Archangel
Member
Fellows, I don't thank GOTD purchase's the software at all. They target new and hopefully upcoming authors and assist them in getting there name out to the public. Its a trade off. Provide software, get free exposure. They may even pay GOTD to do this.
What does GOTD get out of it? More traffic so more sponsors (the paying kind). I don't know for sure if any of this is correct but I bet its close.
viperxx7
Member
My problem is that blurry area where it says you have the the program for free (btw they solicited me via mass mailing) then find out that the program is a demo. Again there is nothing wrong with demo software SO LONG AS I KNOW IT IN ADVANCE. I found that to be the case with today's download (Wondershare Scrapbook) went through all the motions to download it and install it and create a test scrapbook only when I went to publish it, I was greeted with "Evaluation Copy" splashed over the center of each page. So my friends who posted before don't get all bent out of shape, I am not complaining about free software. I am complaining about how it is represented.
kevinyunlai
Member
I know that I am being "mean"
but in a sense, giveaway of the day does not give "full" version
it gives a long trial
also, just curious, do people here want cheap/useless programs everyday, or useful programs every week?
kevinyunlai
Member
PS: an off topic question
for some reason there is no giveaway of the day today right?
there is only 6/28 morphes....
I did press refresh....
kevinyunlai
Member
just making sure, thought it was my computer problem :)
thanks
jeremiah
Member
Archangel,
This is taken directly from the GaOTD "For Developers" page:
"How exactly does Giveaway of the day benefit you as a software developer and publisher, what makes it so special and unique?
First and foremost, you have an absolute guarantee that you will be paid for your software, even when the software is distributed within a special Giveaway of the day offer. Our company will pay you for your software, thus protecting you from software piracy."
I know, other writings from this site seem to contradict this statement, but without anything else to go by, you have to take it at face value.
By the way, I'm not downloading this scrapbooking thing, but I've never had a problem with software that I've gotten from this site being demo, trial or anything like that. On the rare occasions when others have written in about trial versions, etc. GaOTD or the publisher seem to take care of it pretty quickly.
Millward
Member
People will always complain about free stuff simply because people love to complain, especially when they don't have to show their face, like on the internet.
However, if by "complaints" you mean negative reviews, well, that isn't fair or relevant. GOTD exists not to give away stuff but to provide future sales to software developers as well as feedback for their products and make GOTD some money in the process through ads and however else GOTD generates revenue. That is GOTD's business model. Therefore, negative reviews are welcome because they are valuable to both GOTD as well as the software developers.
kevinyunlai
Member
what are negative reviews?
1. This thing sucks, won't work on my computer, useless, who needs this
2. I suggest that this program needs this feature..... because.....and it will help a lot of people
most "negative reviews" on like number 1
kevinyunlai
Member
Another screensaver? what the hack. The best free screensaver is WEBSHOTS at http://www.webshots.com
Comment by ..... — July 1st, 2007 at 3:02 am
Not another screen saver..
Comment by .... — July 1st, 2007 at 3:02 am
Amzing truly is! a must download and the best screensaver yet!
the first three comments today on a screensaver, did not bother to copy the rest, this proves my point
Nastajia
Member
The only time i complain is when it is not really free stuff, i downloaded the program in favour of my old converter then install it to only then find that 2 months later the program has reverted to trialware. Seems as though one to many software company's are taking GAOTD'S free advertising and exposre as a way to bait people into using their software untill it cripples it self.
Then it cripples itself after a short period of time resulting in GAOTD recieving all the abuse.
AbyssMedia Anyone?
kevinyunlai
Member
I have heard of programs changing back into trial
one question though
Nastajia, did you do anything such as system restore, restoring registry....ect
the problem is, if only a few people have this program, the company could blame it on you instead of themselves.
the result is that you are stuck with a trial and GAOTD takes the blame.
if a lot of people are having the same problem, maybe someone can look into it and contact the company
my 0.1 cent suggestion
Nastajia
Member
Sorry Kevin,
This has happened to many people, and several of whom i have refered to this site. A gf of mine downloaded it also and the same thing happened to her.
No i did not use system restore. I did not muck around with any registry sttings.
There is another thread "All Abyss programs reverting back to crippleware in thes forums.
The only thing i can think of is that the majority of people already have an audio converter so you will not have as many complaining about it.
Also Abyssmedia's isound "experienced the same reverting back to crippleware" and they fixed it pronto. So in saying that i am 100% sure that that after 2 months had passed....all of a sudden people came out of the woodwork saying there copy had reverted back to trialware "prompting you to visit the site to buy the full version.
What actually happened is that the program autoupdates itself "with no option to disengage that function" so as soon as it attempts an auto update audioconverterplus instantley reverts to trialware.
Plenty have been affected by it, but as for a few of my friends they will not come here to scream about it because their ACP program reverted back to trialware. Two have already purchased software from a different vendor.
Sorry i am just stating the facts as i see them. And i do have access to programmer who has verified my suspicions. "That is enough for me"
So no py PC did not kill it, it killed itself simply by autoupdating whivh then results in it reverting back to trialware. Their is no option to turn of anyform of auto update anywhere. I am only complaining because everyone that was affected was affected at the 60 day mark "need i say more" :)
Nastajia
Member
Audio Converter reverts to trialware after 2 months. I would like to hear from someone that this has not happened to? Again i have pointed many a friend to this site and those that downloaded AudioConverterPlus were back to trialware in 60days!
That says it all for me.
Thank You. :)
kevinyunlai
Member
that is just cheap
companies are going to lose their trust from their customers.....
what is the point of a "free" trial?
Archangel
Member
I agree. Demo's and Trials should be listed as such. But thats not whats claimed by GOTD. Full Registered software is what I read. To me, that would be a reason to complain. Maybe we are all having the same delusion of what type of software is suppose to be listed.
You don't see me complaining about software because I don't download much. I have a few times and even have one that is one of my most used pieces of software. But... I have downloaded software recently just to check if all the complaints were valid.
All I can say is, express yourself here in the forum and maybe somebody will take a look and do something about it. Alot of people are watching to see what happens. They may not post but they are here.
kevinyunlai
Member
I don't think that GOTD intended fake trials
but from what I seen, GOTD is doing nothing about it
maybe there are, if so, maybe they should tell us, I'm sure no one likes to "blame" or get "blame"
I don't think they intended it either, and how do you want them to test it - keep setting the system date to a hundred years in the future? That MIGHT work - but what if it's limited by something else, like a certain number of executions, or an automatic update?
As for GotD doing nothing about it - well, as much as people insist on it, I don't see anywhere a promise that all software will work until you wipe your system. Did I miss it? I know some users believe it's implied, but really: a lot of software have licences that expire after a while (Sure, usually if they have such a system, it's a year, but that's besides the point). As for the program reverting to trialware after only two months - hopefully you're not referring to the Abyssmedia programs - seems it may be a bug.
kevinyunlai
Member
Keilaron,
you have a point "certain number of executions, or an automatic update"
the automatic update, block Internet access with firewall
and "licences that expire", then it is not free FULL version
leighk
Member
Thanks for letting me know I'm not alone watching people complain about Free Stuff.
I work in the customer service team for freestuffday and it's amazing the things people will complain about. Here we are giving away crazy items like Laptops & I-pods and they have the nerve to complain that they are sick of waiting all day for the items to go live and need to have a shower and that's it's too hard to grab an item, when all you need to do it log into there accounts and wait for the button to become live! Anyway thanks for putting a smile on my face :-)
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