No matter how your company deploys DIRECT 3.4 software (as an integrated game patching solution or as a download manager), you now get an even more powerful set of reporting tools to analyze performance, user experience, and much more.

To do this, we’ve defined a list of events that are reported from the download manager or patcher (each containing its own set of detailed parameters). This pulls back the curtain for you to view session data and dig into details to uncover important aspects of how people interact with your product(s).

Drill deeper into the data
The new reporting and analytics package for DIRECT 3.4 enables you to see what kinds of experiences users have. This is especially beneficial in helping you to boost conversions and revenue. It’s also helpful for understanding various issues that consumers may encounter.

You can learn about your customers’ locations, connection speeds and the types of connections they use. This information is valuable for making strategic business and development decisions as well as for solving support issues.

For example, you can use the data to cross-reference with your support portal or user forum to help you pinpoint issues related to a specific OS, browser, or other technology. You can also help to identify trends in certain geographical areas which may help with business decisions such as doing localized versions of your product for specific countries in order to expand your global market.

Make better development and business decisions
Understanding how people interface with your particular DIRECT deployment offers you and your company a major aid when it comes to making smart business decisions about your games, software and other digital delivery assets.

You can view specific points of data as well as sequences (or actions) that users take in your download or patching processes. You can also dig deeper into the details to learn why people take certain actions and at what point in the process they take them. This helps you streamline your process and reduce friction for users when it comes to completing the actions you want them to take.

Find out more
Contact us today to evaluate DIRECT 3.4 for your software deployment and to learn more about our analytics packages.

One of the most anticipated features of the DIRECT 3.4 software deployment is our new download manager skin system. We’ve transformed it into a truly designer-friendly skin to help make customizations easier and the software deployment faster.

As you can see, the new responsive skin design enables a much more engaging experience that gives consumers the information and functionality they need. It also opens the door to a much higher degree of customization within the download manager itself.

Now you can deliver a much more immersive customer experience in much less time. The new architecture we’ve implemented enables extensive download manager customizations through HTML and CSS—so almost anything you can do on your website can also be done via the download manager. This can include tutorials, videos, registration forms, ads and more. You can add features and functionality that gives consumers something to do while the download is underway, making the most of each person’s attention while you have it.

ADVANTAGES

• Responsive Design. The responsive design architecture gives the download manager an even wider range of options and flexibility. You can dictate the boot-up dimensions to show one or more panels by default. It’s even touch-screen friendly.
• Native feel and functionality. The download manager looks and behaves like part of the operating system because it uses native OS chrome.
• Message and status improvements. The download manager utilizes smarter messaging including the number of items downloading, pause state, etc. It gives users the info they need without an overwhelming or unnecessary amount of info. We’ve also added more helpful tooltips to make the user experience that much better with fewer support requests.

Ready to go right out of the box.
Even with the most basic option, the DIRECT 3.4 download manager enables a much more engaging and consumer-friendly download experience. You can be up and running in no time with just a simple logo or other box art graphic and your download destination URL.

Out of the box, you also get the reliability and higher conversion and completion rates that are synonymous with Solid State Networks. Our delivery technology has delivered billions of successful downloads worldwide. Contact us today to learn more about DIRECT 3.4.

Your electronic software delivery requirements aren’t the same as everyone else’s and we understand that better than anyone. That’s why our Digital Delivery Application Platform was created to be the most flexible download manager solution for electronic software delivery. It’s also the most trusted and consumer friendly download manager you can get.

And it just got better.

DIRECT 3.4 is the latest electronic software delivery solution from Solid State Networks. It’s all built on the same proven platform that our industry-leading delivery and game patching software solutions are built upon, but we’ve made considerable improvements to the user interface and user experience in version 3.4.

These enhancements open up more possibilities for direct engagement between your company and the people downloading your products, even with our most “basic” download manager skin. Now, you can offer your users a variety of things to do while they wait for their software do download. You can create an experience that truly adds value. For example, you can feature a tutorial for the software; have them create a profile; even show videos or ads. In fact, any functionality you have on your website can be used within the download manager interface to maximize the time while you have your users’ undivided attention.

We’ve also made it much easier and faster to develop and deploy new download managers. Now, designers with HTML and CSS skills can perform extensive customizations to our already enhanced basic skin. We’ve turned DIRECT 3.4 into a truly designer friendly technology, not just a developer friendly one. This helps make deploying a skin much more efficient.

