As long as the headset is fully paid for, the serial number can be checked by the dev team on the backend, and the device will no longer require activation via an internet connection. The headset will remain connected to your preferred client version, and if any updates are available, you’ll be able to download them either from the website or via the OTA firmware update.
For example, once you’ve paid in full for the Crystal, and after receiving the headset, you’ll only need to perform a single activation with an internet connection. After that, the headset will work without needing internet access.
This offline mode patch is currently in its final inspection phase and will be released soon.
It seems unlikely that we’ll split Pimax Play into separate sections for Device Settings and Store.
That’s only while the payment plan has not been completed, after the headset is fully paid off then there’s no need to transfer anything so the headset can be resold infinitely as normal.
I’ve been reading through this thread, and I’m not sure my main concerns have been addressed, so I wanted to share them here.
The big issue I see with Pimax’s new payment plan is what happens if Pimax, as a company, shuts down. Even if you’ve paid for the headset in full from the start, it seems like it might still need to connect to their servers to verify that it’s fully paid. If that’s the case, here are the problems I see:
If Pimax Shuts Down:
If their servers are taken offline, how will the headset confirm that it’s fully paid for? If it can’t, wouldn’t that mean even headsets that are completely paid off could stop working? This feels like a huge risk, no matter what they promise right now.
Where is the Payment Status Stored?
If the payment status is stored on the hardware, it might be open to hacking or other abuse.
If it’s stored in the software, there’s another issue: what happens if I need to reinstall the software on a new computer or after a reset? I’d probably have to reconnect to their servers to verify the payment status. If the servers are gone, I’m stuck.
This doesn’t just seem like a problem for people on the payment plan; it would also affect people who paid the full price upfront. I hope I’ve just missed an explanation somewhere, but right now I’m not feeling comfortable with the idea of purchasing the headset(s).
I get that, but how does the headset know it doesn’t need to check in without actually checking in?
I understand that the headset is activated when you buy it, but unless that information is saved locally on the headset, it won’t know its status the next time you connect it to a new computer or reinstall your system. In that case, it would need to look up that information somewhere.
Even if it’s as simple as checking a list of serial numbers, that list still needs to be hosted somewhere. If that hosting disappears, what happens then?
If you paid for the headset in full upfront, only a one-time activation is needed when you receive the headset, and no further online verification will be required afterwards.
The backend system will register your serial number and mark it as fully paid.
Yeah, but that only works as long as the backend system is operational. If Pimax ever goes out of business, the backend system will disappear too—and the headset would have no way of knowing that it’s been paid for.
Well, we can hope—that would definitely be the more customer-friendly solution. But since that check can be blocked with something as simple as an IP block, the entire exercise seems pointless. If the headset is just checking whether it’s on a list of unpaid devices, blocking the IP would be enough to make it think it’s fully paid.
It is possible. But at registration of the new headset it likely sets something in the program or firmware to look for each monthly check until final payment updates the system to not need the check. Really hard to say. But yes that might be an exploitable flaw and if so with potentially identifying it. They could patch it if necessary. Though I suspect without some hacking likely not that simple.
Good point!
As written further above, it would be good to have an offline activation mechanism: When initially activating the device a headset activation key should be generated by the backend that the user can store at a safe place. This activation key is containing the serial number of the headset and the expiry date of the paid software support (in the case of full payment: never) - and some signature that the PimaxPlay software can check.
So users could reactivate the headset any time without any server connection on any computer once they got a valid activation key for their headset.
Except it only needs to be activated once in terms of not requiring checks after fully paid.
Ie you buy PCL fully pay it off and sell it to me. I don’t need to activate it
Otherwise with the current thinking all older headsets would need to have the final activation key as a “just in case”. Which they do not whether a p2 model or a Crystal/PCL bought before pimax prime was rolled out.
And as explained once paid off in full no online checks required.
From my understanding the activation key is stored on your computer, not on the headset. So even when having payed in full one would still have to reach the backend server at least once on each new computer where the headset is supposed to be used.
The offline activation approach would allow the user to activate the headset on new computers/after an OS wipe on their own.
If the unlock key is stored directly on the headset (without getting overwritten by every firmware update again…) that would also solve this.
No @PimaxQuorra and the team confirmed that once it is paid off in full no online checks required. You could go over to a friend’s house and install pimax play and not have to activate the headset etc…
That would be good! Do you still know where it was explicitly mentioned that no activation will be necessary on new computers once the headset was activated on an arbitrary one once?
Has anybody already gotten a headset under the new Pimax Prime conditions where the headset had to be unlocked once? If yes, could you please test how this behaves on a new computer that is not connected to the internet? (To see whether one could really use the headset on any machine even when the activation servers are down)
Tied to headset. So Serials that have a balance are in the Database.(my understanding) Once paid off not in database like your current pimax hmd and any Crystals bought prior to Prime and headsets that are paid off in full.
Sounds plausible. Question is, where is this database? I guess on the backend? Which would mean the backend would still have to be reached at least once per computer and if my headset is present in said database would get an activation code that is then stored? On the computer? On the headset?
The database is managed on the backend, and the serial number is linked to the account used to register on Pimax Play and make the payment.
If you’ve made the full payment and wish to sell the headset, transferring ownership is simple. You just need to swap the account details (specifically the email address in Pimax Play), and our team will take care of the rest.
Additionally, once the headset is activated, you won’t need to perform any activation on new computers.
I was using Pimax play, signed in and remember me, ticked. I did an update to v1.36.01.01. It logged me out. I can not use 8Kx until re sign-in.
I run my PC headless (no monitor). I only use that PC for 8Kx or remote access to AI. I want my 8Kx to run at boot, no monitor (I have a phantom monitor dongle). Boot directly into 8Kx. So start Piplay at boot and auto start Pimax Esperance. Not using a monitor, go directly into 8KX and then I start steamVR.
But in this even, Pimax Play did not start 8Kx
This meant I needed to connect a real monitor.
Pimax Play DID NOT REMEMBER my password. So I needed to reset my password.
This is the email I received:
此验证码已发送到您的电子邮箱，用于重置您的Pimax密码：
059114
验证码有效期为5分钟。
让我们确定这是否是你本人。如果不是，我们将帮助你保护账户。如果是，我们将在以后信任类似活动。
您忠诚的，
小派团队
Side point: Why is it in Chinese?
This was time-consuming and frustrating. Maybe, I could have clicked Guest access. But I still would have needed to connect a real monitor.
Whereas before, say, pimax client or Pitool required no sign in.
