testing
Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2008 3:32 am
Been having some trouble with the forum latley just testing to see if this posts, ignore me
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Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2008 10:31 am
me too
Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2008 1:20 pm
The last two times something similar happened, the server was hacked by a spammer. I'm not claiming it happened again, because it could just as well be that the database simply broke.
I've reported the hacks the last two times, but I'm a bit tired of pointing to possible security holes on this server. If security has such a low priority, I let it be. Perhaps someone else is willing to look for it, but I think I pass this time around. It is just too time-consuming to search for files that aren't linked from the forums or main website.
I've reported the hacks the last two times, but I'm a bit tired of pointing to possible security holes on this server. If security has such a low priority, I let it be. Perhaps someone else is willing to look for it, but I think I pass this time around. It is just too time-consuming to search for files that aren't linked from the forums or main website.
Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 3:40 am
I'm having problems too.
Dale
Dale
Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 9:57 am
I can post to existing threads but I can't seem to create new topics. I can't use search either... although I could the other day.
According to the error it looks like a corrupted file. Both types of errors (posting and search) are showing the same file as a problem, a list of "words".
I contacted both Agent Smith and Lost Marble. Hopefully this is temporary.
-vern
According to the error it looks like a corrupted file. Both types of errors (posting and search) are showing the same file as a problem, a list of "words".
I contacted both Agent Smith and Lost Marble. Hopefully this is temporary.
-vern
Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 10:23 am
So let me get this straight. Although Smith Micro have allegedly purchased Anime Studio Pro, they do not support it. There has been no new release for about 18 months now, and we do not even get promises any more. Company representation on this forum is as close to non-existent as makes no difference. And in order to have a localised version of AS, you have to buy it all over again. Wow, this really sucks...
Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 10:23 am
So let me get this straight. Although Smith Micro have allegedly purchased Anime Studio Pro, they do not support it. (Imean, what the hell HAVE they done?) There has been no new release for about 18 months now, and we do not even get promises any more. Company representation on this (now malfunctioning) forum is as close to non-existent as makes no difference. And in order to have a localised version of AS, you have to buy it all over again. Wow, this really sucks...(And I can't even post this tirade!!!)
Well, obviously I CAN post this tirade!!! I have sent this text to Agent_Smith; be interested to hear his response...
Well, obviously I CAN post this tirade!!! I have sent this text to Agent_Smith; be interested to hear his response...
Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 11:31 am
Of course, there still is Adobe Flash, ToonBoom Studio, and other software. There is no one who says you must use Anime Studio Pro. Voting with your wallet seems to be a good method to pressure vendors to clean up their act.
If you buy animation software, you buy the user community with it, a very vocal and creative user community. Once users start to leave, your software is doomed. We have seen this many times.
We used to have someone from the vendor visiting the site, even asking specifically for certain content (tutorials), which was great.
However, I never have seen a post by Agent Smith --unless he uses that gizmo (the MIB Neuralyzer) to wipe your memory
If you buy animation software, you buy the user community with it, a very vocal and creative user community. Once users start to leave, your software is doomed. We have seen this many times.
We used to have someone from the vendor visiting the site, even asking specifically for certain content (tutorials), which was great.
However, I never have seen a post by Agent Smith --unless he uses that gizmo (the MIB Neuralyzer) to wipe your memory
Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 12:04 pm
I didn't post this because I don't want to use AS -- I posted it because I DO. If I didn't care, I wouldn't bother. And I already have both Flash and (an old copy of) ToonBoom, so it's not like I'm posting out of ignorance of the competition...
If I "vote with my wallet", Smith Micro wouldn't do anything -- but then again, how would we know? And if EVERYONE voted with their wallets, Smith Micro wouldn't "clean up their act" -- they'd just ditch the software and move on. From their actions so far, Smith Micro's commitment is so small it's difficult to measure properly...
If I "vote with my wallet", Smith Micro wouldn't do anything -- but then again, how would we know? And if EVERYONE voted with their wallets, Smith Micro wouldn't "clean up their act" -- they'd just ditch the software and move on. From their actions so far, Smith Micro's commitment is so small it's difficult to measure properly...
Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 12:57 pm
When you purchase a something (a car a TV device a computer...) you usually read carefully the warranty period and the terms of support. We lack on this caution when purchase software specially if it is "cheap".
I don't find in any place of the terms and conditions of the EULA that this forum would work for ever, that anyone from e-Frontier (aka Smith Micro) would support it or that there must be a regular free update of the software.
If you're a professional animator you don't only buy software, you usually should buy its mainteniance and regular update. But you should pay more. If instead of pay for one copy of the program you pay for rent the program you can blame to the supplier for the lack of support and updates. But that's not the case.
Open your mind to other animation programs (test the opensource/free ones, and test the trial ones from privative software companies) probably you will improve your skills, find more art expression possibilities and increase your curriculum. Take it as an oportunity.
You cannot control what Smith Micro's Headquarters decide. They just want to earn money, don't forget that.
-G
I don't find in any place of the terms and conditions of the EULA that this forum would work for ever, that anyone from e-Frontier (aka Smith Micro) would support it or that there must be a regular free update of the software.
If you're a professional animator you don't only buy software, you usually should buy its mainteniance and regular update. But you should pay more. If instead of pay for one copy of the program you pay for rent the program you can blame to the supplier for the lack of support and updates. But that's not the case.
