. Then we send to another ~200, and wait for feedback. Then to ~500 more, and you get the point. As the sample size grows, we may discover issues we just couldn’t have discovered without a large group of Alpha testers.

Once we feel confident that the Alpha is solid, we move it to Beta. Even then, we don’t just return the Download button to the homepage and put our feet up. We return it for an hour, then take it off and analyze the situation. Then for 2 hours, and you get where this is going…

So where are we right now?

We rolled out the Alpha to a few hundred users and discovered several issues we’re fixing. If you signed-up and didn’t receive an Alpha version yet, don’t worry – you’ll get one as the sample size grows.

This method takes more time, but it’s because we take quality very seriously. Being an Alpha tester means you’ll suffer through some bugs so that the public gets a better product. So I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the many thousands that signed up for our Alpha Team, and the few hundreds that already got it and have shared their feedback.

We will keep updating you as we proceed, hopefully the next update will be on the initial roll-out of the public Beta. Meanwhile, if you want to lend a hand, become an Alpha tester :)

Yours,

Roee – @roadler

Since we released Soluto to the world in May, we have experienced an astonishing amount of attention and demand for our first feature – the boot analyzer/shortener. If you’ve followed our tweets and blog posts, you know this has put a strain on our infrastructure at times and that we have been working hard to ensure we can handle large spikes of traffic.

Our current version has been out there for quite some time (about 6 weeks, which in Soluto terms feels like eternity), and has several known bugs – see more details here. Most issues boil down to one single problem, namely, Soluto simply not being able to run on the user’s PC. Some of the issues have to do with the amount of users running Soluto, and as more users join-in – existing users may suffer.

The best interest of our users must always out-weigh the quantity of downloads. So:

We’ve been working on a version that resolves most of our scaling issues. It’s taking us longer than we’d like because we’re constantly context-switching between: 1) fixing actual specific scale problems on our servers and; 2) writing the new version. Anyone who’s ever managed or worked on a complex software project probably understands what I’m talking about. The fact it takes so long is very, very frustrating, but we need to bite down and continue.

We’ve just changed our homepage to reflect the status with some cute text, but the fact is we’re deeply embarrassed by this. We don’t want to take the downloads down, but we feel it’s the right thing to do right now. Bear with us.

If you really want to install the current version, we’ll let you. Write us at iseriouslycantwait@soluto.com, and we’ll take care of you.

So when’s the next version coming out? It’s difficult to be exact. We hope to roll it out for alpha testing real soon, and then it depends on how the alpha testing goes – it can be anywhere between 3 days to 3 weeks. If you want to help test the alpha version you’re welcome to sign-up here.

Sorry for all this, I hope you can appreciate that we’re trying to do the right thing.

As always, feel free to contact me directly at roee@soluto.com.

Yours,
Roee Adler
@roadler

What makes it all worthwhile is the feedback we receive.

The positive feedback warms our hearts and motivates us to work harder. The negative feedback motivates us to work even harder… And the funny feedback, well, that cracks us up. We consider humor as a sign of high intelligence, and if that’s true – boy do we have some smart users :)

We founded Soluto on the principles of honesty and transparency, so without further adieu, here are some user feedbacks in all their glory… The good, the bad, and yes, the funny (all received from the feedback function in the Soluto application):

The Good

Utterly brilliant. It’s like I’m speeding up my computer with a marshmallow.

Just ran it for the first time, -sniff-, I think I may be in love! Went from 4:41 down to 3:25!

It’s like comparing a summer movie in the US to a well-made art film. It makes you remember how good stuff can be when people put effort and thought into their work. Thanks! It was a pleasure to use your software.

Very early to say if I like it or if I’ve had any problems. BUT for sheer visual and gut appeal – YES! Give your GUI Designer a raise!

Wow, for once in my life time something that good and free. Now, I can die happy, I’ve seen everything. Kidding, don’t want to die yet. Great job guys.

Read about it in the Times this morning. Thought I’m as smart as these guys. You found a couple I didn’t even know was running. Thanks, let me know when you add other features. Great program, great graphic layout.

