#online cloud data storage

[eshare]

Discover the key features and benefits of eShare.ai’s cloud storage solution. From seamless file sharing and real-time collaboration to top-tier data encryption and unlimited storage, eShare.ai empowers individuals and businesses to organize, protect, and access their data anytime, anywhere. Go paperless, boost productivity, and simplify your workflow with a platform designed for modern digital needs.

[bemarketers]

🔐 Your Data Deserves Better

This Wednesday, we’re diving into the future of data protection with an exclusive presentation on GotBackup — the cloud backup service that secures your files and helps you earn residual income. 💻💰

🌍 100% Online & Free 🗓️ Don’t miss it — spots are limited!

👉 Reserve Your Spot Now 

https://bit.ly/42JEDax

#GotBackup #DataProtection #CloudBackup #DigitalSecurity #OnlineBackup #PassiveIncome #WorkFromHome #TechTools #BackupSolutions #SecureYourFiles #ProtectYourData #TumblrEvents #CyberSecurity #CloudStorage

(via 🔒 Why You Can’t Miss This Wednesday’s GotBackup Presentation!)

[olivergisttv]

Cloud Backup Solutions: Comparing Google, Dropbox, and iDrive

In a world where digital data is the backbone of our personal and professional lives, losing important files can feel like losing a part of yourself. That’s why cloud backup solutions have become more essential than ever. Whether you’re a freelancer, business owner, student, or just someone who values their photos and documents, cloud storage is your safety net. In this article, we’ll compare…

[diagnozabam]

Apple cedează presiunilor autorităților britanice: Criptarea end-to-end pentru iCloud, dezactivată în Marea Britanie

Apple a confirmat oficial că renunță la criptarea end-to-end oferită prin sistemul Advanced Data Protection (ADP) pentru utilizatorii iCloud cu conturi nou create în Regatul Unit, urmând ca și utilizatorii existenți să fie afectați de această decizie. Acest pas marchează un compromis semnificativ în politica de confidențialitate a companiei americane, realizat în urma presiunilor exercitate de…

[hisforhome]

What are some of the best free cloud storage options available out there?

What are some of the best free cloud storage options available out there?

OK, so you’re looking for free cloud storage. Smart move! Nobody likes running out of space on their phone or computer. But wading through all the options out there can feel like trying to find a specific sock in a dryer full of laundry – a total nightmare! Don’t worry, we’re here to help you sort through the digital fluff. Let’s be honest, completely free cloud storage with unlimited space is…

[cashygophones]

Sell Your Old Laptop in Bangalore for Instant Cash

Selling your old laptop in Bangalore has never been easier. Whether upgrading to a new device or decluttering, you can get instant cash in exchange for your unused laptop. Here’s how you can make it happen seamlessly.

Why Sell Your Old Laptop?

Laptops lose value over time, and holding onto unused devices can clutter your space. Selling your old laptop allows you to:

Earn extra money instantly.

Upgrade to better technology.

Contribute to eco-friendly recycling efforts.

Where to Sell Old Laptops in Bangalore?

Bangalore offers several options for selling old laptops. You can choose the one that best fits your needs:

1. Online Platforms

Websites like OLX, Cashify, and Quikr make selling laptops simple. Create a listing, set your price, and connect with buyers in your area.

2. Cash-for-Gadgets Services

Services like CashyGo specialize in offering cash for old electronics. They provide quick quotes and hassle-free transactions, making them a top choice in Bangalore.

3. Local Shops and Marketplaces

Bangalore’s local electronic shops or marketplaces like SP Road can offer competitive prices for used laptops. Visit them to negotiate in person.

How to Prepare Your Laptop for Sale

1. Backup Your Data

Save your essential files on an external drive or cloud storage before selling your laptop.

2. Factory Reset the Device

Restore your laptop to factory settings to remove personal data and make it ready for the next user.

3. Clean and Package It Properly

A clean and well-maintained laptop creates a better impression and fetches a higher price.

Benefits of Choosing CashyGo in Bangalore

CashyGo is a reliable option for selling laptops in Bangalore. Here’s why:

Quick Cash Payments: Get instant cash upon selling.

Fair Price Evaluation: They assess the condition and brand of your laptop to offer the best value.

Convenience: Avoid the hassle of negotiating with multiple buyers.

