revenue in a non intrusive manner?

how about a html page generate with random snips from chat history with the script in it to get the adsense link, which is then extracted and placed wherever.

a random page can be generated every 10 - 30 minutes and a new link put there. 

it means the ad's will have some relevance to chat, much like the googlebot used in forums to insert a row of google ad's. also has the added effect of some realy funny ads showing up aparently out of nowhere.

So far I like the idea of research as long as it's for a good research and we're told about out in the open where it's hard to miss it. I've kept it on for the past week and haven't had any trouble with it. It doesn't seem to affect bandwidth much, for the past 2days of uptime digsby has only used 1.8% of my bandwidth total, and that includes file transfers, chats, so forth. (12 hours a day are idle hours) I guess it's the only thing so far that's the most non intrusive and seems to work fine.

Maybe just put it in a release note on next update for the client where it's impossible to not see it and let everyone know how to turn it off if they want, but make sure they know it's there.

I absolutely adore this product, and the developers are some of the most responsive software producers I've ever seen, and for that, I thank you guys. Personally, I have the research turned on, since I leave my work computer running all night (with digsby on, just my IM's signed off) so if that means you can make a little money to keep developing and improving things, go for it!

I'd also be okay with the small text ads mentioned here, although obviously I'd prefer not to have ads at all. But if those are the difference between having digsby continue to evolve and be supported to this degree, and having it fade away or stagnate, I'll take the ads. I know that's not for everyone, but I have a feeling there are a lot of us using the program that would opt in to help subsidize things to make up for those who might opt out.

To be honest, I'm not sure I would pay a fee for an IM program, but if it was just an option to donate whatever I wanted, rather than being a fee to use digsby/a full version of digsby, I might be more inclined to think of it favorably. To the developers: have you thought about setting up a paypal account people can make donations to, to see if that might be a viable option at least in the short term?

@Girrlkitty: Donations work well for a small project where one person or a few people are doing it in their spare time.  People donate to thank them for their work.  I don't think enough people would donate to generate enough revenue for a company with a full dev team to survive unfortunately.  It works for wikipedia but they are the exception and not the rule.  Thank you for the other comments. There are certainly options for us to consider in addition to what we are testing now.

I would rather not have text ads but I wouldn't really mind them. would be definitely better than this installer. as long as you don't pull the ridiculous resource consuming flash ads aim and msn uses I'm for it.

A paid version and a free version sounds good too as long as the free one is not crippled too much or filled with ads. Or maybe the free version has these text ads and you can pay to have them removed?

I guess im confused by people who are so upset about the use of their CPU for research at times when the computer is completely idle....as for the person who posted the comparison of this to a person breaking into your house and stealing your car....these scenarios are both completely different, there are several different misdemeanors and felonies happening when someone breaks into your house, takes your car keys, uses your car, then returns it, not to mention the possible damage to what is considered by most to be a major investment...


That being said, i don't believe that any permanent or physical damage can be done to your CPU/computer overall through 10% of your CPU being used at times when youre not even using your computer, however, if you can come up with some i'm sure we'd all be glad to hear about it, rigth after you tell us about unicorns and talking snowmen

I at first believed that a pay version/free version was the right way to go, however, from what i've read, i don't think thats going to supply the developers with enough income to even cover the expenses they are incurring.

I am not a college graduate (yet), and even at that, i have no advanced computech experience ( i can use it, but im no programmer)....yet i was still able to read a few lines of text and hit decline when prompted to install YahooToolBar, WeatherBug, and a few other thinhgs...yeah it took an extra minute and a half out of my day, but if thats the cost of a great program for free, i'll gladly take the time to read and click a button

To those of you complaining about the InstallAds, saying that the problem isnt the idea itself, its having to sit through those extra prompts and hit disable, i am curious how you can bring yourself to watch TV.... after you pay a cable provider a set amount per month, and you STILL have to sit through 4 minutes of ads, twice a half an hour??? RIDICULOUS!

Oh and how about those magazines you read, even though you pay a subscription fee, or even worse the newstand price, you still have to take the time and energy to flip the page sooner than you expected because of the fullpage ad on the opposite side of the story youre reading....


you all need to relax and realize that these developers bust their asses for this program, and none of you would do the same if you were receiving no financial benefit, so if we have to click disable and read a few ads, so be it

Last edited by gowiththemo (2008-12-08 15:49:58)

I actually don't watch tv and only watch things online where I get little to no ads.

and the research thing should definitely be optional although it is a good cause.

Well it is optional....

While i agree, it could seem shady that this was thrown in with no prior warning or consent, you cant seriously believe that the developers had alterior motives.... I think those who have been on this site and using digsby for long enough now should know that it was most likely (hopefuly) an oversight, one that many of us are just as susceptible to making...

And even watching TV on the internet (using sites such as Hulu.com, or others) youre going to experience ads....I dont think that people who use this product for free should be shitting such a fit over this...there has been no invasion or privacy, and no documents are being stolen or trolled over for information...

Well, the research app might run while my laptop is on battery power, reducing my battery time. And it makes my laptop generally run hotter, something I don't want when I actually have it on my lap. I get that I can turn it off, but my parents or non-tech friends don't know that and will start wondering why their computer is acting different.

Also, they won't know what to say yes or no to in the installer so that's another reason why I can't recommend digsby to them anymore.

I run digsbies.org and are still a happy supporter of digsby, but they need to sort this stuff out. The main reason I started supporting digsby and started believing in it, was because the focus was on the general, non-tech user (unlike e.g. pidgin (imho) - which, to be honest, even I find confusing), but now you need to be a techy person to get digsby properly installed without spyware and to know about and disable this research app..

