I've heard reference to "MG3" and "MG2".
What are they?

MG2 and MG3 are MrSID format files and they both have the file extension of .sid. MG2 stands for MrSID Generation Two files and MG3 stands for MrSID Generation Three files. GeoExpress 3.0 can create MG2 and MG3 files, with MG3 supporting the latest cutting edge technology from Lizardtech such as lossless and improved lossy encoding, updating MrSID mosaics and mosaicing existing MrSID tiles.

Is GeoExpress backwards compatible with previous versions of MrSID?

Yes. GeoExpress 4.0 can read all previous versions of MrSID and encode to MG2 and MG3 files. The ExpressView browser plug-in can view all previous versions of the MrSID file format. The ExpressView browser plug-in ships on the GeoExpress CD and is available as a free download at www.lizardtech.com in the downloads section.

Will I be able to use the new version of MrSID with my existing applications?

Current 3rd party applications from GIS and Imaging vendors such as ESRI, Bentley, Autodesk, Intergraph, Leica/ERDAS, etc., have either recently released patches to use the new MG3 format or will soon release such an update or upgrade. Lizardtech is working with our partners who provide these tools to ensure support for the new file format. For information on support for MrSID generation file format, visit www.lizardtech.com/solutions/geo/ or contact your 3rd party software vendor.

I want GeoExpress 4.0, but I'm currently using MrSID version 1.x. Can I upgrade or do I have to purchase the entire software?

If you currently are using older 1.x versions of MrSID, you can still upgrade to the 4.0 release. Please contact your Lizardtech representative for details, and/or any applicable promotion time periods.

What is GeoExpress and what happened to the MrSID GeoEncoder?

GeoExpress is the next generation of the MrSID GeoEncoder. It is still produced by Lizardtech Software. The name of the product was changed to more accurately reflect the purpose and functionality of the product. This next release of the MrSID technology makes images "network ready" enabling rapid access and dissemination of Geospatial imagery.

What are data cartridges?

Data Cartridges are binary encrypted files that enable you to encode images with GeoExpress. Cartridges are not a physical dongle or hardware lock. They are generated by Lizardtech, based upon you system ID and then emailed to you as an attached file.

Why did Lizardtech move to a data cartridge model?

Lizardtech was looking for a more value-based pricing structure. Cartridges make the software less expensive to get started with and users can pay only for the amount of data they encode. In fact many customers such as state and local government may never need to purchase a cartridge.

How does a data cartridge work?

Data Cartridges are installed through the GeoExpress User Interface. The User Interface displays the amount of data in installed cartridge and the amount of encoding remaining on the cartridge. Data cartridges allow you to encode RAW image files such as TIFF into MrSID format. The data cartridge gets decremented based on the amount of input data calculated by multiplying the number of pixels to be encoded times the pixel depth.

What operations get charged against my cartridge?

Only the initial encode to MrSID file format charges against the cartridge. Working with images already in MrSID format do not decrement from the data cartridge. For instance, you can encode to a lossless MrSID file, which decrements the cartridge and then use that MrSID file to create visually lossless compressed MrSID files that do not charge against the cartridge. Additionally, updating Mosaics and creating mosaics of existing MrSID files do not charge against the cartridge.

Can I share my data cartridge with other users in my organization?

Yes. GeoExpress with MrSID release 4.0 includes a network version of the cartridge manager on the product software media. Contact your LizardTech sales representative for purchasing additional encoders that can read from the network cartridge manager.

Is MrSID Generation 3 (MG3) Compatible With ESRI ArcGIS 8.3?

ESRI recently release an update to provide MG3 support. The update is available directly from ESRI's website.