I have recently bought the Unlimited version of Stitcher for my Mac only to find it is extremely buggy.  My main issue is with the graphics and templates, notably bugs within the 'Display Live Preview' option in Preferences.
 
I have downloaded 5.7.1 as suggested by previous threads and have re-activated the product.  Whilst the icons are showing most of the time they disappear sometimes.  More importantly, I have to go into Preferences to re-apply 'Display Live Preview' before I can add or select hotspots.  The hotspot window is unreliable and keeps losing the inputted URL or 'remembers' an old one that has been over-written.
 
I am very disappointed that I have truly spent top-dollar for a product that, whilst being a good stitcher, is really buggy when it comes to everything else.  I need to work fast with hotspots and templates - neither of which work properly.  My business will depend on good and professional workflow.
 
You will not believe the reply that I got from support yesterday when I complained that the template function was not working reliably - here is what Autodesk said:
---------------
Dear sir,
 
<<Edited and removed by Vorspec as the contents were copied from a private e-mail send by Autodesk support >>
 
Best regards
 
Autodesk support
89, Quai Panhard & Levassor
75013 Paris
Franc
----------------
 
I am publishing this as I truly believe that the software is not industry standard for the Mac and that I am surprised AutoDesk is charging full price for what is just a Beta.  Are other Mac users having the same issues?

Dear sir,
Autodesk support is also monitoring the forum. Thanks to avoid publishing private mails in it. That's not really fair. Even if I understand your points.
 

I have removed the e-mail contents as I am not trying to have a dig at any individuals.  Now that is said, what are you going to do about all the bugs?  Will I get a working patch in the next week or do I get my TWO HUNDRED AND EIGHTEEN pounds sterling back?
 
As far as I am concerned, I bought an Autodesk product and expect Autodesk standards of support.  It is not my place to differentiate between Autodesk support and the former (current?) Realviz support.  
I am an Autocad user and have never had anything like the problems that I am experiencing with Stitcher Unlimited.  So, please, do not take my comments personally, tell us what is happening to sort out the BIG issues.

Why would you think a product that's been fundamentally flawed since version 3.0 would be fixed after a very minor 0.0.1 update. Unless Stitcher gets a complete rewrite you will always have problems. I've kept quite over the years as it helps to support small companies within the industry. Now that Autodesk is the owner they should now better. The update should have been thoroughly tested before charging people for what amounts to customers switching from Realviz to Autodesk.
 
Matt
 
 

 
I also am having no luck with 5.7.1.  the program has been very buggy for a long time but I thought Autodesk might improve things..(and maybe they still will... please).  I had given up on the program... paid the upgrade to Autodesk and have now given up again.  Some of my current issues:
1. Doesn not seem to be able to render files in any format jpg, tiff or prefferably Photoshop.  I am using 16 bit images from a 1ds MkIII camera so they are big. but abolutely no success.  Work away for a long time and then produces a file with nothing or crashes / freezes.
2. Part of the problem may be that the render tries to render an area that appears to be about 10 x as large as the image and I don't seem to be able to change that.  When you go into the set render area - there seems to be no way to commit the selection and have it stick. The only way out is to basically cancel the selection / close the window.  So you end up with a file of many GB size which generally does not work / crashes everything... yada yada.
 
3. BTW I am on Mac Pro with 10.5.4 etc.
4. Same photos in Photoshop CS3 and able to produce a photomerge with no fuss - although there are features in stitcher that I want to use so long term PS CS3 is not the answer for me.  
 
Anyway right now the program appears totally broken and I can not render anything succesfully...
 
Perhaps of Autodesk is watching they can advise as to progress on bug fixing.  I'm happy to give more precise details in it would help to fix this....
 
JS.

Ok so seens i'm not the only one to be a bit upset
 
with the last version !
 
1) You can't setup the view direction with a preview before creating the MOV file
2)The GPU render doesn't work for me !  
See : http://forum.realviz.com/realviz/D [...] 4160_1.htm
 
hopefully i don't use hotspots
 
 
 
 

Dear Vorspec
 
I have been asking for my money back on the none working version of 5.6 since Christmas and no one will reply to me on this matter. So I am sorry to say that you have also waisted your hard earned money on a piece of rubbish. When I asked when a patch for 5.6 would be available I was asked to spend more money to buy 5.7 (what a nerve) I am back to running version 5.4. My advice is to spread the word out to everyone you know that thius is not a good software to buy

Both version 5.7 & 5.7.1 do seem to be substandard releases (rushed out with little or no testing?).
Every render format seems to have issues - with or without GPU acceleration. PNG render does not smooth or correctly blend the seams between images. All other formats render part of the panorama using just one of the source images the rest of the render area is rendered black.  
 
Worse still, I moved version 5.6.2 over to my Macbook Pro (intel) and that crashes mid render whichever format I choose. This same version runs solidly on my PPC G5.
 
Some updates please or at least some explanation!
 
BB
 
 

still waiting, Realviz.

It wouldn't take much effort on my part to get my credit card company to recover the 5.7.x upgrade cost on the basis of the overwhelming evidence within the forum that it clearly wasn't ready for prime time, however, that's not why I'm here.
 
Autodesk/Realviz, there's clearly a problem with 5.7.x. Now that we know that you actively monitor the forum, the time has come for you to tell us what's happening at the very least.
 
I've absolutely, positively zero interest in the competition. I want Stitcher and I want it to work, period! It's not too much to ask in this day and age and I'm certain that a great many of us would jump at the chance to beta test it for you if given the chance (Jim Scott, you tease us with your NDA ) in order to avoid a similar scenario occurring in the future.
 
Talk to us. Many are listening...

Hi to All!
 
I am certainly am encouraged by the diligence I've seen so far on Autodesk's part - there is a lot of effort going into making things right, along with some nice interface enhancements (as per the Autodesk Stitcher 2009 site). There is no reason why Stitcher shouldn't be a first rate program - as we all know it can be.
 
Don't think this breaks my NDA.

Hi Jim,
 
I raised this thread and am still unable to work Stitcher 5.7.1 with any consistency.  I am currently making cubics with 3 row of 10 shots.  The templates do not work - even when I am very careful with maintaining a consistent workflow.  In fact, I get different results even when I use the same files.  
 
I really cannot understand why I cannot get any further with the support desk.  All I have got so far is that they know that it does not work properly but they do not know if or when anything will be done about it.
 
I am 218 pounds sterling poorer and got more consistent (albeit slower) workflow with shareware products.  I will upgrade to 2009 if it is a major bug-fix but I do not believe that I should be paying much for an upgrade.  Do you have any recommendations as to whom I should complain to?
 
I too would prefer to use this forum for more creative discussions but cannot move forward.  Any help would be appreciated.
 
Regards,
 
Dave (Vorspec)