Sorry if I misinterpreted this but, did anyone else get the "Dear Valued Waves User" email from Waves regarding GTR Solo and several previous versions of Waves?
 
Deja Vu again for me, just a different company this time. Another reason why I love online activation schemes where the company controls your rights to use a program after the sale.
 
Email started with the familiar excuses about old software and no longer being able to support it. After July 31, everything is going to be shut down though they assure the program will continue to function on whatever computer it is currently activated on.
 
Not a big loss with about $40 invested and not a great program, but terminating any further activation or transfers was not a part of the original sales pitch. They didn't include GTR full version. Maybe it's harder to sabotage an ILock.
 
I don't know a lot about the company but there is a concern. Going away from ILock to online registration may not be a good thing if they start pulling this crap at random to force sales.
 
They were not entirely cold about it. I got a special coupon code for a 10% discount if I upgrade to something that can be authorized. Maybe they'll let the upgrade function for a year or two.
 
John,
 
No response from my email to the company
 
My response...
 
It took less than a minute to fire up Frostwire and another minute to download the crack/keygen. Works well.  Looks like I can just ignore the extortion email.

I didn't receive the e-mail, but I'm running GTR Full, V9.

This is what I've found on Waves web site.

July 17th,  2012, As of July 31st,  Waves will discontinue product support for versions 3,  4,  and 5 (as well as GTR Solo Versions 6, 7 and 8).

 Although these versions have not been “officially” supported for quite some time,  we have continued to provide downgrade options,  compatibility information,  tech support and so on,  but after so many years it is no longer possible to support outdated and/or discontinued operating systems,  DAWs,  plugin formats and the like., These installers will remain on our website for download until the end of the month,  and your version 3/4/5 product will continue to work on your current system as is,  however any further support will no longer be available after July 31st., You may update your product to the latest version (V9) at any time by renewing your Waves Update Plan,  or upgrading to a bigger bundle (and receive V9 at no additional charge.)

Over the years,  we have added new plugins to many bundles,  and with Waves V9,  it’s easier than ever to manage your plugin licenses., To renew your Waves Update Plan,  access your Waves account and select Get Waves Update Plan from the top menu. Once your Waves Update Plan is current,  an Update link will appear next to your product. Learn more about updating to V9., To upgrade to a bigger bundle,  click the Upgrade link next to your product in your Waves account,  and all your upgrade options and prices will be displayed., All Wavesupport News

Rain,
 
This was similar in content to the email I got.
 
Will be cyber condemned to the brimstone pit for resorting to warez cracks. Not legal, but got the contingency in place with a clean conscience from this end.
 
Waves tactics may be legally supported in the fine print of the end user contract, but goes against the gut instinct of what is right and Hindu moral.
 
Usually don't buy software with the agreement that they can terminate your license if they say it is older technology. Fortunately, they have my best interest in the forefront and can still save me from ruin with a 10% discount if I fire up the plastic card.
 
Best,
John
 
edited...

I'm sort of sitting on the fence about this one. I understand your frustration, but compared to other companies like Steinberg, Native Instruments, Antares and such, Waves have a pretty clean track record when it comes to supporting products for a long time. Which company supports older versions of their software forever? 

I guess I just can't take the software that I pay for for granted. Software companies come and go, products get discontinued or replaced, so most of the time, buying a piece of software implies that I'll have to pay again in a couple of years.

Unfortunately, you're probably right. This could be the new trend. Looking forward to software licenses requiring login to a program on remote servers.
 
The loss of a lite version of GTR isn't a big thing, plus the keygen keeps it around. Just irritated that companies sell a product to use indefinitely and then pull the plug.
 
I can understand shutting down tech support and no further development of a line but don't think the simple activation link should be dismantled. Would be best if they left it up to the end user to determine if it's too old to use anymore.
 
Got to apologize for the rant. I've lost a lot of cash over time with these shutdowns. This was only spare change gone.
 
Got to remember also not to use Firefox so I don't have to edit out all the font debris.

Your point is totally valid - and just because it's common practice doesn't mean it's acceptable. 

I'm just a hobbyist, and haven't spent a great deal with Waves, but am certainly not going to spend any more. It's one thing to stop supporting a product, but to stop a customer using something they've paid for just because they've bought a new computer seems like poor practice.

I am absolutely with your stance here John.

Companies seem to be moving toward this kind of thing more and more but plenty seem to be prepared to suck it up which leads to vendors thinking enough people are OK with it for it to continue and progress.

I seem to become alienated more each day as folk line up to be hooked up to the cloud and actually these days tend even to argue on the side of the companies that act against the individuals rights with regard to what constitutes a sale.

It looks from where I'm sitting like a consumer led sleepwalk into the slaughter house.  It scares the crap out of me TBH.

Maybe it's because people don't have to hold cash and  go to the store to get something that's worth the effort of doing that anymore.  It's not just Waves it seems completely endemic to the industry.

It's like watching the plot from the 'Bodysnatchers' where you look out the window to see who else has been affected, you can even trust your friends and family anymore...

Rain


I'm sort of sitting on the fence about this one. I understand your frustration, but compared to other companies like Steinberg, Native Instruments, Antares and such, Waves have a pretty clean track record when it comes to supporting products for a long time. Which company supports older versions of their software forever? 

I guess I just can't take the software that I pay for for granted. Software companies come and go, products get discontinued or replaced, so most of the time, buying a piece of software implies that I'll have to pay again in a couple of years.

I hear this argument/company leaning justification a lot. It's absolute garbage here. 

This has nothing to do with wanting support for a legacy product it's just having the basic right to use it in the same way as it was advertised and sold.  Nobody is after service or support, just the entitlement to continue using it under the same conditions.  If I have hardware that supports 25 year old software that I bought then it should belong to me so I can continue to use it.  It's not an expiring lease, it's a sale.

Consumers shouldn't be making allowances for vendors here they should be banging down doors in pursuit of their rights.

Do everyone a favour next time you "pay for software" bother to find out what that constitutes instead of just apathetically ambling into some arrangement you cant be bothered to take the trouble to sweat in order find out what the deal is, so the rest of us don't continue to feel 'screwed again'.

It ain't the companies I'm blaming here, it's the amount of those willing to line up to hand money over without securing the terms.  Sellers will continue to negotiate the best terms for themselves, they care enough to do that, it's customers that have volunteered to give up the right to barter and make clear what is acceptable to them.

Jonbouy

Do everyone a favour next time you "pay for software" bother to find out what that constitutes instead of just apathetically ambling into some arrangement you cant be bothered to take the trouble to sweat in order find out what the deal is, so the rest of us don't continue to feel 'screwed again'.

Pardon me? 


Thank you for the lesson but the only person I need to consult when making a purchase is my wife. If you feel screwed, by all means feel free to blame me, Bill Gates, Santa Claus and the rest of the world for it, just like you felt free to totally ignore my other posts in this thread in order to justify your ramblings. 

Quote: "Your point is totally valid - and just because it's common practice doesn't mean it's acceptable." 


Hope you feel better now, though with all the negativity that often emanates from your post here on the software forum, I highly doubt it...