Questions Before I Purchase

[SleepyLunchBoxJoe]

I'm about to purchase StreamFab All-In-One Lifetime for $279.99 and I don't understand the two options available:

StreamFab Extended Download Service
I reread what this is over and over and still don't understand what it does. I'm already buying a lifetime membership but I need this to download future versions? Or maybe it sounds like it's so I can download older versions? Why would I want to do that? When the software is updated it's because something was broke on the previous version so you would never go back to older one? Please advise.

New Products Guarantee
This one says "StreamFab New Products Guarantee ensures that you can have future new StreamFab products for free." So I pay $79.99 and I get future products as in what? This is completely separate from StreamFab updates? What's an example of a new product?

The way I understand it is I want to buy a Lifetime one time thing and I get free updates as things change and updates are needed. How do I get that?

Thanks,
Kevin

[Cats4U]

StreamFab Extended Download Service - This gives you access to download a previous version of a StreamFab's offline update. If you merely save all the versions as you download them as they are released, you accomplish the same thing. Waste of money.

New Products Guarantee - This gives you access to download any new VIP module StreamFab that might come out in the future. So, if you are waiting on them to release modules for a few certain streaming sites that you subscribe to, it might be worth it if they pick those sites to expand to. Otherwise, you might end with a collect of sites that aren't in your language, and you have no interest in. This one's a gamble. Initially, this is what All-In-One Lifetime meant. A few people in the beginning got this when they bought StreamFab. Then they realized they wouldn't make any additional money off people and declared that All-In-One Lifetime only meant that you got what was available when you bought it, and you had to pay extra for anything that was released after that.

[Cats4U]

I'd be remiss if I didn't also add, you are a fool if you purchase StreamFab unless you have unlimited amounts of money to burn. You'd be better off obtaining videos via torrenting or newsgroups. It is free, faster, less of a headache, don't have to wait a day for a new TV episode, more secure (especially newsgroups or if using a private torrent tracker or a public one with VPN), don't have to wait 6 months for them to figure out a DRM change, and there is zero chance that that method will up and disappear like AnyStream.

[Sebastian001]

I'd be remiss if I didn't also add, you are a fool if you purchase StreamFab unless you have unlimited amounts of money to burn. You'd be better off obtaining videos via torrenting or newsgroups. It is free, faster, less of a headache, don't have to wait a day for a new TV episode, more secure (especially newsgroups or if using a private torrent tracker or a public one with VPN), don't have to wait 6 months for them to figure out a DRM change, and there is zero chance that that method will up and disappear like AnyStream.

Well, you could have avoided that sentence. Even though I can understand your negative experiences with Wilson, the presenter job, etc. It sounds a bit like asking why you should buy salad in the supermarket when you could steal it from your neighbor's garden.

[VeiledCipher]

Well, you could have avoided that sentence. Even though I can understand your negative experiences with Wilson, the presenter job, etc. It sounds a bit like asking why you should buy salad in the supermarket when you could steal it from your neighbor's garden.

Either way, you're still stealing the salad. The difference is paying someone to steal it for you versus taking it for free from someone who already stole it.

[Sebastian001]

Either way, you're still stealing the salad. The difference is paying someone to steal it for you versus taking it for free from someone who already stole it.

no, to download things with Streamfab or Redfox you need a subscription to Prime, Netflix, Disney etc. So they only steal 50%

[Chameleon]

You will be fine if you do not share it with anyone.

[artsunlimited]

Well, you could have avoided that sentence. Even though I can understand your negative experiences with Wilson, the presenter job, etc. It sounds a bit like asking why you should buy salad in the supermarket when you could steal it from your neighbor's garden.

I disagree - since in this case the supermarket actually bought the salad from another supermarket that closed (because for months they weren't capable of producing their own greens), and as they can't get any more from them, you'd be crazy to pre-pay the supermarket for salad they might never have again and can't produce on their own, rather than just see what's doing in the farmer's market. It's not a case of disillusionment or sour grapes, it's purely about economics and value for money.

Since it's most likely that SF bought Anystream's software, and used it to get themselves out from behind the DRM 8-ball - which they'd been stuck for 5 solid months - just what do you think the odds are that they'll be able to keep SF downloading when the next major DRM shakeup occurs? They didn't crack any DRMs on their own in all those months, they just bought the keys - and since they clearly weren't able to pick any locks with the current staff, and were averse to hiring developers to do it for them in all that time, it would be extremely foolish to plunk down almost $300 for software that will most probably have a very limited shelf-life, because AnyStream's developers won't be bailing them out in future. Based on SF's miserable performance over that five-month period, it's just not a sound investment, unless you're a big fan of paying downloader prices for software that has a track record of turning into a screen recorder. Unless you can have several computers downloading to the limit for your streaming subscriptions in the next 3 months, that's the only way you might actually get your money's worth.

