garethEds Posted April 26, 2017 Posted April 26, 2017 This arrived today in my mailbox: https://www.prometheanworld.com/en-gb/news-events/news/activinspire-users-important-software-migration-news Dreading telling the staff already. Gareth 1
elsiegee40 Posted April 26, 2017 Posted April 26, 2017 But they only just stopped wanting ActivPrimary back! Major problems in schools!
DavR Posted April 26, 2017 Posted April 26, 2017 Ah, the foulest C word - CHANGE! Seems a bit unnecessary, ActivInspire does what we want it to and is stable. Does ClassFlow do anything fundamentally different? Downloaded and stored a copy of the latest ActiveInspire installer just in case.... (v2.9). 1
JATSO Posted April 26, 2017 Posted April 26, 2017 Ah, the foulest C word - CHANGE! Seems a bit unnecessary, ActivInspire does what we want it to and is stable. Does ClassFlow do anything fundamentally different? Downloaded and stored a copy of the latest ActiveInspire installer just in case.... (v2.9). Warned them off already just waiting for the screams to start.
robyholmes Posted April 26, 2017 Posted April 26, 2017 I guess this new file format is proprietary again?
PotNoodleTech Posted April 26, 2017 Posted April 26, 2017 Promethean have really shot themselves in the foot with this software upgrade. Not being able to natively open activinspire flipcharts is a BIG BIG mistake. The only reason I have been holding off on upgrading from our old promethean boards is the fear of the conversion of thousands of flipcharts for a hundred people. If I need to go through that pain just to continue using Promethean software then I may as well not continue to use promethean software. This has cemented in my head to start making the jump I had been planning to non promethean Large screen interactive TVs such as Clevertouch or Prowise (or any of the others). 1
Boredguy Posted April 26, 2017 Posted April 26, 2017 Considering we appear to be on the verge of banning students mobile devices, I can't see a benefit of moving, so will likely stick with ActivInspire for a while yet (heck most of the stations are still on version 1 never mind version 2!)
fiza Posted April 26, 2017 Posted April 26, 2017 For those schools that have boards that are no longer under any kind of maintenance warranty and have had Active Inspire for years will there be a free upgrade to ClassFlow or are they expected to pay again?
witch Posted April 27, 2017 Posted April 27, 2017 The upgrade is free if you have any of their software - they tell me... I shall sort out the msi (doesnt work as it is) and inform the relevant authorities - they can then do what they like. 2
synaesthesia Posted April 27, 2017 Posted April 27, 2017 Oh for god sake, REALLY. Some marketing pillock has clearly decided to stick an overused buzzword in a name. Flow. And it's the second name change I can remember. ActivePrimary/ActiveStudio, then ActiveInspire.... Should have called it ActiveFlow, at least it'll sound like a toilet. 2
jonspurs Posted April 27, 2017 Posted April 27, 2017 Has anyone else read through the FAQ? You can't use any touchscreens with their software (it needs to connect every 90 days), even if you bought the board, which then went faulty, and was replaced with a touchscreen prior to Promethean even having their own ActivPanels on sale.
Garacesh Posted April 27, 2017 Posted April 27, 2017 (edited) Has anyone else read through the FAQ? You can't use any touchscreens with their software (it needs to connect every 90 days), Sorry, to clarify: Are you saying the ClassFlow software needs to connect with the ActivPanel hardware in order to function? Edited April 27, 2017 by Garacesh
flyinghaggis Posted April 27, 2017 Posted April 27, 2017 Yeah, the whole interactive whiteboard proprietary software and formats is just a headache everyone can do without these days. The problem I have with ClassFlow is that it's yet another vendor attempt at locking-in their customers except using the cloud this time. As others have said I think the way forward is just to go with touch screens of some variety (and use the Windows/MS built-in ink functionality). That or find ways of wirelessly sending tablet/iPad displays to the screens using AppleTV's/etc or another more open protocol.
jonspurs Posted April 27, 2017 Posted April 27, 2017 Sorry, to clarify: Are you saying the ClassFlow software needs to connect with the ActivPanel hardware in order to function? Yes - with ClassFlow Desktop, unless I read it wrong. I'll find a link to it...here we go: https://promethean.helpjuice.com/getting-started-with-classflow-desktop/how-do-i-download-and-activate-classflow-desktop 1
mjk Posted April 27, 2017 Posted April 27, 2017 As others have said I think the way forward is just to go with touch screens of some variety (and use the Windows/MS built-in ink functionality). That or find ways of wirelessly sending tablet/iPad displays to the screens using AppleTV's/etc or another more open protocol. I know of academy chains that prohibit the use of proprietary file formats like this. Indeed BECTA tried very hard to ban them but nobody paid any attention.
mjk Posted April 27, 2017 Posted April 27, 2017 Yes - with ClassFlow Desktop, unless I read it wrong. I'll find a link to it...here we go: https://promethean.helpjuice.com/getting-started-with-classflow-desktop/how-do-i-download-and-activate-classflow-desktop I think this says that you can EITHER plug into an ActiveBoard OR pay for a subscription service. This looks similar to the license costs for ActivInspire which also needs a license for non promethean boards.
