iScreensaver


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Locking and Unlocking Content

Ultimate License Only. A screensaver can contain two completely different presentations. Which sequence plays depends on the "locking" status of the screensaver. As the screensaver author, you can control the locking behavior of the screensaver, and generate individual keycodes to unlock the screensaver. For example, a common use for this is to provide a "teaser" or "demo" version of a screensaver that is unlocked for a while, then locks after a few days. You would then sell unlocking codes on your website through the online merchant of your choice.

//marketing intermission//
The Locking features are advanced enough to require our Ultimate iScreensaver License, but they come with the incredible advantage of being able to market or sell upgraded screensavers to your existing users with their own personalized keycodes. For our unregistered customers, don't forget - try it before you buy it!
We think you'll love it.
//end marketing intermission//

Using the Locking tab

You can test all locking features without purchasing the software. However, until an Ultimate license is purchased, all "unlocked" sequences will be watermarked. The Locking tab allows editing of the locking behavior: set the initial state, set time- and use-based changes. Edit the type of unlocking codes provided, and set a URL hyperlinks for customers to find your website. And, of course, you can edit the content of the unlocked sequence.
But first you have to turn it on.

To enable the locking features:

  1. From the Project window, do one of the following:
    - In the toolbar, choose the Locking icon.
    - Select Locking > Locking Settings from the Project menu.
  2. Click the Use Locking checkbox.

    The toolbar transforms to show two separate Video and Audio sequences, and the Locking subtab edit panes are now available. Any sequence in the project at the time of enabling locking will be considered Sequence 1 and remain on the left side of the toolbar.
Using Locking features
Using Locking features

If locking is ever disabled in a project (either accidentally or on purpose), Sequence 1 will become the main sequence, and while the Sequence 2 data will remain a part of the project, none of it will be built into the installers. Re-enabling Locking will restore the separate sequences to the project.

Tip:

Using the Behavior subtab

When using Locking features, a screensaver is in either one of two states: Sequence 1 or Sequence 2. This status controls which audio/video presentation the user will see. The behavior subtab is where you control the switching behaviors. It's very flexible : you can have the screensaver start on either sequence, and change on a certain date, or after a certain number of uses or hours of runtime. Do you want the user to see the unlocked presentation first, or not until they've paid? Do you even wish for them to know about it at all? It's your choice when to drop the drawbridge of commerce.

Defaults are Initial State: Sequence 1, Reminders: On, and No Automatic Change in Behavior.

The Lock tab, Behaviors

Initial State

Determines the sequences used for previewing and installing. Sequence 1 is on the left side of the Locking icon, while Sequence 2 is on the right side. Whichever sequence is chosen is what the end user will first see when previewing or installing the screensaver.

Unlocking Reminder

The Reminder dialog can be disabled from alerting the user to the alternate content. Without this reminder, the only indication of further content is the Lock icon in the Control Panel. Clicking the Lock icon opens the Unlocking Reminder dialog.

Show during installation

Before installation begins, the user can be notified that there is extra content.

Show after wake-up

Each time the screensaver wakes from sleep, the Reminder dialog alerts the user of extra content. The user can postpone the reminder for another time in the future.

Behavior

The screensaver can switch from one sequence to the other automatically:

No Change

It stays as it lays. Fairly self-explanatory - the screensaver will never switch from its initial state on its own. Note that if the user enters an unlocking code, this will change the state.

Change After : Hours of Use

Switches after a pre-determined amount of hours used. These hours are tallied during normal operation of the screensaver, and do not include previewing during installation, nor testing from the Control Panel.

Change After : Uses

Switches after a pre-determined number of uses. These uses are tallied during normal operation of the screensaver, by actually triggering the screensaver via hot corners or system timeouts, and do not include previewing during installation, nor testing from the Control panels.

Change After : Days After Installation

Switches at a pre-determined number of days after the user first installs the screensaver.

Change On: Date and Time

Switches on a specific moment in time. Use an ISO date-time string in the following format: 'YYYY-MM-DDD HH:MM:SS'. This is determined by the local date and time on the end user's machine.