That 90-day window is because if you have a good credit card you can always go the dispute/chargeback route for non-performance if things go pear-shaped within that time frame, but that will still be subject to how much your bank values you as a customer.

[NewMelle]

As a current customer I've had numerous opportunities to purchase the lifetime AIO with new products guarantee at a respectable discount but it makes no $ense whatsoever for me to do so as I only subscribe to 3 streaming services and I already have a YouTube downloader that does a far job for much less (4K Downloader) and is quick to update. The rest of the modules have no interest for me and as such a complete waste of money.

As far as lifetime license goes as many have pointed out it is the lifetime of the software, not your bones. For 5 LONG months I had a lifetime license for 3 streaming services that I could not use, not in any practical sense. Their splash screen would have more appropriately been a brick with a crack down the middle. If SF is fool enough to get caught with it's proverbial pants down as Anystream did it will be a permanent brick and the lifetime license means exactly squat. It has to "phone home" to work.

My suggestion would be to price out what modules you DO need and then decide if it is worth the money. Lifetime for any module is usually about 3 times or a little less than a month. You can go for the 1 month and if it doesn't meet your expectations simply don't renew and you won't be out any more money. You are allowed 3 downloads for each module in trial mode and I suggest you take advantage of that, not just shows but full length features as well.

Another suggestion would be if you have several services you subscribe to buy the module for the service you use the most. Once you are a paying customer you will likely be offered discounted prices for new modules. Wait till then to save some money.

One last thing. Do not rely on what you read on ReddiTard alone. You are obviously a sentient being as you came here with your questions asking real users who actively support each other. Hopefully this covers both pros and cons.

[Sebastian001]

I disagree - since in this case the supermarket actually bought the salad from another supermarket that closed (because for months they weren't capable of producing their own greens), and as they can't get any more from them, you'd be crazy to pre-pay the supermarket for salad they might never have again and can't produce on their own, rather than just see what's doing in the farmer's market. It's not a case of disillusionment or sour grapes, it's purely about economics and value for money.

Since it's most likely that SF bought Anystream's software, and used it to get themselves out from behind the DRM 8-ball - which they'd been stuck for 5 solid months - just what do you think the odds are that they'll be able to keep SF downloading when the next major DRM shakeup occurs? They didn't crack any DRMs on their own in all those months, they just bought the keys - and since they clearly weren't able to pick any locks with the current staff, and were averse to hiring developers to do it for them in all that time, it would be extremely foolish to plunk down almost $300 for software that will most probably have a very limited shelf-life, because AnyStream's developers won't be bailing them out in future. Based on SF's miserable performance over that five-month period, it's just not a sound investment, unless you're a big fan of paying downloader prices for software that has a track record of turning into a screen recorder. Unless you can have several computers downloading to the limit for your streaming subscriptions in the next 3 months, that's the only way you might actually get your money's worth.

That 90-day window is because if you have a good credit card you can always go the dispute/chargeback route for non-performance if things go pear-shaped within that time frame, but that will still be subject to how much your bank values you as a customer.

Do you have proof that Streamfab bought redfox?

[NewMelle]

It is quite likely one of two things happened when the DRM was finally cracked. Note I said quite likely, not certainly. I've not heard a peep about AS since they vanished.

A. They hired someone who can actually find their ass with both hands, drunk or not OR B. Bought out Anystream either when AS went down or just after. In either case they now have a chimp at the keyboard that knows what they are doing OR the original chimps at the keyboard now have a working example of how to combat and counter DRM changes. I do hope for my investment's sake it is one of these two scenarios.

[MrGrackle]

Where is all the hate for the program coming from? As already suggested, get the modules you are most interested in. Might not be the best course getting everything, this is not Pokemon, you don't need to get them all! Thus far, we have gotten there in the end, even if the last major update took 5 months.

You'd be better off obtaining videos via torrenting or newsgroups. It is free, faster, less of a headache, don't have to wait a day for a new TV episode, more secure (especially newsgroups or if using a private torrent tracker or a public one with VPN), don't have to wait 6 months for them to figure out a DRM change, and there is zero chance that that method will up and disappear like AnyStream.

