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Oh, it's not just Avid. Some audio production software such as ReFX Nexus still uses a USB dongle. There is no way to use the software without it plugged in. I

Oh, it's not just Avid. Some audio production software such as ReFX Nexus still uses a USB dongle. There is no way to use the software without it plugged in. It also has a policy where if you damage the dongle, you have to buy again and get a 10% discount off the FULL price of the VST. In the age of people gigging on laptops, I'm not entirely sure how they think they are gonna sell any more of them. I fancy it myself as it has quite a few 'familiar' sounds on it, but not with all the downsides.

episodeiv 7y ago
To add to that, it's not just media production. In the medical field, almost all software for performing and analyzing EKGs, X-rays, MRIs etc. comes by default with some sort of dongle-based protection. Apparently, it's not enough that you need the biggest dongle in the world (i.e. the machine itself!) to use the software. Some vendors do offer alternatives if you fight them hard enough but the default still is a trip to dongle town.
- tecleandor 7y ago
  Ah, but they need to control that CD recording device on the workstation, just in case you're handing out CDs to your patients WITHOUT A CD RECORDING LICENSE. They have the weirdest licenses.
  - stallmanite 7y ago
    So there is software on a medical device concerned with users copying a Billy Joel CD?
    - tecleandor 7y ago
      They sell every functionality as an aditional "license" or "plugin". So, for example, it's not unusual that, by default, your half a million USD scanner, that includes a powerful workstation to control it (the one the technician uses behind the window) will only let you write CDs (for example, to give your patient a copy of his/her scan) if you pay an additional "CD Writing license" Now, with PACS and centralization that have changed a bit, but still...
      - stallmanite 7y ago
        Thanks for the explanation. Still gross but not as bad as RIAA checks being performed somehow.
- userbinator 7y ago
  Apparently, it's not enough that you need the biggest dongle in the world (i.e. the machine itself!) to use the software. Same for a lot of other industrial equipment. In my (admittedly limited) experience, they get cracked pretty quickly by the owner, either before the factory ever gets any downtime, or right after the first time.
- lostgame 7y ago
  This is fascinating, thank you for sharing it. Medical technology fascinates me, but I am nowhere near the industry. Same with things like CarPlay et al.
- bsder 7y ago
  > In the medical field, almost all software for performing and analyzing EKGs, X-rays, MRIs etc. comes by default with some sort of dongle-based protection. Apparently, it's not enough that you need the biggest dongle in the world (i.e. the machine itself!) to use the software. Actually, it's not. Some idiot will get the idea that they can just "transfer the hard drive immediately" because they didn't pay enough money on their support contract to get 4 hour response rather than 48 hour response. The dongle prevents that. Medical devices are certified for the entire device--that includes the specific PC and the specific version of operating system running on it.
- therealx 7y ago
  I used to work with cat scan machines a lot, and I found out how to emulate their dongle - you just returned 0 when it called for the check...
TheSpiceIsLife 7y ago
> There is no way to use the software without it plugged in. This is only true if the software hasn’t been crack?
- deleted 7y ago
  [deleted]
- unicornfinder 7y ago
  Thing is, the majority of iLok protected software has never been cracked, or if it has been cracked, only very old versions that aren't exactly relevant anymore.
  - TheSpiceIsLife 7y ago
    Ah, right, fair enough :)
fortran77 7y ago
The problem is, there are some industries where the piracy rate would be 100% if it weren't for dongles. Music production software, for one. And another surprising one is church software! (They feel they shouldn't have to pay because they're a "church" and serve a higher purpose.) I go to the NAMM (musical instrument manufacturers) trade show every year and work with music, sound, and church software vendors.
- wcfields 7y ago
  Embroidery software is another ( https://www.wingsxp.com/ https://www.wingsxp.com/ )

episodeiv 7y ago

To add to that, it's not just media production. In the medical field, almost all software for performing and analyzing EKGs, X-rays, MRIs etc. comes by default with some sort of dongle-based protection. Apparently, it's not enough that you need the biggest dongle in the world (i.e. the machine itself!) to use the software. Some vendors do offer alternatives if you fight them hard enough but the default still is a trip to dongle town.

tecleandor 7y ago
Ah, but they need to control that CD recording device on the workstation, just in case you're handing out CDs to your patients WITHOUT A CD RECORDING LICENSE. They have the weirdest licenses.
- stallmanite 7y ago
  So there is software on a medical device concerned with users copying a Billy Joel CD?
  - tecleandor 7y ago
    They sell every functionality as an aditional "license" or "plugin". So, for example, it's not unusual that, by default, your half a million USD scanner, that includes a powerful workstation to control it (the one the technician uses behind the window) will only let you write CDs (for example, to give your patient a copy of his/her scan) if you pay an additional "CD Writing license" Now, with PACS and centralization that have changed a bit, but still...
    - stallmanite 7y ago
      Thanks for the explanation. Still gross but not as bad as RIAA checks being performed somehow.
userbinator 7y ago
Apparently, it's not enough that you need the biggest dongle in the world (i.e. the machine itself!) to use the software. Same for a lot of other industrial equipment. In my (admittedly limited) experience, they get cracked pretty quickly by the owner, either before the factory ever gets any downtime, or right after the first time.
lostgame 7y ago
This is fascinating, thank you for sharing it. Medical technology fascinates me, but I am nowhere near the industry. Same with things like CarPlay et al.
bsder 7y ago
> In the medical field, almost all software for performing and analyzing EKGs, X-rays, MRIs etc. comes by default with some sort of dongle-based protection. Apparently, it's not enough that you need the biggest dongle in the world (i.e. the machine itself!) to use the software. Actually, it's not. Some idiot will get the idea that they can just "transfer the hard drive immediately" because they didn't pay enough money on their support contract to get 4 hour response rather than 48 hour response. The dongle prevents that. Medical devices are certified for the entire device--that includes the specific PC and the specific version of operating system running on it.
therealx 7y ago
I used to work with cat scan machines a lot, and I found out how to emulate their dongle - you just returned 0 when it called for the check...

TheSpiceIsLife 7y ago

> There is no way to use the software without it plugged in. This is only true if the software hasn’t been crack?

deleted 7y ago
[deleted]
unicornfinder 7y ago
Thing is, the majority of iLok protected software has never been cracked, or if it has been cracked, only very old versions that aren't exactly relevant anymore.
- TheSpiceIsLife 7y ago
  Ah, right, fair enough :)

fortran77 7y ago

The problem is, there are some industries where the piracy rate would be 100% if it weren't for dongles. Music production software, for one. And another surprising one is church software! (They feel they shouldn't have to pay because they're a "church" and serve a higher purpose.) I go to the NAMM (musical instrument manufacturers) trade show every year and work with music, sound, and church software vendors.

wcfields 7y ago
Embroidery software is another ( https://www.wingsxp.com/ https://www.wingsxp.com/ )