I.e A registration system for beta testers and then LR select the percentage of testers from the applicants,

Ok, sure, everything could be improved. A little faster, a little crisper graphics, some more consistency, fewer reloads but wow, what a bucket load of fun. Flying the Vskylabs R66 in VR is incredible fun. MS won’t have VR or helicopters.

Absolutely brilliant job by Laminar on this Vulcan VR release, I can say that I’ve never had so much fun in a flight simulator, just an amazing job.

Thank you Laminar, please keep it up, I will be a fan for many years. Awesome job, and when the hardware (VR resolution, graphics cards, CPU) catches up shortly it will get even more incredible. Outstanding job.

You’re dead right about this. Metal has transformed X Pane for Apple users and 1920×1080 works great. Using Metal I can more or less double my FPS and still moved the sliders to the right.

We are just guinea pigs making sure that final version does work and, can’t speak for everyone, but I’m happy to be an X-plane guinea pig. So just keep them coming, gives me a reason to have three systems with one dedicated to BETA’s only.

If you don’t see an improvement with metal, it’s almost certainly because you are GPU bounds. Apple’s machines rarely can drive their displays at max res, since max res is some crazy high pixel density. When not pixel bound, Metal is a ton faster.

But I look for betas every day… and for the most part I’d rather you spend your time pushing the envelope of x-plane that worry about mistakes sent out.

We understand 🙂

2. I’d say “beta” means beta; close-to-final draft; “swim at your own risk”. No need to complicate things unless, as you mentioned, you don’t have the environment infrastructure to model enough of what’s “in the wild”.

3. Always have an ejector seat option, which is some path back to a usable product while development continues.

I’ve been in product development most of my working life. A software tool like X-Plane has the luxury of being able to use its users as guinea pigs. Any product with the ability to injure does not. Having betas is an accepted practice for that unusual class of products. Yes, the buyer should beware, but your putting realistic warnings out for the “buyer” (beta user) to be well-informed about the decision is key. Keep up the good work.

As for me, I can’t wait for Vulkan’s promise of “smooth as butter” rendering… but I decided I CAN wait. I’ve not joined the beta because I’m more interested in using X-Plane. However, you have my system info. If I can ever be of help in uncovering something, just ask and we’ll test something.

I have to agree with Dave, as a Mac user I’m not seeing much if any improvement in Metal, I’ve tried all betas up to 4 on a base download updated to 11.41 with no scenery, or plugins added. The only thing added is the Zibo Mod 737, which I understand runs in 11.50. I have submitted things I have found during these updates to the Laminar team. Having said that I’m more than happy to let things run their course and hope that in the fulness of time the Mac community will have a good running XP.
Great work by the Laminar team in these trying times.

Is it possible to auto-concent to sending crash bugs at installation (or setting page) stages. For me I can see the files you get sent so I trust the data your submitting and so having it auto submit and just tell me it has done so and to go here to view the details sent would be better for me. You might get more crash reports then.

Thank you as always

Paul

I don’t mind flying beta and trying out new things and reporting bugs if I find them.

Of course, two-tier beta releasing makes more sense to avoid noise. I’d jump in for the first one.

Only feedback:
– I would love being able to track these kind of things. I found this post by coincidence checking if there was a Beta 6.
– I love how you’re releasing betas so frequently and seeing so many improvements. Way to go!