Astraware Updates Bejeweled

Posted By: Ryan Kairer on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 10:12:53 AM

Astraware has just released its first update for the original Bejeweled title nearly two years. The new version updates the classic gem swapping game with new graphics that add "even more sparkle and shine", to use the company's own words. The update also includes improved support for newer devices, added multilingual support (English, French, Italian, German, Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese), various minor improvements and a behind the scenes code overhaul.

Bejeweled v2.61 is available now for Palm OS devices and Windows Mobile. It comes with a free trial period and sells for $19.95.

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15 total comments

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Is the upgrade free

frankdjr @ 7/30/2008 2:43:04 PM #

I paid for Bejeweled, if I install this new version over my old, will it upgrade it for free or will I start my trial period?

Thanks, Frank

RE: Is the upgrade free

Ryan @ 7/30/2008 3:38:24 PM #

It is a free update for registered users.

RE: Is the upgrade free

hkklife @ 7/30/2008 5:02:57 PM #

It's also worth noting that if you received Bejeweled as a bundled version with your device (The Sprint 755p, at minimum, shipped with Bejeweled in ROM), then you're stuck with that particular version. If you want updates then you'll have to register the "full" retail version from Astraware.

Pilot 1000->Pilot 5000->PalmPilot Pro->IIIe->Vx->m505->T|T->T|T2->T|C->T|T3->T|T5->Zodiac 2->TX->Verizon Treo 700P->Verizon Treo 755p

$20 bugfix?!?

joad @ 7/30/2008 7:07:29 PM #

...doubt the bugfixes are worth $20 bucks.

This is all too common with the software Palm installs to ROM - whether you want it or not, you got it. And when an update is released, Palm won't update their ROMs (not even the "free" Google Maps!). Then the vendor expects you to buy another "full" license on top of the one you have *already* purchased with your device.

What a scam.

Paying my annual PDA update tax to Palm since 1997.

RE: $20 bugfix?!?

PadOPaper @ 7/30/2008 9:41:25 PM #

um, dude, it's a free f#@$ing update. they aren't black mailing you into buying anything. don't want it, don't install it.

Who needs expensive gadgets, give me a pencil and some post-its. Added benefit, perfect handwriting recognition.

RE: $20 bugfix?!?

joad @ 7/30/2008 11:06:57 PM #

uh, "dude," if you purchased a license as part of your handheld package, then it seems getting the bugfix is $20 bucks. That would not make it a "free f#@$ing update," as you call it. But if it's without charge to 755 owners, then I apologize to Astraware for our misunderstanding.

Dataviz does this a LOT - they include an outdated, unpatched version in ROM (which fills up your RAM with cr@p whether you use it or not) and then you are either stuck wasting 4+ MB to load the outdated bugfix into RAM or purchase (and load into RAM) the version that was current long before the handheld began manufacture.

Paying my annual PDA update tax to Palm since 1997.

Getting the update to Bejeweled for bundled versions of the game

Alsicole @ 7/31/2008 6:02:24 AM #

Hi All

I'm happy to say that we can help with a free upgrade if you have a copy of Bejeweled bundled with your device, but as the on-device version that came with the Treo 680, 700p and 755p and the website version have different registration systems, you'll need to contact our support team who should then be able to sort it out for you.

This is a completely re-built version of the game on a new framework adding extra language support too, so if you choose to upgrade please be aware that your current highscores won't be transferred.

Hope this helps to clarify things.

Kind regards
Alison

Alison Barclay, Chief Communications Officer, Astraware.

RE: Getting the update to Bejeweled for bundled versions of the game

PalmUser08 @ 7/31/2008 1:27:51 PM #

I have a treo 755p. how do I upgrade? What info would you like from me?

Nice Alsicole

JackG @ 7/31/2008 1:26:06 PM #

Now that is great customer service. Nicely done. I'm going to upgrade my Bejeweled 2 on my 800w today!

RE: Nice Alsicole

theseus @ 7/31/2008 1:36:55 PM #

Well, just clarifying that there's TWO titles: Bejeweled and Bejeweled 2... They are separate apps. For clarity, I will refer to Bejeweled 2 as Bejeweled II.

Bejeweled is now up to "release" 2.61 . Bejeweled II is on "release" 1.2 .

The update applies to Bejeweled (v. 2.61) - not Bejeweled II (v. 1.2).

Hope that helps! :)

-e

RE: Nice Alsicole

cstamper @ 7/31/2008 1:54:54 PM #

That's dumb. I thought BJ I was dead.

Nothing to see here. :-(

http://tinyurl.com/2ooncg

RE: Nice Alsicole

theseus @ 7/31/2008 3:37:09 PM #

I'm not sure why you'd think that... It's still one of their top sellers (#7 to be exact - at least for the Palm OS). HOWEVER, there was a major problem with the version of Bejeweled (I) on the Treos and Centros: any time you ran Bejeweled, you wouldn't be able to [easily] exit out from it (it apparently disabled the hard buttons) - and if you had the background music playing, turning off the screen would NOT stop the music! To me, THAT is what's "dumb".

So, NO, it's NOT dead (as it's a top seller) and YES, the update is needed - if not for other devices, for the Treos and Centros. I for one am VERY happy to see the update, and I know other people will be, too. The update fixes the issues above so now the hard buttons work to exit, or you can select exit from the menu (it wasn't there before) or even tap the "X" in the top right corner (which also wasn't there before)... Turning off the screen now also turns off the music. Yeah, it's definitely a good thing it was updated.

-e

RE: Nice Alsicole

hkklife @ 7/31/2008 3:45:39 PM #

In my years of purchasing handheld apps, I've found Astraware to be one of the friendliest, most helpful mobile software companies around. And even when you don't need to contact them directly, their great reputation for releasing FREE updates for years on their titles (as well as offering reasonable discounts to owners of the previous version/predecessor app) is top-notch.

I've carried my registered copy of Astraware's Zap 2016 from a Palm Vx in 2000 all the way through my 755p of 2008. AND it still runs reasonably well under Garnet 5.4.9. THAT, folks, is simply fantastic!

Alsicole's response is precisely the kind of thing I'd expect from them and a handful of others (SplashData, Handmark, Normsoft etc). Of course, many of the smaller 1-2 man Palm OS software developers are really on top of things but I'm speaking in regards to the larger multi-platform mobile developers/publishers.

Pilot 1000->Pilot 5000->PalmPilot Pro->IIIe->Vx->m505->T|T->T|T2->T|C->T|T3->T|T5->Zodiac 2->TX->Verizon Treo 700P->Verizon Treo 755p

Alison BarclayAlison BarclayAlison BarclayAlison BarclayAlison Ba

PalmUser08 @ 7/31/2008 7:08:40 PM #

Alison Barclay, how do I go about upgrading. who do I contact?

RE: Alison BarclayAlison BarclayAlison BarclayAlison BarclayAlison Ba

hkklife @ 7/31/2008 7:31:38 PM #

My name ain't Alison but this should do nicely:

http://www.astraware.com/palm/default/bejeweled?skucode=0011-000-0009

http://www.astraware.com/contact/

support@astraware.com

Pilot 1000->Pilot 5000->PalmPilot Pro->IIIe->Vx->m505->T|T->T|T2->T|C->T|T3->T|T5->Zodiac 2->TX->Verizon Treo 700P->Verizon Treo 755p

Palm Software on sale