Top Brands That Sell Well

If you own a laptop from top brands like Dell, HP, Lenovo, Apple, or Asus, you’re likely to get a better resale value. These brands are in high demand due to their quality and durability.

Tips for Getting the Best Price

Highlight Features: Mention specifications like RAM, processor, and screen size in your listing.

Be Honest: Disclose any defects or issues to build trust with buyers.

Compare Offers: Don’t settle for the first offer; compare rates from multiple sources.

Final Thoughts

Selling your old laptop in Bangalore is a smart way to declutter, earn cash, and embrace sustainable practices. Choose a reliable service like CashyGo to ensure a smooth and rewarding experience.

Take the first step today and turn your old laptop into instant cash!

[stockholdingsposts]

Transform Business Efficiency with Comprehensive Content Management Services 

In today’s fast-paced business landscape, managing a growing volume of content efficiently is paramount for companies to stay competitive. Whether it’s for internal processes, customer interactions, or compliance, content management is critical. Comprehensive content management services (CMS) helps streamline operations, improve collaboration, and ensure the security of data across all business functions. This article explores the importance of adopting an enterprise-level CMS and how it can transform business efficiency. 

Understanding Content Management Services 

Content management services (CMS) are essential for organizing, storing, and tracking business documents, multimedia content, and other digital assets. These systems not only allow businesses to store content but also manage workflows, monitor versioning, and enable easier access to key resources. 

Effective CMS solutions offer businesses the ability to centralize all content in a single, easy-to-access location. The value lies not just in storing information but also in the automation, collaboration, and governance features that come with the system. 

Key Benefits of Content Management Services 

1. Streamlined Workflow Management 

One of the most significant advantages of a comprehensive CMS is the improvement in workflow management. With an organized structure, businesses can automate repetitive tasks, such as document approvals, data entry, and content publication. This frees up employees to focus on more strategic tasks and reduces the chances of human error. 

Moreover, automated workflows help ensure that the correct version of a document or content is always available, reducing delays caused by version control issues. Additionally, the ability to route documents through approval chains quickly enhances productivity and decision-making. 

2. Improved Collaboration Across Teams 

For businesses that rely on team collaboration, CMS tools provide a centralized platform where employees can work together more effectively. Teams can access, edit, and comment on documents in real time, no matter where they are located. This eliminates the need for back-and-forth emails and helps ensure everyone is working with the most up-to-date information. 

In addition, content management services support role-based access control, allowing businesses to define who can access, edit, and distribute specific content. This provides an added layer of security, ensuring that sensitive information is only available to authorized personnel. 

3. Enhanced Data Security and Compliance 

As businesses handle sensitive and confidential data, security is a primary concern. A well-implemented CMS provides robust security features that help protect your content from unauthorized access, theft, and data breaches. CMS solutions often offer encrypted storage, user authentication, and audit trails, ensuring that every action taken within the system is logged and tracked. 

For industries with strict compliance requirements, content management services make it easier to adhere to regulations by offering features like document retention policies, compliance tracking, and data integrity checks. These ensure that businesses can meet legal requirements and pass audits without disruption. 

4. Increased Efficiency and Cost Savings 

The ability to access and manage content easily reduces the time spent searching for files or manually sorting through documents. This improved efficiency can translate into direct cost savings as resources are optimized, and business processes are streamlined. By reducing the reliance on physical documents and implementing digital workflows, businesses can also cut costs related to printing, shipping, and storing paper records. 

Furthermore, the automation of repetitive tasks reduces the need for manual input, saving both time and money. Employees can spend more time on high-impact activities, such as creative development or strategic decision-making, rather than administrative tasks. 

5. Better Content Quality and Consistency 

A CMS ensures that content is standardized across an organization. Whether it's marketing materials, internal documents, or customer-facing content, consistency is key to maintaining a professional image. By centralizing all content, businesses can create templates, apply uniform formatting, and ensure that branding is adhered to at every touchpoint. 

Furthermore, version control ensures that content is always up to date, minimizing the risk of outdated or conflicting information being used. This helps build trust with customers and clients, who rely on accurate and consistent communication. 

