DAZ Connect news - Encrypted files will be unlocked after 12 months

Petercat · February 2016

Havos said:

Since timmins (ie Will) has become the knight in shinning armor that slew the DRM dragon (albeit he is armed with a small knife, so it takes him 12 months to kill a dragon), maybe he needs a new honorific we should refer him by. Sir Will maybe, or Lord Timmins of Drmfreeland.

Nah, from what I've read of Will's writings, he won't accept this. He's too modest.

timmins.william said:

Petercat said:

You are going to let us know when you post your first render using your new toys, aren't you, Will?

Will?

No pressure, of course...

Heh. I'll have to think of what to cobble together. Maybe try to use only stuff I just picked up...

(Also trying not to run through the store screaming like a kid in a very poorly secured candy store)

Yes! Make something exclusively with your new candy!

Just don't spend it all in one place. Oh, wait...

wgdjohn · February 2016

Richard Haseltine said:

DAZ Steve posted this in the previous thread on DAZ Connect and Encryption, but since it's a big change we thought it deserved a new thread of its own:

DAZ_Steve said:

I have an announcement to make:

It has taken a bit of time, researching of numbers, and technical development and testing, but we feel that the jist of the idea above is not only doable, but does indeed address a significant number of concerns of Daz, the interest of the PA's, and customers. As such, Timmins, I want to say "We hear you", and furthermore "We thank you" for your suggestion.

Effective immediately we are rolling out functionality that will cause Encrypted products to become un-encrypted 12 months after launch. This will be through a process that runs on our servers and replaces the encrypted content with a non-encrypted one. Anyone who buys or updates the product after that point will get the non-encrypted version. This means that even if you buy it during that first year, at the end of the time period you will be able to get it as an update without encryption if that is of concern to you.

This change is effective now. Any encrypted content that has or will release will automatically decrypt after 12 months after its launch date.

The folks at Daz

Finally the clouds have parted and I look forward to sunnier shopping days. Thanks to all at DAZ who made this possible. A "special thanks" to Will Timmins a true Warrior of Wisdom.

Oso3D · February 2016

I feel sheepish about my position but not so much I'm not going to spend like a drunken sailor.

Spent about half of it, now going to try to be more judicious and look for sales.

And, on the topic of content age, probably half of it was spent on older content (like Sea Life 1&2. Yes, really. I'm guessing those packs are, what, 6, 7 years old?)

(I rendered something, in the Show Me Iray renders thread)

fixmypcmike · February 2016

timmins.william said:
And, on the topic of content age, probably half of it was spent on older content (like Sea Life 1&2. Yes, really. I'm guessing those packs are, what, 6, 7 years old?)

More like 15 or 16 years old, I'd guess.

SpottedKitty · February 2016

timmins.william said:
older content (like Sea Life 1&2.

I bought some of the other fishy goodies of that vintage just last year. Still surprisingly good quality for their age, although some of them do need a bit of SubD and normals reversing, and more than a bit of materials tweaking for D|S before they'll look their best.

Oso3D · February 2016

And even stuff that doesn't necessarily look great in close-ups are still really useful for background details.

Aquatic stuff, in particular? Having random fish and other stuff zipping about in the gloom adds a lot.

Or, heck. I could turn one of those octopi into a lamp or something.

Given the power of shaders, there really isn't anything that's 'too old.' (Mostly. Some old stuff's UV maps are a pain)

Petercat · February 2016

Back on topic.

To show my appreciation for Daz making the compromise for us, I just purchased $160.00 worth of product. While I might have purchased some of it anyway, about half was Genesis3 items which I would not have purchased if the full DRM was still in effect, as I had decided to stick with Gen2 and below.

I hope Daz sees a surge in sales over the next day or two.

WendyLuvsCatz · February 2016

Lucky Will its like a dealer giving bonus drugs to a hooked addict, they know they will recap it in no time

Subtropic Pixel · February 2016

Thank you to DAZ and congratulations to Will.

