FAQ

My Brand New FAQ PAGE
Last Updated: Dec 8, 2006

Can I write a review/reviews and publish it on this site?
You sure can. I will have to approve the choice of program (it has to be freeware) and reserve the write to edit the text.  Click here to email Me.

Does Freewaregenius.com install any spyware/malware or toolbars within my browser?
You have got to be joking! This is a personal blog, nothing is installed on your system.

Why are your ratings so high, man?
I only post reviews of software that I think is worth writing about, so by definition there will only be 4 or 5 star rated software here.

Why don’t you host the downloads on the Freewaregenius site itself?
I cannot afford the bandwidth; also, it is better to get the download from the developer’s site to be sure you are downloading the latest version.

How often do you post?
My goal is 30 postings/month. These may come in ‘batches’ though, rather than once a day.

Do you install and test every program you review?
Absolutely.

Will you review my program (or my favorite program) if I ask nicely?
I might. There are reasons why I might not, though: if I don’t like the program or I don’t feel it merits 4 or 5 stars, if I don’t know much about the subject or category, or if it simply isn’t that interesting (say yet another ’small’ mp3 player or image viewer).

Will you find or recommend a certain program if I ask you? Will you answer a software related question by email?
Probably. I will at least try.

Is the software featured on Freewaregenius really free?
Yes. If there is a ‘paid’ version of the software the review will point out the differences.

But is it handicapped in any way (crippleware/liteware)?
If it is posted on Freewaregenius it will have to offer considerable value; crippleware will not, whereas liteware quite possibly will, and may be posted.

What about nagware (programs that require you to wait and/or click a button on a screen)?
I have a particular aversion to nagware; so its very unlikely (although technically possible if the program really has something to offer).

Would you consider trialware? (definition here)
No. This site is about freeware.

Will you post software that is in alpha or beta?
Yes. This will be stated under “Version tested” and within the text itself.

What is your policy on adware? Will you post adware titles on your site?
The answer to this is that in very rare cases I might, provided that the software satisfies the below conditions:
- The program is unique and has a high value added.
- The ads do not interefere with the user experience (i.e. the UI is well designed and the ads unobtrusive).
- The ads do not link to gambling or adult sites.
If I do post an adware title it will be stated in the review text. I will be very accomodating with regard to ads that point to the developer’s other FREE titles.

What about programs that ask you to register or provide an email or other personal info?
I will post these, but will state that this is a requirement.

Will you knowingly post programs that contain spyware and/or other malware.
No. I will go to great lengths to make sure that no such software is featured on freewaregenius.

How would you know if a program contains spyware?
I install it and see how it behaves in relation to my firewall/antispyware/antivirus software. I also research every program I write about to see other people’s reports on it, if any.

Will you post abandonware/orphanware?
Nope. There is so much going on in terms of quality freeware/open source software that I see no reason to look into software from the distant past whose legality is unclear or questionable.

Will you post cracks or warez on your site?
No. Everything is 100% legitimate and legal. One of the objectives of this site is to show that there is quality free software out there that will do most everything that you need, and that you really don’t need cracked software.

14 Comments so far

  1. Lee Grey on July 30th, 2007

    Hi. I hope this is an acceptable way to contact you; I couldn’t find any other way.

    I have an honest question for you:

    Why do people create freeware? I mean, I’ve created some cool utilities, but I want to be paid for them. So, is there some other pay-off to freeware that I’m just not seeing?

    For example, I created a really handy utility called WinZen. I use it all the time, and I thought other people would like it, too. But sales are practically nonexistent. So, should I improve my marketing, or should I make it freeware? Sorry to sound selfish about it, but what’s in it for me to make it free?

    I’m asking this seriously, and I hope that, as someone who has a lot of experience with freeware and freeware authors, you’ll give me an honest and enlightening reply.

    BTW, you’re welcome to try a copy of WinZen, gratis.

    Sincerely,
    Lee Grey
    Grey Matter
    http://winzen.leegrey.com

  2. Lin Qi on August 27th, 2007

    Hi.

    I have a freeware named Free Window Sweeper. It’s a free privacy clean-up tool that allows you to remove Internet and computer traces, browser history, cookies, index.dat files, typed URLs and more. It also offers support for many 3rd party applications, and can clean custom file, folder or registry locations. It also has a cookie keeper and secure deletion method. You can download it from http://www.findsth.com/download/SweeperSetup.exe. I want to add it to your website.

    Best Regards.

  3. Syahid A. on January 2nd, 2008

    Love your site man. It is like a freeware heaven.

  4. Andy Stevens on February 20th, 2008

    Shouldn’t that be “reserve the right”…? Although, given the context of editing text, “write” could just be an intentional pun I suppose.

  5. [...] näher. “Love your site man. It is like a freeware heaven”, meint ein begeisterter Leser. Dem it nichts hinzuzufügen. Außer vielleicht ein paar [...]

  6. Kazelcrr on May 24th, 2008

    Hi webmaster!

  7. Kayla on June 20th, 2008

    Dear Freeware Wizards: I don’t know much (yet), but I DO know I LOVE YOU… so, would you please consider helping me with an issue which is WAY OVER MY HEAD? . . . I need a (Movie) DVD SONG RIPPER…you know, a program that will ACTUALLY rip ONLY the various SONGS on a DVD… I have TRULY TRIED to research this…As far as I can tell, the ONLY freeware I could find was undesireable, & the FOR MONEY ones CONFUSED me to the point that I could not make an informed decision…Because I TRUST YOUR JUDGEMENT ENTIRELY, will you please let me know what your ideas are about any freeware, & if there isn’t any- which others would you recommend for RIPPING SONGS in particular? . . . I understand how busy you are! I am willing to wait . . . Sincerely, Kayla

  8. K5HUM on June 25th, 2008

    Please list Popnote

    PopNote is a lightweight yet robust peer to peer Instant Messaging communication client that works over the Internet.

    http://arc.tzo.com/ham/k5hum.php

  9. Me on June 30th, 2008

    Did the new Ajax cause the website to run slower? I’ve not visited this site since sometime in May, or maybe it was April. Can’t remember, but today it seems to be running very slowly and taking awhile for pages to load. I love this site and even if the pages load slowly, I’ll still keep looking around. Good stuff here. But more importantly, this is a completely trustworty site. I trust any software I get from here, and I look here first before I go to anothter site. If it’s here, this is the site from where I’ll download it.

  10. Me on June 30th, 2008

    One more question, Do you know of another progam like “Zorro” the little program that supposedly darkens part of the computer screen? I downloaded it and it didn’t work. Seems to be buggy, and was very unstable. I had a heck of a time removing it from one of my computers. I’d like to have a program like that but in looking and searching hundreds of pages using Google search, I haven’t been able to find one that does that. I know they’re out there somewhere because I see them in action when I visit certain websites. Thanks.

  11. Samer on June 30th, 2008
  12. Me on July 1st, 2008

    Samer. thanks for the information. There were some error 404’s popping up but I eventually got it downloaded, and so far it appears to be working. Appreciate your help.

  13. skadoosh on July 8th, 2008

    I was searching around and found this new freeware 360desktop which enables your desktop to perform a panorama almost.

  14. Damon Robert Pasquale on July 12th, 2008

    hey, i was searching around the internet again, yeah i do it alot, and i found a new vista start menu program. it has two versions a pro and freeware one. it organizes the vista start menu, which is really annoying to use.

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