The 1.8 version of Sparks! will be the non-beta version. Here's what left to be done before we're out of beta (excluding bug fixes, which are always on the list):

• Smart downloads: the Sparks! application will download all the supporting files and applications (mplayer, lame, many DLLs) it needs from the BlogMatrix server if the user doesn't have them. If the user is using a modern Pentium chip, the appropriate version will be downloaded (rather than the generic version that will work on all platforms)
• Multiple attachments/enclosures per entry: currently Sparks! only supports one enclosure per entry. This what the RSS spec requires, but many users find this inadequate
• Improved subscribe dialog: this will make it clear whether the item being added is going in My Radio, My Podcasters or My Weblogs; and also give the user the option of doing something else (treating the URL as a OPML file, for example). This will make drag and drop a lot sweeter
• BitTorrent support: enough said
• OPML export: for sharing your blogroll. Expect a lot more to come here.
• Some usability tweaks for the Podcast/iTunes/Windows Media Player code
• Integrated documentation (Updated 2005.01.24)

We hope with the 1.8 release we'll have very stable Linux and Macintosh releases also. With Linux, we especially hope that we can make a version that doesn't require the user to download a half-dozen support packages.