Maybe I need to make the fonts larger in my signature suggestions so they get noticed, hmmm? Hey, improving the UI is a great suggestion, as would be bringing Bryce and Hexagon forward into the 64-bit century, yes? I think it's at least worth a Girl 7 Pro Bundle and maybe a few horses and dinosaurs, don't you?

Aaaah, well; I don't do it for the money. I do it because I love this stuff and I'm an "big picture" kind of guy.

WendyLuvsCatz · February 2016

Subtropic Pixel said:

Thank you to DAZ and congratulations to Will.

Maybe I need to make the fonts larger in my signature suggestions so they get noticed, hmmm? Hey, improving the UI is a great suggestion, as would be bringing Bryce and Hexagon forward into the 64-bit century, yes? I think it's at least worth a Girl 7 Pro Bundle and maybe a few horses and dinosaurs, don't you?

Aaaah, well; I don't do it for the money. I do it because I love this stuff and I'm an "big picture" kind of guy.

LOL your ideas would require some actual work on their behalf, you might have to pay them

Kerya · February 2016

Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Off to get the Canoes (thanks to Valandar for creating these beauties).

I can live with having to wait for a year for using them - I am still using A3 and even V2 sometimes.

kyoto kid · February 2016

...thank you Will and congrats.

Just "purchased" the Canoes Friday Freebie. If (Lord willing) I'm still around in 12 months, I'll see if they indeed can be used in Carrara once they go to the DIM.

I agree with Ivy though, in that users with multiple libraries/runtimes on secondary/external drives should have the choice to completely opt out of Connect so that it doesn't mess with personal setups.

Kerya · February 2016

Peter Fulford said:

Chohole said:

Not to forget the Brycers.

Was just looking through the 4.9 FAQ for another purpose and noticed this:

"Products updated to Daz Connect will not function with Carrara or the DSON Importer for Poser due to an inability to interface with Daz Connect web services, but all bridges (e.g. ZBrush, Bryce, Hexagon) and exporters continue to function as they have."

http://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/comment/941102/#Comment_941102

and

"Bryce maintains the ability to use Daz Studio content through the Bryce bridge."

http://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/comment/941612/#Comment_941612

Looks like Brycers have always been in the same position with 4.9 as they were with 4.8. That's never been an issue for me since I'm not a user of the bridge (or very CGI active at all at the moment), but some folks have been talking as if Connect wrecked the DAZ-Bryce link.

As far as I remember Chohole is using Poser and Bryce - which sure makes things more difficult.

Stezza · February 2016

Looking forward to using the canoes around next Valentine's Day 2017 in Carrara when the encryption goes ... woohoo

Petercat · February 2016

kyoto kid said:

...thank you Will and congrats.

Just "purchased" the Canoes Friday Freebie. If (Lord willing) I'm still around in 12 months, I'll see if they indeed can be used in Carrara once they go to the DIM.

I just "purchased" them as well... then downloaded them manually. Sadly, I'm not on my work computer (Linux network box) so have no way to manually install them and see if they work in 4.8, can someone else try?

When I call them up in my online Product Library, it shows a "Daz Connect Offline Package" and a "Daz Connect Offline Authorization File".

Huh? I say again, Huh? When did Daz decide to offer offline authorization and installation?????

Or did they? (Looks around shiftily)

fixmypcmike · February 2016

Petercat said:

kyoto kid said:

...thank you Will and congrats.

Just "purchased" the Canoes Friday Freebie. If (Lord willing) I'm still around in 12 months, I'll see if they indeed can be used in Carrara once they go to the DIM.

I just "purchased" them as well... then downloaded them manually. Sadly, I'm not on my work computer (Linux network box) so have no way to manually install them and see if they work in 4.8, can someone else try?

When I call them up in my online Product Library, it shows a "Daz Connect Offline Package" and a "Daz Connect Offline Authorization File".

Huh? I say again, Huh? When did Daz decide to offer offline authorization and installation?????

Or did they? (Looks around shiftily)

Quite a while back -- you have to log in once to connect the machine to your account, after that you can install using the offline packages.

