EZSaver - version 1.5 ---------------------- Thank you for downloading EZSaver. If you haven't already, please run the Setup program (SETUP.EXE), which will move EZSAVER.SCR to your \Windows directory where it needs to be and also automatically run EZSaver's setup screen and this README document. If you did run Setup, just minimize or close this document now to start using EZSaver right away. Refer to the information below as needed. Please give the saver a few seconds to bounce the image around the screen while it calculates the additional images needed to create animations. This calculation time is reduced when animation effects are turned off. The free screen saver SPACE.SCR, which depicts the Earth and Moon as photographed by the Galileo spacecraft when it passed us for the last time on its way to Jupiter, is also moved to \Windows by the Setup program. Tips for creating screen savers: -------------------------------- You can see from playing with EZSaver a little that the best effect is achieved if the logo image's background matches the selected screen background. EZSaver performs no image "masking", and therefore can achieve smooth animation on a wide range of PC's. You should crop the image close to the logo itself (in other words, don't leave a lot of margin) to minimize initial calculations and get full animation rolling as quickly as possible. Bitmaps are rejected if the width times the height of a bitmap is greater that 100,000. Bitmaps smaller than this should always allow a smooth animation effect. If you plan to distribute screen savers to other users, keep in mind that only 16-color bitmaps are guaranteed to appear the same on all Windows installations. A screen saver with a 256-color photo-quality image will look great on all Super VGA systems, but not very good on simple VGA systems. EZSaver lets you choose which (if any) animation effects are to be performed upon the image. Make sure the effects you want are selected before using the "Save" button. The resulting saver will use only those effects. For a simple "floating" image, turn off all effects. Saving the saver: ----------------- You can test EZSaver's ability to use your image, color selection, and description to create a new screen saver, which is then saved to a single file (like EZSAVER.SCR or SPACE.SCR) to simplify distribution. You can do this without registration codes (simply leave them blank) to create evaluation screen savers, which are time-constricted to one minute (starting when the full animation effect kicks in). When you register, you'll know how to build your savers when you receive your codes. Using screen savers (Windows 3.x): -------------------------------------- Locate the Control Panel icon (usually found in the program group titled "Main"), double-click it to run it, then double-click the Desktop icon to run that. Locate the section titled "Screen Saver". Click the downward-pointing arrow (just to the right of the current screen saver) to get a list of all savers in the \WINDOWS directory, and select "EZSaver 1.5". Use the Test button to immediately see the EZSaver effect, and the Setup button to try it with your own images and background color selections. See below for more info. Using screen savers (Windows 95): ------------------------------------- Click the right mouse button anywhere exposed on the desktop. Then, click Properties to run the Display panel. Click on the Screen Saver tab and select "EZSaver 1.5" from the list of screen savers. Use the Preview button to immediately see the EZSaver effect, and the Settings button to try it with your own images and background color selections. (Note: you can also run the Display panel by clicking the START button and selecting Settings/Control Panel, which displays a Display icon you can double-click) Passwords: ---------- Password information is stored in CONTROL.INI, and is the same password used by the standard Microsoft screen savers (Flying Windows, Mystify, etc.). If you forget your password, use NOTEPAD to edit CONTROL.INI. Find the section labelled [ScreenSaver], and delete the line that starts with "Password = ". Registration: ------------- Registration for an individual user is $19 (U.S.) via CompuServe's Shareware Registration service (GO SWREG). CompuServe will immediately notify EZ Software via e-mail. EZ Software will then e-mail registration codes to your CompuServe address, usually on the same day. An alternative registration method is available via the First Virtual(TM) Internet Payment service. This $2-per-year service lets you use your credit card to make purchases over the internet without sending your card information over the net. Read the FIRST VIRTUAL section at the bottom of this document for details. Savers created with EZSaver are improved in the following ways when you have registration codes: -No "Evaluation" banner message -No one-minute time limit -Password protection activated The SWREG number for the Individual User licence is 10526. This license entitles you to create all the screen savers you wish, but does not allow business-oriented distribution to other users. However, distribution of savers