Tuner Studio will expire in xx days, please upgrade?

[88tbird2.3t]

So for some reason after whatever the last TunerStudio upgrade i did, all of a sudden when i would open or close tunerstudio it would say
"This version of TunerStudio will expire in xx days.
Please select "Check for Updates" from the help menu or visit www.EFIAnalytics.com/TunerStudio/ to upgrade to the lastest version
before this copy is disabled"
Then when i try to upgrade it says "0.995.1 is the latest version"

Now it has about 8 days left and started with 20 or 15 i think
What do I do, uninstall then re-install?

bob

[LT401Vette]

Go to :
http://www.efianalytics.com/TunerStudio/beta/
and download the latest Release Candidate.

That no longer has a time out! However I did not put out an auto update as the release candidate does require you to register for full functionality, so an auto update would take away functionality from users who weren't ready to register. I didn't want them to feel tricked into updating to the release candidate. However, now that we are in the time out period, I will be putting out an auto update, I just have 2 little bugs I need to get fixed.

You may need to uninstall TunerStudio from Windows Control Panel --> Add Remove Programs
Then install the release candidate.
Don't worry you won't loose any of your settings doing an uninstall.

[pope]

While I "theoretically" support the move to a freemium model for TS, where a basic version is distributed at no cost with the option of paying for a variant with additional features, I do not support distributing a free version that becomes widely used and then forcing users to downgrade or pay to retain functionality. The freemium model is typically used when a developer creates a basic version of a product and develops additional features that enhance the programs abilities.

The freemium model is not intended to be used for extortion. Giving users a product that works in one way, but then forcing users into a lesser product while offering the option to pay and retain functionality is wrong.

Wrong:
Here have a BMW 330i. (One Month Later, with Russian Mobsters) I am taking the BMW back, but here is a Yugo, however my friends here will let you have the BMW back for a fee.

Right:
Here have a BMW 330i. (One Month Later, no mobsters, just marketing) How are you liking the 330i? Good car, right. Well I just wanted to let you know that if you are liking the 330i, you would probably love the M3, for a small fee I'll upgrade you and have all these additional features......


I am not happy and am now test driving the competition (either of which will get money from me first if this is the way TS will be developed going forward).

I do want to be clear though, I think TunerStudio is masterfully created and an excellent piece of software. If the latest update simply removed the expiration and began advertising for additional features, instead of charging for preexisting features, I would support it.




about me: I have no idea what the difference is between the free and pay version of the LogViewer all I use it for is log viewing, but I am a paid, registered user for the sole purpose of appreciating and supporting development. I run GNU/Linux as an operating system and actively give support to distributions and projects I appreciate (often financially, since my coding skills are beginner at best). I use an Android device and frequently "purchase" the donation option for otherwise free apps in the Android Market. I believe TS and LV would be better as open, community developed freemium applications with the free variant supported by donations (and good will) and the premium as purchased, proprietary add-on features, but that is a different discussion over the continued relevance of the old business models vs. the evolving, new business models.

[LT401Vette]

I'm sorry you took it that way, I have tried to be clear that it was a time limited beta and there would be a charge version at some point. That has been stated throughout the 3 years I have spent working on it. I have a rather large investment in TunerStudio, only time will tell if I do actually recover that investment. There is no mobster or evil plan here, I have been working 80 hours a week for longer than I can remember between my day job that pays the bills and this job that has been costing me money, but I help many people. The objective is to help people and bring bring tools to improve the MegaSquirt community. Ultimately with another app or 2 maybe I can turn this into a day job to bring more tools to people. Then maybe I will have the time to actually use a MegaSquirt in my car as I have enabled so many others to do.
If you see this as wrong, I don't know what to tell you.

[DonTZ125]

Pope - unclench. Ever use one of the AOL 3-month trial disks? Same deal. Use it, like it - buy it. Don't like it? Don't buy it.

Phil - I think most of us appreciate it, and have / will (when money loosens up a bit - sigh) register. Your asking price is a fraction of what it would cost any of us to commission such a program.

[pope]

As I hope I made clear, I am not opposed to paying developers; I frequently make a point to do so whether required or not because I recognize that software does not develop itself.

I may have been less clear, but tried to express that I am grateful for the time and effort that went (goes) into developing TS. Had it not been the "removal" of one of the two features I use TS for, it is likely I would not have noticed a change. 99% of my use is limited to occasionally connecting to see the difference report between my last save and the current state of the Automatic Mixture Control adjusted VE table and uploading palmlogs after trips to the track; the sudden inability to quickly see the VE differences irked me. Had it been something else, 3D tuning for example, that had been made premium I would not have known (upon writing the preceding sentence I actually had to open TS and check that 3D tuning was still included because I have never actually used it).

I do apologize for reacting harshly, I came here to find out what happened and in my bitterness I encountered and misread your statement about not wanting people to feel tricked into updating and felt you instead chose force. While I am still not happy with the decision to relegate preexisting features to a pay version instead adding new features for a pay version, I realize that as the developer you have control over your project and it is my own fault for choosing to use a closed program offer an open alternative.

For what it means, you do nice work and I hope you are able to succeed in meeting your goals.

[paulpug]

hi,

Pope i feel the same ,i had a dash was force to upgrade and then dash was mo more,
i have no problem paying,just did not like how it was done ,the features that were present were removed
and to get them back you have to pay ,i know that plenty was put into this software because its the best,
but dont do me like that .

Paul

['66fb]

Paul,

I've read this entire thread and must be missing something - how were you forced to upgrade:

"...i had a dash was force to upgrade..."?

Pope,

"Had it not been the "removal" of one of the two features I use TS for, it is likely I would not have noticed a change."

Seems to me you want the program features you need/want to be in the free version and let others pay for any additions beyond what you want.

We've been using the beta versions for free. Beta is where ideas are tried out and bugs worked out, that's done . Now it's time to pay the development costs.

I think the basic program -bare bones - is worth registering. In fact I tried to do so on a couple of occasions and was told to wait, it's still in beta.

[LT401Vette]

i had a dash was force to upgrade and then dash was mo more,

Your dash should not of been lost, it is still in the project, it just doesn't load until you have the registered version.

I did try to make it clear that some features were only available for free because it was in beta testing. But anyone who wasn't following too closely could have missed it. I'm sorry if that is the case. There was certainly not any intention of deception.

[paulpug]

Hi,

i totally understand but it was not made very clear ,especially to someone who does always use it,



and my friend i got a message that i had x number of days to upgrade,i dont know what you call that and let me repeat i know that this software
is the very best out there and i have no problem paying ,in fact i would have paid the first time i used it

Paul

[floppy]

Because of Phil's great work with TS and MLV I have been driving my project for a whole year without any connection to a laptop! I read this post and was inspired to try the live VE analyze and registered promptly. It works even better than expected! I think that those with misconceptions or inabilities to read the readme's and pay a small amount( how much do you have into your project?) should find another avenue to complain. Phil has obviously spent a tremendous amount of time and effort to make this a successful project and has personally offered his assistance to me through this forum. It is embarrassing that some would question his integrity!

Hats off to Phil and his outstanding work! He should take some time for himself and get that big block 'vette back to the strip!!

Thanks Phil, Mark

[paulpug]

Hi ,

It is amazing how people attached interpretations to what they read and then try to force their biases on other people

Paul