Too Good…… Cool product with a great user interface. Most important product intention is clearly helpful to humanity.

Very very important for any personal computer . From 0- 10 points I give 10 points for Soluto :D

The Bad

You install the program, reboot my PC, run a test … AND THEN TELL ME SOLUTO IS UNDER MAINTENANCE and can’t tell me anything useful!! YOU ARE RIGHT! MY PC DID JUST FRUSTRATE ME!

What the hell is this? Anti-frustration software, it’s currently been hanging now for 30mins at the ‘new applications discovered’ screen. System restore comin’ up!

I thought your program with its fancy graphics would ’cry HAVOC and let loose the gods of war.’ but instead it is merely ’filled with sound and fury and signifying nothing‘

Down for maintenance? This Anti-Frustration Software is Anti-Anti-Frustration if you know what I mean.

Are you kidding me? Under maintenance? THATS FRUSTRATING. I just installed, rebooted, opened and nothing. F*ckity f*ck – uninstalling.

After taking the time to download and install your software, and reboot my machine, I must say it was very FRUSTRATING to get your dumb “under maintenance be back soon” message. Way to FAIL anti-frustration dudes.

The Funny

Great idea. Love the GUI. Can’t wait to see how this evolves. I’m all over this like a fat kid at a bake sale!

The graphic design and sheer attention to detail that went into this program is astounding and commendable. The fact that it’s free makes me feel naughty.

Most important invention since the toilet paper! Imagine the world without…

Have Feedback?

If you want to share with us your feedback, here are a number of ways to make yourself heard:

• - Download Soluto and leave feedback from the product itself
• - Share it in our support community
• - Shout out to us on Twitter
• - Write a comment on our Facebook Fan Page
• - Email us at support@soluto.com or at feedback@soluto.com

Or just drop me a note at roee@soluto.com, I’m always here to hear the good, the bad and especially the funny :)

Yours,

Roee Adler – @roadler

We sincerely apologize to all of you who came to find out more about Soluto, but couldn’t immediately download our software. We’ve been working very hard to survive future spikes.

Another thing that caught us by surprise is the extent to which users are trying to get involved with and contribute to Soluto. This means a great deal to us, we think it’s far from trivial, and we’re incredibly excited by it.

So if you’d like to take part in our little history, here are a few ways you can lend Soluto a helping hand:

1. Join our alpha team: Would you like to receive early access to an Alpha version of Soluto? Join our alpha team! Simply sign-up, here.

   One thing though: If you’re a reporter or blogger, we kindly ask you not to publish anything you find out from the Alpha release before it’s made public. If you do publish – we won’t be friends with you and won’t invite you to our parties. And we throw very cool parties, don’t say we didn’t warn you…

2. Help out on our support community: Would you like to contribute to our open support community? All you need to do is answer questions users have and help them out as best you can. To start helping just go, here.

   The rules for taking part in our support community are very simple: be nice, be patient, and remember many people are not as experienced as you.

   If you need some help from our team, email us at support@soluto.com and we’ll help you better understand Soluto so you can start helping others. If you show special dedication in helping others, we could make you an official rep of Soluto (if you’d like us to of course…)

3. For hardcore techies: Are you a hardcore techie that wants to take part in our journey and contribute your time and knowledge to Soluto? Write me a note at roee@soluto.com, tell me who you are, what you do, why you would like to take part, and I’ll see what we can do.

I would like to thank all our users for being so patient with us and providing so much feedback. Please always feel free to contact us at feedback@soluto.com, or write me directly at roee@soluto.com, or on Twitter.

Yours,
Roee

It’s a great honor for a young company such as ourselves to be in a list that includes the likes of Facebook, FourSquare, LinkedIn and Twitter, as well as friends like MetaCafe, aniBoom, Clarizen and Kaltura.

From the announcement:

The AlwaysOn Global 250 represent the top emerging companies in the Global Silicon Valley that are demonstrating significant market traction and pursuing game-changing technologies in on-demand computing, digital media, and greentech.

