The bad news, as near as the folks on the help line can tell me,
is... They're moving the data security into the software. Only
"their" software will be able to receive the data stream. Category
names will be uploaded to the new software. I would also guess
that they may compress the feed to increase the capacity, but the
rep I talked to didn't know about anything like that. The new
software, PC wise, requires at least a 286 machine *with* a hard
disk. No more receiving it with a cheap, small, low-power laptop.
I forgot to ask about the availability of developer's information
to get the new data format. I know a previous version only went
out under NDA (which meant you couldn't legally distribute anything
based on their protocol disclosure in source form).
On the good side:
"Executive/Premium" users like myself will no longer need the GI
decryption module that dies every few years. Anyone who bought
the version 4.0 software will get the new DOS 5.0 software for
free. It ships in a couple of weeks.
Anyone have a *cheap* 286 or better machine they want to sell me? :-(
Cheers,
-Tom Kloos, WS7S, Sequent Computer Systems, Inc., Beaverton, OR tk@sequent.com