ETA: they won't work in 4.8 as they're still encrypted.

Petercat · February 2016

kyoto kid said:

...thank you Will and congrats.

Just "purchased" the Canoes Friday Freebie. If (Lord willing) I'm still around in 12 months, I'll see if they indeed can be used in Carrara once they go to the DIM.

I just "purchased" them as well... then downloaded them manually. Sadly, I'm not on my work computer (Linux network box) so have no way to manually install them and see if they work in 4.8, can someone else try?

Fixmypcmike said:

Petercat said:

kyoto kid said:

...thank you Will and congrats.

Just "purchased" the Canoes Friday Freebie. If (Lord willing) I'm still around in 12 months, I'll see if they indeed can be used in Carrara once they go to the DIM.

I just "purchased" them as well... then downloaded them manually. Sadly, I'm not on my work computer (Linux network box) so have no way to manually install them and see if they work in 4.8, can someone else try?

When I call them up in my online Product Library, it shows a "Daz Connect Offline Package" and a "Daz Connect Offline Authorization File".

Huh? I say again, Huh? When did Daz decide to offer offline authorization and installation?????

Or did they? (Looks around shiftily)

Quite a while back -- you have to log in once to connect the machine to your account, after that you can install using the offline packages.

ETA: they won't work in 4.8 as they're still encrypted.

Oh, okay, thanks for clearing that up. I've been assuming that I would have to get online every time I wanted to install content. Which doesn't really matter, since I can't get online at all. I'll just wait a year, if my past doesn't catch up with me.

fred9803 · February 2016

Some good news and credit to Tim and Daz.

But will this lesson the incentive of the pirate people?

Scavenger · February 2016

mjc1016 said:

Leana said:

TheKD said:

Why would I buy year old stuff

Because it still works great and looks awesome? Content doesn't have to be new to be useful... I still use products I bought in 2004 pretty regularly.

Ask any PA that has a decent sized back catalog how many sales they still have of older items...I'm willing to bet that most of them will say they do get a fair number of sales of older items...or look at the number of complaint threads about things that have been 'retired' (for some it's when those sales do drop to next to nothing that they think about retiring certain products).

I tend to prefer older stuff, with the theory that everyone is rushing to use the newest stuff, my stuff using the older things may stand out more...I'm not sure this is a valid theory, but I also, you know, have the older stuff. :)

Pendraia · February 2016

Thanks Daz for being willing to listen. I can certainly live with this decision.

Congrats Will...have fun shopping!

kyoto kid · February 2016

...so a year before I can do any scenes set in the Kingdom of Hawai'i where Leela and Tracey are riding the surf in an outrigger canoe with Princess Kamalanai Iolani.

BeeMKay · February 2016

Thank you. I will translate this for the German language thread.

GrapeGrandpa · February 2016

I'll download the freebies, but I refuse to pay for anything encrypted. Should the PC+ items become encrypted, I'll be taking my monthly subscription to another site.

caravelle · February 2016

If there is the possibility of manual download after the one year-period, it's a compromise I can live with.

Thanks to the initiator(s)!

Wiccan1 · February 2016

Thanks DAZ for loosening the leg irons on the encrypted files. For me, I still will not buy DRM files. We will see what may still appeal to me after the DRM files have served "their time", and are freed. 12 months seems a tad too long for me, but this is just because I like seeing new renders and the excitement around new releases. Sometime, the forum threads will show off a new product much etter than the officials promos. Those member renders actually sold me on products!

I am still very disappointed, being a year behind current 3D tech will be sad...

Perhaps, there will be usable content from other resources?

Peace

nicstt · February 2016

TesseractSpace said:

Glad to see a reasonable compromise enacted. May still bother some, but I buy a lot of older stuff anyhow. And having a sunset on the encryption at least means that these encrypted products won't be locked down forever. Could wish for a shorter period, but I'm sure that'll be sorted by long term data gathering rather than anything said in the forum.