Garacesh Posted April 27, 2017 Posted April 27, 2017 (edited) Yes - with ClassFlow Desktop, unless I read it wrong. I'll find a link to it...here we go: https://promethean.helpjuice.com/getting-started-with-classflow-desktop/how-do-i-download-and-activate-classflow-desktop Yep that's how I read it, too. Well, they can stuff that. There's no chance in hell we're paying £1,395.83 per board to refit our classrooms. Edit: I think this says that you can EITHER plug into an ActiveBoard OR pay for a subscription service. This looks similar to the license costs for ActivInspire which also needs a license for non promethean boards. You might have a point there, but there's no info on what exactly having your school's private ClassFlow environment entails. Edited April 27, 2017 by Garacesh
pete Posted April 27, 2017 Posted April 27, 2017 I've just been reading through the install guide (https://support.prometheanworld.com/files/public/pdfs/ClassFlow+Desktop+Installation+User+Guide.pdf) and page 3 stands out. It looks like your options for activating Classflow Desktop are: Connect to a Promethean Interactive Display (so, touchscreen?) (and reconnect every 90 days) Logging into your school's private Classflow environment (paid option, AFAICT) Start a 90-day trial of Classflow Which, absent a grandfathering of existing customers, means I can't use it on our existing (non-touchscreen) boards. 1
DavR Posted April 27, 2017 Posted April 27, 2017 The activation restriction is a real shame, that was one of the real benefits of ActivInspire over Smart Notebook, that it didn't come with a massively restrictive licensing scenario. I can see why they've done it, but it is an unhelpful complication for system admins, who aren't going to shell out for something that was previously free. How then are users going to create work in PPA time or at home, if it needs a board connected to work? ActivInspire allowed you (I think) three installs per board, Classflow essentially limits you to one. 1
Garacesh Posted April 27, 2017 Posted April 27, 2017 So just been discussing this with the boss.. Promethean want to replace one proprietary file format with another, keeping us locked in to their environment; either have us buy lots of new IWB's (because this software won't activate against existing ActivBoards) OR have us pay a (presumably) monthly license fee. Should we pay that license fee, they want a complete manifesto of our staff and students, since each user needs their own account. Yeah, that's gonna be a no from us, I reckon. 4
DavR Posted April 27, 2017 Posted April 27, 2017 There does seem to be a difference between Classflow, and Classflow Desktop..... Classflow itself is advertised as a free cloud based solution. Not sure if that means it's limited, or there's some other catch?
Boredguy Posted April 27, 2017 Posted April 27, 2017 Well reading that user guide has confirmed we won't be moving to it now since we have 1 device out of 67 Promethean IWB's that has a HDMI connection, and that is the ActivPanel we only had installed a few months back.
DavR Posted April 27, 2017 Posted April 27, 2017 have us buy lots of new IWB's (because this software won't activate against existing ActivBoards) Really? Are ActivBoards not going to be supported? Searching around there does seem to be some people using ActivBoards with it. But if that's the case, that's us double out. We've still got v1 ActivBoards in some classrooms!
pete Posted April 27, 2017 Posted April 27, 2017 Has anyone nudged @markiof or similar for an official response? It might be the answer is "er.....dunno, still waiting on marketing", but......
Garacesh Posted April 27, 2017 Posted April 27, 2017 (edited) Really? Are ActivBoards not going to be supported? Searching around there does seem to be some people using ActivBoards with it. But if that's the case, that's us double out. We've still got v1 ActivBoards in some classrooms! The FAQ specifically says "Ensure that you are connected to your Promethean Interactive Display with both a USB and an HDMI cable." and "Note: You must connect your computer to your Promethean Interactive Display every 90 days to continue using the software." which to me leaves no room for error. ActivBoards are not interactive displays, nor do they possess an HDMI input. Whilst I suspect the software functionality won't be impaired if you're using ActivBoards as an input method, all indications I see point to the software not activating against ActivBoards. Edited April 27, 2017 by Garacesh
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