Software Download, EncorePro/My Encore/Drivers...etc.

socialtool wrote:I am only hosting free software that is freely available to find and download on your own.

Encore Pro is not fee software. You would need Respironics permission to do so.

Socialtool, you explained your position quite well on follow-up. I think you are genuinely trying to help patients. To that end please don't take my own challenging words to heart. But please do respect our very good hosts. As a side note, however, the prescription pressure(s) can be entered into the Respironics machines without the software (a unique button sequence on power up is used). Is this not allowed with your BiPAP?

I won't personally attempt to place any "kibosh" whatsoever on this thread. I am no lawyer or expert regarding copyright laws. I am interested in hearing more details as/if they unfold. Again, don't take my words to heart---in light of what I perceive to be helpful intentions on your part.

jskinner wrote:

socialtool wrote: I am not aware of issues between the newest MyEncore and the EncorePro v1.6i software.

MyEncore does not work fully with 1.6i

socialtool wrote: Further development of the MyEncore software may be needed for EP v1.6i compatability.

The author is unreachable and we don't have the source code.

MyEncore works fine with Encore Pro 1.6i, the problem comes in with the Mighty "M"s, all three of my tanks work fine with it. Jim

To jskinner,

It must be wonderful for you to have access to your prescription like that. I have a Respironics BiPAP Auto w/Bi-Flex. It is about three months old. My last one died on me. The boot sequence access is no longer available on my machine. I contacted Respironics about this and was informed that an internal software update has been adopted for my machine series that no longer supports this feature. I was also informed that this change was due to the amount of patients altering prescriptions. I was also told that future Respironics machines will not be field programmable and will require a visit with medical staff for access to the admin menu and settings. So lucky you..you got a good one. But some of us are screwed and I am trying my best to serve us. I am not forcing this on anybody. If you don't like it so be it. Do not participate. But do not deprive others of a luxury you enjoy!

Also, after further research it seems to be your M-Series machine in combination with the EP v1.6i software that has the problem with MyEncore. The developer does not have to be accessible to further the development of this software. You do not need the source code for further development. It makes it soooooo much easier but you can reverse engineer the .msi package and other resources to create a new source code. It is a simple SQL database interpreter and form processing bot. It may need some fine tuning to work with your combination of equipment and software. I would have been proud to do these things but it seems that it is easier to #%&%%# on my parade than join the band!

Furthermore, As I stated before EncorePro was and still IS free software. It is just hard to find Internet distributions since the Respironics website change I specified in my original post. Just because you couldn't find it and chose to pay for it is not my fault. As for Respironics permission to distribute. This permission is implied in the software EULA.

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To SWS,

Thanks for your attack then your wait and see. How about some support. I can't belive the resistance to this simple thing...absolutely amazing. Everyone in here acts like a fly by night copyright lawyer, Respironics employee, cpap.com slave, or just plain angry fool.

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To all,

If you people won the lottery you would be angry about the taxes! Nice way to shoot and kill the gift horse. Plus, your allegiance to cpap.com "hosting" you this forum scares me. It makes them tons of cash and sales leads. It is in their best interest to host such a community. This is not by far the only CPAP forum. It is not even the largest by far. If the fact that cpap.com hosts this forum censors its open discussion platform than what is the use?

If you can't say anything nice, say nothing at all.

Seriously people,

socialtool

(duplicate post deleted)

socialtool wrote: If you can't say anything nice, say nothing at all.

This advice after referring to people as angry fools, ignorant, slaves, and black marketeers? You just lost my support, Zoro, on an idea that I truly hoped I was coming around to understanding just a little better. I'm out of this thread. But I encourage others to judge this movement on its own merit according to your own values.

P.S. GERD and LPR might be considered hierarchical siblings, with each being considered a subset of acid reflux disease.

Goofproof wrote: MyEncore works fine with Encore Pro 1.6i, the problem comes in with the Mighty "M"s, all three of my tanks work fine with it. Jim

Your right, my mistake.

socialtool wrote: The developer does not have to be accessible to further the development of this software. You do not need the source code for further development.

Really. The only way that I know of is to do a complete rewrite (which I am in the process of doing)

socialtool wrote:It makes it soooooo much easier but you can reverse engineer the .msi package and other resources to create a new source code. It is a simple SQL database interpreter and form processing bot.

Reverse engineer the .msi? What are you talking about, you think you can get the source from the .msi? Are you a software engineer? (I am).

socialtool wrote:I would have been proud to do these things but it seems that it is easier to #%&%%# on my parade than join the band!

No one is stopping you from doing this...

socialtool wrote:Furthermore, As I stated before EncorePro was and still IS free software.

Why do you keep saying this?

socialtool wrote:This permission is implied in the software EULA.

Please post the relevant EULA section to back your claim.

SWS,

Stated truths and facts are not criticisms but simply truths and facts. I have been attacked from post one in here, including by you, and was responding to previous posts. Reminding people that decorum is in order was a response to those attacks.

I cannot lose something I never had. Your "support" was never stated. I recall you saying "I won't personally attempt to place any "kibosh" whatsoever on this thread." and "I am interested in hearing more details as/if they unfold.". This is like saying; When we go into battle I'll be right "behind" you. Gee, thanks!? This is not support. Waiting for this thread to spiral into the Sun is NOT support.

What great power do you have to "kibosh" any thread? Are you an admin or moderator?

Also, telling other members "But I encourage others to judge this movement on its own merit according to your own values.", is telling me you question my values which are very well intact Sir.

