Watch Your Back - Grinning Shark

[miasmal]

This is a third party software used in conjunction with Outlook to
strip "read-receipt requested" flags from Emails. Since the feature
can't be turned off when Outlook is in Corporate mode, the only way to
prevent sending any receipts is through this kind of software. Note-
Grinning Shark software/website no longer active as of 12/31/04.

I started using this back in 2002. I missed the author's email that he
was no longer in the business as of end of 2004 - so now I am unable to
install & run a copy of my older WYB software on my new PC as it
requires internet registration. I didn't even get a chance to download
the latest version. Does version 4.3 (I think that's the last one) do
this internet registration as well? I really miss using it, I have OSK
but it's not as good as WYB for Corporate Win2k/Outlook 2k.

Anyone have a good working copy, or a way to get the program going past
30 days?

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

This is a third party software used in conjunction with Outlook to
strip "read-receipt requested" flags from Emails. Since the feature
can't be turned off when Outlook is in Corporate mode, the only way to
prevent sending any receipts is through this kind of software. Note-
Grinning Shark software/website no longer active as of 12/31/04.

I started using this back in 2002. I missed the author's email that
he was no longer in the business as of end of 2004 - so now I am
unable to install & run a copy of my older WYB software on my new PC
as it requires internet registration. I didn't even get a chance to
download the latest version. Does version 4.3 (I think that's the
last one) do this internet registration as well? I really miss using
it, I have OSK but it's not as good as WYB for Corporate
Win2k/Outlook 2k.

Anyone have a good working copy, or a way to get the program going
past 30 days?

Try googling - that's the only advice I can offer.

Many others miss this software too, but note that if you use Outlook 2003
you don't need any 3rd party apps to do this anyway. And OL2003 is waaaay
better than anything prior - OL2002/XP was good, but if you're on 2000 or
prior, you should upgrade anyway as that's old stuff and no longer
supported.

 

[miasmal]

Try googling - that's the only advice I can offer.

Many others miss this software too, but note that if you use Outlook 2003
you don't need any 3rd party apps to do this anyway. And OL2003 is waaaay
better than anything prior - OL2002/XP was good, but if you're on 2000 or
prior, you should upgrade anyway as that's old stuff and no longer
supported.

Yep, I have been googling.... switching to 2003 is not an option as the
corporate standard here in the company is 2000. Even if we did move to
2003, I'm sure they would find a way to restrict the "remove RR"
option. I guess I'll stick with OSK and its associated limitations.

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

Yep, I have been googling.... switching to 2003 is not an option as
the corporate standard here in the company is 2000. Even if we did
move to 2003, I'm sure they would find a way to restrict the "remove
RR" option. I guess I'll stick with OSK and its associated
limitations.

Ah. Well, if your company has a standard build (as it should), I'm surprised
they'd let you install/use WYB anyway....and what's more, if you say that
they would somehow remove the option to block read receipts in OL2003 it
kind of tells me they don't want you to do this, right?

Abide by your corporate standards. Do not PO your IT staff. Do not PO the
waiter before he brings you your food. Common sense. ;-)

 

[dBugged]

Ah. Well, if your company has a standard build (as it should), I'm
surprised
they'd let you install/use WYB anyway....and what's more, if you say
that
they would somehow remove the option to block read receipts in OL2003
it
kind of tells me they don't want you to do this, right?

Abide by your corporate standards. Do not PO your IT staff. Do not PO
the
waiter before he brings you your food. Common sense. ;-) <<

Well said! I'd agree with that! I use WYB! daily, since we're stuck
with one version prior to OL2003 and cannot install the new version.

I've been a user of WYB! for several years also and was disappointed to
hear about this program going away, but don't blame the guy for wanting
to spend time with his family instead of in front of his computer. I
know how that is. My wife beans me over the head when I sit in front
of some of my favorite online games. I was lucky enough to snag a copy
of the final version (kept slipping my mind to download it) before his
site closed down some time in February. The final version didn't have
the registration requirement, however the author requested that we not
share this final version (4.4 is what my software says is the version
of this final one).

 

[hisboyelroy]

Are you willing to share a copy of the program?

 

[dBugged]

Are you willing to share a copy of the program?

No, I am not willing to share. I don't think that would be fair to the
author to share the software, especially when the author graciously
asked us not to.

