Reminders: Breeze apps require Intel Processors & End of support for 8.1

Important reminders for anyone choosing a new computer, or running machines with old versions of Windows.

ARM Processors

When choosing new computers to run Breeze Windows progams take care to choose models with Intel processors.

Some recent Windows computers (including the Microsoft Surface Pro X) use the new ARM processors. Breeze apps are designed for Intel processors and will not run on ARM processors.

More about choosing a photo booth computer to run Breeze

End of support for Windows 8.1

You may know that Microsoft will end Extended Support for Windows 8.1 on January 10 2023. Microsoft support for Windows 8 ended back in 2016.

Breeze are no longer able to provide support for Windows 8, and will end support for our software running on Windows 8.1 on January 10th 2023.

When Microsoft end support for a version of their operating system, we can no longer test or support our products on this operating system safely.

If you are still running Breeze programs on Windows 8 or 8.1 we strongly recommend you upgrade to Windows 11 as soon as possible.

I’m still running Breeze on Windows 8.1, will the program stop working on January 10th?

If you are already running a Breeze program on Windows 8.1 or Windows 8, we don’t expect it to stop working. However we recommend you upgrade your operating system to Windows 11 as soon as possible. Take a copy of both registration name and code, and deactivate the license before you start in case of problems.

Which versions of Windows will you support after January 11th?

From January 11th we will support Intel processors running Windows 11 and 10 (not Windows 11 S or 10 S).

Can I still upgrade my old Breeze license?

Any customer with a valid license for a current Breeze product can buy an upgrade license. All our Windows products include at least one year of free upgrades from the date the license was issued.

Copyright Breeze Systems July2022

Email stopped working

This post is only relevant to users sending emails from older releases of Breeze DSLR Remote Pro, Hub, Kiosk and Webcam Photobooth.

Some long  time users recently reported that their photo booth apps stopped sending emails, and could not understand what might be wrong. This post explains two possible reasons, and what to do about them.

Transport Layer Security (TLS): A growing number of ISPs require TLS version 1.2, which is not supported in older versions of some Breeze apps

GMAIL Authentication: Google changed the requirements for authenticating Gmail emails in 2020. As a result many Gmail users found they could no longer send emails from third party apps.

What is Transport Layer Security and how might it affect me?

You may be familiar with Gmail authentication, but it’s quite likely you never heard of Transport Layer Security (TLS) before.

TLS is a protocol used to send communications securely over computer networks [Ref Wikipedia]. Many ISPs send emails using simple mail transfer protocol (SMTP), and SMTP emails use transport layer security (TLS).

Don’t worry if this sounds like gobbledegook.

What you need to understand is that a growing number of ISPs require third partys apps to use the new TLS version 1.2, instead of the older TLS 1.1 or TLS 1.0.

Older versions of Breeze photo booth apps support SMTP emails using TLS version 1.0 or TLS version 1.1.

These releases can no longer use ISPs who require TLS to send emails.

Which Breeze programs support TLS 1.2?

The following Breeze programs and later versions already support TLS 1.2. These releases will not be affected if your ISP decides to require TLS 1.2.

DSLR Remote Pro v3.9
Breeze Kiosk v1.4.4
Webcam Photobooth v2.6
Breeze Hub – all versions

Older versions of DSLR Remote Pro, Kiosk and Webcam Photobooth support TLS 1.1 and 1.0. These programs won’t be able to send SMTP emails from servers requiring TLS 1.2.

Customers who do not share by email from their photo booth app are not affected, and don’t need to do anything.

What can I do if the ISP I use to send emails from Breeze apps now requires TLS 1.2?

If your ISP starts to require TLS 1.2, you can

  • either upgrade to a release supporting TLS 1.2
  • or switch to a different ISP which sends SMTP emails using TLS1.1 or TLS 1.0.

What is Gmail Authentication and how can it affect me?

Google changed the requirements for authenticating Gmail emails in 2020.  Gmail users now need to  ‘authenticate’ ie approve third party applications which send emails from their gmail accounts.

How to get Gmail email  working gain

Most Breeze users addressed this in 2020, but a few of you are still coming across this issue.

Which Breeze  apps support Gmail authentication?

The following Breeze programs and subsequent releases support Gmail authentication

DSLR Remote Pro v3.15
Breeze Kiosk v2
Webcam Photobooth 2.6
Breeze Hub v1.2.3

If you are running older versions of these apps and want to use Gmail to send emails from your booth, you need to upgrade to DSLR Remote Pro v3.15,  Kiosk v2, Webcam Photobooth 2.6,  Hub v1.2.3 or more recent releases and authenticate your Gmail account

© Breeze Systems 2022

Webcam 2.6 adds touch free operation

Breeze Booth (Webcam+Windows) 2.6 aka Webcam Photobooth was released today.

This release adds QR code based touch free operation and sharing, and support for the latest email security protocols

What do I get from Webcam 2.6?

  • Better guest experience
  • Hands free operation
  • Faster, touch free sharing
  • Less waiting in line
  • Contactless data collection
  • Pre registration and data collection support
  • Support for Gmail authentication
  • Support for Transport Layer Security (TLS) 1.2

Touch free booth control

Offer your clients totally hands free operation and a better guest experience with contactless data collection, touchless start, and fast hygenic  sharing.

Fast touch free emails and texts

Guests type their email address or cell phone number once into their smart phone,  generating  a unique QR code they use to power the booth and send emails and texts. Fast, simple, hygenic.  Genuine contactless booth operation.

Touch free links to your online gallery

Turning the QR code concept on it’s head, you can also display a QR code on your sharing screen for guests to scan with their smart phone. Use this to direct guests to your online gallery for immediate social sharing.

 

What is Gmail Authentication and how can it affect me?

Google changed the requirements for authenticating Gmail emails in 2020.  Gmail users now need to  ‘authenticate’ ie approve third party applications which send emails from their gmail accounts.

Adding support for Gmail Authentication to Webcam Photobooth means you can use Gmail to share photos from the booth. More

What is Transport Layer Security and how might it affect me?

You may be familiar with Gmail authentication, but it’s quite likely you never heard of Transport Layer Security (TLS) before.

Transport Layer Security (TLS) is a protocol used to send communications securely over computer networks. Many ISPs send emails using simple mail transfer protocol (SMTP), and SMTP emails use transport layer security (TLS).

A growing number of ISPs require TLS version 1.2, so we have added support for this to Webcam  2.6

By adding support for TLS 1.2 to Webcam 2.6, emails from the booth still work as and when your ISP decides it’s a requirement.

Note TLS 1.2 is also supported in DSLR Remote Pro, Kiosk and Hub. More

Try Webcam Photobooth 2.6 for yourself

Webcam Photobooth 2.6 is a free upgrade for all registered users who purchased Webcam Photobooth after 1st July 2021. Customers with older licenses need to buy an upgrade license to use this release.

Download Webcam Photobooth      Buy Webcam Photobooth

Thank you for taking the time to read this. Do share the post with others who may find it useful.

© Breeze Systems July 2022