Still looking for clean or decent bitrate copies of certain videos on the newsgroups. Posts on them are all over the place. One specific show I am looking at right now, some episodes have 5Gb h264 files with decent audio, others barely break 500Mb with h265 and shitty audio and blatant issues. And last I checked, newsgroup providers charged monthly fees as well. That's almost like saying I won't buy something on blu-ray because it is "free" on Netflix. Unless you pay nothing for your internet or for Netflix, that's a lie too.

[NewMelle]

Where is all the hate for the program coming from? ....... Thus far, we have gotten there in the end, even if the last major update took 5 months.

No hate from me. No overwhelming respect either. What's shown is reciprocated, plain and simple. Silence and one empty promise after another is not the best way to win respect.

My suggestion in a nutshell for the OP is use up the 3 downloads for each module that interest you and if you are satisfied with the results decide whether a month at a time or lifetime is the route you want to go.

There's the rub. Lifetime for the modules that interest you is probably the best bet in the long run but if another "blackout" occurs monthly may be the right choice. It did take 5 months to effect an "acceptable" solution to the DRM issues but SF once again functions as advertised.

[artsunlimited]

Do you have proof that Streamfab bought redfox?

Do you have proof that they didn't?

Seriously, do the math on all fronts - the results speak for themselves.
1) For five solid months SF didn't crack a single DRM, while Anystream was fully functional, except for Netflix, in little more than a week. That means the CDM revocation was solvable - so why couldn't SF do the same for even one DRM in all that time?
2) Just going by what was reported here, the "developer" SF supposedly had didn't seem to ever be in direct contact with either of the mods SF conned into being the forum liaison - IIRC their opinion was that his ass should have been fired for incompetence at the end of February. I don't think I'd lose any money betting on that fact that that "developer" didn't exist, that SF didn't have anyone on staff who had a skillset even close to what was needed. Nor did they try to hire one in all that time. All they could come up with as a solution was a ripoff of CleverGet and a Japanese porn module, which would really be a piss-poor use of an actual decrypter's talents.
3) Within something like 8 hours after the Anystream server plug was pulled, hey presto! - SF miraculously had a DRM fix for everything, and all at the same time, with Netflix being the only service with a 540p glitch. Not exactly subtle, you know?

Coincidence is one thing, but this much of it just turns into implausibility.

Believe me or don't, your choice, but you'd be wise to download as if the next major DRM change could undo all of this, because given SF's track record, they don't have anyone on staff who's capable of handling it, nor are they interested in getting anyone who can. StreamFab could totally dominate this market now that their competiton has been taken out, because they're bloody well untouchable in China, but if they persist in going for the cheap module sales rather than getting a decent development team who can crack a DRM, what's actually a damn good product will sadly devolve once again into a shitty version of someone else's screen recorder. Based on past performance of their shooting themselves in the foot, just how likely is it that they'll make that investment? That's what anyone who hasn't purchased the software yet should consider.

[artsunlimited]

Where is all the hate for the program coming from? As already suggested, get the modules you are most interested in. Might not be the best course getting everything, this is not Pokemon, you don't need to get them all! Thus far, we have gotten there in the end, even if the last major update took 5 months.

Still looking for clean or decent bitrate copies of certain videos on the newsgroups. Posts on them are all over the place. One specific show I am looking at right now, some episodes have 5Gb h264 files with decent audio, others barely break 500Mb with h265 and shitty audio and blatant issues. And last I checked, newsgroup providers charged monthly fees as well. That's almost like saying I won't buy something on blu-ray because it is "free" on Netflix. Unless you pay nothing for your internet or for Netflix, that's a lie too.
.

What NewMelle said, no hate on my end, but not a helluva lotta respect at this point for how the product has been allowed to deteriorate in the two-plus years since I bought it. There should never be any emotion like that regarding an investment in software like this - but people should know the facts and have their eyes open to the potential pitfalls going in.

To actually state "we have gotten there in the end, even if the last major update took 5 months" means you're not even considering the very high probability that the only reason SF "got there" after 5 solid months of farting around and not cracking a single DRM in all that time was that Anystream sold them the solution - and a bailout like that is not ever going to happen again, hence my comment that buyers should be aware that this software could have a limited shelf life.
Be realistic - if AS were still around, do you seriously think that this product wouldn't still be a screen recorder?

Thanks for the review on newsgroups, I haven't tried them yet, so good to know the offerings can be that uneven.