Just a small request for Daz: If any of these items had Poser compatible files stripped out to make the encrypted version package, please hang on to them to be put back after the encrypted period ends. It'd be a shame to waste such if they exist. :)

I won't be purchasing content.

L'Adair said:

timmins.william said:

As I said in the other threads, this is a great way to solve a whole bunch of problems. At WORST, people delay their purchases and might miss out on sales.

I feel much better, and am very gratified that Daz is willing to embrace compromise.

+1

I'm not a fan of encryption/DRM, but I feel confident, going forward, any content I buy that has encryption will still be available to me for as long as I need it. It will be some time, however, before I start buying new releases if they are encrypted, because I can't use them. And I'm not alone.

I'm still using 4.8 and will continue to use 4.8 until I purchase a more robust computer. There are many, many others who are using 4.8, or older versions, for various reasons; that includes using old hardware without the means to replace it. For many, upgrading to 4.9 isn't possible. So twelve months to wait kind of sucks for us. I don't see any of us purchasing encrypted content if we can't use it, regardless of how great the price is, short of free.

I'm still hopeful that DAZ will determine a shorter period is optimal for customers, PAs and DAZ.

Congratulations, Will, on the store credit... and just in time for March Madness!

I'll be buying stuff; not DRMd.

Twelve months - a lot can happen in twelve months.

nicstt · February 2016

Peter Fulford said:

L'Adair said:

It will be some time, however, before I start buying new releases if they are encrypted, because I can't use them. And I'm not alone.

Indeed. While this compromise reassures many of the "vocal few", maybe to the extent that they fall largely silent, it might still be the case that the wider customer base simply declines to buy encrypted content anyway. DAZ isn't going to find that out until they risk putting guaranteed high sales items up encrypted only. One thing they should know fairly well already is what proportion of buying customers is using DS 4.9 with validated accounts. Once that proportion is high enough they can take the plunge.

I've been vocal; I'm cautiously optomistic.

I do, however, feel a lot can happen in a week; and we're talking about twelve months.

nicstt · February 2016

Ice Dragon Art said:

I am impressed that Daz was willing to listen to the concerns that customers have and make some changes. I understand that its not the perfect solution for everyone but it was really nice to see this happen. This was my biggest objection to encrypted content and I can live with this. I do hope that going forward there will also be more support for other platforms like Poser Carrara and Bryce and that there is some way to make it possible for users who are unable to load 4.9 due to other issues to be able to access this. Thank you for listening! Although my wallet hates you.

Listen, or check the bottom line? Or maybe a bit of both. Who knows. We should be careful not to attribute actions based on what we want, or without enough evidence; healthy speculation is good though. :)

Nath · February 2016

This is a good compromise, even if it'll cut down a lot on my impulse buying habit (which is probably a good thing... ). At least I'll be downloading (though probably not yet installing) any encrypted freebies that appeal to me now.

shadowhawk1 · February 2016

nicstt said:

Peter Fulford said:

L'Adair said:

It will be some time, however, before I start buying new releases if they are encrypted, because I can't use them. And I'm not alone.

Indeed. While this compromise reassures many of the "vocal few", maybe to the extent that they fall largely silent, it might still be the case that the wider customer base simply declines to buy encrypted content anyway. DAZ isn't going to find that out until they risk putting guaranteed high sales items up encrypted only. One thing they should know fairly well already is what proportion of buying customers is using DS 4.9 with validated accounts. Once that proportion is high enough they can take the plunge.

I've been vocal; I'm cautiously optomistic.

I do, however, feel a lot can happen in a week; and we're talking about twelve months.

To be honest they really haven't done anything except to dangle a carrot and get everyone to sign onto the DRM bandwagon. unencrypting items in a years in exchange for everyone throwing out their gimme hands makes them the winner. The only thing that has changed if you step back and look at it, daz gets all of you to stop your vocal oposition to DRM and your money again in exchange for a promise to unencrypt items a year down the line. Nothing has really changed other than they get to smile all the way to the bank and put a big W in the win collum for this round.

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DAZ Connect news - Encrypted files will be unlocked after 12 months

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