I love how wanting to help people by posting a simple web page is considered a "movement" that causes you to question my values. We are not freeing slaves, granting civil rights, or seeking equal rights here.

IT'S A WEB PAGE!

jskinner,

I wish you good luck and look forward to the release of your MyEncore rewrite.

You do not have to rewrite code if you do not have the source. Compiled code can be de-compiled and the resources extracted in order to form a new source.

Since you called me out, I have a graduate degree from MIT. I am not a simple software engineer. I am a Chief Classified Forensic Data Recovery Specialist for the United States Department of Defence with a class ATS/CSI-3 security clearance and have been in this business for over 25 years. You can delete it, bomb it, flood it, crush it, and set it on fire. I can recover, rebuild and restore it. So go polish your pretty certifications. I would have thought with your software background you would be far more supportive of my proposal. Your position really does surprise me.

I understand no one is stopping me. But why would I do it if other people would not benefit. I was just wondering if others were interested. If nobody wants this I will not waste my time, enough of which I has been wasted replying to the ridiculous arguments in here.

I keep saying that EncorePro is free because it is. It is that simple. Just because you paid for it does not change that fact. It always has been free. Look at my original post in here for further background of which I am sure you are well aware of the history here. Are you telling me that the EncorePro distributions v1.0xx thru v1.5xx were not free to download from Respironics? Even the v1.6i was available for three months. I refer the honorable gentleman to my previous remarks. In addition you will find that most people in this forum are running the v1.5xx or even later and that they downloaded it free from Respironics.

I agree that I have some free time on my hands but you want me to type a software EULA into this forum? You have lost it. You have the software. Read it yourself! Better yet, pick up a software copyright law book and occupy your week. This would serve you better.

Salutations,

socialtool

socialtool wrote: You do not have to rewrite code if you do not have the source. Compiled code can be de-compiled and the resources extracted in order to form a new source.

Can you point me to such a tool? For example how about one that de-compiles assembly back into its C++ source? Its technically impossible. While you could generate some new C++ by doing a de-compile but it would not look _anything_ like the original source.

socialtool wrote: I would have thought with your software background you would be far more supportive of my proposal. Your position really does surprise me.

I support your idea of making a site that organizes links to all available software in one place. I was just questioning the issue of offering Encore Pro.

socialtool wrote:You want me to type a software EULA into this forum? You have lost it. You have the software. Read it yourself!

Ever heard of copy and paste

When I read the EULA it says "You shall pay one license fee for each copy of the Software Product being used... You shall not loan, rent, lease, give, sell, sublicense, grant or otherwise transfer any rights in, under or to the Software Product or any copy thereof, or Your right to use the Software Product, in whole or in part, to any other person without the prior written consent of Respironics. Respironics reserves all rights in and to the Software Product not expressly granted to You."

That's the EULA Type we users have grown to love.

When I read the EULA it says "You shall pay one license fee for each copy of the Software Product being used... You shall not loan, rent, lease, give, sell, sublicense, grant or otherwise transfer any rights in, under or to the Software Product or any copy thereof, or Your right to use the Software Product, in whole or in part, to any other person without the prior written consent of Respironics. Respironics reserves all rights in and to the Software Product not expressly granted to You."

We have the right to pay for it, but not the right to own it, or maybe not even to use it. Jim

They forgot the statement about modifying the code or reverse engineering it.

Goofproof wrote: They forgot the statement about modifying the code or reverse engineering it.

Actually thats in there as well " You shall not, and shall not permit another to, modify, translate, reverse engineer, decompile, disassemble, create derivative works based on, or copy the Software Product, except as provided in this Agreement."

I just click YES, without reading them, and add it to a growing list of Computer Offences I've committed. In order for another person to have the Right to set Rules for Others, a hefty Price Should be Set, to be paid, by the person who wants the rules set.

Rules, way too many of them, only one is needed.

A Golden One! Jim

Just a note:

The current discussion surrounding de-compiling and reverse engineering software pertains to MyEncore not EncorePro. Just for future reference.

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jskinner,

Yes, one license fee for each copy is boilerplate EULA language. What you forget is that fee can be zero, nada, nothing! It's included in the cost of the machines. Which is what I verified with my DME people this weekend when contacting them. I was told, "We receive one EncorePro license with each distributed machine that can use it. The software is free to download for any medical provider and supplier. Only recently we have been required to prove identification on the Respironics website to gain access to the software. This change was due to the alarming rate of patients using the software for home therapy. This is against FDA regulations and forced Respironics to take action.".

If you go to the Respironics website and try to buy the software from them in their store you will not find it offered in the Consumer's Store. If you go to the Provider Online Store you will see a link to download EncorePro 1.6i. This link used to download the software directly. Now this link takes you to the Respironics "Controlled Software Download Center" where providers are required to enter name, phone, account number, and postal code. This is the step that Respironics was forced to take to avoid FDA issues. They do not charge for the software. IT IS FREE!

So, again...If you bought the machine you have a license! The license transfers with ownership as with all personal property by law. This is a normal practice. Only access to the download is at issue. What people paid for was a CDROM hardcopy! An over priced one at that. I could understand something around $10.00. But over $100.00 and in some cases $200.00 packages! C'mon, that is ridiculous. Plus they are breaking FDA regulations by selling it to patients to begin with. Even Respironics acknowledges that issue. And no, I am not just talking about cpap.com. Everyone that sells the software to consumers is guilty. I actually applaud resellers for at least making the software available to consumers after the lockout but the price is crazy for what is FREE!

I propose that if the FDA backed off we would not be having this discussion and you could take your foot out of my butt.