Also more generallly: if you appreciate DEVONthink but want more automation and ease of use then please do check out Keyboard Maestro. The combined features exceed the sum of both. (Well, I have BBEdit in there too, but it may not be necessary.)
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Re: subscriptions, I am not fond of them either. But at this point, they have become necessary evils. (E.g., I’ve been using TextExpander at least as long as I’ve been using DT, so that’s gotta be 10 years at the very least. At this point I can’t see myself canceling that sub.)
EDIT: thinking about this more, I believe I bought my first DT license just before college, so that means I’ve been using DT (with varying frequency) for something like 20 years. And I know I haven’t even scratched the surface of what I could be making it do for me!
That said, I am also trying to figure out ways to cancel subscriptions for apps that I use for fringe cases. DT is a central app in my workflow and has been for sometime, so if it were switched to a subscription model, I would certainly sign up. It’s one of the few apps I would not want to get rid of, regardless of my general dislike of subscriptions.
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I’m curious, any DT4 on the horizon? We have v 3.9.8 now. It must be around the corner? I’m excited to get know more what the future brings. Any hints? 
3.9.x doesn’t imply there won’t be a 3.10, 3.11, or 3.14 (the π edition 
)
That said, we are hard at work on many things in here. Announcements will come when they’re ready.
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FYI: Todays email update from the Take Control Book for DevonThink from Joe Kissell, does create some confusion around a potential DT4:
We have just released version 1.16 of my book Take Control of DEVONthink 3, and you’re entitled to download the new version for free. This minor update covers DEVONthink for Mac up through version 3.9.9, and DEVONthink To Go for iOS/iPadOS up through version 3.8.7. It’s the last update we’ll be making to this book, but later in 2025 we plan to release a new book on DEVONthink 4!
What is confusing?
What is probably “confusing” is that this download is supposed to be the “last update” for version 3. This can be misunderstood to mean that it will be very soon. But it doesn’t actually mean anything other than that the next update will only be for version 4 … whenever it comes. At least that’s how I understand it. 
And the next release will be 3.9.9 
Which, for me, is not confusing. Just me, I guess. An independent author is announcing he is making no more plans to issue any further updates for his book until DEVONthink 4 comes out–which if course has no announced end date.
There are an infinite number of update numbers available for DEVONtechnologies to use before they chose to use 4.x at some unannounced future date.
The confusing part was that Joe Kissell mentioned “but later in 2025 we plan…”.
Yes, but then everything would have to take place in 2025.
Either they are just guessing or they know the approximate time.
That’s a pretty clear plan by Joe, is it not?
If you are trying to correlate Joe’s plans with DEVONtechnologies’ secret plans that they probably will never pre-announce, well, probably not going to be un-confusing to those who expect correlation.
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Correlation or causality? One can be a coincidence, the other not.
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Looking forward to seeing Devonthink 4 later this year! Please keep 3 pane view 
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Well, just to slow down the rumor mill a little bit: It is clearly no secret that we are actively working on DEVONthink 4 and DEVONthink To Go 4. We also do aim for a 2025 target, which should also be no shock, but we don’t have a release date yet that we’d dare to publish
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IIRC Tex has a version numbering system which gradually approaches but never quite reaches – of course – π… According to Wikipedia it’s currently on v3.141592653.
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– which is covered in today’s update to TCoDT3, though tantalisingly Joe has stopped short of mentioning specific features new in 3.9.9…
Folks, as the author of Take Control of DEVONthink 3, I feel I should jump in here (and I’m posting the same thing on Reddit). I clearly spoke out of turn when mentioning DEVONthink 4, and I’m mortified that I’ve unwittingly caused problems for the good folks at DEVONtechnologies. I’m pretty sure it was already public knowledge that version 4 was under development, and my educated guess was that it would be out before the end of 2025, so all I meant to say was, whenever that happens, I’m planning to publish a new book about it (just as I did when DEVONthink 2 turned into DEVONthink 3). I don’t know when the actual release date will be, and no one should draw any conclusions about their plans based on my ill-advised statement. I apologize to everyone, but especially to Jim, Eric, and Christian, for causing this confusion.
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No worries, @joekissell
While it was a little bit of a shock to read, we know your statement was well-meaning.
As they say, “There’s no such thing as ‘bad publicity’.” So it’s good to see happy buzzing, people anticipating a new version, but also to eavesdrop in on (and respond to) any concerns. Excitement and interest 22+ years later is both remarkable for a company our size and encouraging.
Well, the cat’s out of the bag but people will have to wait to play with it, when it’s suitably tamed and ready for company
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Cat has meowed inside the bag 
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