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Amiga News and Community Announcements => Amiga News and Community Announcements => Topic started by: SysAdmin on July 21, 2010, 01:41:27 AM

Title: Open Video Toaster Instant Download ISO going up in price
Post by: SysAdmin on July 21, 2010, 01:41:27 AM
(http://www.discreetfx.com/openvt/images/openvideotoasterimage.png)

The price of the Open Video Toaster Instant Download ISO will be going up. You will still be able to download the main Source code parts of the Amiga Video Toaster Flyer for free but the more complete Source code CD-ROM ISO will no longer be $9.95.
 
We will honor the $9.95 price for the rest of this week so you have a few days to buy if it's something you want or need.
 
 
Free Source Code to Open Video Toaster and/or buying the Instant Download ISO can be done via the link below.
 
 
Open Video Toaster (http://www.openvideotoaster.org)
Title: Re: Open Video Toaster Instant Download ISO going up in price
Post by: SACC-guy on July 21, 2010, 08:04:02 AM
I went to the link...and there's only a donate button.
Nothing on the paypal page shows a cd being bought?
What gives?

confused,
Michael
Title: Re: Open Video Toaster Instant Download ISO going up in price
Post by: Pyromania on July 21, 2010, 01:56:00 PM
@SACC-guy

It's the first Paypal button at the right lower bottom of the page.
Title: Re: Open Video Toaster Instant Download ISO going up in price
Post by: AmigaHeretic on July 21, 2010, 05:41:40 PM
From the website:
Quote
Vistors to the site downloaded over 57 Gigabytes of source code in February alone! When you consider that the code to the Amiga Video Toaster Flyer is only about 30MB that is a lot of unique downloads.

As we suspected there has been a very high demand for this code ever since it was first promised and we are now pleased to fulfill that demand.

Bandwith overage fees for February were $387.01. We have many exciting ideas that have yet to be implemented for this site but can't continue to pay such high monthly bandwith costs alone.



Couldn't you guys just make this ISO a torrent? Seems like a perfect use of bit torrent to me.  Community helping share bandwidth.
Title: Re: Open Video Toaster Instant Download ISO going up in price
Post by: SACC-guy on July 21, 2010, 08:24:05 PM
@Pyro

Ok I used that. Did it work?

Michael
Title: Re: Open Video Toaster Instant Download ISO going up in price
Post by: Trev on July 21, 2010, 08:24:22 PM
He'd have to seed the torrent just like he hosts the ISO image.
Title: Re: Open Video Toaster Instant Download ISO going up in price
Post by: AmigaHeretic on July 21, 2010, 08:36:20 PM
Quote from: Trev;571418
He'd have to seed the torrent just like he hosts the ISO image.


??
Title: Re: Open Video Toaster Instant Download ISO going up in price
Post by: Pyromania on July 21, 2010, 11:45:59 PM
Quote from: AmigaHeretic;571368
From the website: Couldn't you guys just make this ISO a torrent? Seems like a perfect use of bit torrent to me.  Community helping share bandwidth.


Of course we could make it a torrent. The price is not going up do to bandwith issues. It's going up to put more funds into Open Video Toaster bounties and thus generate more interest in the code.

@SACC-guy

Yes, you should have gotten FTP download instructions from us.
Title: Re: Open Video Toaster Instant Download ISO going up in price
Post by: AmigaHeretic on July 22, 2010, 12:01:35 AM
Quote from: Pyromania;571469
Of course we could make it a torrent. The price is not going up do to bandwith issues. It's going up to put more funds into Open Video Toaster bounties and thus generate more interest in the code.


Then why does your post start out: "Sadly we have to raise the price..."
Title: Re: Open Video Toaster Instant Download ISO going up in price
Post by: Pyromania on July 22, 2010, 12:32:04 AM
Quote from: AmigaHeretic;571472
Then why does your post start out: "Sadly we have to raise the price..."


We don't like raising prices but do it when necessary.
Title: Re: Open Video Toaster Instant Download ISO going up in price
Post by: AmigaHeretic on July 22, 2010, 12:41:00 AM
Quote from: Pyromania;571480
We don't like raising prices but do it when necessary.


I understand that, but if you are not raising prices for bandwidth then what is the reason?

