It feels a little crass to ask this in a thread meant to eulogize DanR, but if VideoReDo is indeed done, how would activation work moving forward? I know you've said you would try to keep the activation server online as long as you could, but realistically, how long would that be? My intention would be to keep using the existing version as long as it's viable to do so, but I could see scenarios where users get a new computer or have to format their hard drive and aren't able to activate the product due to the server having been taken offline. How often does VideoReDo "phone home" to check its activation status - only when first installing? Is there something akin to a dummy code that could be put in on the activation screen that would bypass the activation check?
DanR has passed away
- Thread starter Dan203
- Start date
Dan203
Ex-Senior Developer
I am trying to convince his wife to give me the rights to the name and the various domain names. I don't really have the means to continue to sell the product, due to the licensing issues mentioned before, but I would like to keep the activation server alive so that you guys can continue to use the version you're using now.
I don't yet know what the final decision on that will be, but if I can do it I will.
I don't yet know what the final decision on that will be, but if I can do it I will.
Very sad to hear. I've been using VRD for at least a decade. I have always been amazed at how few problems I've experienced (and most were minor and soon addressed)
By how responsive and informative the Forum, other members & Staff have been and frankly, how little I've been charged for all the releases, betas & version upgrades over the years.
This is a tribute to DanR, his vision, commitment and skill. He will be sorely missed. Please convey condolences to his family.
I have to admit to a twinge, as I will be 71 in November.
I agree concerns & questions re: the future of VRD should be expressed elsewhere and addressed when the time is appropriate.
Concerns about a piece of software, no matter how loved, pale in comparison to dealing with the loss of a family member, associate and long time friend.
Why not start another thread for questions, offers and suggestions for a later date?
By how responsive and informative the Forum, other members & Staff have been and frankly, how little I've been charged for all the releases, betas & version upgrades over the years.
This is a tribute to DanR, his vision, commitment and skill. He will be sorely missed. Please convey condolences to his family.
I have to admit to a twinge, as I will be 71 in November.
I agree concerns & questions re: the future of VRD should be expressed elsewhere and addressed when the time is appropriate.
Concerns about a piece of software, no matter how loved, pale in comparison to dealing with the loss of a family member, associate and long time friend.
Why not start another thread for questions, offers and suggestions for a later date?
mayorville
Member
I would hope at a minimum, they will allow you to:
Of couse this would all depend if both you and his family want to continue with the project.
- Keep the activation server going. If they don't want to do that, then allow you for to implement (if possible) some sort of master key offline activation (i.e. manually activate, regardless of what the key shows on your screen, enter in the "master key" and the product is activated, unless this was already created as a "just in case". You know someone would inquire about what legal action they could take. I've seen another company that sold product a with monthly or lifetime license. They later created product b with strictly monthly license and stopped updating product a (last I checked product a practically doesn't work now). I've read a few comments that people want to start a class action lawsuit againt the company because their lifetime license no longer works.
- Unless the current beta still had a lot of bugs in it, to allow for you to recompile (is that the correct term) the current beta and make it into a release version. IMO, I haven't seen any issues with the current beta, and believe it works better than the current released version.
Of couse this would all depend if both you and his family want to continue with the project.
Dan203
Ex-Senior Developer
Yeah it's completely up to his wife. I honestly have no idea what her plans are for the company or the product. At this point I'm actively interviewing for new jobs so I am no longer an employee of the company. I will help her if I can, and will accept the domain and personally keep the activation server online if she gifts it to me, but if that doesn't happen then I'm not legally allowed to release a build that removes the activation. I would love to do that for you guys, but it would open me up to legal liabilities that I just can't risk.
Dan203
Ex-Senior Developer
I'm sorry, but his wife asked me to take the purchase page offline as she doesn’t currently have access to the business accounts and we were getting requests for refunds, people who bought the wrong version, etc… that neither she or I could handle. Until she figures out what to do with the business sales are disabled.
Dan203
Ex-Senior Developer
It's best to think of VideoReDo as a one person company. I have worked here for a very long time, but I strictly wrote code. DanR did 100% of the business stuff. And because his illness and ultimate death were so sudden he didn’t have time to give me the access or training I would need to take over. So at this point the business is basically dead. His wife might decide to sell it or hire someone else to run it, but even if she does it will likely take a significant amount of time for them to get up to speed. It would take me a while to get up to speed and I wrote 80%+ of the code.
I just heard the sad news of Dan's passing. I'd like to express my condolences to both his family and to you, @Dan203. I'd also like to say a big thank you to both the Dans for the excellent VideoRedo AND the excellent support that you provided to all us whiny users for so many years! The selfish part of me hopes that a solution is found for the licensing . . . the slightly less selfish part wishes you, and all the members of the VideoRedo team, all the best for the future.
Wasn't the answer posted earlier ?
Dan203
Ex-Senior Developer
Unfortunately that is not something I'm allowed to do. There are licenses involved and I might get myself in trouble.
If his wife decides to completely abandon the project I *might* be able to release some sort of hack to disable the activation, but we aren’t there yet.
I guess the hack is not on the cards now.
Grandpa Broon
Member
But if that is what happens and I pray that it won't, how will we be aware if, say the forum closes down first. There must be many thousand of users around the world hoping this will not be the end of VideoReDo.
Dan203
Ex-Senior Developer
I'm honestly not sure. Maybe someone should start a 3rd party VideoReDo fan forum. If someone does I will at least check in there from time to time and let you guys know if there are any updates.
As for the hack... I'd only ever do that if she informed me that she was abandoning the project or gave me direct permission. I can't legally do it under any other circumstances.