Interesting news from the Viewfinder mailing list ...
Today, 24th July, based on the current support situation and the results of the polls running on the Windfall Engineering and Viewfinder mailing lists, the following has been decided.
Viewfinder software updates will no longer be provided for free, but on a subscription basis, and will be 'locked' to the particular machine that the Viewfinder runs in (via the machine's ID chip) and/or to the Viewfinder itself via other codes.
Software updates will be provided via email only. If you use more than one Viewfinder, you will need as many subscriptions.
Subscriptions are valid for one year, starting on the date of subscription. All software updates produced during the subscription period will be made available free of charge.
How many software updates will be provided in any particular subscription period, and what they will offer in terms of new features and bugfixes, is at Windfall Engineering's discretion.
Currently version 1.47 awaits with, among other new features, support for bank switching via OS_Byte 112 and 113. A few other major enhancements are planned, their realisation depending on the development of the subscription scheme.
An 'anchor' date determines the subscription fee. For current users, this is today (24th July 2002). For users who have yet to buy their Viewfinder, this is the date of purchase.
Within two months from the anchor date, the subscription fee is 100 Euro. Between two and twelve months from the anchor date, the subscription fee is 150 Euro.
All subscribers need to provide proof of the date of purchase, their Viewfinder's serial number, and the magic code provided by Viewfinder software versions 1.46 onwards via the command
*ViewfinderInformation.
Version 1.46 of the ViewFinder software is now available via ViewFinder's Product Support page on the Windfall Engineering website at
http://www.windfall.nl [4]
To update your ViewFinder software, download the '.bin' file mentioned. This is a Spark archive. Unpack the BASIC program inside the archive. Reboot your system 'as is' (i.e. without
disabling ViewFinder), run the BASIC program, and hard-reset your machine after the program has finished.
Besides providing a way to obtain the magic code, version 1.46 is identical to version 1.45 (which is identical to version 1.44 except for version 1.45's support for Sapphire Rage 128 Pro AGP cards).
All current users are requested to upgrade to version 1.46 of the Viewfinder software.
Version 1.46 (and only version 1.46) will be provided on new Viewfinder cards. It is the last 'free' version.
Subscription fees can be paid for in the ways described under 'Purchasing Products' on the Windfall Engineering website.
A subscription request (email to kortink@inter.nl.net [5] or snail mail to Windfall Engineering, Aawal 53, 5211 PS, Den Bosch, The Netherlands) must be accompanied by :
- Proof of date of purchase (being a copy of your invoice or receipt).
- The Viewfinder serial number (you can find this on your card, near the corner where the power supply and the back side of the machine meet).
- Your magic code (as displayed by *ViewfinderInformation, available from versions 1.46 or later of the Viewfinder software).
The subscription date is established on arrival of payment.
You may also like to ask your dealer to handle the subscription for you. Note that they may charge you a fee. Users that have purchased their card from Windfall Engineering should contact
me directly.
John Kortink
Windfall Engineering
