A New Look for Network Magic 5.1
The Network Magic team knows there's always room for improvement, even in our award-winning software. So we did just that. Here are some of the improvements we've made for Network Magic 5.1:
• The Network Magic Map has a new and improved look with enhanced features. You'll notice the difference the first time you see it. The devices connected to your network are arranged around your router or access point, showing what's connected. And clicking any device shows the available tasks that you can do with that device. For example, clicking a computer allows you to change its name, view details and alerts specifically for that computer, set up Network Reports, control Internet access, and more. Clicking a printer allows you to share (or stop sharing) the printer, view the print queue and printer details. Everything you'd want to do or see about a device can be done from the Network Map.
• Network Magic 5.1 also makes it easy to "Go Wireless." If you have a computer that's connected to your router with a cable, and you'd like to use your computer's wireless capability to connect wirelessly, use the new Go Wireless feature. It helps you connect your computer to the network wirelessly, allowing you to disconnect the cable keeping you in one place. You'll be free to take your computer anywhere in your home and still be connected to your network.
• The Print Network Settings feature gives you an easy way to see and print out details about the devices on your network. These can be very useful when contacting your ISP or other vendors for support issues. Instead of having to go to each computer or device and try to find its details, you can use the Print Network Settings feature to print a report that includes information about every device connected to your network. The report includes names, network status, IP addresses, hardware information, operating system, antivirus, spyware, and firewall information, and more. If you want to print details for a specific device, you can do that too. It's much easier than trying to find the information yourself.
Network Magic 5.1 is available now. If you're a Network Magic 5.0 user, the 5.1 version is a free update. If you are using an older version, for example Network Magic 4.9, you need to purchase the upgrade to Network Magic 5.1.
Comments
Hi Julie,
I am mostly pleased with Network Magic but for a few exceptions.Here they are. I too miss the network naming option that was in the earlier version and would like to see more device icons listed. Currently I am using a PDA icon for my Sony PSP. I also think it would be a good idea to have all the inactive devices on the network removed and located in a grayed out pulldown menu at the bottom of the map.
-------------------------------------
Thanks so much for the comments. We always love to hear from our users, especially suggestions for future features. I'll pass these along to the team.
- Julie
Posted by: James | September 16, 2009 08:13 PM
I am using the essentials version of Network Magic that came with my router.
I accidently clicked hide device on the network map for a computer that is wirelessly connected to my router. How do I go about "unhiding" this device?
------------------
I would suggest using the Add a Device feature on the Network Tasks page to force Network Magic to "find" the device again and add it to the Network Map.
- Julie
Posted by: Andrew | March 6, 2009 09:06 AM
suggestion: Make the icons "arrangeable" so that one can condense onto one page if the network is just a bit too large.
-------------------------------
Great suggestion. In fact, for the next release of Network Magic, the Network Map will accommodate more devices so that most home networks will display on one page. We heard this comment from lots of our users, so we're in the process of making the change. While the icons won't be "arrangeable," many more devices will fit onto a single Map page.
- Julie
Posted by: Jim Tabor | February 22, 2009 10:54 AM
Please tell me if this is the wrong place to mention this but, as a long time NM user, I must chime in and suggest that the new Map is not ideal. I have three pages of map! With the old system, at least I could scroll over to the items. Pls consider a simpler version (maybe one "simple" and one "enchanced" with the former being on one screen.
Jed
--------------------
Thanks for the comment, and by the way, this is a great way to send feedback and suggestions about Network Magic features. I passed your comment on to the team and they tell me they are working on further improvements to the Network Map.
- Julie
Posted by: EDB | January 24, 2009 08:47 AM
Ok, now enough is enough.. How much longer is this going to keep popping up to show me that I have an update. I know I am not running the newest version. I am running 4.9.2885 the update has been coming up for the last few months. If I want the new one I will get it. So can we PLEASE stop that stupid thing from coming up to remind me that the only update is the one to get the new version. One that I have to pay for????
Thanks
-------------------------------------
To make this message stop showing up, open Network Magic and from the Tools menu (located at the top of the NM window), select Options. In the Options dialog, click the Notifications tab, and unselect the option to display a notification when a Network Magic update is available. Unselecting this option should make the reminder go away.
- Julie
Posted by: Bob | January 19, 2009 05:09 AM
Hi JulieB,
Why is Network Magic getting worse with each new version that comes out after Cisco acquired Pure Networks?
How worse?
Loss of Net2Go I can understand, even though I never used it.
Loss of the ability to Hide and unhide the SSID Signal Name.
Exposing the Encryption key to anyone that may know Network Magic's password.
Keeping Devices that are offline on the Network Map, instead of using Network History to see the devices that visited the Network.
Loss of the ability to Customize your own Network Name, which has been around for a good long while.
If I had to paid for upgrading to Version 5.#, I would keep Version 4.9.8225.0-Pure0
I would like to see all devices on a single Network Map.
------------------------------------------------------------
Sorry that you think Network Magic is getting worse with each version. Our goal is to make improvements with each version, but sometimes things seem to take a step backwards.
We know that for our users, features that are easy to use are almost always better. We want to provide features that help our users set up, secure, and maintain a home network easily. To that end, we're committed to evaluating the value of all features to make sure they add value to the product and help our users. The reason we remove a feature can vary: extremely low customer use; cost of supporting the feature vs. number of customers using it; feature is no longer relevant with current technology, etc.
As more customers install Network Magic 5.1, we will look at all of our customer feedback about features and make improvements or changes as necessary.
Thanks for your input, and please keep it coming.
- Julie
Posted by: Morton Lee Cohen | January 15, 2009 10:34 AM