My understanding is Newtek released the source code to Amiga Users "to thank them for their support."  Not for someone to sell.  If you are covering bandwidth costs I think that is fine, but you don't need bandwidth so what is the reason you "Sadly we have to raise" the price?
Title: Re: Open Video Toaster Instant Download ISO going up in price
Post by: Pyromania on July 22, 2010, 12:54:27 AM
Quote from: AmigaHeretic;571485
I understand that, but if you are not raising prices for bandwidth then what is the reason?

My understanding is Newtek released the source code to Amiga Users "to thank them for their support."  Not for someone to sell.  If you are covering bandwidth costs I think that is fine, but you don't need bandwidth so what is the reason you "Sadly we have to raise" the price?


The original idea to release the source code was mine back in 1998 (Please reference Amazing Computing article "Playing with NewTek"). NewTek finally let it happen in 2004 and that was fantastic news. You are free to download all the main source code for free. Your also free to not buy the ISO.

:)

The price increase is to add more funds into the bounties to help Amiga OS 4.x, MorphOS & AROS get more advanced video editing/production software.
Title: Re: Open Video Toaster Instant Download ISO going up in price
Post by: SACC-guy on July 22, 2010, 01:10:31 AM
@Pyro

Got it. Great, many thanks.
I noticed a lot more files than I expected from other sources.
This was a big bonus of the iso.
OPPS! I didn't get at first that it was a iso download. Kind of expected it to be mailed.
This was a lot faster then downloading files one by one.

Michael
Title: Re: Open Video Toaster Instant Download ISO going up in price
Post by: AmigaHeretic on July 22, 2010, 01:23:03 AM
Quote from: Pyromania;571487

The price increase is to add more funds into the bounties to help Amiga OS 4.x, MorphOS & AROS get more advanced video editing/production software.


Putting aside the ethics of selling Newtek's source code for more than just the distribution costs (even if it's for a project that may benefit many of us)

It seems a little disingenuous to post that you "sadly have to raise" the price when it seems like you really are just saying you want to.  

I'm not trying to put you down or the work on getting the source code released.  The whole things seems a little strange though.


That and the fact that it appears (don't know how current the site is) that 11 people have ever even bought the CD, wouldn't you think it would make more sense to drop the price down to something like $5 and make an announcement to try to get more people to DL it?  If they ain't getting it at $10 how likely are they to decide to get it when you raise the price more?
Title: Re: Open Video Toaster Instant Download ISO going up in price
Post by: kolla on July 22, 2010, 01:29:50 AM
Noone has asked the obvious question? What is the new price? :)
(not that I really care...)
Title: Re: Open Video Toaster Instant Download ISO going up in price
Post by: Pyromania on July 22, 2010, 01:39:00 AM
No long drawn out megadramatic threads on Amiga.org AmigaHeretic like you did on amigaworld.net


You have been warned.


:)


The ISO includes much more than just NewTek stuff. New price will be $19.95 for those that are just dying to know now.
Title: Re: Open Video Toaster Instant Download ISO going up in price
Post by: AmigaHeretic on July 22, 2010, 01:43:50 AM
Quote from: Pyromania;571493
No long drawn out megadramatic threads on Amiga.org AmigaHeretic like you did on amigaworld.net


You have been warned.


:)


The ISO includes much more than just NewTek stuff. New price will be $19.95 for those that are just dying to know now.



Wow... so professional.
Title: Re: Open Video Toaster Instant Download ISO going up in price
Post by: Pyromania on July 22, 2010, 01:47:47 AM
Quote from: AmigaHeretic;571495
Wow... so professional.


We aim to please.
Title: Re: Open Video Toaster Instant Download ISO going up in price
Post by: AmigaHeretic on July 22, 2010, 01:55:18 AM
Quote from: Pyromania;571497
We aim to please.


