Acid Ape GM edition users - license server issue

Hi guys, anyvone using the Acid Ape Chess GM edition, i.e. the paid one? The software does not start any more since about a week, licence server error. Dev. is silent, whatever the reasons may be. Any hope? Some people repord it also in the Play Store.

Never heard of that, but you should avoid all non-free software at all costs (no pun intended, especially since I'm not using "free" in the "no cost" sense). Try Scid instead.

@AsDaGo said in #2:

Never heard of that, but you should avoid all non-free software at all costs (no pun intended, especially since I'm not using "free" in the "no cost" sense). Try Scid instead.

Thanks for your reply - I'm using Scid, but Apples, pies. Here's a beautiful review, so this was AAC before it stopped working: https://www.chessengeria.eu/post/acid-ape-chess-gm-edition-review

"Avoid at all cost" - The cost is too high. There's no alternative to AAChess on Android, it's unique. Just as there's no alternative to Tasker, Locus Map etc etc... No, OSS often has no alternatives.

But the total dependency on a running license server, that's a problem, especially when there's just one unknown dev. That's what one should avoid. But the users could not see that, eg Android makes it difficult to watch network traffic (in a wireshark way).

Acid ape puzzle sets- easy, medium, hard is a totally free tactic database compiled by Auerswald & Ossimitz. Also, used and heavily recommended by Chess24 main staff.

@Move_In_Silence_2024 said in #4:

Also, used [...] by Chess24 main staff.

Not any more. <angry_smiley>

I also use Acid Ape Chess GM Edition and have the same License Activation issue.

I hadn't used it in a while so I'm unable to determine exactly when it started failing. It's interesting (and worrying) that you've had the same issue this last week.

I've also sent them an email, so will see if they give a response.

it's become the defacto default for products now where you buy something believing you own it, but, you don't own jack.

the company can stop it from working, either deliberately or by mistake, bankruptcy, loss motivation to work on it. they can remove features, put features advertised when you bought it behind a monthly subscription service. even physical products like cars, monthly subscriptions for heated seats, high beam controls. electronic books, music, movies, etc, you don't own. you buy a license that can and will be revoked eventually.

It sounds like Acid Ape Chess GM edition is one of those products that you think you bought and owned something, but it turns out you don't own it.

@h2b2 - just for clarification, here it's a one-time payment, not a subscription, I think it was EUR 30.

Stopped working ~ at about 10th of July. Since it's probably a single dev, tbh we cannot even be sure if he/she is alive.
Such a good app, it's sad. I wish I could remove the license checking mechanism.
No mail reply from dev. In Google Play store there's some reports.
No big outrage because not many people bought it.
Should be even worse for those who bought the DGT connection.. thing.. for EUR 80 something.

Yes! I also bought the DGT connection option. It's an expensive app for it to suddenly stop working with no warning!

There are other apps I can use on Android to connect the DGT board, such as 'White Pawn' or 'Chess for Android' by Aart Bik, however while these work well they don't have the same level of features as Acid Ape Chess.

I'm still hoping the issue with the license activation is only temporary.

At the least I would have expected some announcement from them. AFAIK it's not a lone developer but a team working from Belgium. So poor communication and expected better from them!