In addition to these and other UI/UX enhancements, the latest version of DIRECT also offers faster load times and performance, plus enhanced analytics packages to give you deeper insight into your users, their technology and their behaviors.

To learn more about DIRECT 3.4′s technical features and pricing, please contact us or request an evaluation using the link below.

Now we’re proud to release version 3.4 of DIRECT. The latest release includes significant game patching software feature enhancements and upgrades.

In addition to significant performance improvements, DIRECT 3.4 offers:

• Enhanced publishing system for faster building, downloading and expansion of patches.
• Credential manager for simplified user authentication integration
• UI template for quick deployment of standard launcher features
• Model View Controller (MVC) architecture for easy UI customization
• Real time analytics (Advanced Analytics)

If building your own game patching solution is an option you’re considering, we encourage you to request an evaluation of DIRECT 3.4 before you decide. From the flexible workflow engine to the reworked Model View Controller (MVC) architecture, DIRECT 3.4 enables a much faster way to build a highly customized game launcher for your game. Plus, everything is built atop the proven delivery and patching technology that such companies as BioWare, ZeniMax, En Masse, Runic Games and many others rely upon each day. In fact, many game studios also use DIRECT for internal distribution and for peace of mind as to the patching experience their gamers will have on launch day.

Request an evaluation of DIRECT 3.4 to learn more:

DIRECT Download Manager Features

Designers and developers will appreciate enhancements such as the flexible workflow engine, easier website integrations and a faster way to customize the download manager skins. Our engineers implemented Model View Controller (MVC) architecture into DIRECT to make it a truly designer friendly (not just developer friendly) technology. The benefit is that designers who are capable with HTML and CSS can customize your download manager, making for much faster turnaround and deployment.

We’ve also made significant user experience (UX) improvements including faster load times, improved CSS animations and performance, better localization, and fully customizable toast notifications. Beyond the performance enhancements, you’ll also see improved analytics and reporting options to give you the download data that’s most valuable to you and your company.

DIRECT is flexible and customizable download manager solution, so to learn more about how it can work (and to see it in action), please contact us for more details.

Direct and Patch Assistant v3.3.3.0
Issue Type/Summary
Improvement/Fix for Mac OS proxy authentication dialogs
Improvement/Passback certain HTTP headers when using EnableCrossDomainRedirect
New Feature/Added support for {CommonAppData} for Mac
Bug/Fix some FileHelper_functions printing Error instead of *Error

Click here to read the full press release from Highwinds.

Tempe, Arizona, May 8, 2012 – Solid State Networks, a leading developer of content delivery solutions, today announced the availability of the DIRECT 3 Digital Delivery Application Platform ™.  DIRECT 3 is a third generation technology for application developers, content publishers and ecommerce providers that deliver digital products and services online.  Designed for rapid development, DIRECT 3 includes a native client that incorporates the features and functionality needed for most digital delivery applications with support for extensive customization through standard web technologies, including JavaScript, HTML and CSS.  DIRECT 3 can support a variety of use cases for digital distribution to consumers and enterprise users, as demonstrated in recent deployments by Adobe Systems for software delivery and BioWare for game delivery and updates.

The DIRECT 3 solution includes native clients for Windows and Mac operating systems, publishing workflow tools and a reporting system.  DIRECT 3 features many specific capabilities required for advanced digital delivery applications, such as versioning, differencing, updating, advanced proxy support, real-time delivery logistics, dynamic payload assembly and the ability to integrate securely with publisher backend systems or third party services.  Solid State will announce additional services to be offered in connection with DIRECT 3 and support for other operating systems later in 2012.

“DIRECT 3 was developed with the benefit of having input from many companies that we have had the pleasure of working with over a period of years.  We are excited about our capability to address their many and diverse needs with a single solution.” said Rick Buonincontri, CEO of Solid State Networks.  “We are particularly grateful to Adobe and BioWare for their contributions as early adopters.”

Adobe Systems Delivers Flash Player and Adobe Reader with DIRECT 3
Adobe’s Flash Player and Reader are among the most downloaded software programs in the world.  When Flash and Reader, each delivered in 18 languages, are combined with the products of Adobe’s partners, the result is over 600 product combinations that must be delivered seamlessly to users while maintaining operational manageability.  Additionally, the global reach of the Flash and Reader products requires advanced proxy support to ensure that corporate users are serviceable without requiring adjustments to their network policies.   Adobe met these and other complex requirements by deploying DIRECT 3 to deliver Flash and Reader to their customer base worldwide. “We observed measurable improvements in installation success when we transitioned to delivering Flash and Reader using DIRECT 3,” said Steve Snell, Group Product Manager of Adobe Systems.   “We have found DIRECT 3 to be very flexible in its ability to accommodate our evolving business and technical requirements.”

