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I disagree; there are no real benefits from DRM for the customer; at best it has no discernable effect on us; as it is, we can chose to purchase products, and use a version of studio we have issues with to use them, and have the risk that their use will for some reason be prevented permanently or temporarily. We can wait after purchasing for them to become available in general, or we can go elsewhere. So as of now, it does have an effect on us; each of us makes a choice of if we are going to accept whatever that perceived risk is.
Daz's duty is to look out for its business interests; mine, obviously to look to mine and those I care about.
So obviously, my perspective is different to others; I'm not that interested in changing other people's minds, just making sure I'm putting my POV forward. Some will agree, and some not.
To me, those free products are not free; they come with conditions. Conditions, which I am not prepared to accept.
You must do what is best for you; please don't tell me to keep things in perspective. As obviously perspectives differ.
I never said there are any benefits of DRM for the customer. I never told you to do anything. Other than that, I'm not going to waste my time arguing with someone who has basically repeated my points, from their own perspective.
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Since there are items that I download and don't end up using for a year, I guess I'm okay with this system. I may even download and install 4.9 because of this (but I'm not uninstalling 4.8)
Will, one thing that I suspect people aren't understanding is this; even if DAZ were to decide at some point to remove the DRM support from DAZ Studio 4.9+, this does not mean that they will remove the DAZ Connect component and the store related stuff that exists in the newest version. They simply used that updated feature as a vehicle for the DRM subsystem.
Encryption simply devalues the product for me; being locked into Connect's system bugs me a lot more. My interpretation of the additions in 4.9 is that they're trying to make things as accessible as possible, so that anyone can grab some content and start making renders with a few simple clicks. This is nice and all, and maybe it'll have some sort of larger appeal than the niche has now if it's super simple(r), but it also requires a lot of bloat that long time users do not want and do not need. There are of course alternate options right now, but it's also clear that those are not the future: Connect is.
I think the concerns about Daz's direction are valid (both the already half-built wall and the "some people need training wheels so you're all getting them" mentality) but personally after reviewing things I'm beyond caring. I tried arguing for everyone else's needs and summarising people's points but they were ignored or dismissed. For my own needs, I already bought all the content that I needed for my work ages ago. Everything else has been impulse and fun; I don't have any commitment that relies on future Daz products.
Six months ago I'd never touched a 3D program. Then I found Studio and after a few months of not quite having the items I wanted that led me to discovering Blender. A few months on I can make most of what I need myself, am aware of a growing range of freeware solutions for figures, and have become more interested in software for creating rather than consuming content. In twelve months, will I be sitting waiting for that first dashing canoe ride as it unlocks? Maybe..? The time unlock idea is good (12 months is not) but really, any delay kills impulse purchasing, which also kills a majority of the sales (because they usually require a new release purchase) so the time period doesn't matter too much. I suspect that personally, in 12 months I'll be tired of the Studio "training wheels on, support intended only for the Day 1 Customer" approach and have moved on in search of more advanced features like dynamic clothing and hair, an instruction manual, etc.
IMHO connect should be an optional plugin
Or at least removeable. Modular programs are so much nicer.
All,
I don't want to stifle discussion, but as most of the comments in this thread appear to have moved on from Encryption, and become more and more focussed on Connect itself, I want to suggest we unsticky this thread and let it die. That way folks are welcome to have another thread discussing Connect. I also think people will be pretty please with some of the steps we're taking with Connect that should be out in less than a month that make it a lot less of a pain for experienced users.
Has any consideration been given to Dating the encrypted products in the Store so that we can tell when 12 months have elapsed?
DAZ_Steve, I think the biggest part of the issue many long time users have with Connect is the fact that they would have to start DAZ Studio just to install content rather than a smaller program like DIM.
Well none of the encryption related questions have been answered, so it's hard to keep discussing them without being accused of going in circles again.
Summary:
- Icon for Encrypted-only products on store index (as with DO and PC+, I've posted several mock up images earlier in this thread and in others previously. Others have also asked for it.)
- Release date / link to the Product Documentation page via the Store page (make the SKU clickable or something, very simple.)
- Actually list compatible software on the product page instead of only saying 4.9 for all items.
- Survey to all customers regarding encryption (would need open worded questions obviously, not just do you like DRM.) - Mainly from Novica
- Whatever else was in the last summary I made.
