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: | ||
{{Quote box | {{Quote box | ||
|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."}} | |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."}} | ||
== | ==Revocation of lifetime licenses== | ||
In the summer of 2022 Paltalk [[Retroactively amended purchase|retroactively amended]] the purchase of its ManyCam software, blocking "Lifetime" subscribers from updating to the newest version, leaving them without access to the software they had already purchased. | In the summer of 2022 Paltalk [[Retroactively amended purchase|retroactively amended]] the purchase of its ManyCam software, blocking "Lifetime" subscribers from updating to the newest version, leaving them without access to the software they had already purchased. | ||
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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> | 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> | ||
On July | On July 1, 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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====Retroactive change to ManyCam FAQ Page==== | ====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 | 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:<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> | <blockquote> | ||
'''ManyCam Lifetime subscription plans''' | '''ManyCam Lifetime subscription plans''' | ||
Any paid | 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> | </blockquote> | ||
This change replaced "ManyCam" with "ManyCam 7". Thus their statement effectively made no promises of any upgrades, because ManyCam 8 had already been released and Paltalk was no longer developing new versions of ManyCam 7. | |||
==Customer | ==Customer reaction== | ||
After Paltalk's acquisition of ManyCam, many customers posted their experiences and complaints on both personal web blogs and the official ManyCam | After Paltalk's acquisition of ManyCam, many customers posted their experiences and complaints on both personal web blogs and the official ManyCam forums. | ||
One user created a post on their personal web blog, describing the situation:<ref name="Amazing CTO (Blog): ManyCam dishonored my lifetime license">[https://web.archive.org/web/20230413205720/https://www.amazingcto.com/beware-manycam-licensing-pricing/ "ManyCam dishonored my lifetime license"] amazingcto.com via The Internet Archive</ref> | One user created a post on their personal web blog, describing the situation:<ref name="Amazing CTO (Blog): ManyCam dishonored my lifetime license">[https://web.archive.org/web/20230413205720/https://www.amazingcto.com/beware-manycam-licensing-pricing/ "ManyCam dishonored my lifetime license"] amazingcto.com via The Internet Archive</ref> | ||
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</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
As is evident from these posts, many customers were unhappy about being placed in the situation that Paltalk put them in, and felt that Paltalk was being dishonest because their actions constituted a classic [[bait and switch|bait-and-switch]] tactic. Other users agreed with this assessment, saying that they were " | As is evident from these posts, many customers were unhappy about being placed in the situation that Paltalk put them in, and felt that Paltalk was being dishonest because their actions constituted a classic [[bait and switch|bait-and-switch]] tactic. Other users agreed with this assessment, saying that they were "disgusted":<ref name="ManyCam Forums: Lifetime Sub no longer valid">[https://web.archive.org/web/20231024221248/https://forum.manycam.com/t/lifetime-sub-no-longer-valid-manycam-8/6456 "ManyCam Forums: Lifetime Sub no longer valid"] forum.manycam.com via The Internet Archive</ref> | ||
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Yet another customer was upset about changes to the app which Paltalk made to advertise their other self-titled app, " | Yet another customer was upset about changes to the app which Paltalk made to advertise their other self-titled app, "Paltalk".<ref name="ManyCam Forums: Don't Upgrade to ManyCam 8! - 2022-07-05"></ref> | ||
{{Quote box|quote=[USERNAME REDACTED] August 7, 2022, 10:59pm #54 | {{Quote box|quote=[USERNAME REDACTED] August 7, 2022, 10:59pm #54 | ||
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As evident from these forum posts, many paying customers were not pleased and driven away from ManyCam because of Paltalk's actions. | As evident from these forum posts, many paying customers were not pleased and driven away from ManyCam because of Paltalk's actions. Understandably, those paying customers were very unhappy when their "lifetime" license no longer worked, as it had for all other versions prior to ManyCam version 8. Customers noticed that the company had changed the terms of their lifetime licenses after they had purchased such licenses under the promises of free future upgrades. One customer related their experiences with previous upgrades to compare and contrast with the new situation and highlight their perception of the company's dishonest behavior:<ref name="ManyCam Forums: Lifetime Sub no longer valid"></ref> | ||