Dev Talks: Native Access Startup Journey and Next steps

I must say I don’t like too much all the things I’m reading.

Surely I was less concerned before, when I didn’t visit this forum so much.

Sometimes ignorance is a damned good thing…

I started enjoying it too, and thinking some constructive critiques could help.

But the more answers I read, the more I understand “we are interested in your points/concerns, but we will be doing as we want anyway”…

We need NTK Daemon to constantly run because:

• Subscription products need their statuses as up to date as possible

—> Subscription is a main focus for NI

• Product activations are kept up to date in real time, meaning if you were to connect a device, it would activate in the background.

—> I will not even be able to plug my Maschine without having to need them to activate it

• End goal of Native Access being able to close after downloads are queued up comfortable

—>We’ll tell you we close an application…but to do it we keep another open CONSTANTLY

• Detection of hard drives, whether ours or yours, and being able to activate our products

—>The ancient days when, once installed, a program just work are gone. Now the first activation isn’t enough anymore

• Keeping options open for other opportunities it unlocks

—>Other opportunities…once again means subscriptions

I’m just guessing how software companies even existed till today, since it seems that it’s impossible to just give a user a program and let him use it without ALL these activations. Strange…they did it until few years ago. They must have been really genius programmers to succeed at it…

And at least I would hope that if they force me into this “ACTIVATIONS are REQUIRED at every second” thing, the program they use for this is the best one they ever put out. But NA these days is at its lowest level regarding issues with activations, installations, updates (which should be its primary tasks)…

DIRECT question about if we will have to have internet on JUST to use a program don’t get any DIRECT answer. It gets dribbled by answering about offline installers. Which wasn’t the question

The only direct answers or release date hints are about things like “light mode”, not the serious questions

Having access to our programs installers gets answered by “backversioning”. This is not “having your environments locked”. Having my environment locked is: I install the program. I turn off internet. I use it. And if in 5 years I still have this computer and I need to reinstall the program, I don’t have to HOPE they still give the installation files with their “backversioning”

Questions about privacy concerns get answered with some attempts to reassure, but when answered back, phrases like “we're not obligated to share this information”, “We have a Marketing Consent form” appear

I know I am seeing everything black and it’s probably me, but I can’t find a light to help me get out of this mood of mine.

I am happy too that at least they are answering to things. The only problem is that I don’t like the answers 😔

"I’m just guessing how software companies even existed till today, since it seems that it’s impossible to just give a user a program and let him use it without ALL these activations."

I am with you - I do not get it either.

But in fairness to NI - historically their products have been the most hacked of all time - and most of this NA nonsense stems from those that chose not to purchase these excellent tools but steal them.

It is very clear that NA needs work - a lot of work - to get it where it needs to be and I think that has been made loud and clear to @Hayo_NI and crew.

As far as subscriptions go - I look at it this way. I have what I believe are standard "perpetual" licenses but because all of them are tied directly to Native Access and none can be used without NA - in effect I am already in a psuedo-subscription mode anyway.

A true sub would of course - get me more stuff for probably less money but I would lose it all if the payment became a sticking point.

I support choice for all users - sub works for some but it won't work for me. But if/when it does come - I am hoping there is a very clear, standalone choice for activating my existing products until I choose not to use them any longer. Like in the case of NI going out of business or Native Access goes away etc.

That point has been raised a lot in here - the fact that I cannot use an existing product key, download manual installers or get my products going in a manual way without NA is a bit of a sore spot for me as well.

But these changes, wishes and requests are just potential futures that may or may not come to pass. Right now - as long as I have a working NA and my products are up and running - I can't really ask for much more than that.

VP

So no, my first question again wasnt addressed. Much of what LIF and VP are saying I agree with.

Im not only concerned about initial install of NA but what it does afterwards.

Even for those who do subs, why the need to perpetually check licenses, which indeed translates into a perpetual internet connection? Thats about as hideously privacy invasive as it gets, not to mention other cans of worms it brings up.. If this is purely an anti-hacking measure, then there must be other ways of dealing with this, but whatever the reasons it leaves me very uncomfortable. Why penalize legitimate users. Theres many applications for needing privacy. People want confidentiality working with clients is just one. As it stands now, I unhook my personal devices when I do updates and I want to keep it that way.

I'm cautiously optimistic that NI has plainly stated they are having

both models (Subscription and perpetual) licenses. I only hope the intro

of subs is not that "camels nose in the door" scenario.

@Hayo_NI You say (and I believe you) that With NA you want to give users the best and most fluent experience in managing their products. Evidently something isn’t working as you planned