Over the next few weeks, you will be able to download and install all Smart-Thinker modules with a Trial License. This means you can try and test the module to your heart’s content on your own DotNetNuke system or even give it to a few testers to play with. The trial versions on the modules will be fully functionally with no restrictions other than that you agree to only use it in a test environment, and on one DNN Installation only (testing online is fine, but just not on a live site).
If you decide you want the module you can purchase a license to use it. This will enable you to either download a License file to overwrite the Trial License, or you can download the whole module again with your new license so that you just need to reinstall it. After a certain amount of usage, a “Trial Version” message will be randomly shown within the module to prevent licensing abuse. We also are relying on the integrity of users in order to make this a reality.
The first module that you will be able to trial is the Smart-Thinker HomePage module for DNN 4.3.x. We are ironing out a few issues in our licensing system and making some changes due to breaking changes introduced in 4.3.x, but we expect to have the first trial available to download sometime next weekend. We are hoping that this will be mutually beneficial – you get to test out our modules and judge the quality and usefulness for yourself, and we get more feedback and hence can improve our modules. All other modules will have trials available as the new versions are releases (with tweaks if any problems are found in the HomePage rollout).
As per our previous blog, new releases will be in 4.3.x+ only, so only a 4.3 HomePage trial will be available. Please note that we are changing the licensing on our modules to be fairer – our modules will now have a portal limit which allows them to be used on X amount of parent/child portals (depending on the License you choose), as opposed to on unlimited. I will blog about this separately (the new change will NOT affect existing subscribers, only new purchases).
If you would like to discuss this, please raise it in the Forums, otherwise feel free to leave your comments here...