ManyCam: Difference between revisions
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ManyCam is a live video-streaming software application owned by [[Paltalk]], formerly known as [[AVM Software]]. ManyCam.com describes the application as | ManyCam is a live video-streaming software application owned by [[Paltalk]], formerly known as [[AVM Software]]. ManyCam.com describes the application as: | ||
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|quote=" .. an easy-to-use virtual camera and live streaming software that helps you deliver professional live videos on streaming platforms, video conferencing apps, and remote learning tools."}} | |||
== | == Revoking of lifetime licenses == | ||
In the summer of 2022 Paltalk [[Retroactively amended purchase|retroactively amended]] the purchase of it ManyCam software, blocking "Lifetime" subscribers from updating to the newest version, leaving them without access to their software. | |||
Prior to ManyCam's acquisition by Paltalk in 2022, ManyCam offered lifetime licenses which were advertised as including all future versions and upgrades for a one-time payment a fact made evinted by the staments on the ManyCam website, up until March 2002, that <q>Any paid ManyCam Lifetime subscription allows you to upgrade the ManyCam software for free whenever a newer version of ManyCam is released</q> and that <q>ManyCam Lifetime subscription plans are a one-time payment, no renewal or other fees included</q><ref name="ManyCam Knowledge Base: Will I get all future versions and updates of ManyCam for free?"> [https://web.archive.org/web/20220317113659/https://help.manycam.com/knowledge-base/manycam-devices-video-sources/ "ManyCam Knowledge Base: Will I get all future versions and updates of ManyCam for free?"] manycam.com via The Internet Archive </ref>. | |||
After acquiring ManyCam in June 2022, Paltalk released an update out for customers to upgrade to ManyCam 8.0.0, a version of the software with which the lifetime licenses did not work.<ref name="ManyCam Forum: Activation many cam 8 and many cam lite - 2022-07-05"> [https://web.archive.org/web/20220705084722/https://forum.manycam.com/t/activation-many-cam-8-and-many-cam-lite/6448 "ManyCam Forum: Activation many cam 8 and many cam lite"] manycam.com via The Internet Archive on July 5th, 2022</ref> | |||
As ManyCam 7 was configured by default to notify users of any new versions available for upgrades under the "lifetime" license, many users followed the usual upgrade path to ManyCam 8, and were unable to activate their "lifetime" license as usual.<ref name="ManyCam Forum: Activation many cam 8 and many cam lite - 2022-07-05" />Presumably this was not properly communicated with many customers, as many expressed their surprise when their lifetime licenses stopped working like they used to. <ref name="ManyCam Forums: Don't Upgrade to ManyCam 8! - 2022-07-05">[https://web.archive.org/web/20220705095408/https://forum.manycam.com/t/dont-upgrade-to-manycam-8/6440 "ManyCam Forums: Don't Upgrade to ManyCam 8!"] forum.manycam.com via The Internet Archive on July 5th, 2022</ref> | |||
[[File:ManyCam 7 Lifetime Studio notifies of updates by default.png|alt=A screenshot of ManyCam 7 with Lifetime Studio with default settings. The "Notify me about new ManyCam versions" setting is enabled by default.|thumb|A screenshot of ManyCam 7 Lifetime Studio with default settings. The "Notify me about new ManyCam versions" setting is enabled by default.]]On July 1st 2022, a "Guest Writer" who was posting under the guise of Visicom Media, the previous owner, made a blog post on the official ManyCam.com website: <ref name="ManyCam Blog: Update for ManyCam Lifetime Subscriptions">[https://web.archive.org/web/20230531011812/https://manycam.com/blog/update-for-manycam-lifetime-subscriptions/ "ManyCam Blog: Update for ManyCam Lifetime Subscriptions"] manycam.com via The Interner Archive</ref> | |||
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"ManyCam is now under new ownership. The new owner does not offer Lifetime subscriptions. Some Lifetime customers have been concerned about their ability to use their subscription in the future. The intent was never to interfere with that ability of current Lifetime customers. | |||
Visicom Media stands by the Lifetime customers and will continue to support them by arranging with the new owner for a total of two years of free subscription. This offer can be claimed in the ManyCam account on the webpage. At the user’s request, and upon the expiration of the two-year free subscription, Visicom Media will offer an upgrade to any current Lifetime customers who continue to need such access." | |||
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==== Retroactive change to ManyCam FAQ Page ==== | |||
After the release of the ManyCam 8.0.0 update, around June 18, 2022, Paltalk modified the ManyCam Knowledge Base webpage to change the stated terms regarding the ManyCam Lifetime subscription plans (emphasis added on): <ref name="ManyCam Knowledge Base (Modified by Paltalk): Will I get all future versions and updates of ManyCam for free?">[https://web.archive.org/web/20220618021632/https://help.manycam.com/knowledge-base/manycam-devices-video-sources/ " Will I get all future versions and updates of ManyCam for free?"] manycam.com via The Internet Archive ''After being aquired by Patatalk'' </ref> | |||
<blockquote> | |||
'''ManyCam Lifetime subscription plans''' | |||
Any paid ''''ManyCam 7'''' Lifetime subscription allows you to upgrade the ''''ManyCam 7'''' software for free whenever a newer version of ''''ManyCam 7'''' is released, i.e. with ''''ManyCam 7 Lifetime'''', you will get lifetime access to all future versions and updates of the ''''ManyCam 7'''' application for free, which includes access to the paid ''''ManyCam 7'''' features available in your subscription plan (Standard, Studio, Premium, Enterprise, Education). ''''ManyCam 7 Lifetime'''' subscription plans are a one-time payment, no renewal or other fees included. | |||
</blockquote> | |||
The new language simply replaced ''"ManyCam"'' with ''"ManyCam 7"'' and their statement effectively made '''no promises of any upgrades''' because ManyCam 8 had already been released, and no new versions of ManyCam 7 were to be worked on by Paltalk. | |||
== Customer Reaction == | |||
After Paltalk's acquisition of ManyCam, many customers posted their experiences and complaints on both personal web blogs and the official ManyCam Forums. | After Paltalk's acquisition of ManyCam, many customers posted their experiences and complaints on both personal web blogs and the official ManyCam Forums. | ||
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Indeed, as "AmazingCTO" and this user observed, most human beings would concur that a "lifetime" is a span of time much greater than one year. As such, these customers perceived Paltalk to be disingenuous by not honoring the "lifetime" license agreement. | Indeed, as "AmazingCTO" and this user observed, most human beings would concur that a "lifetime" is a span of time much greater than one year. As such, these customers perceived Paltalk to be disingenuous by not honoring the "lifetime" license agreement. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||