VcdEasy and its time-bomb

[DDogg]

I really have no problem at all with the author of vcdeasy deciding to charge for his work. That having been said, I think he is reprehensible for, to the best of my knowledge, secreting a 3 month time-bomb in what was billed as freeware. His comments on the website are just so blatantly a lie [about how he just happened to have done that back then so he would not have to support out of date softeware]. What a huge heap of dung. I hope nobody ever sends him a penney again. He is pathetic.

[Swan]

DDogg, as a donor, I got a mail from the author of VCDEasy announcing this would happen two days ago. I still have mixed feelings about it.
On the one hand, I understand his points; he wants to keep VCDEasy alive, that is costs a lot of time, money and love to keep a software and a website running, he wants to improve VCDEasy which costs money for him to do and sadly, many download and use VCDEasy, but very few people donate.
He could, however, have handled it differently.
It's not the first time a freeware goes shareware.
But I've never seen any company or software author handle the transition this way.
The normal thing is to announce that it's going to happen, then upload a new, shareware version and perhaps also remove the previous (freeware) version), but not timebomb a software presented to the user as freeware.

As much as I understand the frustration of VCDEasy's author, I can't understand the hidden timebomb. And that he hadn't prepared for when the timebomb exploded better. I mean, here I am, I donated almost as much as the new shareware version costs because I use VCDEasy almost daily.
Now, I can't use the software I downloaded believeing it was freeware and I can't get and use the new, full shareware version either.
Not until the author gets back to me with a solution, as I can't accept a 12 MB file delivered in my e-mail. If I had been the author and planned something like this, I'd have at least prepared a download site where donors could get a password and log in and download the software from Day 1 when VCDEasy expired. I would not offer to send it by e-mail (who likes large e-mail attachments? SMTP isn't a good protocol for file transfers anyway).
And the trick the author offered those who donated to be able to use the software is so stupid and unusable I won't even mention it here.

Ok, enough of me whining. :)

[mrbass]

dvdfab and dvdtoolbox don't have timebombs...just two 5 - 10 second nag screens to register/donate. I still like to think of it as freeware. How is this related to vcdeasy? I'm just saying that if it's timebombed then no it's not freeware. That's worse than two nag screens IMHO.

[wmansir]

Now this just pisses me off. I hadn't even heard of this timebomb, then I read this thread, try to launch VCDEasy and get a nice little sucker punch. The fact that the "Error" message says that "VCDEasy has always been free, you should never have to pay for it" makes that punch feel like it's landing below the belt.

And the 400MB limitation on the shareware version makes it worthless.

I would hope that Doom9 could host an earlier version.

EDIT: As it stands now he might as well remove 1.1.5 as it won't work anyway.

[pacohaas]

keep 1.1.5 around, it works if you change the date back.

(no comment on the rest of this discussion)

[DDogg]

As Swan said (Paraphrasing), it would have been fine and completely understandable IF it had been handled in an aboveboard manner. Unfortunately, this person who had built up a large amount of good will made the decision to secretly f**k everybody in such a nasty, underhanded, premeditated, and scurrilous manner as to forever render his future reputation that of a pathetic whining low life bottom feeder (IMO). BTW, is he still using gpl software in this package and if so, how?

@Swan, btw, it sure is good to see you moding!

[wmansir]

It's ok to use GPL software with commercial software as long as the it's kept separate from the commercial software. Depending on the version of GPL used, this could mean it needs to be a separate executable (like VCDEasy uses, I think) or a linked DLL.

You still have to adhere to the terms of distribution (license intact, source available, ect) for the GPL software itself.

[Swan]

@pacohaas
keep 1.1.5 around, it works if you change the date back.
Yes, this is the "workaround" offered by the author of VCDEasy.
I think it's a stupid thing to do.
I certainly don't mean to say you're stupid for trying to help out by mentioning this.
The author wrote: "to run it simply change your computer's date in double clicking on the clock (lower right corner of the windows desktop)".
Changing the time and date in Windows may have bad side effects and I don't want to accidentally mess up a database I have running or something, just so I can run VCDEasy. Some things depend on the Windows clock/time and if you start messing with it, unexpected things can happen.
Time-limited shareware I'm testing will most likely stop running, that's for sure.

/Maria

[joerg]

I completely agree with what has been said in this thread - the way the author handled the transition to shareware seems perfidious.
I've backdated to version 1.1.4, which you can e.g. get from tucows here:
http://iron.tucows.com/files/VCDEasy_v1.1.4_Setup.exe

I would probably have considered paying for a shareware-version of VCDEasy - but not after how the author f**ked all the users of the freeware-version. 1.1.4 does all I need, so I'll keep using that.

