Streetdeck Now Available for Purchase - Page 3

StaggRLee · 06-19-2006, 10:46 PM

1)
BY HARDWARE(HARD DRIVE SERIAL#)
BY INTERNET(LIKE WINDOWS XP)

When you activate XP over the internet it uses a hash table of things like NIC MAC addresss, CPUID, Hard drive Vital Product Data, amount of RAM etc. and writes an encrypted Registry value based on that hash and continually checks the current hardware.

There's an activation topple point in XP too. Change enough things and the software will deactivate itself.

I think three license migrations per copy is not only reasonable... It's generous.

partyharty · 06-20-2006, 03:50 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by StaggRLee

I think three license migrations per copy is not only reasonable... It's generous.

I respectfully disagree, the more a piece of software is restricted the less I want to buy it. I understand the concern of piracy (I have written my share of software as well) BUT if I purchase a piece of software I expect it to work on the #of licenses I have purchased. As I am "licensing" the software I expect to be able to use said software for the term of the license (in this case term of license=forever according to an earlier post), It is reasonable that I may change computers during the time that the license is in effect so I would expect to be able to do so (and it may be more than 3 times but then again it may be less). Especially considering what this software is used for (in vehicles) where there is a big possibility of downed hard drives, and broken components.

Basically I have a problem with paying for a "license" and getting treated as I paid for a physical product. For $150 I would expect better (and for $200 I would really expect better). Not to mention the fact that everything is going to be done in "the future" (as in non-forum support, ability to change machines etc). Please note this is not just streetdock, I still run Windows 2000 on my Windows machines for this very reason as well.

Mabey I expect to much and as it is their product they are more than welcome to do whatever they want to do with it (I am not downing streetdeck in any way) but I will exercise my choice not to purchase the license until there is a different copyright scheme. I will say the product looks good but the licensure is subpar (in my humble opinion).

Thanks,
Chris

god_of_cpu · 06-20-2006, 05:41 PM

We have already done hours of phone based support above and beyond the forum based support for some StreetDeck customers. You should have no reason to believe the software isn't supported at this point in time. We are giving everyone who buys now a discount because we are not ready to ship yet, but we know some of our customers are ready to buy as it is now. If you have a problem with not having the ability to do certian things at this early stage, please wait until we do come out with the promised features. It shouldn't be a very long wait.

Your biggest problem seems to be based on a hypothetical issue that your not even sure you would ever have and in reality I imagine that 99% of our customers will never have a legitimate desire to transfer a license more then twice. I agree there certainly may be exceptional circumstances where this may be an issue and it can be a slight inconvience, but you can always call the store and explain your issue so we can accomodate your special needs. The goal is to prevent piracy, we really have no desire to restrict legitimate uses.

Most of the users who will think about buying StreetDeck on mp3car are very capable computer users who would have no problem finding a serial number if it was posted on google. I'm not implying that mp3car users in general are software pirates, but I think it would be at least a little bit naive of us to sell a product more or less based on the honor system.

I'm not sure if your expectations reflect the reality of internet based software distribution to consumers. As with any software, the higher price of a product generally means more protection has to be included, despite the fact that it makes the software less convient for some people. There are significant internal licensing costs above and beyond typical software development costs we need to cover to be able to sell StreetDeck. The pricing is not artificial and is cheaper then any other commercial product we found with similar capabilities.

Troy McClure · 06-20-2006, 09:38 PM

GOC,

This is not a support questions (although it will turn into one...) but what kind of support can I expect to receive with the issues I am currently having.

I am using the trial version and if I shut the ignition off streetdeck will not go into hibernation. The system just stays powered on. I know my Opus' smart mode will kick in eventually when the battery gets drained but this is obvioulsy unacceptable. I have had no issues whatsoever with any other apps I currently run, FP, Frodo Xm and iGuidance and I am not a newbie to the carputer scene. I'm not asking for a solution but if I go ahead and make the purchase and present the problem where will I stand? How will you help? Will you offer a full refund if the problem cannot be resolved?

Thanks. I am very interested. Your XM interface alone makes me feel it is worth it but walking out to a dead battery is just not in the plans.

Thanks,

Troy

god_of_cpu · 06-20-2006, 10:56 PM

We offer refunds on the complete streetdeck systems, but not on the software alone since there is no way to return a license. If you do have issues, you should do what you are doing now and resolve them with the trial before purchasing since it should run more or less exactly like the unlocked version.

That being said, we will fix any issues that are inherent in the software and help you get your system setup as best as we can. There are some issues that are caused by incompatible hardware that we simply can't do anything about though.

StreetDeck does some advanced things when shutting down like trying to sync with a wifi network that will delay the shutdown and can sometimes cause other issues if its not configured right. It also imposes its own shutdown options when it is running that are independant of how windows is set to shutdown.

To setup your system to hibernate when the power button is triggered by the OPUS, you should:

1. Set your system to hibernate in the windows power management control panel when the power button is pressed.
2. Go into StreetDeck and make sure the the default shutdown mode is set to Hibernate (Settings | General | Shutdown Options)
3. Also, make sure "shutdown immediately when the power button is pressed is checked" in the shutdown settings

partyharty · 06-21-2006, 07:12 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by god_of_cpu

We have already done hours of phone based support above and beyond the forum based support for some StreetDeck customers. You should have no reason to believe the software isn't supported at this point in time.

I was unaware of that. I noticed on an earlier post that in order to transfer licenses, people would have to wait until it was setup and I took that to mean that there was no support (as this would be a support issue). My mistake.

Quote: Originally Posted by god_of_cpu

Your biggest problem seems to be based on a hypothetical issue that your not even sure you would ever have and in reality I imagine that 99% of our customers will never have a legitimate desire to transfer a license more then twice.