As long as pleasing isn't defined as getting people their AmiZilla bounties back. :-)
Title: Re: Open Video Toaster Instant Download ISO going up in price
Post by: Pyromania on July 22, 2010, 01:58:05 AM
Quote from: AmigaHeretic;571499
As long as pleasing isn't defined as getting people their AmiZilla bounties back. :-)


We treated AmiZilla donators very good. They earned interest on their money and were able to get it back or donate it to Project Timberwolf. We also covered the Paypal fees so no one lost money on that except for us.
Title: Re: Open Video Toaster Instant Download ISO going up in price
Post by: amigadave on July 22, 2010, 04:49:03 AM
I don't think I know of any other "Community" of fans or users that is more critical than the Amiga Community.  It can be a very uncomfortable position to be placed under such a powerful magnifying glass.  Seems that there is always a few people that have to complain and try to throw mud.

I was one of those that got my AmiZilla donation back, very promptly I might add and it kind of upsets me to see these repeated attempts to make "Pyromania" / DiscreetFX look bad.  Probably by people that have no interest in purchasing or downloading for free the source code for the NewTek Toaster/Flyer and related third party programs.

I am no DiscreetFX fanboy and I know that they have disappointed some people in the past, who hasn't, we are all human.  But I give them credit for what they have done, have tried to do, and their continued interest and support in the Amiga community.  It is too bad that we have to see what amounts to personal attacks on a public forum.
Title: Re: Open Video Toaster Instant Download ISO going up in price
Post by: amigadave on July 22, 2010, 05:09:26 AM
Quote from: Pyromania;571334
@SACC-guy

It's the first Paypal button at the right lower bottom of the page.

The page must render differently on my MacBook using Firefox because all the Paypal buttons are on the left side of the page.

Is it the first, topmost Paypal button?
Title: Re: Open Video Toaster Instant Download ISO going up in price
Post by: AmigaHeretic on July 22, 2010, 05:22:37 AM
Quote from: amigadave;571513
I don't think I know of any other "Community" of fans


I'm just saying the whole thing stinks of rotting fish.

First the "sadly we have to" then when I make a suggestion to help out with bandwidth (that is the last news post on the OVT site about bandwidth costs) I get slagged off and get a "different" story.  More funds for the bounty.

Then when I asked for clarification I get, slagged off some more, warned, unprofessionally bringing up a site that is not his nor any of his business.  The whole thing is shady.


Yeah, sorry I offered to help with bandwidth ideas.  What a jerk I am.  Geez...
Title: Re: Open Video Toaster Instant Download ISO going up in price
Post by: amigadave on July 22, 2010, 06:47:28 AM
Nice try.  I'll agree with your last sentence though.
Title: Re: Open Video Toaster Instant Download ISO going up in price
Post by: Pyromania on July 22, 2010, 06:57:36 AM
Quote from: AmigaHeretic;571519
I'm just saying the whole thing stinks of rotting fish.

First the "sadly we have to" then when I make a suggestion to help out with bandwidth (that is the last news post on the OVT site about bandwidth costs) I get slagged off and get a "different" story.  More funds for the bounty.

Then when I asked for clarification I get, slagged off some more, warned, unprofessionally bringing up a site that is not his nor any of his business.  The whole thing is shady.


Yeah, sorry I offered to help with bandwidth ideas.  What a jerk I am.  Geez...

Your right the bandwith overage message is confusing. We are in the process of removing that now. It is actually from Open Video Toaster's launch month over six years ago. The message has been on the website unchanged for six long years. You must not really be interested in the project if you only noticed it now.

Still we agree it did sound confusing and it's being removed. Sorry you feel that something is shady but your more then welcome to your opinion. That is usually how it goes by the way. The most vocal against a project don't actually have anything invested in it.


@amigadave

Lower left button yes your right. We mistyped on that one.

:)
Title: Re: Open Video Toaster Instant Download ISO going up in price
Post by: Pyromania on July 22, 2010, 07:21:52 AM
@AmigaHeretic

Did you also read the message below on openvideotoaster.org?

It has also been on the site for over six years.

"If you would like to help support Open Video Toaster you can do so via Paypal. Bandwidth charges have been met for now. Future donations will begin to go into the bounty pool so that the source-code can be updated. "
Title: Re: Open Video Toaster Instant Download ISO going up in price
Post by: AmigaHeretic on July 22, 2010, 06:11:39 PM
Quote from: Pyromania;571538
@AmigaHeretic

Did you also read the message below on openvideotoaster.org?

It has also been on the site for over six years.

