SecuritySpy Version 6 - Licensing Questions
Comments
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Perhaps combine the best of both worlds.
Have licensing in blocks like you have now but also offer the option to add just 1 or 2 more cameras at a much larger cost per camera to incentivise somebody on 8 cameras who really only wants 1 or 2 more cameras to pay for it.
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@8urt0 Agreed! I think he's missing a tremendous opportunity.
Most homes, I don't think...unless you have a massive mansion, has 16 cameras. I think most have 8-12 (unless you're a true dedicated nerd). The reality Ben's missing is that, if you have 9-11 cameras, you're probably not going to pay the huge difference between the two to get that 2-3 camera difference. So...they don't add it to the license. Ben is losing all profit just by not having that option. He's banking on people splurging for the 16 cameras. He's missing the fact that he's not getting that money anyway. And it's not like Ben is writing custom code to give you 16 cameras. It's merely licensing paperwork.
I think, if he's smart (and I know he is), I think he should offer up a potential upgrade path. See how many people want to buy in...let him see where the numbers lie. If there's a lot of demand for a 12 camera option, I think he should offer it up. If there isn't, don't.
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Hi @RocketMan thanks for your thoughts. Of course, we are open to any option that makes us more money, and makes users happier at the same time! It's clear that the biggest pain point is the big jump in cost from a 16-camera to a 32-camera license. While most users with more than 16 cameras are businesses, there are still many home users in this category that have (or want) a few more than 16 cameras, and many of these will no doubt be deterred by the significant price increase. Therefore, we are seriously considering adding a 24-camera level, which would make upgrading significantly less expensive for these users. I can't say if/when this will happen as we are still considering it, but this would seem to be the simplest change we can make in order to refine the current system, and one that would benefit many users. I'm less convinced about adding a 12-camera option, as it's not so clear whether a significant number of users are deterred by the (comparatively much smaller) increase in cost between the 8-camera and 16-camera levels, but I'm not ruling out anything at this point.
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I have the 16 license, but only use 10 cams.
I might get to 12 at some point in the future, but that would be a while yet.
When I bought the 16 license, it seemed a little extravagant, but I did it anyway, thinking it would be best for the long haul.
Now, seeing I probably won't use more than 12, I'm reluctant to upgrade to 16 right away.
So, I'm torn between wanting to continue supporting one of my favorite software developers, and buying a license at a level that seems unnecessary for me.
If I could upgrade from V5/16 cams to V6/12 cams today, I would.
If there was a maintenance extension upgrade for my V5/16 cams, I'd consider that, too.
And probably if there was a 50% discount available for a V5/16 to V6/16, I'd probably do that, too.
All that being said, I probably won't use the 33% upgrade offer before it expires, but may use the 25% offer later.
Unless, of course, a V6/12 license were to become available, which I would purchase now.
With all the WiFi difficulties I've encountered, and the fixes I've made to correct them, it seems like I've had this system up and running correctly for less than a year at this point.
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After further consideration...
I reviewed my history with this software, and am reminded by my emails I first used V1 starting some time before 2009.
There were several years in between when I wasn't using it, but we go back a long way.
The support I got from Ben over the last few years in setting up my new network was fast and easy to follow.
The upgrade price seems fair, in light of our history together and the quality of the product and the support Ben provides.
Thanks, Ben, I upgraded to V6/16.
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Hi @Sawmill thank you for your comments, this is all useful feedback. And thank you for upgrading and continuing to support SecuritySpy, this is very much appreciated. Looking back at our own email history, you were one of our first customers, having purchased version 1.0 back in 2003 - that's quite something! It's very gratifying for us to see repeat/long-term users, I hope this means we are doing something right :)
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I'm with Sawmill.. The price of admission to the V6 given the quality of the software and quality of the support is well wroth it to me. I've never been disappointed in the support and service that Ben provides us all. I just upgraded my license to V6/8 and am looking forward to the future.
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I had set up a few rental iMacs (using WiFi) in a local coffee shop in 2002 (remember internet cafes?) and used a camera to help keep an eye on them while I was working a full time construction job.
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I have no complaints about the cost. However, I have wished for a 24 camera license several times.
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Some mentioned other DVR software for Mac. Can you please make your point, in what way which other software is comparable to SecuritySpy, in terms of reliability (stable stream from ONVIF cameras of the main low cost Chinese manufacturer [SecSpy has been showing problems with the stream format with some of them - for years]) and CPU usage (SS works ok 24/7 with 8 cams on a 2012 2,5GHz i5 mini - on its upper thermal limit - and rarely crashes - that is with medium resolution in live view, low frame rate and "AI" off or only partially enabled, with Continous and Motion data streamed to external USB disks).
SecSpy was always building on the reliability of MacOS. A 2012 MacMini still does the trick - and why would I actually want to invest a lot of money into new Apple hardware, when a PC would do the same job, or even better, for less. Although maybe not as reliably as that old mini on HighSierra. So, I would maybe consider upgrading the number of cameras. But the price is too high. If SecSpy´s marketing is true, a one time low cost per-camera-upgrade should be available.