In the 6+ years that I have had a carpc I have scrapped and started over on my system several times. If I had not I would still be running that ole 486dx4 100. I have also replaced hard drives on various occasions (to put in a bigger drive or do to virus's etc). I have also had several hard drives crash. All in all 3 reinstalls would have been up in a year. My carpc's get tinkered with alot.

Now I may be an odd case but I believe that many have reinstalled the software, changed drives, and/or replaced their system more than 3 times since they have started (if they have been doing this for a few years). Mabey its just me though

Quote: Originally Posted by god_of_cpu

I think it would be at least a little bit naive of us to sell a product more or less based on the honor system.

and I feel that it would be at least a little bit naive of me to purchase a product with over-reaching (my opinion) copy protection, especially considering the operating enviroment.

I do not wish this to become a flame thread so I am not going to repost on this topic in the future (if you wish to discuss then please pm me). This was just the reason why I am purchasing at this time (nor will I in the future). It looks like a good product but with the limitations (licensing) it's just not worth it. If this was a system that was going to sit in a nice climate controlled setup (behind locked doors) then I would probably be ok with it. As this is going in a car (which is by defination a "harsh" enviroment for pc's) I think that 3 times is just not enough.

With that said I have not built a program like this and I do commend you on your efforts.

c-ya
Chris

mrclean12 · 06-21-2006, 08:26 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by partyharty

I do not wish this to become a flame thread so I am not going to repost on this topic in the future (if you wish to discuss then please pm me). This was just the reason why I am purchasing at this time (nor will I in the future). It looks like a good product but with the limitations (licensing) it's just not worth it. If this was a system that was going to sit in a nice climate controlled setup (behind locked doors) then I would probably be ok with it. As this is going in a car (which is by defination a "harsh" enviroment for pc's) I think that 3 times is just not enough.

With that said I have not built a program like this and I do commend you on your efforts.

c-ya
Chris

If you've ever talked with the guys who run mp3Car, you'd know that they are some of the most reasonable guys out there. If you needed to transfer the license more than 3 times, I'm SURE they would help you out if you describe your circumstances. They're usually VERY quick to respond to any support requests.

chalettu · 12-22-2006, 09:38 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by god_of_cpu

There is currently no place to buy this hardware as it is not made yet. MP3Car is designing and manufacturing the hardware for StreetDeck using the parrot bluetooth chip. It should be available before the years end. You can see phone compatibility on this page: http://www.parrot.biz/guide_chm/CK3X00/index.html

GOC. Is this the bluetooth dongle for SD. It is a Parrot usb bt dongle released on the 12th of Dec.http://www.parrot.biz/usa/products/parrotdongle

If it is, for everyone reading this message i found it on sale for 34 dollars at
http://www.mobileplanet.com/p.aspx?i...artner=froogle

Please let me know if this is compatible and if the BT feature is working in SD

jAyRoCkS24r · 12-24-2006, 06:20 PM

I beleive the BT Dongle will be SD specific? Don't quote me on this.

RedGTiVR6 · 12-24-2006, 06:27 PM

yes, the BT dongle will be specific for StreetDeck.

It is still in the works.

god_of_cpu · 12-24-2006, 11:12 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by chalettu

GOC. Is this the bluetooth dongle for SD. It is a Parrot usb bt dongle released on the 12th of Dec.http://www.parrot.biz/usa/products/parrotdongle

If it is, for everyone reading this message i found it on sale for 34 dollars at
http://www.mobileplanet.com/p.aspx?i...artner=froogle

Please let me know if this is compatible and if the BT feature is working in SD

No, that is just a regular bluetooth dongle that parrot makes so you can talk to other parrot hands free kits primarily to update them. It will not work with StreetDeck and I don't think it is any different from any other generic bluetooth dongle.

MP3Car is having the hardware designed and manufactured for the streetdeck "bluetooth dongle" from the ground up. It is not actually a bluetooth dongle in the traditional sense of the word, it will not add bluetooth capability to your car computer, rather, it will a bluetooth hands free phone device to your car computer. All bluetooth will be handled by the dongle and complely isolate the computer from all bluetooth driver and bluetooth profile issues typically encountered. The computer will see it just as another USB device that allows you to listen to and control your bluetooth phone through your computer.

This project is well overdue and should have been done a number of months ago, but we had some contractor problems which caused us to have to start over. We lost alot of time and money and learned a lot in the process, but the project is now very much on track and I definitly don't expect us to have any more of the same problems getting this thing finally made that we were having. The good news is that the delays have allowed us to use the newest version of the parrot chip and should make the device even cooler then initially envisioned. I can't give any additional details or dates of when it will be available yet and I doubt we will give a date until we actually have units in hand available to ship.

jAyRoCkS24r · 12-24-2006, 11:15 PM

Thats awesome news! REALLY loowking forward to this!

RickCain · 01-02-2007, 10:27 AM

So if I understand the first post correctly you can not use the navigation system at all, once registered until you have the DVD?

I ask because I purchased Streetdeck this weekend and want to use the navigation this week for business (tired of the 15 minute demo).

god_of_cpu · 01-02-2007, 10:58 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by RickCain

So if I understand the first post correctly you can not use the navigation system at all, once registered until you have the DVD?

I ask because I purchased Streetdeck this weekend and want to use the navigation this week for business (tired of the 15 minute demo).

Yes, the navigation data is only shipped with the DVD and not available in the online version unless you install mappoint.

RickCain · 01-02-2007, 11:10 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by god_of_cpu

Yes, the navigation data is only shipped with the DVD and not available in the online version unless you install mappoint.

So if I have installed Mappoint 2006 and have it working good with the demo I will be able to use the navigation, once register until the DVD comes? My only concern is losing the demo overlay and the 15 minutes expiration of the software each launch.

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