S2 will be available on disk and it will be a minimal charge for the upgrade on CD (just S&H charges). The biggest holdup in the final release of the software has been the method of distribution. We want to get a better tracking mechanism into place to help protect our very large investment in the software.
One thing that we have agreed to is that S2 will be a household/family licensed product so you can install it on all of your machines (and you work machine).
We are not selling S2 yet and there isn't a way to pre-purchase the CD.
thedementedelf wrote: LightORamaDan wrote: We have not decided how we will implement the new features. No matter what way we go, if you have a card that works with the LOR protocol today, that card will work on the LOR network in the future. We will of course make required firmware changes for cards made by LOR and we will make changes for cards made by other vendors who have copied the LOR protocol.
So If I read this right if I have boards from those other guys, they will continue to be useful after these changes. If that's the case all I can say is WOW..that is customer service. I do appreciate it. Since that other software crapped out on me last season, I'm sold on LOR software it saved my display in 07 and as I add boards they will be LOR. Thanks
You read it correctly!
Any update on when the formal S2 release will be. I have been waiting to convert over to S2 until the version with all the license stuff is available. Then, when it is available how will it be distributed. On CD? Do we place an order on the LOR web site? Etc.
Maybe Dan or John will comment on the update for the exact date, but the word is that the current license model runs out in June. Not certain exactly which date.
However, that should not stop you from downloading and getting used to S2 right now. It has been stated many times that the 2.0.14 version out right now, is S2 1.0, just with the new family licensing. The upgrade in June is going to be minor from that perspective.
Maybe Dan or John will comment on the update for the exact date, but the word is that the current license model runs out in June. Not certain exactly which date.
However, that should not stop you from downloading and getting used to S2 right now. It has been stated many times that the 2.0.14 version out right now, is S2 1.0, just with the new family licensing. The upgrade in June is going to be minor from that perspective.
Scott is correct.... There will be little change (some minor bug fixes) in the licensed release of S2. The major change will be license support.
As far as how people will get upgrades/licenses. This is evolving. Here is the current plan:
The S2 software suite will become the demo version of software. When people download the demo they will get get everything. Everything will work except for controlling lights. So the Sequence Editor, Show Editor, Simple Show Builder, Scheduler, Control Panel, Hardware Utility will all be part of the Demo.
When people purchase the software they will get a key to "unlock" the code. They will be able to use the key on 5 PCs. (exact number of PCs allowed has not been determined but we want you to be able to install it on a number of PCs) We will have online activation that will prevent key abuse. In the case that the target PC is not online there will be a manual activation scheme.
For people who have already purchased LOR I and are upgrading to S2, there will be a "free upgrade option" in the online store. When you select the free online upgrade it will be like purchasing something in the store but it will be free (or almost free depending on store limitations). You will have to checkout like a normal purchase. (we may have to charge a few cents to get this to work). When you do checkout, the system will automatically match your information to a previous software purchase of LOR I. If there is a match the system will generate an email containing your S2 software key. If there is not a match you will receive an email explaining how to contact LOR to receive your key.
In the store you will have the option to get a CD with the S2 software shipped to you. There will be a small charge if you decide to receive the CD.
Yes -- thanks for the update. Also appreciate you thinking of how to handle PC's not network connected for activation. The PC I use to run the show is an "old beater" running Windows ME. I am not even sure I can get it connected to a network or the internet.
Dan, Thanks again for the explanation. We'll be anxiously awaiting the release. I'm also glad that we won't have to have all the computers hooked up to the internet to activate. My show controller is also an "old" machine (a tank, but, old) and does not have a network card.
Take care.
____________________
FM@95.7 MHZ, over 4000 ft. of extension
I hope there is an option to extend the number of unique loads on a license (for a fee if necessary). I go through computers like crazy lately. I have 5 in the house and 4 of them have L-O-R loaded. I use which ever one the kids are not using. I seem to have to replace a computer every six to eight months or so. This gives me a 30-40 month useful life on each machine. It's really cutting into my Christmas display budget.
LORII/S2 is out now for those that own LORI. Dan said in this thread that the primary difference between the "formal" release and the S2 that is available for download now will be the Licensing stuff and some bug fixes. WHY what till the formal release.
S2 has been out actually since like Feb. There have been several updates to fix bugs that were not discovered in the beta phase. The current version 2.0.16 has an expiration date of Feb 2009.
At some point there will be a firmware upgrade for S2 that is supposed to update quite a few things. That has not been defined when it would be available. It was my impression that the fading for shimmer and twinkle was to be a part of this update.
I downloaded LOR II and upgraded, but I could not find the separate tracks that I was creating. I called LOR and asked about it and I was told that the "Full" features of V2 are "Locked" until LOR figures out a way to prevent piracy. (Yes I did purchase V1.0)
). 