Not everybody who runs some old Apple hardware is a millionaire ...
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I'm not sure how I missed the Version 6 announcement (and the 33% discount), but the new release looks like a great improvement. Now I just need to work the upgrade into the budget 😀
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Hi @brianwells since you've only just missed the deadline, we can still extend the 33% offer to you this week. Please email us and we'll send you a special payment link.
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I'll whisper this so Ben doesn't hear it, but for me he could double the price of the software and I'd still be a happy customer. The product and support is outstanding. The amount of time in the past that I have spent fiddling around with Chinese NVRs such as Hikvision dwarfs the cost of SS. I have installed it at 4 different locations, replacing dedicated NVRs in each case and couldn't be happier.
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Further to the above discussion, and in response to user feedback, we have now added a 24-camera license level. This is significantly less expensive than a 32-camera license, and will therefore a great option for many users who want to expand their systems beyond 16 cameras. New licenses can be purchased at the SecuritySpy Store and upgrades can be purchased at the Upgrade Store.
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Hey Ben. Curious about how software update checking works for view only SS6 clients. The "check for updates" function is only available on my licensed server. I would like to have an update check and install function on my clients as well.
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Hi @captainkrunch in version 6.2 and onwards, updates will also be offered to non-registered instances. On these Macs, please manually download and install version 6.2 from the download page, and thereafter you will be able to do this in-app.
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Hi Ben…
I’m having an issue with an 8 camera license I renewed exactly one month ago. Thought I’d post this here because the issue I’m having appears to be license related.
My setup: An Intel Mac Mini in a closet running a licensed SS 6.2. I screen-share into the Mini with an M2-based MacBook Pro running an unlicensed copy of SS 6.2.
For the last month that has worked great. I see all eight cameras screen-sharing into the Mini for the last 30 days.
Ditto using my laptop running an unlicensed copy of SS 6.2 on the same network via WiFi.
Starting yesterday, at the end of the 30 day trial period, I can no longer run the unlicensed copy of SS 6.2 on my laptop via my network. It works for around 10 seconds where I can see all of my cameras, and then each of the 8 camera images go black with a “Trial expired” message with a red X. Right at the beginning of running SS 6.2 on my laptop there’s a warning message that my trial expires in 0 days.
Running SS on my iPhone still works great and is solid all day long.
As an experiment, I licensed my laptop copy of SS, but then that causes my licensed copy of SS on my Mini to become unlicensed - as expected.
So… I then unlicensed my laptop copy and re-licensed my Mini copy. And the problem still persists - SS runs great on my laptop via WiFi for about 10 seconds displaying all 8 cameras, and then after ten seconds the images go black with the “Trial expired” message in each of the 8 blacked-out camera spaces.
Since SS 6.2 has been running solid for the last month, and now blacks out with “Trial expired” messages, I guessing I’m doing something wrong with respect to licensing.
Your thoughts on how to get setup back running? Thanks in advance.
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Hi @citysnaps the key here is that the unlicensed instance of SecuritySpy on your MacBook must pull the video feeds from the licensed SecuritySpy instance on the Mac mini, as described here: SecuritySpy as Remote Viewing Software.
An unlicensed instance of SecuritySpy, after the trial period, will not connect directly to the cameras themselves to obtain the video feeds; it will only allow you to connect to a licensed SecuritySpy instance.
I hope this allows you to resolve the problem by reconfiguring SecuritySpy on your MacBook as per the information in the manual linked to above.
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Thanks, Ben! Everything's working great now - I appreciate your speedy response. I had forgotten about needing to do that. It's been awhile since setting up SecuritySpy 4 years ago.
The above is telling me I really need to read the new 6.2 manual!
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Hi Ben, just adding my two pennies worth in that I'd love to see a 12-camera license please as I only need two more cameras (a couple of cheap WyzeCams via Wyze Bridge) on top of my current 8-camera license. You would have my money straight away if this was available! :)
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@Ben, just getting caught up on SS things, v6 and new pricing…
Thinking that we would be getting additional cameras installed last March (2023) I paid to upgrade our 16 license to 32 and while at went ahead and purchased an additional 8 license that I knew I'd need eventually. Unfortunately the cameras didn't get installed so we've not used these (though I think I did register the 32 license on the 16 system).
Somehow I missed something in the licensing and had I known I'd not have purchased these until absolutely needed rather than pre-purchasing thinking that these would be good. Now I'm feeling a bit caught out.
Best,
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Thanks Ben, I'll get that off to you guys. I think whatever you think is fair. I shouldn't have purchased the licenses until I had the cameras installed and needed them but didn't want to get caught having help available and then having to take time to do all of the license stuff so my fault.
Best,
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Update: we have now introduced 12-camera licenses. Please refer to this newer discussion for more information.