Types of Content Management Services 

When selecting a content management service, businesses have several options based on their specific needs. Below are the primary types of CMS solutions: 

1. Document Management Systems (DMS) 

DMS are designed to store and track business documents. These systems typically include features such as document storage, version control, document search capabilities, and access controls. DMS solutions are ideal for businesses that focus on managing a high volume of written documents, such as contracts, legal papers, and financial reports. 

2. Enterprise Content Management (ECM) Systems 

ECM systems are more comprehensive and are used to manage the entire lifecycle of business content, from creation to archiving. ECM systems are typically integrated with other enterprise applications like Customer Relationship Management (CRM) or Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems. They provide businesses with a robust solution for managing documents, records, multimedia content, and workflows across the organization. 

3. Web Content Management (WCM) 

WCM solutions are specifically focused on managing digital content on websites. These tools allow businesses to create, manage, and optimize content for the web, including images, videos, articles, and blogs. WCM systems are crucial for businesses that prioritize content marketing, customer engagement, and SEO optimization. 

4. Cloud-Based CMS 

Cloud-based CMS solutions offer the flexibility of storing content remotely on secure cloud servers. These systems are ideal for businesses that need to provide remote access to content for teams across multiple locations. With cloud CMS, businesses can scale storage and functionality as needed, without the need for on-site infrastructure. 

How to Implement Content Management Services 

Implementing content management services within a business requires careful planning and execution. Below are the key steps to ensure successful CMS integration: 

1. Assess Business Needs 

Before selecting a CMS, businesses should evaluate their content management needs. This includes understanding the type and volume of content they manage, the required workflows, and security needs. By assessing these factors, businesses can select a CMS that best aligns with their operational goals. 

2. Select the Right CMS 

There are numerous CMS platforms available, each offering different features and capabilities. It’s crucial to choose a system that can meet both the current and future needs of the organization. Consider factors such as scalability, ease of use, and integration capabilities when selecting a CMS. 

3. Train Employees 

Proper training is essential for ensuring that employees can effectively use the new system. Providing training on how to navigate the CMS, manage content, and leverage key features will help businesses realize the full benefits of the system. 

4. Monitor and Optimize 

After implementing a CMS, businesses should regularly monitor its performance and make adjustments as needed. This includes evaluating system efficiency, gathering feedback from employees, and optimizing workflows to improve productivity. 

Conclusion 

Comprehensive content management services are not just a luxury but a necessity for businesses looking to streamline their operations, enhance collaboration, and maintain data security. By investing in an effective CMS, businesses can transform their content management process, improve workflow efficiency, and reduce operational costs. The ability to automate processes, maintain consistency, and ensure regulatory compliance positions businesses for long-term success in today’s competitive environment. 

Adopting the right CMS solution will allow companies to stay agile, adapt to changing business needs, and ultimately, drive growth and profitability. A well-managed content strategy is a powerful tool in enhancing overall business efficiency and delivering value to both internal teams and customers. 

[relto]

bro my data appears to just have straight up vanished into the ether. im thinking about switching to a different hosting service now because what the fuck.

[digitalfivel]

Join us on this fabulous journey to wealth with GotBackUp – click on the link now to secure your data and secure your future - https://digitalfivel.com/GotBackUp

[crazy-hazy-sims]

Hey everyone it seems there a malicious individual trying to hack the sims cc community again and fill it with malware you need to stay vigilant as a creator and a downloader so

i have some tips for both to stay safe while downloading:

1- sims cc file extension is always .Package never download anything that is .exe

2- do not auto unpack zip files and rar files into your mods folder directly, open each zip or rar individually check the file extensions and drag them to your mods folder one by one

3- the only mods that have a .ts4script extension are ones that affect gameplay or how the game works, understand that if you are downloading cas or bb items you shouldn't have a .ts4script file

4- if you are downloading gameplay mods that do have .ts4script make sure that A) the creator hasn't announced on their pages that its infected B) you are downloading from a link provided by the creator of the mods themselves not something off of google or a link you got sent and make sure dates of upload match dated of announcements

5- if the mod or cc creator has retired and hasn't posted for a while LOOK AT THE DATES OF THE UPLOAD if it has been "updated recently" after the creator has left the community its most likely re-uploaded by a hacker and infected

6- download mod gaurd by Twisted mexi and keep it updated and keep your windows defender or malware detector Program up to date and always running do not disable it

7- make sure everything you download comes from a direct link from the cc creator, in this day and age do not trust link shortners, adfly, linkverse, etc get the universal bypass extension and ublock extension to stay safe but genuinely NEVER CLICK ON THOSE no matter how much the creator reassures you its safe it. is. NOT.

