For the longest time now, the "gray area" surrounding adware hasn't been
clarified in my mind. This however, has now changed because I've come to
some realizations since encountering Opanda Photo Filter:
1. An advertisement in a program's window, is just that... an
advertisement. It doesn't matter where it comes from, whether or not it
changes or not. An advertisement is an advertisement. Sure, there are
degrees of obnoxiousness, but an advertisement is clearly what it is and
when one is encountered, it's always easy to see it for what it is.
2. Whether or not a link, button or menu item which *leads* to an
advertisment are in and of themselves advertisements, are separate
issues. It usually depends on the individual link, button or menu item
themselves, where they are placed, how large they are, i.e how obnoxious
they are. Some are so discrete that there can be little reason to find
fault. Others (like the huge "Cyberguard" logo in the lower left hand
corner of the WebWasher configuration window are questionable.
I don't know though. This is a personal choice. The best I can come up
with in my personal list of software descriptions is to call some of
such programs "PROmotionware" in that the link, button or icon may lead
to information about upgrading to a "PRO" version. If they are discrete
and lead to advertising of another sort, that doesn't really bother me
because *at least I'm given the choice of whether or not I want to view
the advertising*. Frankly though, I don't like links or icons. The only
way I personally find acceptable to do this is to include a menu item
under the Help dropdown.
But that's just my personal opinion.
There are some who say that for a program to be considered to be adware,
it needs to call home for new ads or even that it must contain spyware.
Where in GOD's name did this come from? It almost appears to be a
deliberate attempt to obfuscate the meaning of the term. Adware may or
may not contain spyware. Adware may or may not call home. Commercial
software can also be adware (and often is!), shareware can also be
adware and spyware at the same time.
Adware is simply *any software that displays advertisements*. It's
almost as simple as that.
I say "almost" because next, one has to decide what is and what is not
considered to be *advertisements*. Thus, the question of whether or not
a button, link or icon which *leads* to what is clearly advertising, are
in and of themselves advertising arises. In my opinion, I would say
usually not. However, as I mentioned above, I would think that it
depends on the factors mentioned there.
On the other hand, freeware can't be spyware at the same time. IMO
Freeware also can't be adware at the same time, or "advertising
supported freeware". This is because it's not free in that the price you
pay for using the software is:
1. your attention
2. screen real estate
I consider those, however small, to be something that I must give up in
order to use the program. This is, of course, as opposed to some basic
prerequisite such as having to buy a computer in order to run the software.
Geez, this feels like trying to create a dictionary. Now I see why the
legal industry thrives to such a degree in most countries. A certain
amount of it is because there are so many people trying to skirt around
the law. In the area of freeware though, there are no "laws". Hell,
there aren't even any definitions! There's only personal beliefs and
preferences. Guidelines and suggestions can be made and presented, but
in the end everybody makes their own choices.
Thus, this group from the start was doomed to failure in regard to its
original goal of discussing freeware. The original charter never defined
the term adequately and it can't be done retroactively. Not only that,
but this is an unmoderated group. It's inevitable that non-freeware will
be recommended in this group.
What ****es me off then is when, in spite of all my precautions to avoid
them, I install such crapware... discover what it is and then have go
through the tedium of removing it. When this happens I *will* express my
opinions on that particular program and nobody is going to stop me from
doing so.
Remember, I also am aware that this is an unmoderated group.
Thus my signature:
--
Regards from John Corliss
I don't reply to trolls. No adware, cdware, commercial software,
crippleware, demoware, nagware, PROmotionware, shareware, spyware,
time-limited software, trialware, viruses or warez please.
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