SetupBuilder 5.1 / Web Update / UpdatePROTECT add-on

[NewsArchive]

We have received quite a few emails over the last few days asking for the
UpdatePROTECT release date.

The UpdatePROTECT add-on to SetupBuilder 5.1 is already code complete and
we are using it in SetupBuilder 5.x to handle "Maintenance and Support Plan
IDs".

We'll try to release a new SB51 build next week to make UpdatePROTECT
available to the public.

The UpdatePROTECT add-on makes it possible to generate "Expiration Date
Keys" to protect your software updates. This technology is well suited
for software subscription services in which the end-users subscribe, for
instance on a monthly, quarterly, semiannually, etc. basis. At the end
of the subscription period, end-users will have the option of extending
the subscription or simply continuing their current version. But end-
users will no longer be able to utilize product updates released after
the subscription expiration date. With UpdatePROTECT, the subscription
renewal is easy and simple. You only have to send a new "Expiration Date
Key" to your end-user.

You can use UpdatePROTECT in both full installations and "smart" web
updates (live Internet version updating) created with SetupBuilder 5.1.

It's even possible to install (or "smart" web update) different versions
of your software based on the UpdatePROTECT "maintenance key".

We'll make more information available soon.

If you already have questions, please let us know.

--
Friedrich Linder
CEO, Lindersoft
www.lindersoft.com
1.954.252.3910

"point. click. ship" - that's SetupBuilder 5

[NewsArchive]

Hi

This is great news......and blows anything else out there away....

Now I can put my focus where it belongs...into my product and know the
distribution and upgrade parts are taken care of by an industrial
strength tool that WORKS without me having to tweak it too much.

Thanks a lot ...

Kind Regards

Ben

[NewsArchive]

Thank YOU, Ben :)

Friedrich

--
Friedrich Linder
CEO, Lindersoft
www.lindersoft.com
1.954.252.3910

"point. click. ship" - that's SetupBuilder 5

[NewsArchive]

Friedrich,
This sounds very cool. will there be any additional cost associated with
this add-on?

[NewsArchive]

Michael,

Thank you :)

Yes, the UpdatePROTECT add-on costs $249.00. You can then generate
"maintenance keys" from the SB51 IDE and verify the key from within the
installer or web update.

BTW, you can let the key expire by a specific date or by a specific version.
If the key expired, the customer has to purchase an upgrade from you. The
expired key does not allow to install any new version. But they can still
install all "previous" releases. If you have received the order, just send
out a new key and the customer can continue to receive updates.

Friedrich

Friedrich Linder
CEO, Lindersoft
www.lindersoft.com
1.954.252.3910

"point. click. ship" - that's SetupBuilder 5

[NewsArchive]

Friedrich,

Can you go into a little more detail about this?
It seems there are a lot of update products recently....<g>

Questions:
- Does this add a template to your app to provide a link, etc.?
- Does this offer anything related to copy protection?
- Can a single user share an update key, etc.?
- Is there a server side process that we need to run on our server to verify
the keys?
- Or is that all handled by the SetupBuilder install package?

Thanks,
Paul

[NewsArchive]

Paul,

> Can you go into a little more detail about this?
> It seems there are a lot of update products recently....<g>

<G>. The built-in SB5 Web Update feature is available for more than 14
months now and I am happy to say that three Fortune 500 companies are using
it in mission-critical applications. One Fortune 500 company plans to add
UpdatePROTECT support by the end of next month.

I'll make more detailed Web Update information available soon.

> Questions:
> - Does this add a template to your app to provide a link, etc.?

Part 1: To use "Web Update", you install a small client application along
with your software to give the option to check for newer versions of your
applications. It is an ideal way to automatically manage your software
updates over the Internet.

You can use this client from within Clarion, .NET, Visual C, etc.
applications.

Part 2: If a new update is available, this small client downloads a Web
Installation package. A Web Installation package is an installer that takes
advantage of the web to distribute files. Before the advent of web
installers, users downloaded the entire setup executable and ran that
installer. But end users frequently do not need all the files contained in
an installer. The web installer can retrieve just the pieces needed for the
user's specific requirements. The web installer will detect which files
you need to have updated and only download those that are out-of-date.
Because a web installation downloads only the pieces they need, you shorten
their download time, and reduce your web server load at the same time.

Of course, you can use binary patching and all the "other goodies" provided
by the SetupBuilder 5 installation system, including 64-bit installation
support.

> - Does this offer anything related to copy protection?

No. UpdatePROTECT is not a copy protection product. Charles Edmonds is
working on his excellent SoftDefense protection solution. SB51 will
provide native built-in support for SoftDefense.

http://www.softdefense.com

> - Can a single user share an update key, etc.?

By default, UpdatePROTECT verifies a serial number and the maintenance key
(you can also verify the maintenance key only). So if a user shares both
his serial number and the maintenance key, then an "unauthorized party" can
get access to updates.

If you notice such a criminal activity, you add the serial number to the
"black list" and no further upgrade is allowed.

If the installation/update is protected by both a serial number and a
maintenance key, then sharing the maintenance key does not give access
to updates.

BTW, we had six fraudulent SB5 transactions during the last three weeks.
Our order system automatically sends a temporary maintenance key to the
customer (the key works with a specific version only - not with any new
build). So these "warez guys" have the SB51 version they "purchased",
but they are unable to get any update.

> - Is there a server side process that we need to run on our server to
> verify the keys?

No. You generate the "maintenance key" in your SB51 IDE and the installer
verifies the key.

> - Or is that all handled by the SetupBuilder install package?

You have full control over the verification process from within your
installer package. You can even perform specific actions based on the
maintenance key "feature" (e.g. install different files, create different
registry key, etc.).

--
Friedrich Linder
CEO, Lindersoft
www.lindersoft.com
1.954.252.3910

"point. click. ship" - that's SetupBuilder 5

[NewsArchive]

Thanks Friedrich....

[NewsArchive]

All,

Because of the overwhelming interest in UpdatePROTECT (THANK YOU!!!!), we
are able to offer the add-on for $149.00. And we decided to make it
available for both SetupBuilder 5.1 Professional and Developer Edition.

If you sent me a private email and you have not received a reply yet, please
be patient. I'll try to answer all emails within the next 12 hours.

Thanks again,

--
Friedrich Linder
CEO, Lindersoft
www.lindersoft.com
1.954.252.3910

"point. click. ship" - that's SetupBuilder 5

[NewsArchive]

Michael,

Correction. $149.00

--
Friedrich Linder
CEO, Lindersoft
www.lindersoft.com
1.954.252.3910

"point. click. ship" - that's SetupBuilder 5

[NewsArchive]

Excellent news Friedrich, I was going to email you about this :)

Colin Wynn

[NewsArchive]

:)

Friedrich

[NewsArchive]

I have answered all emails now. If you still have no reply, please resend
your question.

--
Friedrich Linder
CEO, Lindersoft
www.lindersoft.com
1.954.252.3910

"point. click. ship" - that's SetupBuilder 5