Tips:


Using the Keys subtab

When an end-user's screensaver is locked, they should have a way to unlock it again. This is what a unlocking key (also called "Keycode") is used for. As the author, you can provide these keycodes for free, or sell them, or provide them as a reward for some other consumer behavior. It's your choice.

There are two types of key codes: a Key List and a Key Generator. The Key List is simpler: just generate a short (or long) list of passwords. Every password will unlock the screensaver. There is no "username" required. The Key Generator provides an algorithm so you can generate unique user/password combinations after distribution has begun. However, the type of key code must be chosen when built, prior to distribution.

The Lock tab, Keys

Built-in code list

A series of keycode words, phrases, codes, or numbers, that are built into the installer. These codes are present in the screensaver file, but are encrypted and hashed for security. Add them one at a time, or import through a standard text file list. You can also copy/paste from Excel or a text document.

The Key List

The Copy button

Copies all selected keycodes to the clipboard. Then paste into a third party text editor.

The Paste button

Pastes from the clipboard to the list.

The Delete - button

Remove selected keycodes from the list.

The Add + button

Add a new keycode to the list.

Tips:

Post-distribution key generation

The other method is to use the built-in key generator. Using this method, the end user must provide BOTH a username AND keycode to unlock the screensaver. The screensaver has a built in code validator that checks the user/password code using a secure algorithm. This algorithm is based on the "Secret Project Key" field. This gives you flexibility : you could issue five different screensavers that all have the same secret project key -- in this case one user/key combination would unlock all five screensavers. Or, you can re-release a new copy of the screensaver after changing the secret key, which would invalidate all prior keycodes.

The Key Generator

User Name

To issue an unlocking code using the generator, just type the username into this field. A good choice is the user's email address since this is unique, but you can use another username if you have a website, etc.

Unlocking Key

The keycode will be generated automatically as an encrypted combinatio of the User Name and the Screensaver ID Seed. Simply copy and paste this to an email and send to your user. With they enter the User Name and the Keycode, the screensaver will unlock.

Secret Project Key

The secret ID code for the project. Usually, it's best to leave it the same seed for the life of the project, however by changing it, new distributions would be immune to previous keycodes. Use the Unlock button to change the secret project key.

The Unlock button

Unlock the Screensaver ID text field with the Unlock button. With a warning...

The Seed Change Warning

Tips:


Using the Reminder subtab

When using the Locking features, think carefully about the information included in this Unlocking Reminder dialog, as this will make an impression on the end-user's decision to visit your website for more information and/or to purchase a keycode.

The Lock tab, Customize

Title

Setting For Windows Only:
Under Windows, this displays as a separate dialog window, thus needs a proper title for the titlebar. On Mac OS X this is displayed as a "sheet" window that has no titlebar.

To set the unlocking window Titlebar:

  1. Do one of the following:
    - On the Customize tab, click the 'Title: Edit' button.
    - On the View mockup, click within the Menu Bar area.
  2. Type the unlocking window name.
  3. Do one of the following:
    - Press 'Enter'.
    - Click outside the text field.

About

Enter a description for the special content of your screensaver in this text field. Since one aspect of cross-platform application creation is that the system fonts used on the varying platforms do not use exactly the same leading and kerning, please see our examples to view the differences between Windows and Macintosh system fonts.

To set the unlocking description:

  1. Do one of the following:
    - On the Customize tab, click the 'About: Edit' button.
    - On the View mockup, click within the About text area.
  2. Type the unlocking information.
  3. Do one of the following:
    - Press 'Enter'.
    - Click outside the text field.

Web

Users can click on this link that can take them to whatever web page you'd like them to visit for learning about your keycode arrangements, with the page opening within an external web browser. You do not have to show the URL to your web page, but can have some nice descriptive text instead.

To edit the unlocking website information:

  1. On the Controls tab, click and hold on 'Web Site: Edit' to access the pop-up menu.
  2. Do one of the following:
    - Click 'Edit Text' to change the description that appears on-screen.
    - Click 'Edit URL' to change the URL of the actual page that is opened in the user's external web browser.
    - Click 'Test Link' to check the URL in your external web browser.