About Solid State Networks
Solid State Networks is a developer of industry leading content delivery solutions.  Since 2005, the company has worked with leading game and software application developers, content publishers and ecommerce providers to facilitate the digital delivery of content to consumers and enterprise users worldwide.  For more information, please visit www.solidstatenetworks.com.

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Now you can take control of the experience you deliver to your customers as well as how you interact with them whenever they download, update and launch your product(s).

DIRECT offers complete customization of the user experience via the user interface. You’ve designed and developed your game or software with your customer in mind. We put that same design and consideration into the delivery logistics and end-user experience because we believe that enabling a seamless and engaging experience is the key to a successful interaction with your end users. And when it comes to generating revenue via the user interface, a positive experience is essential to higher conversions.

The opportunities for interaction and monetization are almost limitless with DIRECT Digital Delivery Application Platform. We create your solution to integrate seamlessly with your games or software. So (for example) if you’re a game publisher, you can promote and sell in-game items or pre-sell your upcoming releases. If you’re a software provider, you can cross-promote your other software or encourage upgrades or other add-on purchases. The options and implementations are wide open.

DIRECT helps you to monetize the delivery process by enabling microtransactions, ecommerce functionality and anything else you can do via the Web, all within the launcher UI. So from marketing, branding and promotions to full-on purchasing capabilities, DIRECT Digital Delivery Application Platform can help turn the expense of delivering content into an active money-generating stream for your business no matter what you have to deliver.

For more information on our Digital Delivery Application Platform, please contact us today.

WINTER PARK, Fla. – Aug. 15, 2011 – Highwinds®, a leader in content delivery, network and cloud-based IP services, today unveiled Highwinds GDN™(Game Delivery Network), a vertically focused reinvention of its content delivery network (CDN) for online game publishers. The first CDN specifically tuned for game delivery, Highwinds GDN couples content delivery services with industry-specific software differentiators to address the unique needs of online game publishers.

Highwinds, leveraging its position as both a content delivery and network services provider and a software development shop, is introducing the GDN as a focused initiative to solve the problems online gaming publishers face. It integrates Highwinds’ global CDN and a gaming software stack that enables faster downloads, lower delivery costs, fewer abandonments, an integrated download manager, and real-time analytics, all from a single-source provider committed to online game delivery innovation.

Due to its expertise in the online game publishing industry, Highwinds has been working closely with long-time partner Solid State Networks on various technological aspects of the GDN platform. Industry veteran Ed DiEoreo, who was recently hired as Highwinds’ client executive, online gaming, is leading the charge for Highwinds’ GDN sales. While the GDN is a new branded technology initiative, Highwinds has already achieved milestones in delivering game content to global gaming audiences. Notable successes include Highwinds’ delivery of the world’s most popular social media sports game, Nordeus’ Top Eleven, Highwinds’ live streaming of Riot Games’ League of Legends Championship for own3D to a history-making online audience, and Highwinds’ content delivery services for Valve, used to support their Steam platform.

“GDN is an industry-specific reinvention of our CDN,” said Steve Miller, chairman and CEO of Highwinds. “Highwinds’ GDN represents a new technology portfolio for the online gaming industry. It’s the culmination of our proven track record in delivering game content to global users, our investment in market-specific software development, solid gaming industry partnerships, employees who understand the unique needs of the online gaming industry, and our commitment to keep raising the technological bar.”

The Highwinds GDN is being presented this week, Aug. 15-19, at the Game Developers Conference Europe and at gamescom. For a private meeting, please visit the Highwinds meeting room at gamescom located at the GDC Europe Business Lounge in Hall 4.2, Booth # J-021. For more information or to schedule a meeting, please e-mail info@highwinds.com.

About Highwinds Network Group, Inc.
Highwinds is a content delivery, network and cloud-based IP services business that offers a comprehensive suite of CDN solutions, including content storage and IP software. The company delivers content and rich media over its high-performance RollingThunder® network to millions of global users every day. Highwinds’ CDN customers gain unprecedented command and control with its StrikeTracker® console and open APIs. Highwinds is headquartered in Winter Park, Fla., and maintains data centers around the world. For more information, visit www.highwinds.com.

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Highwinds, RollingThunder and StrikeTracker are registered trademarks, and GDN is a trademark, of Highwinds Network Group, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.