I think Zwift has helped them sell trainers.
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I can’t believe people are kicking zwift already about this! Businesses need investment. What John and Eric have done in such a short space of time in a niche market is nothing short of brilliant. If it was easy there would be plenty of other options… Anyone remember CVR Cade…veloton etc. It’s obviously incredibly difficult. This investment should make the product better. Will people want a return on their money… Course they will. If you invested in something you’d want a return. This is capitalism. Yes there are issues with the current offering, yes there are bugs. But we should really be celebrating the fact that we have this software available to us rather than just kicking zwift at every opportunity.
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““The insights shared about Zwift possibly “locking out” game enhancements for other hardware as they develop their own are interesting but is that possible?””
Not only is it possibe. It has already started. Zwift brought out their full steering support last month and locked it down to the Elite Sterzo, so that is the only device permitted to work with Zwift.
Note: Not the only device because it’s the only one on the market but that it’s locked down with an authentication stage such that no other manufacturer can make a device that works with Zwift (some hobbyists have cracked this already but that doesn’t help a manufacturer).
It goes against the open principle that Zwift started with and points to a future of locked down everything.
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The steering is in Beta. I guess they want to get it working properly on one device rather than have to deal with a number of devices. That makes a lot of sense from a development point of view. I am sure that this will be opened up to other company’s once it working better.
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Totally agree, at its core it is a very good product, we wouldn’t be using it otherwise. It seems sometimes like any opportunity to give Zwift a kicking.
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People wouldnt give it a deserved kicking if they didnt care so much about it. I am very frustrated by zwift becuse with a bit more care and effort on the experience side it could be outstanding.
communication is dire, develoment pace is pathetic and bugs a plenty but ive still been riding it for 5 years and will continue to, but as long as basics are being neglected and empty promisses being made i will continue to bash it.
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It’s not really a reaction to this news. Most of it are things people have been complaining about for a long time. Years in some cases. But of course when there’s any sort of announcement or game update thread it’s a bit of a lightning conductor.
I think the investment is great news. I love Zwift, and of all the ones I’ve tried it’s still head and shoulders above anything else currently available - certainly in terms of the overall package, even if some other platforms do things better in one aspect or another.
Honestly, the thing that I’m personally most peeved about is the revelation that the new UI is on hold. Maybe this wasn’t an official decision until recently, but we were told it was practically imminent at the start of the year.
I’ve been regularly telling people certain gripes should be fixed in the UI update. As recently as last week; so this does make me feel like a pudding on a personal level - and harder to defend myself when accused of being a Zwift fanboy, blind to its faults.
Even if it’s still not perfect, surely it’s a lot better than what we have now. How much longer do we have to restart the entire program to check our badges then select a route, or just start a new activity? Why do we have to put up with this pain longer when we were reportedly so close to some relief?
It does feel a bit of a kick in the teeth; so I’m sure you can understand why the investment news, while welcome, isn’t all Champagne corks and whoops.
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It’s also no secret that on 18th July Erin Min announced that rowing would be with us in a few weeks. Was he mistaken, given that two months later there is now no confirmed product launch date?
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Eric Min also promised atv UI imminent on Thanksgiving that was extended to March and now not happening. Trend is becoming if Eric promises, it’s actually dead. Don’t hold your breath.
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Heheh, Eric’s in danger of the becoming Zwift’s equivalent of the boy who cried wolf. =)
I love that Eric is so visible, open and engaged. But he dare say some inside Zwift wish he’d be less forthcoming with these pronouncements.
“He said we’re releasing what next week?!?!”
Under-promise and over-deliver is a better place than over-sell and under-deliver. And honestly I think it would cause less frustration within the community overall. Not being told what’s coming is bad enough, but to be told something’s coming soon and then be strung along for months on end is arguably worse.
We want more communication from Zwift, but we also want it to be based on reality. 
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Good to see Specialized is now a partner. That should greatly improve Zwift’s litigation footprint
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And this is why there is no road map. Because unforeseen things does happen and direction change. Being content with what you have is a good quality in life.
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Not really, no. A roadmap isn’t necessarily a timetable.
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If everyone had that attitude, we wouldn’t have Zwift at all. Or bicycles.
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There is a difference by being content with what you have and working towards a higher goal to better your life.
The bicycle was not invented by people complaining about walking, it was invented by someone the saw a need and actively worked towards a better goal to better his life.
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I see what you mean, though I think your word choice is poor. Discontent often drives innovation.
In this context, I think what you’re saying is that instead of just complaining about Zwift’s many faults–which is completely unproductive,–those of us who think Zwift could be better should just build our own competitive product. Believe me, I have considered that many times. It may be my retirement project. 
There we go. That is exactly what John Mayfield did 6 years ago.
I build a steering contraption for my bike 10 years ago because I go tired of watching reruns of the TdF and wanted something to get me thru the winter.
Sorry English is not my first language.
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So, by your own admission, you were discontent with what you had. Was that such a bad quality to have in life? Looking back, would it have been better if you had just been content watching TdF reruns?
Maybe Zwift should open source the platform and we could all chip in with improvements.
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No I was content with the TdF, I did no complain that it is not good enough, am still content with the TdF. But I wanted more so I found a way to make it better.
Maybe content is not the right word but you get the idea.
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