8- this is more of a general saftey precaution but, create a system restore point weekly before you run the game with new mods that way if anything happens you could have a chance to restore your windows to an earlier date before you downloaded anything.

9- BACK UP YOUR SHIT im serious right now either weekly or monthly put your files somewhere safe like a usb a storage card a hard drive even an online cloud if you dont have any of the previous.

10- files you should back up are your media from games and media everything else, any mods, games saves, work files, passwords, saved bookmarks, any documents txt files word files pdfs, links you saved, brushes or actions for Photoshop if you have any, any digital bills or certificates if you have any, and keep a physical list of all programs you have installed and where you installed them from

11- turn on any 2 factor authentication and security measures for any account you have

12- google and firefox have the option to check your paswords and emails against any data leaks USE THIS FEATURE and change any leaked passwords

13- regularly check your logged in sessions to make sure all the logged in devices or computers are yours and log out any that aren't and any old devices or unused sessions do this for every website and app you have an account on if available

14- change your passwords often. I know this is a hassle i know its hard to come up with new passwords but changing your passwords every few months will help you against anything mention previously that wasn't detected.

15- and as a cc creator check your cc and the accounts you host cc on and its uplaod and update dates make sure nothing has been changed without your permission :(

16- generally try not to get swept up in the "i must get it" fever you do not need to "shop" for mods weekly or monthly you do not need to download everything by that one creator you do not need to download new cc everytime you want to make a sim, im guilty of this so i know how hard it is to resist but take a breath and think "do i want this or do i need it" before downloading.

These are prevention methods i cant claim they are 100% will prevent any hacking but its better to be safe than sorry and these do keep you safe so

Brought to you by someone who has had their laptop ruined and data leaked from downloading cc once upon a time

[eshare]

Discover the freedom of limitless file sharing and storage with eShare.ai – your all-in-one platform for managing, storing, and sharing data without limits. Whether you're a business, creator, or team collaborating across locations, eShare.ai delivers high-speed, secure, and scalable storage designed for today’s digital workflows. Say goodbye to space restrictions and hello to seamless data access.

[bemarketers]

💻 Tired of Losing Your Data? 🔒

With GotBackup, easily secure unlimited devices, seamlessly sync files, and enjoy fantastic passive income opportunities.

🌟 Join today and protect your digital life!

👉 Click Here to Learn More! 

https://bit.ly/4ceHaPm

#GotBackup #CloudStorage #PassiveIncome #DataProtection #AffiliateMarketing #OnlineBusiness #TechLife

(via Secure Your Digital Life and Create Passive Income with GotBackup!)

[passiveincomebiz]

Embrace Financial Freedom: A Guide to Passive Income with Got Backup

In a world dominated by traditional employment, the concept of passive income emerges as a beacon of financial freedom. Unlike active income, which requires consistent effort to generate, passive income allows individuals to earn money with minimal ongoing work. Let's delve into the transformative power of passive income and explore a groundbreaking opportunity that aligns perfectly with this financial philosophy—Got Backup.

Understanding Passive Income:

Passive income is not merely a way to earn money; it's a shift in mindset that opens doors to a life less constrained by time and effort. The key features include:

1. Earning Without Active Participation: Passive income continues to flow in even when you're not actively working. It liberates you from the need to trade time for money.

2. Diversification of Income Streams: Building multiple passive income streams provides stability and financial security. Whether through investments, royalties, or affiliate marketing, diversification is key.

3. Scalability: Passive income has the potential to grow exponentially. Once established, a passive income source can often be scaled up with minimal additional effort.

The Got Backup Opportunity:

Introducing Got Backup—a revolutionary solution that not only secures your digital world but also opens the door to a unique passive income opportunity.

Secure Your Digital Assets: Got Backup provides a cutting-edge cloud storage solution, ensuring the safety of your important data. With features like military-grade encryption, file versioning, and global accessibility, it's a comprehensive safeguard against data loss.