Open your mind to other animation programs (test the opensource/free ones, and test the trial ones from privative software companies) probably you will improve your skills, find more art expression possibilities and increase your curriculum. Take it as an oportunity.
You cannot control what Smith Micro's Headquarters decide. They just want to earn money, don't forget that.
-G
Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 1:41 pm
Look this screenshot:
a nice spammer there :\
bad new, very bad...
-G
a nice spammer there :\
bad new, very bad...
-G
Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 2:34 pm
Anyway, it is the Admin who needs to do some repairs (read here).
The spammer doesn't have that much posts (he only has two), but he has hacked the server. That is worrying, because it probably means he has direct access to the mySQL database, and it wouldn't surprise me if he has root access to the server as well. It also explains why we are having all these error messages.
So, this seems to be the third time this server is hacked and used to earn some money.
We're hosed... Again.
The spammer doesn't have that much posts (he only has two), but he has hacked the server. That is worrying, because it probably means he has direct access to the mySQL database, and it wouldn't surprise me if he has root access to the server as well. It also explains why we are having all these error messages.
So, this seems to be the third time this server is hacked and used to earn some money.
We're hosed... Again.
Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 2:44 pm
Yeah, and it's a shame -- particularly so since this thread contains a couple of important points.
As to the hack -- if I had access to SM (or whoever is going to support this forum, assuming someone official will) I'd highly suggest they switch to the Snitz forums. Never been hacked, and probably never will, they are the #1 forum software out there. Freeware and incredibly full-featured and can support MySQL if that's what is already being used. I've been running Snitz software for years and years and cannot speak highly enough about it (spam control alone is worth the price of admission).
Of course, if the server is at fault that's another issue entirely -- and in that case they should think about a host that is far more secure. I'm going to guess this forum, like the software itself, kind of "grew" from a one-man shop and no great thought was ever given to updating either the host or the forum software.
And as to the point raised elsewhere, the poster is entirely correct in pointing out that at least one major "feature" of any software is the user community. A strong community, with users like Genete and Vern, are what give AS a value far above and beyond what the vendor offers. I truly think it's more important to have this than have a vendor's direct support -- however, the vendor needs to at least facilitate that community (like paying attention to when the forum is having problems).
To look at it another way -- the official AS manual came out and still left out many tips and techniques folks here have posted about. I'd much rather have this forum and give up the manual than vice versa.
As to the hack -- if I had access to SM (or whoever is going to support this forum, assuming someone official will) I'd highly suggest they switch to the Snitz forums. Never been hacked, and probably never will, they are the #1 forum software out there. Freeware and incredibly full-featured and can support MySQL if that's what is already being used. I've been running Snitz software for years and years and cannot speak highly enough about it (spam control alone is worth the price of admission).
Of course, if the server is at fault that's another issue entirely -- and in that case they should think about a host that is far more secure. I'm going to guess this forum, like the software itself, kind of "grew" from a one-man shop and no great thought was ever given to updating either the host or the forum software.
And as to the point raised elsewhere, the poster is entirely correct in pointing out that at least one major "feature" of any software is the user community. A strong community, with users like Genete and Vern, are what give AS a value far above and beyond what the vendor offers. I truly think it's more important to have this than have a vendor's direct support -- however, the vendor needs to at least facilitate that community (like paying attention to when the forum is having problems).
To look at it another way -- the official AS manual came out and still left out many tips and techniques folks here have posted about. I'd much rather have this forum and give up the manual than vice versa.
Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 4:15 pm
As far as I know, Mike Clifton is still the owner of this forum and of Anime Studio and Anime Studio Pro. Both e-Frontier and Smith Micro were just vendors, taking care of the business of selling the product. The intellectual property rights are still owned by M.C.
The problem is the Mike doesn't seem to have time to invest in the community anymore (nor in the software, it seems). Matters have gone downhill since the software license was changed from shareware to commercial software.
I guess that was necessary, because Mike has a life of his own as well, and matters had grown out of proportion. Something had to be done to lift the software to the next level. Unfortunately, this has resulted in an extensive rewrite of the software, with hardly any new features (or bug fixes). I guess the re-branding was to attract anime lovers who want to create their own fanfic in anime, so for the amateur market.
I guess it is hard to find the right vendor that really markets the software in a way that it deserves. The really big vendors don't only want to buy the right to sell the software, but the intellectual property rights as well. I'm glad Mike didn't do that.
Imagine Moho, sorry Anime Studio, taken over by Adobe, or, shudder, Microsoft, or, horror: Apple.
The problem is the Mike doesn't seem to have time to invest in the community anymore (nor in the software, it seems). Matters have gone downhill since the software license was changed from shareware to commercial software.
I guess that was necessary, because Mike has a life of his own as well, and matters had grown out of proportion. Something had to be done to lift the software to the next level. Unfortunately, this has resulted in an extensive rewrite of the software, with hardly any new features (or bug fixes). I guess the re-branding was to attract anime lovers who want to create their own fanfic in anime, so for the amateur market.
I guess it is hard to find the right vendor that really markets the software in a way that it deserves. The really big vendors don't only want to buy the right to sell the software, but the intellectual property rights as well. I'm glad Mike didn't do that.
Imagine Moho, sorry Anime Studio, taken over by Adobe, or, shudder, Microsoft, or, horror: Apple.
Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 7:19 pm
testing
Dale
Dale