I wanted to briefly explain a few things in response to MANY emails.

First Freeware Arena (FA) is not 'dead' or closed or being left to just 'exist' online. Due to a number of factors :
1 - My responsibilities of having to provide 24-7 care for my Mother (and her numerous stays in hospital and skilled nursing facilities), and her worsening health have almost totally rendered tending to FA and all things associated with such impossible.
BUT - I am working (with extremely limited time constraints) to build and create a 'new' FA. This will require the help of several long time friends of FA, and I do not have any timeframe on this. As many factors impact such happening :
* How my Mom's health is or any changes.
* The ability to work with the aforementioned 'freinds' to get a 'new' FA up and running.

2 - My own health is also worsening, it all related to an accident I was in back in 1997 (which I have explained in the past but haven't the time to elaborate on now).

Also the status of 'The Freeware Book' project has been called into question since it's last edition in 2004. For now the project remains on hold, and though many resources listed in the "Book" are outdated, dead links, or no longer in the freeware vein, I leave a copy available to d/l.
A number of emails have claimed the 'Book' contains a virus, which is a false positive, as the anti virus apps that do detect such are detecting the upx packer used as part of the "Freeware Book".

Again I am seeking your opinion(s) regarding the policy of FA to not list programs that force registration to be able to use them.

So if you would be so kind as to visit the topic on this subject, and take the poll, as well as provide your feedback/thoughts on your voting selection, I would be grateful.

Thanks,
Scott

Don't know what TFR is? Find out what we are united for :

And to those that respect and stand for real freeware, why not join with us?

:: This is yet AGAIN reposted as I am still getting non-freeware submissions ::

A brief overview of some of the basic criteria I/FreewareArena use in determining listings on this site :

* - Is it NOT shareware, a trial, a demo.
* - It does NOT contain spyware, nor contain adware that is intrusive << These are the key initial tests, if any of these are failed, I go no further with the program/app.
For as I have repeatedly stated since 1997 on this site, I am NOT anti shareware or other 'wares' wherein the developer(s) seek renumeration for their original works, that is their choice, I merely reflect that this is a freeware only site. And in that, listings on FreewareArena are arrived at to reflect such.
* - Does the program/app do what is "claims" to do.
* - Does it peform the previous requirement effectively in my testing.
* - Is it majorly error/bug free (if not 100%); this is to say that it is not impossible for another user to possibly encounter errors or such on their system depending on various factors and variables.
* - Also, does the program overtly and blatantly "rip-off" another program. I don't mean does it do very similarly what another program does, but rather is it the SAME as another program save for perhaps a different graphic/logo or other tiny "alteration" I have no tolerance for plagarism.

Again, these are the initial and basics that I use as a guide for what may eventually be listed. And I provide this so as to inform potential submitters of programs/apps, so as to not waste their valuable time that could be best served submitting their programs to a site that has different criteria.

I had awhile back signed up with a new(er) free voicemail service called GrandCentral.com (which Google has since taken over/bought).
And just figured, "why not post up the number and allow you the guests (friends) of FA to be able to leave me a voicemail message?".

It does have a time limit for messages of 2 minutes, but it will enable me to be able to receive voicemails from anyone who should wish to do so.

I have not recored a more personal greeting for the service, so don't be put off when you get the "The Grandcentral subscriber...blah blah" canned message/greeting.

Now you can call this number, but it might be a toll call for thos not in the area code for the number I registered for, course the workarounds for such are plenty - using a VOiP number, Skype (this is NOT an endorsement for such), or any of the other "free" calling services.

So I'd really like to hear from you, and it also will be an opportunity to actually "hear" from you all.

I have hundreds of times posted the criteria/guidelines for what is used to determine what freeware is and may be listed here on FA.

So for those who DON'T get that FA is not like the ever growing number of sites who list anything submitted or don't bother to 'test' or even use what they list (nor show you the visitor the courtesy to care what you may get stuck with by downloading), I will nicely ask that BEFORE you submit to FA for possible listing to please FIRST READ this site's "criteria" regarding what IS freeware and may be listed on FA.