Secret Release of XnView MP 1.10

[ShadesOfGrey]

This is a bit of a nitpick, as it isn't necessarily about the functioning, or functionality of XnView MP. Well, outside of its internal update mechanism. But this could create a negative perception of XnView.

I've been using UnigetUI to manage packages on Windows. However, when I attempted to install the XnView MP 1.10.1 in UniGetUI via winget, the update failed. IIRC, there was no meaningful error from UniGetUI. That is to say, it was generic enough as to be unhelpful, like 'installer failed to execute', or some such. I meant to copy it into a text file, but I didn't. The issue I'm reporting really about UniGetUI, or at least not fundamentally.
EDIT:

Turns out, not having 'closed' the failures, I can in fact report the exact errors. But suffice it to say, the install failed because the installer was unable to "'Shut down' applications using our files." So, it was a file locking issue. It ultimately would have been helpful, but I didn't pay enough attention.

Anyway, I started XnView MP to check for an update manually (from the Help menu) and was told that I was using the latest version, 1.9.4. I checked a different (less often used) PC that was running an even earlier version, 1.8.3, and was prompted to upgrade to 1.9.10. I started to get concerned. Given the recent news concerning Notepad++'s man-in-the-middle attack. So I went to xnview.com. Everything on the site reflects that 1.9.10 is the latest available version. I decided to download the installer, despite the in app update claiming I was using the latest version. Upon running the installer, it identifies itself as installing 1.10.1. So now I'm really concerned. I check the forums and find that 1.10.1. is indeed the latest version and the hashes for the installer I downloaded match that of the announcement post.

So, not only does the web site not reflect the latest version, unless you check the forums. But the internal updater seems to be stuck reporting 1.9.4 or 1.9.10 as the latest version (perhaps anything above 1.9.x?). Depending on the existing version of XnView installed. This, nearly three days after release. If I hadn't checked the forums, I might have uninstalled and written XnView MP off as untrustworthy. Frankly, I'm still a bit wary about 1.10.1 being legit.

[jkm]

Ordinarily on someone's first post I would say Welcome to the forums, but since you started with, in your own words, “a bit of a nitpick”…. I'll just try and clarify some things for you.

1. It wasn’t a “secret” release. It was announced here on the forums.

2. There have been some other reports of recent glitches with the “check for updates” not seeing new updates. I'm sure that will be addressed in time. Or perhaps the bug was in the version you were checking with. The expectation with software updaters is that they always work perfectly, right? Everyone who uses Windows knows that.

3. XnViewMP, and the website, is developed and maintained by one person, who works very hard to improve the software. So since he’s working by himself, maybe cut some slack for glitches and the timing of fixes for software made available for free. Three days is not a big deal under the circumstances. He forgot to update the website. Things happen.

4. 1.10.1 is definitely legitimate. There is no question. It won’t be the latest for long though, as a quick bug-fix version will be out very shortly. 1.10.1 had a lot of new functionality and a few small corrections need to be made.

The developer is doing the best he can. If it only takes an updater glitch and a few days delay in updating the site to make you think to uninstall and “write off the software as untrustworthy” then honestly I wonder why you’d be willing to even try software from such a small independent developer in the first place. I'm even more surprised that someone who is concerned about the integrity and legitimacy of software update mechanisms is using a third party utility to manage their software updates. But it’s your prerogative to do as you like. If you want to be sure of what you get from XnViewMP, or any software, download it yourself directly from the manufacturer's site with a valid cert and a verified checksum. If you submit a bug report on the updater that can be reproduced, I'm sure it will get fixed.

Thanks for pointing out the website needs to be updated; I had not noticed.

Cheers…