The Passive Income Advantage: Got Backup goes beyond being just a storage solution; it presents an exclusive Passive Reseller Opportunity. By becoming a reseller, you can share the benefits of Got Backup with others and earn recurring commissions. Here's why it's a game-changer:

a. Recurring Commissions: Earn as you share. With up to 200% commission on referrals, you're not just making a one-time sale but building a sustainable income stream.

b. Expanding Market: The demand for data protection is ever-growing. With Got Backup, you're tapping into a market that values security and accessibility.

c. Flexibility and Support: Work on your terms with a flexible schedule. Got Backup provides extensive support and training to ensure your success as a reseller.

How Got Backup Works:

Complete Device Protection: Secure all your devices, from laptops and desktops to smartphones. Each family member gets a separate account, offering a total backup storage of 6TB.

Automated and Easy to Manage: Got Backup operates with 100% automation. The easy-to-use interface allows you to manage and assign devices effortlessly.

Apps for Every Device: Whether you use iPhone, iPad, Android, Chrome OS, or Windows, Got Backup has dedicated apps for a seamless experience.

Super Fast Transfers and Global Accessibility: Enjoy lightning-fast transfers and access your files from anywhere in the world.

Conclusion:

Passive income is more than a financial strategy; it's a lifestyle that empowers individuals to break free from the limitations of traditional income sources. Got Backup not only ensures the security of your digital assets but also provides an unparalleled opportunity to create a passive income stream. Embrace the future of financial freedom with Got Backup today. Click [here] to explore the potential and embark on a journey towards a life of abundance. 💼💻🌐

[flowersinthebody]

Exploring the Cloud with cloudHQ: A New User's Perspective

Introduction: Are you juggling multiple cloud services and feeling overwhelmed? That was me until I discovered cloudHQ. As a new user, I want to share how this powerful tool is simplifying my digital life. What is cloudHQ? cloudHQ is a cloud-based service offering comprehensive synchronization and integration solutions for various online platforms. It’s designed for individuals and businesses…

[treasure-mimic]

So, let me try and put everything together here, because I really do think it needs to be talked about.

Today, Unity announced that it intends to apply a fee to use its software. Then it got worse.

For those not in the know, Unity is the most popular free to use video game development tool, offering a basic version for individuals who want to learn how to create games or create independently alongside paid versions for corporations or people who want more features. It's decent enough at this job, has issues but for the price point I can't complain, and is the idea entry point into creating in this medium, it's a very important piece of software.

But speaking of tools, the CEO is a massive one. When he was the COO of EA, he advocated for using, what out and out sounds like emotional manipulation to coerce players into microtransactions.

"A consumer gets engaged in a property, they might spend 10, 20, 30, 50 hours on the game and then when they're deep into the game they're well invested in it. We're not gouging, but we're charging and at that point in time the commitment can be pretty high."

He also called game developers who don't discuss monetization early in the planning stages of development, quote, "fucking idiots".

So that sets the stage for what might be one of the most bald-faced greediest moves I've seen from a corporation in a minute. Most at least have the sense of self-preservation to hide it.

A few hours ago, Unity posted this announcement on the official blog.

Effective January 1, 2024, we will introduce a new Unity Runtime Fee that’s based on game installs. We will also add cloud-based asset storage, Unity DevOps tools, and AI at runtime at no extra cost to Unity subscription plans this November. We are introducing a Unity Runtime Fee that is based upon each time a qualifying game is downloaded by an end user. We chose this because each time a game is downloaded, the Unity Runtime is also installed. Also we believe that an initial install-based fee allows creators to keep the ongoing financial gains from player engagement, unlike a revenue share.

Now there are a few red flags to note in this pitch immediately.

Unity is planning on charging a fee on all games which use its engine.

This is a flat fee per number of installs.

They are using an always online runtime function to determine whether a game is downloaded.

There is just so many things wrong with this that it's hard to know where to start, not helped by this FAQ which doubled down on a lot of the major issues people had.

I guess let's start with what people noticed first. Because it's using a system baked into the software itself, Unity would not be differentiating between a "purchase" and a "download". If someone uninstalls and reinstalls a game, that's two downloads. If someone gets a new computer or a new console and downloads a game already purchased from their account, that's two download. If someone pirates the game, the studio will be asked to pay for that download.