The entire announcement and full list of 250 companies is available, here.

That’s right! Soluto was featured in the Business section of this weekend’s edition of New York Times. Anne Eisenbreg did a great write-up of what we’re up to. Here’s a nugget:

I tried the Soluto program, and by following its recommendations, cut my boot time to 1.44 minutes from 2.40 minutes. I removed some applications from the boot sequence, letting them run after the boot was over. I “paused” other applications that I don’t use on a daily basis — for instance, an application that automatically updates Google products. Instead, I’ll wait until the company lets me know when there is an update. (Soluto divides the possible changes in the boot into “no brainers,” “potentially removable apps” and “required, cannot be removed.”)

Robert Scoble is quoted in the article, here’s what he said:

Soluto’s approach to PC frustration is novel and highly promising, said Robert Scoble, a video blogger and a former Microsoft employee. “This is innovation at a deep level; they are bringing in the crowd to augment solutions to Windows problems,” Mr. Scoble said.

Even Ed Bott chimed in:

SO far, the company is doing an intriguing job, said Ed Bott, author of many books about Windows. “The need they’ve identified among users really resonates with me,” he said. “They have a long-range plan to address many issues of frustration. It’s an original and promising approach.”

Thank you to everyone at the New York Times that made this article possible. And thanks to both Robert & Ed–we appreciate your excitement over Soluto!

Roee Adler – @roadler

These applications have the intent of causing damage to users’ PCs and should not be downloaded.

We are therefore advising all users to download Soluto only from our main site at Soluto.com, or from well-known and legitimate download sites.

We’d like to thank Brian Baskin for bringing this to our attention.

UJAM was the first startup to debut its product on stage, and boy did they set a high bar. With UJAM’s app users with practically no musical talent whatsoever can create astonishing music compositions. One of its coolest features is the ability to hum or whistle a tune into a microphone and have UJAM morph the tune as if it was originally played by an electric guitar or piano. Very cool stuff. Hands down, UJAM had a stellar demo (We’ve embedded some of it below).

By the final day of Disrupt, the buzz among attendees was that the two major contenders for the top prize were UJAM and Soluto. We certainly didn’t think it was in the bag. Ultimately though, Soluto was awarded the top spot, and we are humbled now as we were on-stage when we received it. This is especially true since we befriended the UJAM guys—Peter Gorges & Axel Hensen—and were cheering for them as well.

So to the good folks of UJAM: Gentleman, it was an honor to battle it out with you at Disrupt! Know that the entire Soluto Team are huge fans of yours and will be rooting for your success :)

Well, the unbelievable has happened… Soluto won TechCrunch Disrupt! We are truly humbled by the honor.

It’s always a scary experience to launch a product into the world, but to do it at an event that draws so much global attention as Disrupt is, well, terrifying.

Clearly though, it couldn’t have gone any better and we couldn’t be any happier!

The fact that Soluto won a startup competition for PC anti-frustration software on the day that Apple’s market cap passed that of Miscrosoft’s, really does underscore the importance of what we’re doing.

We’d like to thank everyone that supported Soluto, from Alpha users, to all the great folks we met at Disrupt, to our friends and families.

Soluto, is going to make a billion people happy, and it starts today!

Soluto Beta — available right now for free download — allows PC users to understand their boot and discover which applications are slowing them down. Soluto Beta not only cuts down your boot, it also improves your on-going PC performance for you.

Huge thanks to all our Alpha users for all the feedback and support. We couldn’t have done it without you!

But that’s not all! We just announced yet another product — the PC Genome, a one of a kind database housing frustration points for millions of PC users worldwide, and more importantly, the remedies that alleviate them.

The PC Genome is not yet available to the public, but I assure you, the Soluto team is working hard to get the data out to you as soon as possible.

The best way to keep updated on Soluto’s PC Genome and our anti-frustration software, is by subscribing to this blog (RSS), and following Soluto on Twitter.

Roee Adler, Chief Product Officer – @roadler