Just to reconfirm we want and do support all genuine users.Version 7.4 and 7.5 do not have timeouts, they require a simple licensing operation through our web site and this takes perhaps 5 minutes.
From this we immediately issue a 14 day license and within 4 days (generally within hours) this is upgraded to a Permanent License.
The Permanent License will work for all reinstalls of the software and operating system including a complete disk reformat, and for future software releases.
Even if you cannot get to a computer you can obtain a Quick License by phoning anyone who can access our website, or by using a smart phone to access the web site (
http://www.avolites.com/software/titan-licensing).
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I noticed reading through the posting that there are a few things I had not replied to:
1 The “Revoke Button”.
It did/does not do anything! This was accidentally left in v7.0 to v7.2 it was originally used for Beta version testing. It no longer exists.
2 Re Licensing several times a year. As explained above there is no need to re-license future software versions or on any regular basis.
3 Timeout on versions 7.0 to 7.2. Each of these has a timeout, but well before this, a warning is given with the number of days left to request an upgrade. The only software changes from v7.0 have been bug fixes, and in 7.3 the addition of Fixture Attribute Mapping.
Fixture Attribute Mapping works in conjunction with Show Import and Fixture Exchange, allowing you to import a parts of a previous show, exchange the fixture types from that show to the fixture types you are currently using and adjust for differences in fixtures on an attribute basis …all in one go, keep that mapping for future use … and obviously reverse changes and re modify as needed.
4 Tried and Trusted software. I can understand some of the fear of upgrading to a major revision. Here is the counter argument. Personality files don’t always work well with older revisions causing obvious or insidious problems. It is impractical to fully test personalities on previous major revisions. Worth noting that we make and test personality files and have full time experienced staff to do this, and have a very extensive library of tested fixtures (you can also make your own personality files using the Personality Builder, or edit existing files to meet your needs).
There are many background bug fixes between revisions, whilst old bugs might not affect a user at present, they could and often do in the future.
Aside from fear that a new software version might introduce a problem that was not found during our Beta testing … and all manufactures of lighting consoles have this problem, what other reason is there not to upgrade? To overcome this for v7.0 to v7.2 we allowed a substantial overlap time out between versions, and anyway this is now in the past because Full Licenses don’t time out. Furthermore if a user has a genuine reason that prevents them from upgrading such as a very long tour or show they should contact me on an individual basis so I can make alternative arrangements which I will happily do. (Please PM me or email
ric@avolites.com).
The only users that need to be concerned about the Licensing System are those using copy products which are all running unlicensed and unpaid for software.
I hope this fully answers all the points made in this posting, but I am always willing to answer PM’s or emails if anyone has further questions or observations.
Richard Salzedo
Managing Director