you've created to friends and family is encouraged! The SWREG number for the Corporate licence is 14184. This license permits unlimited distribution of business-oriented screen savers that are not resold. Unlike the individual license, the registration codes supplied with this license create savers that contain no reference to EZ Software. The price of this license is $125. Registration for the Unlimited Distribution license is $225. This permits you to create all the screen savers you wish, distribute them freely for any purpose, or sell them. The SWREG number for the Corporate/Distribution licence is 10527. The registration codes supplied with this license create savers that contain no reference to EZ Software. If CompuServe registration is not available to you, please contact us at our e-mail address below for ordering information. Support: -------- Please send any questions to EZ Software via CompuServe e-mail at 102732,472 (internet address ezsoft@compuserve.com). You can expect a prompt reply. Please send your questions or suggestions even if you are not a registered user. Again, thanks for trying EZSaver. We hope you enjoy it. Other products: --------------- These fine products for Windows 3.x/95 allow you to... ...control presentations of .BMP images, .WAV files (EZ SlideShow - $12) ...create modem-based dialup file-transfer systems (EZ Dialup - $75) ...animate lists of .BMP images in continuous loops (EZ Animator - $10) ...teach the keyboard's letters, numbers, symbols (Talking Keyboard - $10) ...play football against your PC (Football 2000 - $10) EZ Dialup and EZSaver have earned FOUR STARS from PC Magazine Online (www.pcmag.com). We anticipate high marks for the other titles when reviewed. You can find all of these titles in CompuServe's GO WINSHARE forum. The file names are EZSLIDE.ZIP, EZDIALUP.ZIP, EZANIM.ZIP, TALKKEY.ZIP and FB2000.ZIP. Or, visit our Web site at: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/ezsoft ============= FIRST VIRTUAL ============= As of July 1996, EZ Software has joined the ranks of over 2200 product and service vendors now accepting payment via a secure Internet method provided by First Virtual Bank. You can become a "virtual" card-holder with First Virtual for only two dollars per year. You will then be able to use your current credit card (registered one time with First Virtual by dialing an 800 number) to purchase products and services on the Internet without ever sending your credit card information over the Net. Only your personal code, called a VirtualPIN (Personal ID Number), is sent to a vendor an payment. The vendor submits the payment request to First Virtual, who always e-mails you for verification before charging your account. Unlike intercepted credit card information, a intercepted VirtualPIN CANNOT used to purchase anything you don't want! If a suspicious charge comes to you for verification, you can respond "Fraud" to have the VirtualPIN immediately cancelled. You can register with First Virtual by visiting their web page at: http://www.fv.com/newacct/ (...or, request an e-mail application by sending any message to apply@card.com...) You simply fill out the application and choose a VirtualPIN. You DO NOT send your credit card number in this application. (Regarding the VirtualPIN: First Virtual may have to change it a little if it's a duplicate. Both letters and numbers are allowed to make it possible to choose a PIN that will be easy to remember.) First Virtual, upon receiving your application, will quickly respond with an e-mail that provides a registration number and an 800 number to call. You then call this number and use a touch-tone phone to supply the card number and expiration date. First Virtual sends a final e-mail that contains your VirtualPIN and confirms that your account is active. You're ready to buy securely over the Net! Please do not hesitate to contact us at... 102732.472@compuserve.com ...if you need our assistance. _______________________________________ Excerpts from First Virtual's web site: The First Virtual Internet Payment System provides a simple, secure and safe method for buying and selling over the Internet. No special hardware, software or encryption is required. All you need is ordinary e-mail! With First Virtual, you use a VirtualPIN (an alias for your credit card) to make purchases. Your credit card number is never transmitted over the Internet! As added security, every purchase you make is confirmed via e- mail! To Become A Buyer You must have: Internet e-mail. A valid Visa or MasterCard. Then complete an application and receive your VirtualPIN (IMPORTANT: As part of the process you will register your credit card with First Virtual over the telephone, not over the Internet!) To Buy 1.Give your VirtualPIN to a seller instead of a credit card number. 2.First Virtual will then send you e-mail to confirm the purchase. Answer the message with: "yes" to confirm the sale. "no" to cancel the sale. "fraud" to immediately cancel your VirtualPIN (it is being used without your consent!) 3.If you confirm the sale, your credit card is charged by First Virtual completely off the Internet!