Understanding Locking Behaviors

You have playing one of two sequences - the locked sequence or the unlocked sequence, called Sequence 1 and 2. Either can be set to start-up upon install, and it is optional to switch to the other after some duration, amount of use, or at a particular time and day. So you can offer your end users a tease to your unlocked content that locks after so much viewing time.

Initial states

As a default, the locked sequence will preview and playback, until a code has been entered for the unlocked sequence. It shall never switch automatically without a code.

User-switched changes

With a keycode, the end user can switch sequences. They can remove the keycode and re-lock the screensaver, if so desired.

Example: your screensaver is promoting a special VIP party and everyone gets the screensaver invite, but a select few receive the mysterious keycode.

Duration-related changes

After a certain amount of time viewing the screensaver, the sequence can switch to the other.

Example: your screensaver is offering a sneak peek at your unlocked content, but after 3 hours of use, it switches to the locked sequence, thus your end user would need a keycode to return.

Date-related changes

At a particular moment, the screensaver switches sequences, based on your user's local time and date.

Example: your screensaver is advertising a movie opening and the screensaver is to switch from a teaser-trailer to the final trailer upon the day of release.

Key Query Moments

There are a few times when the screensaver will ask the end user for their keycode. The user can skip this with no consequence if they are not in possession of the keycode at the time.

During installation

The installer will ask the end user if they would like to enter a keycode during installation. The user can skip entering any keycode at this time.

After use

The screensaver will open its Control Panel and ask the end user after every use. The user can can skip entering any keycode at this time. In addition, they can ask to not be notified again for a time period (from one hour to one month).

After user delay

If the user had selected a reminder delay, and that time has passed, then after the next wakeup it will ask again.

Creating Keys

Keys consist of either a list or a seed generator. Only one method will be used in building an installer.

Key List

Don't be obvious with creating your list of codes. Use unicode if your end user machines will all support different languages, though remember that unicode is difficult to type for many users.

Writing codes

Keep track of any codes that you create within a built installer. In making keycodes, use a system, but not one that could be guessed outright. Be sure to copy out a full list of your available keycodes when building an installer for distribution.

Importing codes

Any carriage-return-separated list can be imported into the Key List, so if you use FileMaker, Microsoft Excel, or a SQL database, that data can be pasted into the Key List.

Key Generation

Use a Secret Project Key seed that cannot easily be guessed.

Advertising Keys

The end user will need to know how to go about finding themselves the special advanced screensaver keys. When they click the lock button in the Control Panel, the Registration panel will pop-up, with space for information about your extra content, web links, and a location to enter their keys.

Code retrieval information

A unicode text field is available to announce your special content and explain how to obtain a screensaver keycode.

Web links

Place the URL to your webpages to obtain further information. There is an option to re-word the link text.

Code entry locations

Your end user will enter their name and key to switch over to the expanded content. The keys are generated on the Key subtab of the project's Locking tab.

Security

How secure is secure? Most able-bodied hackers can find their way into anything. We protect what is possible, but no security is absolutely foolproof. It just cannot be honestly promised by any software company. The keycode protection in iScreensaver should be considered "lightweight" security -- it is intended to discourage theft for the casual user, but will certainly not stand up to a determined hacker.

Reducing the consequence of stolen keycodes

A determined hacker could eventually find the keycode to your screensaver. If you are worried about this you can use the following strategy: Re-issue your screensaver every week (or day, or month) with a new Key List or new Key Code Generator Secret Project Key. This way, if someone does guess or hack a key, that key will only be usable with screensavers downloaded for a short period (day, week, month) etc. This strategy will not prevent stolen codes, but will reduce the impact if/when that does happen.

Media Security

Media assets within iScreensaver are not encrypted or protected with DRM (Digital Rights Management). This means that a determined hacker can get access to the media files (SWF, Movies, Images) included in the screensaver. Also, remember that it doesn't take a hacker: anything that can be displayed on a computer screen or played through the speakers can be captured. If this is an issue, we suggest you consider issuing reduced resolution versions of your assets, and/or using watermarking or other methods to tag your media to reduce its value.
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