Finally the very good news from Steinberg!!!

[dellboy]

What we both know is how many people complain here and elsewhere about copy protection dongles, though.

I dont.

I have a hardware ilok dongle and a steinberg dongle. I like them.

I can reinstall windows to my hearts content and just reinstall everything - magic. Whats not to like ?

For all the rest I have to hunt around in drawers for email addresses and passwords,eventually get to log in and hope that it works ok. And then dont talk about the many times when I was on software ilok and everytime that windows updated it broke the licence once again.

I would prefer if they did the same as ilok and offered both options.

[EnGee]

Let's wait and see. Their announcement is far from transparent!

[chk071]

What we both know is how many people complain here and elsewhere about copy protection dongles, though.

I dont.

I have a hardware ilok dongle and a steinberg dongle. I like them.

To each his own.

Even though I doubt that you really like to have a USB port blocked because of some 20 € plus hardware dongle you only needed to buy just so the company which developes the software makes sure that noone can pirate it. What you mean is probably that you prefer it to copy protections which use occasional online checks.

Which you don't know about on the new Steinberg system. So why all the speculation?

[chk071]

I can reinstall windows to my hearts content and just reinstall everything - magic. Whats not to like ?

Where do I start... with the blocked USB ports, the imposed 20 € for the dongle hardware, or the fact that, once you moved the license to the dongle, you can't move it to soft eLicenser anymore... or the fact that I had several occasions that I need to remove and re-initiate the soft eLicenser, because the eLicenser software was messed up after one of the big Windows 10 updates. Hmm....

[Tilly]

Hahaha Steinberg again saything literally nothing. So no problem with speculating about what could happen. Especially when the trend is pretty clear. At least they got some promo recently.

[chk071]

They said a lot actually. No, wait, silly me... they lied a lot.

[dellboy]

Where do I start... with the blocked USB ports, the imposed 20 € for the dongle hardware, or the fact that, once you moved the license to the dongle, you can't move it to soft eLicenser anymore... or the fact that I had several occasions that I need to remove and re-initiate the soft eLicenser, because the eLicenser software was messed up after one of the big Windows 10 updates. Hmm....

I agree, if you always use a laptop the blocked ports might be a nuisance. But they work in a USB hub,so not a deal breaker. I have mine permanently plugged into the back of my desktop computer and I forget its there, and its never stopped working.

To satisfy everyone, and hinder, or stop the pirates, an ilok style dongle is the answer.

[chk071]

That's what I do (USB hub). Still annoying, because, I already have a Bluetooth dongle and a wireless keyboard dongle plugged in there, and, when I plug in eLicenser and iLok, it's game over for that hub....

I mean, it works, but, I better not have the crazy idea to plug in another memory stick.

[dellboy]

The only online licence checker that has worked flawlessly for years for me is Studio One. I have re-authorised many times with them without hiccup. Its never stopped working after a windows update either.

[jancivil]

I know only this, VSL, understanding Steinberg is making a move, has decided to go iLok. https://www.vsl.co.at/community/posts/t ... post302591

Someone may have conflated the two here? I signed up for the Steiny forum a couple, three weeks ago behind a bizarre and shocking showstopper issue I wanted to see if anyone else had. (Not so much, and it magically vanished one day, with no cause I can discern.)
Anyway as I was checking the forum I saw something about the change in authorization planned, and went immediately to the VSL Forum (I have quite more invested in my key from them). I can't tell because of the way the Steiny forum is organized now if they've kept the earlier posts. I remember a lot of comments on one, and the kind I expect to be deleted before too long there, same as it ever was.
There is not a lot very clear there, except at least twice I did see they emphasized they are not going subscription; the language was 'we're not going to change our whole business model' etc.

VSL has claimed that if you do not want change, they're going to let us keep the licenses on the Syncrosoft key indefinitely. I'm not sure how they can promise that, as my experience has been, for years, that if you I do not keep the software up-to-date, and I mean really up-to-date I run into problems activating a new license. But maybe if you just lock it all down before Syncrosoft is just gone... I don't know if that's the plan or what. Steiny is saying similar, that if you like the dongle they're going to let that ride for a while, but not indefinitely.
Other than VSL, there are a couple things I know of which use the key which are going to have to change as well if Syncrosoft is abandoned.

[jancivil]

this is all I see now from Steinberg forum:

Dear Steinberg customers,

Steinberg’s announcement to change the licensing system in the foreseeable future has raised questions that we are happy to answer as we progress — please understand that most details cannot be revealed at this stage but will be addressed ongoing in the months to come.

Today I want to reassure you on the raised concerns regarding the license migration.

Implementing new license management technology does not entail abandoning our perpetual license model. Rather, it means improving your customer experience and making way for new opportunities. It also doesn’t mean that your dongle will no longer work from one day to the next. I ensure that ample time will be provided to migrate your licenses to the new system. Until then, licenses stored on the dongle will remain fully functional.

I hope this sheds light on the concerns posed here and elsewhere.

Sincerely,

Frank Simmerlein
Director of Corporate Affairs

[excuse me please]

"It also doesn’t mean that your dongle will no longer work from one day to the next..."

That sure will stop the rumour.. smh

[EnGee]

Thanks jancivil

He still doesn't say or deny if it's iLok or net authorisation! Secrets must be attractive

[chk071]

According to the reps, they are working on their own system. Which means that it won't be iLok.

Dunno about net authorization, but, I'm pretty sure that it will involve that. What else really?

[jancivil]

I would be surprised if they switched to iLok, because that would not solve the problem but only shift it to a similar platform.
I rather suspect a typical online activation, linked to a machine ID. In other words, like many others already do. Maybe Steinberg has a better idea to make it more secure but I think it goes in this direction.

That jogs my memory on, what was it, yesterday there. That was it will be something you can decide to authorize offline, but if you don't have to do the air gap bit it's something you have to once in a while go online to I guess a cloud server to verify. Other vendors were mentioned, eg., Presonus Sphere every 3 days and some others varying in ranges. SWAM, 39 days I think it was to 30 days for a couple of 'em.
But that post may be gone, I didn't see it checking just now. It isn't in Announcements and I don't know where else it would have been. Otherwise I've only looked at Cubase forum... ok I give up. Posts are not dated until you click on them and this is tedium.
I did grab this:

no subscriptions.jpg