Just my two cents ... I still support digsby 100%, though, just can't recommend it to others than myself at this point, that's all.

eia wrote:

Well, the research app might run while my laptop is on battery power, reducing my battery time. And it makes my laptop generally run hotter, something I don't want when I actually have it on my lap.

it only runs on laptops when plugged in, and even then it uses less than it would on a desktop.

gowiththemo wrote:

Well it is optional....

While i agree, it could seem shady that this was thrown in with no prior warning or consent, you cant seriously believe that the developers had alterior motives.... I think those who have been on this site and using digsby for long enough now should know that it was most likely (hopefuly) an oversight, one that many of us are just as susceptible to making...

Oversight??? You are kidding, right?

Boofo wrote:

gowiththemo wrote:

Well it is optional....

While i agree, it could seem shady that this was thrown in with no prior warning or consent, you cant seriously believe that the developers had alterior motives.... I think those who have been on this site and using digsby for long enough now should know that it was most likely (hopefuly) an oversight, one that many of us are just as susceptible to making...

Oversight??? You are kidding, right?

So youre saying you believe that they purposely threw in the research application without telling us? if you read the other threads, they say that it was put in for testing and then never removed and they didnt release a statement about it because they forgot, and since its nothign illegal or malicious, im willing to give them the benefit of the doubt..

THis is along the same lines of people who complain about having to submit their login data to Digsby, screaming about privacy and what not....Even if this research tool was trolling your computer for files and information, what have you really got to hide?

To EIA: Well i believe the research tool only works when the entire computer is idle, so it shouldnt really make it run any warmer in your lap, as im assuming you will be using it then....and typically if youre running a laptop on battery power and worried about the battery life, you would set it to hibernate when idle so i don't see the problem...

I dont think you need to be techy to install Digsby, you just need not be illiterate and you need to have the ability to think for yourself and read what youre agreeing to before you do so....If you walked into a store and they asked you to sign a piece paper with writing on it, without any other prompts, you going to read it first?? People these days seem to rush through things, especially with their computer, and then fine person later, when really a little bit of patience and common sense could help them avoid the whole situation

Last edited by gowiththemo (2008-12-08 18:35:53)

Also, as far as their computers running different... i installed the newest digsby a few days after it came out (and i was even able to hit DECLINE on all those *pesky* offers!!!) and was not aware of the research tool until today while reading all of this...my laptop is on 24/7 and i sleep in the same room, never noticed a difference from fan noise, heat, performance or anything of the like

Im glad some people arent jumping off the bridge with this just because they disagree

Last edited by gowiththemo (2008-12-08 18:35:13)

So youre saying you believe that they purposely threw in the research application without telling us? if you read the other threads, they say that it was put in for testing and then never removed and they didnt release a statement about it because they forgot, and since its nothign illegal or malicious, im willing to give them the benefit of the doubt..

That is not something you just forget. And I suppose they "forgot" about adding the stuff to the installer, too? The stuff they did doesn't bother me as much as they tried to hide it and only admitted it after being confronted about it. My question is this... if they will do that what else will they do and not tell us about until we find out about it? There is a major trust issue here that needs to be addressed before customers start losing confidence in them.

@Boofo: It was an oversight.  It was not an oversight in the sense of "we forgot to announce it". It was an oversight in the sense of "we wanted to announce it after we tested it and decided to keep it".  This created a lack of information as people started to come across the installer (which was only going out to a small portion of users at that point) and this lack of information resulted in theories and assumptions about what it was and what our intentions were.  It was a PR mistake and it won't happen again.

That's good to hear and hopefully it is not too late to reverse the damage that has already been done. I will admit that I was disappointed when it all came to light, but I would much rather stay with Digsby than go back to Trillian, so I am willing to give it another shot and support you guys in whatever way I can.

If one could choose which way you contribute to this great product it would really be the best way I think. I for myself would prefer the reasearch feature, since my computer runs all day long not being used by me most of the time (but having SETI running andso).
I'd turn SETI off and let digsby do its research if this is providing you revenue and allowing me to use digsby ad-free but still contributing something to the developers.

And for the one ("gowiththemo") saying something about TV ads.. I don't really watch TV and I don't read any magazines.
I watch the news and a few shows at night (Where there is less ads than through the day, on some channels not even one spot; I'm from Germany)
If I watch TV over the day I turn the sound off while they show ads and talk to some people or such..

So if there IS a way to contribute to the devs WITHOUT showing ads, I'm in it immediately.
So I'll keep the research thingy on and let it do it's dirty work while I'm asleep or not at home or such.

There's a good blog post about this on the official blog now: http://blog.digsby.com/archives/68

I don't mind the research app as long as some options are given to control it.

- Max CPU %
- Time idle before it beings
- Time of day settings
- Clear indication of when it is running or not
- Run only when the screen saver is running

These type of options would put some control back in the users hands. You would probably find a large number of users just leave it on default, but those who need or want to change it will if they have control.

You could even make it a feature by making some stats available as part of status messages.
"[username] is searching for the cure for cancer while away"
"[username] has process X units for the [name] project"

I think this would really get the community on board. Works for SETI, just look at all the teams out there looking for bragging rights.

What ever you do DON'T HIDE IT OR TEST IT WITHOUT SOME RELEASE NOTES!

@Lazybones: Those are great ideas!  We will be adding more options besides just on/off for sure!