Q: How are you going to collect installs? A: We leverage our own proprietary data model. We believe it gives an accurate determination of the number of times the runtime is distributed for a given project. Q: Is software made in unity going to be calling home to unity whenever it's ran, even for enterprice licenses? A: We use a composite model for counting runtime installs that collects data from numerous sources. The Unity Runtime Fee will use data in compliance with GDPR and CCPA. The data being requested is aggregated and is being used for billing purposes. Q: If a user reinstalls/redownloads a game / changes their hardware, will that count as multiple installs? A: Yes. The creator will need to pay for all future installs. The reason is that Unity doesn’t receive end-player information, just aggregate data. Q: What's going to stop us being charged for pirated copies of our games? A: We do already have fraud detection practices in our Ads technology which is solving a similar problem, so we will leverage that know-how as a starting point. We recognize that users will have concerns about this and we will make available a process for them to submit their concerns to our fraud compliance team.

This is potentially related to a new system that will require Unity Personal developers to go online at least once every three days.

Starting in November, Unity Personal users will get a new sign-in and online user experience. Users will need to be signed into the Hub with their Unity ID and connect to the internet to use Unity. If the internet connection is lost, users can continue using Unity for up to 3 days while offline. More details to come, when this change takes effect.

It's unclear whether this requirement will be attached to any and all Unity games, though it would explain how they're theoretically able to track "the number of installs", and why the methodology for tracking these installs is so shit, as we'll discuss later.

Unity claims that it will only leverage this fee to games which surpass a certain threshold of downloads and yearly revenue.

Only games that meet the following thresholds qualify for the Unity Runtime Fee: Unity Personal and Unity Plus: Those that have made $200,000 USD or more in the last 12 months AND have at least 200,000 lifetime game installs. Unity Pro and Unity Enterprise: Those that have made $1,000,000 USD or more in the last 12 months AND have at least 1,000,000 lifetime game installs.

They don't say how they're going to collect information on a game's revenue, likely this is just to say that they're only interested in squeezing larger products (games like Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail, Fate Grand Order, Among Us, and Fall Guys) and not every 2 dollar puzzle platformer that drops on Steam. But also, these larger products have the easiest time porting off of Unity and the most incentives to, meaning realistically those heaviest impacted are going to be the ones who just barely meet this threshold, most of them indie developers.

Aggro Crab Games, one of the first to properly break this story, points out that systems like the Xbox Game Pass, which is already pretty predatory towards smaller developers, will quickly inflate their "lifetime game installs" meaning even skimming the threshold of that 200k revenue, will be asked to pay a fee per install, not a percentage on said revenue.

[IMAGE DESCRIPTION: Hey Gamers!

Today, Unity (the engine we use to make our games) announced that they'll soon be taking a fee from developers for every copy of the game installed over a certain threshold - regardless of how that copy was obtained.

Guess who has a somewhat highly anticipated game coming to Xbox Game Pass in 2024? That's right, it's us and a lot of other developers.

That means Another Crab's Treasure will be free to install for the 25 million Game Pass subscribers. If a fraction of those users download our game, Unity could take a fee that puts an enormous dent in our income and threatens the sustainability of our business.

And that's before we even think about sales on other platforms, or pirated installs of our game, or even multiple installs by the same user!!!

This decision puts us and countless other studios in a position where we might not be able to justify using Unity for our future titles. If these changes aren't rolled back, we'll be heavily considering abandoning our wealth of Unity expertise we've accumulated over the years and starting from scratch in a new engine. Which is really something we'd rather not do.

On behalf of the dev community, we're calling on Unity to reverse the latest in a string of shortsighted decisions that seem to prioritize shareholders over their product's actual users.

I fucking hate it here.

-Aggro Crab - END DESCRIPTION]

That fee, by the way, is a flat fee. Not a percentage, not a royalty. This means that any games made in Unity expecting any kind of success are heavily incentivized to cost as much as possible.

[IMAGE DESCRIPTION: A table listing the various fees by number of Installs over the Install Threshold vs. version of Unity used, ranging from $0.01 to $0.20 per install. END DESCRIPTION]

Basic elementary school math tells us that if a game comes out for $1.99, they will be paying, at maximum, 10% of their revenue to Unity, whereas jacking the price up to $59.99 lowers that percentage to something closer to 0.3%. Obviously any company, especially any company in financial desperation, which a sudden anchor on all your revenue is going to create, is going to choose the latter.

