A:That's right: When you order the monthly subscription to the ModeExplorers Online bundle, you get ALL THREE - Plus The Expedition Pack for those times when you go mobile. Our 'single signon' lets you login to the mando ModeExplorer Online, the NST ModeExplorer Online, the jazzCittern™ ModeExplorer Online, and use any of the other Online products, including The Expedition Pack.

A: When you order a subscription to the ModeExplorers Online, you will receive a separate email detailing your login information. From time to time, this may take a little while to process. If you haven't received your information within 2 hours, feel free to Contact Us. Your information is on its way.

A: While HTML5 is a very powerful platform for audio and video presentation, it's still in its infancy. As software companies rush to keep their browsers up-to-date (like Mozilla and its Firefox, Google and its Chrome, and Apple with its Safari) with frequent releases, there are bugs. Say, for example, if Chrome version 15 is working great in November, and version 16.0.912.75 comes out in December and the ModeExplorer sound suddenly sputters and pops, we have to use Safari 5 or Firefox 7 (both excellent HTML5 browsers) until Chrome 17 comes out.

A: There are two ModeExplorer product types: One runs exclusively on Windows® machines (ModeExplorer for Windows®) as a standalone application. The other type is the ModeExplorer Online, or "for the web," and all you need to run it on any machine or operating system (Windows®, OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, etc.) is an HTML5-capable browser.

Bottom line: If you have a Mac, you want the ModeExplorers Online. If you have a Windows® PC, you have a choice of the ModeExplorer for Windows® or the ModeExplorers Online (with an HTML5 browser).

A: The ModeExplorers for Windows® require a machine running a supported version of Microsoft Windows®, and are shipped on CD to be installed standalone on your machine. The ModeExplorers Online run in a modern browser that supports standard HTML5.

Both versions provide the robust scale and chord exploration features the ModeExplorer is known for, plus five powerful scale and chord analysis tools, including the Chordwatchers' and Scalewatchers' Field Guides.

The ModeExplorers for Windows® offer the Chord Calculator, as well as build-your-own scale, build your own chord progression, and basic chord chart print features.

The ModeExplorer for Windows® is a one-time purchase. The ModeExplorer Online is by subscription, monthly, cancel anytime.

A: HTML5 is an evolving standard for the web, providing excellent audio and video capability right in the browser for powerful presentation capability without plugins and addons. Because the spec is still maturing, browsers (like Firefox, Safari, and Chrome) are rapidly releasing new versions to keep up with the ever-changing requirements.

However dynamic the HTML5 world is, it offers great power today, and exceptional promise for the future. In fact, certain browser presentation technologies are being 'sunsetted' in favor of HTML5. That's why we are fully embracing it.

On the flip side of all that, the HTML5 browser user will occasionally find what worked yesterday doesn't work the same today, as the latest version of a browser is released. For example, the ModeExplorers' audio was well supported in Chrome prior to version 14, but on Macs version 14 started to fail - Then on version 15 all worked well - But the current version as of this writing, version 16, leaves much to be desired in audio. However, new releases come out rapidly, and we hope to see a version 17 soon!

A: Chrome 16 has bugs. The workaround is to use Firefox 7 or later, or Safari 5, or another HTML5 browser for excellent results, and wait for Chrome 17.

A: No, not really. Internet Explorer 9 does not adequately support HTML5, and some key ModeExplorer features will not work. Prior versions of Internet Explorer do not support HTML5 at all. On the other hand, IE 9 and 10 support The Expedition Pack well.

A: The ModeExplorers for Windows® require a machine running a supported version of Microsoft for Windows®. But the ModeExplorers Online will run on OS X and Unix operating systems in a modern browser that supports HTML5 as well as on Windows®. This way, the ModeExplorer Online will run on a Mac.

Because HTML5 is still being standardized across browsers and operating systems, support for HTML5 features may vary depending on the combination of operating system and browser.

A: The ModeExplorers Online will run on many iOS 4 and 5 devices, as well as Android-powered devices, to the degree that their browsers support HTML5. However, ModeExplorer sound is not supported on mobile devices, and touch screens do not support mouseover capabilities.

The Expedition Pack was designed for tablets like iPad, and works very well on laptops and desktops, too.

A: Yes, the ModeExplorers for Windows work on Windows® 7 and earlier Microsoft operating systems.

The installation should be as simple as with other Windows flavors. That’s because the ModeExplorers for Windows® were written using Microsoft’s .NET platform, ensuring compatibility with future OS’s.

However, Vista has been known to require some configuration in the area of security to install new software, and that may affect the user’s ability to install products. Googling "easy fixes for common install problems in vista" should provide plenty of information on Vista software installation challenges.

A: No, an internet connection is not required.

The ModeExplorer for Windows® is a 'smart client' application that accesses the internet to expand its harmonic and scalar information. The ModeExplorer for Windows® has a vast amount of music theory information built in.

When it detects an internet connection, the ModeExplorer for Windows® automatically accesses the ModeExplorer Web Services, providing additional scales. Because the ModeExplorer figures all the chords for the scales on-the-fly, you get all the chords for the scales, too. The Calculator benefits from this information, too. The ModeExplorer also gains access to the Chart Exchange, which features a catalog of chord progressions.

The Expedition Pack is fully functional in Airplane Mode on tablets.

A: The ModeExplorer for Windows® is recommended for Windows XP, Windows 2003 Server, Vista, Windows® 7 (or whatever's more recent).

The ModeExplorer for Windows may successfully run on other older Windows® operating systems that have the .NET Framework installed, with varying degrees of success. However, these older operating systems are not recommended, nor are they supported.

A: The ModeExplorer adopted chord naming conventions used by some of the most widely-used jazz fake books in order to communicate to the largest audience. By the same token, the chord definitions themselves are modelled after the definitions in these publications.

A: The .NET Framework is an integral Windows component that supports building and running the next generation of applications and XML Web services.

The ModeExplorer is built upon the .NET Framework. What this means is that the ModeExplorer takes advantage of the latest Microsoft .NET technologies to tap into its musical database and present that knowledge to you.

A: Microsoft .NET is software for connecting information, people, systems and devices. .NET provides XML-based interoperability and is being incorporated across Microsoft’s clients, servers, services and tools.