[Swan]

I thought I'd be smart and install the beta v1.1.5b6 I had on a CD.
That version has save/load function.
What do you know? It's also time bombed, or maybe (not likely) "feels" that VCDEasy 1.1.5 final is installed.
Oh well, have to install 1.1.4 then, but it lacks the save/load function which was the reason I donated in the first place.
When VCDEasy got that function, that's when I thought it was good enough to pay for.:(

Thanks joerg for the tip on 1.1.4 at Tucows.
The author has now added this to his page:
Focused on my wish to make noise against the companies selling the freeware versions of VCDEasy, I have just realized that the consequence of this VCDEasy 1.1.5 expiration is unfair to lots of users... no more non limited freeware version of VCDEasy to make VideoCDs... So I put back online VCDEasy 1.1.4 (quite good version, free, no deliberate limitation, no expiration).

[DaveEL]

Originally posted by DDogg
to the best of my knowledge, secreting a 3 month time-bomb in what was billed as freeware. His comments on the website are just so blatantly a lie [about how he just happened to have done that back then so he would not have to support out of date softeware]. What a huge heap of dung. I hope nobody ever sends him a penney again. He is pathetic.

Its reasonably common practice to put long timebombs in versions to force people to upgrade free software. eg if you use a mozilla non release binary they all have timebombs in. I think you should be rather more trusting of his reasons i see no reason to suspect he is lying.

DaveEL

[Swan]

As I wrote before, I am a bit understanding towards the author's motive, but not his method.
I have never encountered a freeware with a timebomb that was so severe that the software could not be started again.
I have on a few occasions been presented with a nag screen saying something like "a new version is out, this one's expired".
SmartFTP is an example of this.
But the freeware with timebombs like SmartFTP's continue to work.

[DDogg]

Its reasonably common practice to put long timebombs in versions to force people to upgrade free software. eg if you use a mozilla non release binary they all have timebombs in. I think you should be rather more trusting of his reasons i see no reason to suspect he is lying. DaveEL, was there a time-bomb in any previous version of this author's work? I think you are suggesting this was a mere coincidence?

[smiller667]

The VCDEasy author has apparently realized his way of "going shareware" was rather ill-planned & made the 1.1.4 (non time-limited) freeware version available for download again.
That said, I do not approve of the way he introduced this time-limitation scheme, but I can somehow understand what made him do it in the first place.

[Swan]

@smiller667That said, I do not approve of the way he introduced this time-limitation scheme, but I can somehow understand what made him do it in the first place
You and I feel the same.

I downloaded 1.1.4 and will live with it until I can get a download location and password for the new one from the author.
I hope it's soon, I use VCDEasy all the time for my SVCDs and the save/load function is crucial to me (I encode British comedy series with many skits = many chapters). :)

Are there are other programs that does the job as well as VCDEasy that are freeware, btw?

[smiller667]

Umm ... I guess I should have read your posting more carefully, as the 1.1.4 information was already in there :) ...

As for receiving 12 MB attachments, I am in a similar situation like you & I searched for a suitable free service which would allow this. Try www.runbox.com (a Norvegian company). They offer up to 20 megs attachment size, a 100 meg inbox and a 1-month free trial period. 30 $ /yr afterwards. Their feature list sure looks attractive.

[Swan]

@smiller667 Umm ... I guess I should have read your posting more carefully, as the 1.1.4 information was already in there
No harm done, some of us here like myself are old farts and need to hear things two times before the information is properly processed and stored by the big o'le hard drive located in the skull. :)

Thanks for the tip on www.runbox.com.
I can get 50 MB from my current ISP for 50 SEK a month(Swedish crowns) but am too cheap for it. :)

Has anyone with a large mailbox received VCDEasy 1.1.6 yet?

[zante]

first you'll see the crack appear, then the full version. :D
it looked from the start that the author was moody. like autocheck for new versions and stuff, then he was swearing that there is no spyware and such stuff. now this time thing and we change the motto and bou-hou.:rolleyes:
I don't have any problem with the old versions since i use only the imager and the cdrdao for the cues and bins. So I now have to let it scan the mpeg again big deal.
My point is it's kinda late to start charging for it.

[smiller667]

Zante: afaik, it was always your own choice if you wanted online checks for new versions (same as with dvddecrypter). Might be late to start charging for it, but what's bad about trusting people to support your work by donations in the first place?

For those who donated: the author now sends out the full version as four separate attachments in 4.4 meg chunks (max. size). Yes, I got it in the mail.

[Swan]

Now I also got a mail and can use VCDEasy again. :)
No matter what might be said about how the freeware to shareware transition was made, VCDEasy is still a great program.
I would have paid for it, had I not donated.

[Boulder]

Timebombing was cheap, but I can understand the author's reasons. I'm happy using v1.1.4 since the new versions don't contain anything that I need.

[Buddy]

This thread looks a bit like the history of software. First there is shareware. You are free to use it!! Please use it but please give me feedback to make my program better and perfect.
Now my program were many people give there feedback and knowhow is ready and perfect. Well you all get the bill now or did you think that you, all that helped get a free program?
Well did somebody asked why cracks will appear?

[Boulder]

Originally posted by wmansir
It's ok to use GPL software with commercial software as long as the it's kept separate from the commercial software. Depending on the version of GPL used, this could mean it needs to be a separate executable (like VCDEasy uses, I think) or a linked DLL.