Furthermore, and following the trend of "fuck anyone who doesn't ask for money", Unity helpfully defines what an install is on their main site.

While I'm looking at this page as it exists now, it currently says

The installation and initialization of a game or app on an end user’s device as well as distribution via streaming is considered an “install.” Games or apps with substantially similar content may be counted as one project, with installs then aggregated to calculate the Unity Runtime Fee.

However, I saw a screenshot saying something different, and utilizing the Wayback Machine we can see that this phrasing was changed at some point in the few hours since this announcement went up. Instead, it reads:

The installation and initialization of a game or app on an end user’s device as well as distribution via streaming or web browser is considered an “install.” Games or apps with substantially similar content may be counted as one project, with installs then aggregated to calculate the Unity Runtime Fee.

Screenshot for posterity:

That would mean web browser games made in Unity would count towards this install threshold. You could legitimately drive the count up simply by continuously refreshing the page. The FAQ, again, doubles down.

Q: Does this affect WebGL and streamed games? A: Games on all platforms are eligible for the fee but will only incur costs if both the install and revenue thresholds are crossed. Installs - which involves initialization of the runtime on a client device - are counted on all platforms the same way (WebGL and streaming included).

And, what I personally consider to be the most suspect claim in this entire debacle, they claim that "lifetime installs" includes installs prior to this change going into effect.

Will this fee apply to games using Unity Runtime that are already on the market on January 1, 2024? Yes, the fee applies to eligible games currently in market that continue to distribute the runtime. We look at a game's lifetime installs to determine eligibility for the runtime fee. Then we bill the runtime fee based on all new installs that occur after January 1, 2024.

Again, again, doubled down in the FAQ.

Q: Are these fees going to apply to games which have been out for years already? If you met the threshold 2 years ago, you'll start owing for any installs monthly from January, no? (in theory). It says they'll use previous installs to determine threshold eligibility & then you'll start owing them for the new ones. A: Yes, assuming the game is eligible and distributing the Unity Runtime then runtime fees will apply. We look at a game's lifetime installs to determine eligibility for the runtime fee. Then we bill the runtime fee based on all new installs that occur after January 1, 2024.

That would involve billing companies for using their software before telling them of the existence of a bill. Holding their actions to a contract that they performed before the contract existed!

Okay. I think that's everything. So far.

There is one thing that I want to mention before ending this post, unfortunately it's a little conspiratorial, but it's so hard to believe that anyone genuinely thought this was a good idea that it's stuck in my brain as a significant possibility.

A few days ago it was reported that Unity's CEO sold 2,000 shares of his own company.

On September 6, 2023, John Riccitiello, President and CEO of Unity Software Inc (NYSE:U), sold 2,000 shares of the company. This move is part of a larger trend for the insider, who over the past year has sold a total of 50,610 shares and purchased none.

I would not be surprised if this decision gets reversed tomorrow, that it was literally only made for the CEO to short his own goddamn company, because I would sooner believe that this whole thing is some idiotic attempt at committing fraud than a real monetization strategy, even knowing how unfathomably greedy these people can be.

So, with all that said, what do we do now?

Well, in all likelihood you won't need to do anything. As I said, some of the biggest names in the industry would be directly affected by this change, and you can bet your bottom dollar that they're not just going to take it lying down. After all, the only way to stop a greedy CEO is with a greedier CEO, right?

(I fucking hate it here.)

And that's not mentioning the indie devs who are already talking about abandoning the engine.

[Links display tweets from the lead developer of Among Us saying it'd be less costly to hire people to move the game off of Unity and Cult of the Lamb's official twitter saying the game won't be available after January 1st in response to the news.]

That being said, I'm still shaken by all this. The fact that Unity is openly willing to go back and punish its developers for ever having used the engine in the past makes me question my relationship to it.

The news has given rise to the visibility of free, open source alternative Godot, which, if you're interested, is likely a better option than Unity at this point. Mostly, though, I just hope we can get out of this whole, fucking, environment where creatives are treated as an endless mill of free profits that's going to be continuously ratcheted up and up to drive unsustainable infinite corporate growth that our entire economy is based on for some fuckin reason.

Anyways, that's that, I find having these big posts that break everything down to be helpful.