"If you would like to help support Open Video Toaster you can do so via Paypal. Bandwidth charges have been met for now. Future donations will begin to go into the bounty pool so that the source-code can be updated. "


I saw that second part too, but thats part of what made it more confusing.  With your first post in this thread and reading what had happened, it looked like you guys were 'again' having bandwidth charge issues, hence the need for a price change in the ISO.  

Again, my suggestion was meant to help get donation in forms other than cash, i.e. bandwidth.

I apologize for any hurt feelings here.  But can we agree your original posts wording is strange for just wanting to grow support for bounties?

I still stand by the belief that if you wanted to bring in more money for the bounty quickly, than making it $5 for a time combined with announcing your want to grow the bounties quickly.  The full NewTek source code in a single ISO I think would has Historic value, and at $5, all those that have no actual need for the source code could be enticed to help out knowing they get something.

I just can't see how you get more people(that don't already have the ISO) interested in downloading it for 2x the price.
Title: Re: Open Video Toaster Instant Download ISO going up in price
Post by: Pyromania on July 22, 2010, 10:14:24 PM
@AmigaHeretic

Agreed the wording was bad and outdated. It is being changed to be more clear. I'll pass along your $5 idea to the others.
Title: Re: Open Video Toaster Instant Download ISO going up in price
Post by: Trev on July 23, 2010, 12:21:39 AM
Quote from: AmigaHeretic;571423
??

BitTorrent only works as long as at least one peer has the bits you need. The only way to insure that is to host a permanent seed. The Video Toaster sources do not share the same level of popularity as World of Warcraft or Lady Gaga, so in all likelihood, Bill would have to seed the ISO image indefinitely. In any case, he's already said bandwidth charges weren't the impetus for the change, although he certainly implied that at the beginning. ;-)

EDIT: Mini-rant not directed at anyone in particular: We all pay for bandwidth, and the only "winners" are the large telcos, who whine whenever anyone tries to use the bandwidth that's already been paid for.
Title: Re: Open Video Toaster Instant Download ISO going up in price
Post by: Pyromania on July 23, 2010, 12:37:13 AM
@Trev

Sorry for the confusion.
Title: Re: Open Video Toaster Instant Download ISO going up in price
Post by: kedawa on July 23, 2010, 12:55:25 AM
Quote from: Pyromania;571529
The message has been on the website unchanged for six long years. You must not really be interested in the project if you only noticed it now.


LOL.  The maintainers of the website must not really be interested in the project if there's that little activity on the page.
Title: Re: Open Video Toaster Instant Download ISO going up in price
Post by: AmigaHeretic on July 23, 2010, 02:08:22 AM
Quote from: Trev;571706
BitTorrent only works as long as at least one peer has the bits you need. The only way to insure that is to host a permanent seed. The Video Toaster sources do not share the same level of popularity as World of Warcraft or Lady Gaga, so in all likelihood, Bill would have to seed the ISO image indefinitely. In any case, he's already said bandwidth charges weren't the impetus for the change, although he certainly implied that at the beginning. ;-)

EDIT: Mini-rant not directed at anyone in particular: We all pay for bandwidth, and the only "winners" are the large telcos, who whine whenever anyone tries to use the bandwidth that's already been paid for.


I see where you were going.  I was thinking/suggesting the community does the seeding and the OVT site could still have the regular download too.  Many sites I've seen that need large bandwidth for something like this usually have the bittorent link listed first with a message asking to please use that if possible. Then the standard http/ftp download option listed a little smaller and second.

The message had said they paid over $300 in a single month for bandwidth overages.  So in effect they'd still have the file for those that don't want to use the torrent, but we would be helping relieve that overage.  Hence in effect donating $300+ a month.
Title: Re: Open Video Toaster Instant Download ISO going up in price
Post by: Piru on July 23, 2010, 08:03:58 AM
Quote from: Trev;571706
BitTorrent only works as long as at least one peer has the bits you need. The only way to insure that is to host a permanent seed. The Video Toaster sources do not share the same level of popularity as World of Warcraft or Lady Gaga, so in all likelihood, Bill would have to seed the ISO image indefinitely.

He could easily limit the upload speed to something sensible, say 20KB/s. Even if he was seeding all the time (which would be highly unlikely with such low interest torrent) the traffic would be only 1.6GB per day.