Change Release Notes
Hello World! We at Synthiam have been working hard developing ARC and all the amazing features that make your robot smarter. We've been trying to keep up with developing feature requests as well! However, millions of lines of code takes a lot of time and effort - and it's not something we can afford to do for free any longer. We've been exploring a variety of ways to implement a financial compensation model around the ARC software that doesn't dent your wallet - which we've released today
.
Inspired by many conversations on the forum and in real life, we've identified a great model that serves us all. We hope you're excited to participate in the licensing model to help fund additional features! I can tell you that we're really excited as well.
You Can Do It!
Please do us a huge solid, visit the ARC product page and press that 'Buy' button while we start checking off feature request items to make your robots even more awesome!
And for those of you who can't afford to support us with a license, ARC can still be used with basic functionality for free.
New ARC Editions You may notice a few other changes, such as removing the ARC Beta. That's because we've implemented an internal beta program for testing bugs before they get to you (fingers crossed). This allows us to split ARC into two editions, for those who love immediate new features and bug fixes and those who want months before updating. They've been named ARC Pro and ARC Free respectively.
Premium Support In addition to the new licensing model - we've also implemented a premium support system. This is real cool because it allows you to directly work with one of us to solve a programming, hardware or design problem (over email, of course). You get 1 free premium support per month with a license, and you can purchase additional requests. Or, if you don't have a license, you can still purchase a request (but it costs more).
Let's Get Robot'ing! This new change allows us to focus our time where it counts - developing ARC software features! Now that we won't have to worry as much about keeping the lights on, we can spend more time programming! Beep bleep boop
Upgrading All of your preinstalled plugin skills will require to be updated. With an internet connecting during ARC’s loading, you will be prompted. Due to a number of improvements, the legacy plugin system isn’t compatible with the new ARC.
Sincerely,
- DJ, Jer, Valentin, & Amin
ARC Downloads
ARC Free
Free
- Includes one free 3rd party plugin robot skill per project
- Trial cloud services
- Free with trial limitations
For schools, personal use & organizations. This edition is updated every 6-12 months.
ARC Pro
Only $8.99/mo
- 2 or more PCs simultaneously
- Includes unlimited skills
- Cloud backup
- And much more
Experience the latest features and bug fixes weekly. A Pro subscription is required to use this edition.
Runtime
Free
- Load and run any ARC project
- Operates in read-only mode
- Unlimited robot skills
- Early access fixes & features
Have you finished programming your robot? Use this to run existing ARC projects for free*.
- Minimum requirements are Windows 10 or higher with 2+gb ram and 500+MB free space.
- Recommended requirements are Windows 10 or higher with 8+gb ram and 1000+MB free space.
- ARC Free known-issues can be viewed by clicking here.
- Get more information about each ARC edition by clicking here.
- See what's new in the latest versions with Release notes.
Compare Editions
| Feature | ARC FREE |
ARC PRO |
|---|---|---|
| Get ARC for Free | View Plans | |
| Usage | Personal DIY Education |
Personal DIY Education Business |
| Early access to new features & fixes | Yes | |
| Simultaneous microcontroller connections* | 1 | 255 |
| Robot skills* | 20 | Unlimited |
| Skill Store plugins* | 1 | Unlimited |
| Cognitive services usage** | 10/day | 6,000/day |
| Auto-positions gait actions* | 40 | Unlimited |
| Speech recongition phrases* | 10 | Unlimited |
| Camera devices* | 1 | Unlimited |
| Vision resolution | max 320x240 | Unlimited |
| Interface builder* | 2 | Unlimited |
| Cloud project size | 128 MB | |
| Cloud project revision history | Yes | |
| Create Exosphere requests | 50/month | |
| Exosphere API access | Contact Us | |
| Volume license discounts | Contact Us | |
| Get ARC for Free | View Plans |
** 1,000 per cognitive type (vision recognition, speech recognition, face detection, sentiment, text recognition, emotion detection, azure text to speech)
Upgrade to ARC Pro
ARC Pro will give you immediate updates and new features needed to unleash your robot's potential!
I dint be happy for this. i think i change some differt software.
Very sorry to see you go. However, we understand if you are not able to support our effort of developing and maintaining the ARC software. The free ARC version still provides great functionality and may fulfill your needs.
HI DJ, On the one hand I understand your need for a monthly business model to also make money (and maintaining all this SW is not easy or cheap), on the other hand $8.99 per month is a sudden significant increase certainly compared against Disney+ or Spotify. Since I got a working robot I hope I can at least keep using current functionality while I consider what to do next. So, some questions: What does "Simultaneous microcontroller connections" mean? I have bought 2 EZ-B's and embedded in R2D2, does that not work anymore? Can I at least keep running my current robots and will I not be blocked based on the new limitations? So, the new rules are forward looking and no punishment for being an active user in the past? Can I at a certain moment "Freeze" my functionality, stop the monthly subscription and just run it with what I have? Want to avoid that If I choose for Synthiam I am not stuck forever with a monthly fee in order to keep completed robots running.
Thanks Charel - You got it right, $8.99 for 2 computers to run ARC. The simultaneous microcontrollers means you'll need a paid version to use both controllers at the same time in ARC. You can stop a monthly subscription at any time - but the ARC will be limited to free version features. It's $100 for an entire year of benefiting from ARC's ongoing feature development. With the expensive hardware purchases that power your robots, I feel this is a minor expense considering ARC is what makes it all work
. Synthiam and its employees do not get paid by your 3d printer, hbridges, ezbs, etc purchases from other companies.
I hope you don't see this as a punishment for being a past user - because I've been giving the software for free. We worked 10-12+ hours per day developing ARC and features that everyone experienced for free until now. A business that doesn't charge for products isn't a business, sadly. If the ARC software is to continue, it needs to produce revenue.
The alternative is I shut down ARC and focus on enterprise development for our corporate customers (meaning ARC just stops working) - but no one wants that
. I'd hate to see anyone go, but I understand if you're not capable or don't believe in supporting ARC's feature developments. I'd like to think the software and the effort of our passion is worth continuing to use!
What happens when you require more than two computers to run the software at the same time in the Pro version? Also does the Pro version include multiple instances open on a single computer? Will the license require an internet connection at all times since you won't be using a dongle for licensing?
I understand, DJ is younger, and needs to make a living and pay the bills - no problem with that. I am for that. I wish ARC stayed the way it was, and only "new features" had the subscription which would make cents :-) to me.
Now - Some of my projects will not open at all because the Talk servo is gone, I guess not free now
How can I open my work I have done without the talk servo function?
EzAng
Will,
yes you can run multiple of arcs at the same time on the same computer
you can get a license for as many computers as you wish. By pressing the buy button you can see all of the plans available
the license does not require an internet connection at all times. Only once per every 7 days
Fantastic...thanks you for the clarity.