As with the 12 month auto-decryption issue, we methodically looked at data, tested things, looked at financial models, and all sorts of other tea-leaf staring stuff before making our move. In short: We took some real time to make a move we were comfortable with.
Similarly, although I am not entering into a public debate or discussion on them, it doesn't mean I'm not very aware of, gathering data on, and considering the points you and others have posted here.
That's great to hear. Not wanting to post about specific things is fine; mostly (at least for me) the important thing is that you've seen the more positive posts and suggestions that people have made; the frustration comes from the silence of not knowing if they were missed more than not getting the sort of answer I wanted. If we know an issue or suggestion has been seen then we don't have to keep reposting the same things because we're worried they got lost amongst all the posts in these busy threads.
Oh Steve, from your mouth to the coders ears. LOL Speaking for myself, if I can manually sort my files, including encrypted, all my problems with this would go away.
And on another note... thank you Steve. You're doing an awesome job being the "forum face" for Daz. The situation is difficult for you guys and for us but you've been around the threads being calm and non-snarky and (in my opinion) have answered as honestly as you could. I hope they didn't threaten you or kidnap your firstborn to make you do this! LOL Daz owes you a raise.
The sad thing is that even though I think this is a fair compromise by Daz and waiting a year after release to buy something doesn't really bother me that much, I'm still finding it really hard to motivate myself to buy anything more now... The fun has been sucked out of 3D art and purchasing for me. I open up the Daz store, take a look around at the latest deals and my instant emotion is "Oh, why bother?!". Such a shame cos I used to really enjoy this hobby
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My reaction exactly, although I don't see the rationale for encryption. Research shows it's been tried and discarded, so why implement it?
I don't have a problem with Connect. 4.9 has caused two hard freezes with IRay, though, which makes me leery of using it. Plus it wants to crash if a render times out. But I like to use the latest version of DS, so that puts me in a weird frame of mind.
I honestly don't see the viability of this whole move. DAZ was on a huge roll -- why fix something that wasn't broke?
Good to know.
On the other hand, if youn want to install something (a new product, or an item you suddenly realise you need for the current scene, or an item you have uninstalled since using it in the saved sceen you want to open) you have to close DS, wait to make sure the CMS link has been closed, open DIM, wait while it populates its lists (takes a while for me), install, close DIM, wait on the CMS link, start DS. Of course that's more an agument for coexistence of the two than switching wholly to Connect, but it is a benefit of Connect for experienced users - and the more so the bigger your catalogue of items.
I was understanding that there's no real reason to not have all of your content installed, though, right? I mean it doesn't slow Studio down?
I think the Connect/Encryption thing is pretty closely connected because you can't accept encrypted content without also accepting Connect. If it was available like normal on DIM, would people be more open to it? Uh, I don't think I'd necessarily go for it, but I'd be more open to it than it being Connect-only (survey question for you there~)
That was suggested about a thousand times ... ... ...
Well, disc space. Also items are listed installed before uninstalled in the product list in Content Library and can be filtered for install state using the tabs in Smart Content, allowing for a limited (more or less) subset of isntalled items for quick access and other items not installed.
I normally have DIM and DS running at the same time. When I want to install something I just click install on DIM, and then refresh the smart content (or content library) pane and the item is there. I never bother to restart DS unless I am installing a plug in like Generation X.
Wow, this forum software is...
As I tried to post earlier: If you load a scene using an uninstalled product, does Connect automatically install it to load?
My content is installed on a very fast SSD drive (500GB), and I certainly see the difference in how quickly content is loaded into DS. If I was to install all of my content (remember, due to textures, there are bikinis in this store that need 2GB) my drive would be quickly blown. It also makes finding things in the content library harder when you have huge amounts of stuff installed.
It doesn't automatically install it, but it will let you know what you're missing with a "Click Here" to install. There is one bug with it in a case where multiple packages provide the same file and it getting a little confused on what you need and if it is installed which I believe is fixed in the latest beta that will be released soon.
That sounds really handy. I do like connect despite the disasters I've run into with it.
I'm pretty sure I'll find something else to buy. It will be interesting to see what I REALLY do, however.
I'm actually okay with this. It provides logical separation between "shopping" and "making". Two different tasks requiring two WAY DIFFERENT mental processes.