Isn't this part a bit funny? You can build a program which does all its work with GPL software and you can still charge for it if the GPL stuff is kept separate:rolleyes:

[mrbass]

Dear VCDEasy user,

VCDEasy 1.1.5 expired the 21rst of June. VCDEasy 1.1.5.2 is now
available (it is the same as VCDEasy 1.1.5, but without an expiration date). See my news on www.vcdeasy.org to know why I put an expiration date.

At the same time, I decided to make VCDEasy a shareware now (Again see my news on wwww.vcdeasy.org to know why). So it now also exists two other VCDEasy versions:

. VCDEasy 1.1.6 Free Limited version (or "trial" version, it has some features disabled, some nag screens and an expiration date)
. VCDEasy 1.1.6 Commercial version (full version, no limitations,no expiration)

IMPORTANT: If you are interested in buying the commercial version,
please try VCDEasy 1.1.6 Free Limited version first, to be sure it will work on your computer.

Last point... if you send me an email... please, be very patient... I am currently flooded by tons of emails...

Best regards,

delphi.stuff

[wmansir]

Wow, this is a very good start at restoring respect of his users. Like others here I had no problem at all with going shareware, it was just the way in which it was handled. I actually wrote up a fairly strong worded post here after reading his 6/19 post explaining his decision to include the time-bomb, but eventually decided not to post it because it would do nothing constructive.

Before I was not even considering purchasing the commercial version, just due to my personal feelings about this issue, but now I will have to reconsider. Regardless, I hope that VCDEasy is a success as a shareware program because it really is a good piece of software.

[DDogg]

Yep, this really makes a difference. I am sure the author got some fairly direct feedback from users of his program and it looks like he decided to listen.

There is no doubt that VCDEasy is an excellent, maybe even awesome, piece of work and nearly indispensable to those who need it. Although I was obviously incensed at what he did (a bit 'over the top' I am afraid), I think I was nearly equally upset that a fine author was so adroitly shooting himself in both feet, simultaneously, with his actions. This, after all the goodwill he had built up. It just seemed like temporary insanity or something. Anyway, I am sure glad he rethought his actions and it all worked out.

[zante]

smiller667
afaik, it was always your own choice if you wanted online checks for new versions (same as with dvddecrypter).
I believe when the author put the code you couldn't disable the autocheck. Then it was mentioned why the program tries to access the net. After that it was changed and became like dvddecrypter.
Like Buddy said it took time and valuable feedback for the program to be perfected and hit the stores.
Good news also the 1.1.5.2 version. who knows, maybe tomorrow it'll be freeware again.
BTW:
VCDEasy.v1.1.6.Commercial.Read.NFO-UnderPl
Release date..: 6-23-2003
DAMN that was fast.

[mrbass]

it's 9.91MB here's a mirror for 1.1.5.2 the last freeware version
http://www.mrbass.org/VCDEasy_v1.1.5.2_Setup.exe

[DDogg]

So, offhand, does anybody know if there is any difference between the 1.1.6 Commercial version and this 1.1.5.2? At first (quick) glance I cannot see any.

[mrbass]

http://www.vcdeasy.org/modules.php?name=_History
not too many changes...the 1.1.5.2 version is a good last freeware version I'd say. Those who have higher needs can pay the $15 and get them.

Changes:

* The problem when non MPEG files are drag'n dropped is fixed.
* MPEG files with the extension .m1p and .m2p are now accepted
* Ability to not create the vxm/vxr files to store the MPEG analysis results (see in the "Settings" pages)
* Check for high MPEG2 files bitrates, which may result to playback troubles
* The output location is now saved in the projects files
* In the MPEG Still creation page, "Linear2" transform filter has been replace by "Lanczos"
* The duration of each task is now displayed in the log page
* "$" is now forbidden in filenames in some specific cases (thanks to Thierry)
* Added an option in the settings pages: "Do not show the warning about MPEG files requiring autopadding (not advised)"
* Added some checks (with help to fix the problem/warning)"
* I moved from Delphi 6 to Delphi 7...
* A few minor bugs have been fixed.

[Joe999]

Originally posted by DaveEL
Its reasonably common practice to put long timebombs in versions to force people to upgrade free software. eg if you use a mozilla non release binary they all have timebombs in. I think you should be rather more trusting of his reasons i see no reason to suspect he is lying.
DaveEL

Could you expand on that a little, I've never heard of this being done in Mozilla before. I know by default the home page is set to notify you of new versions, but I've never heard of any cvs builds of mozilla with forced upgrades. Are you sure this isn't someone unrelated to the mozilla project making special cvs builds for windows? Even if this were an official policy though, I don't think the comparison would be quite valid since Mozilla is open source. Compile the thing oneself and the problem would suddenly be nonexistant.

[smiller667]

AFAIK this was done for Netscape Mozilla releases. Note that it says: for "non release binary" versions, i.e. beta versions.
I have seen this error message on expired versions of Mozilla (can't tell you offhand which one it was, though).