June 26, 1995
=============

Release notes for Ecash for Unix, text version 1.8.2, and X version 2.1.1
=========================================================================

Welcome to ecash!
-----------------
Welcome to ecash, the only secure Internet cash payment system that
fully protects your privacy. With ecash you can perform instant
online payments on the Internet, as easy, secure, and anonymous as
paying with cash outside cyberspace.

In your ecash bank account we have deposited one hundered Cyberbucks
for you to spend anywhere you like. Cyberbucks are not, and will not
be, convertible to real cash. But real goods and services can be
purchased at a growing number of online shops that accept ecash in
this trial.

Find out where ecash is accepted by going to the 'cybershops' section of
our webserver:

        http://www.digicash.com/shops/cybershop.html

In the future, DigiCash will not run a bank with real money. Instead,
we are licensing out our technology to the banks and financial
institutions you already know and trust. Expect announcements soon on
our webserver.

Check out the ecash home page regularly at

        http://www.digicash.com/ecash/ecash-home.html

It will show announcements of new versions, new shops, the progress of
the ecash trial, and new developments.

We hope you will enjoy your ecash software!

Ecash for Unix, text version 1.8.2, and X version 2.1.1
=======================================================
These versions of ecash should run trouble-free. However, if you
encounter problems, or have questions, check out the ecash FAQ and
the troubleshooting section on our Web server at

        http://www.digicash.com/ecash/help.html


Compability - Web browsers
--------------------------
Since ecash does not use any Web browser specific features, it is
compatible with all of them! However, if you have your Web browser
set to use a proxy server (or a SOCKS server) you may run into
problems when trying to make purchases in ecash shops. Please look on
our technical support pages for help in this case.


Running the software
--------------------
When you run ecash for the first time, it will set up your ecash
account at the ecash trial bank (which we run). Please provide your
name, your email address, and then the account ID and password
exactly as it was issued to you.

Ecash will also ask you for a password to protect your secret key.
This password is used to encrypt your bank keys, so that other
people that get access to your machine will not be able to use your
ecash bank account. Be sure to remember this password. If you forget
or lose it, nobody (not even DigiCash) can recover your secret key,
and you will have to set up a new account.

After the key-generation (which may take several minutes) ecash will
suggest a bank withdrawal of 1.8.20.00. Do that to get money out of
your bank account into your cash, ready for spending.


How to use ecash
----------------
Have the ecash software running. Make sure to have some money in
cash. Use your Web browser to visit your favourite ecash shop, and
click on the item(s) you want to buy. Now ecash will bring up a
message box asking for payment. If you see a 'payment failed' screen
on your Web browser, something went wrong. Please look on our
technical support pages for help in this case.

Ecash is coin-based system. It is therefore possible to run out of
correct change. Ecash will first show a warning sign in your wallet
to indicate this status, and when you actually can not make a payment
it will suggest changing money at the bank first.

A quick reference card for ecash can be found at

        http://www.digicash.com/ecash/quickref.html


Help and contacting us
----------------------
- if you need any technical support, please go to our online tech
  support pages first and see if the answer is there. Try the
  online search facility, at  
        http://www.digicash.com/ecash/techsupp/tech-help.html
  and type one or two keywords that you think are applicable to your
  specific problem.
  If that doesn't help, mail to ecash-support@digicash.com
- if you (think you) have found a bug, please send bug reports to
  ecash-bugs@digicash.com
  Bugs that are already reported can be viewed at our webserver,
  at the 'known bugs section'.
  It is often helpful to include debug and log files when sending in a
  bug report.
- for non-technical feedback, send mail to ecash-feedback@digicash.com
- for ecash licensing information send mail to license@digicash.nl
- please do not send mail to info@digicash.nl about ecash
- we gladly give support by email, but please do not call us for
  technical support


Changes in the software
-----------------------

Changes in this release (text version 1.8.2, and X version 2.1.1)

  - Added policy options for making and receiving payments automatically
  - User interface got a 'facelift'

Changes in the last major release

  - User database file format is different, when upgrading it will be
    automatically converted
  - Supports encryption on user keys
  - Added 'Exit ecash' button for those who can not find the menu (try
    right mouse button)
  - Added default withdraw amount

DigiCash, Ecash, and Cyberbucks are trademarks.
Copyright (c) 1994,1995 DigiCash BV.