 

[miasmal]

uggg, that bites - he should have sent a copy of the program (it's not
that big) to every registered user. Not fair :-( I would have gladly
paid the author 5x the registration fee (it was $12 back then) to send
me the updated version before he disappeared. The program was _that_
important to me. OSK has some limitations and slips by a RR or two on
occasion. It also can't handle multiple mailboxes.

Also I am in IT with sufficient privileges. If there was a simple fix
via Registry to remove this grey-out section
Tools.Options.Preferences.Email Options.Tracking Options - I would like
to know, as I would have done so already.

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

uggg, that bites - he should have sent a copy of the program (it's not
that big) to every registered user.

Why? I don't think Chrysler sent out Oldsmobiles to all prior purchasers,
after they decided to discontinue the line... ;-)

Not fair :-(

Didn't your mother tell you life wasn't fair? I think mine used to mention
that at least twice a day. I think I was a pretty whiny kid.

I would have
gladly paid the author 5x the registration fee (it was $12 back then)
to send me the updated version before he disappeared. The program
was _that_ important to me. OSK has some limitations and slips by a
RR or two on occasion. It also can't handle multiple mailboxes.

Also I am in IT with sufficient privileges. If there was a simple fix
via Registry to remove this grey-out section
Tools.Options.Preferences.Email Options.Tracking Options - I would
like to know, as I would have done so already.

Nothing I know of, sorry. Hope your company decides to ditch OL2000 and move
into the 21st c. soon!

 

[hisboyelroy]

I guess I'm confused...your final copy has no registration requirement and
your not willing to share?
Did you pay for the final download? If so, then I understand not wanting to
share, that would be
piracy. If you did not pay, then I do not understand your
decision...freeware is freeware.

 

[dBugged]

The author was a pretty nice guy (I helped on a few of the beta tests
and cooresponded with him directly) and I'd hardly say he disappeared.
Being a family man myself, his final note touched me. He did send a
note out to all of his customers (I got one since I paid him $12 a few
years ago for the software) that explained the situation and why he
decided to stop selling the software. Registered users were provided
with a site where they could go to download a special version that did
not need to be activated so they could continue to use it without
having to worry about it not being able to use it. I downloaded it
right away and burnt it onto a CD. I think I also downloaded it in
late January for my work pc, so I know that the download was at least
provided for two months. The software wasn't freeware. I paid $12 for
it and he offered us the final version so those who paid for the
software wouldn't be out in the dark later on after his site closed. I
always thought the $12 was a good deal. He asked that we not share the
software, since he will only make it available to those users who
rightfully paid for it. I thought that was a pretty fair request. At
least he actually sent out a note and brought some closure to the
software, unlike some other bigger companies that I've been hosed by
over the past few years who just disappear without any explantion. I
guess I didn't expect that much for only paying $12. If he had just
disappeared that would have been a bummer, but heck it was just $12 and
it hardly is anything for me to cry over.

Oh, to the guy who said the author should have sent a copy of the
software to everyone. Well, if you didn't get the email talking about
this... how would you have expected an email to get through with the
software attached? Sorry, couldn't resist that broken logic. Food for
thought.

Frankly, as others have stated, upgrading to OL2003 will also kill read
receipts or using OSK, although I tried that software and it is a
little dated, but it is workable.

 

[hisboyelroy]

I completely understand the situation...if he ever contacts you again let
him know that there
is still a market for his software.

OL2003 will block return receipts for Internet email only, not Exchange
Sever...at least that's
been my experience so far.

Can you give some background on OSK? I have not heard of this utility.

Thanks


He did send a note out to all of his customers (I got one since I paid him
$12 a few

 

[dBugged]

He never contacted me directly about his closure, last time I heard
from him was the email that he sent out to all registered users. I
understand his reasons for discontinuing the software. He wanted to
spend more time with family. I'm not surprised by this, $12/copy for a
hobby probably doesn't bring in that much and I'd bet he didn't have
millions of customers using his software. Frankly, OL2003 eliminates
most of the need for his software.

OL2003 will block all types of read receipts. I have tested this
myself and it will prevent exchange server receipts from being sent.
Older versions of Outlook only seemed to block internet based receipts.
I cannot give any background on OSK, I tried it a few years ago and
didn't like it since it was limiting (I liked that stupid blaster
feature in WYB!, although I was careful using it). I got a link
through download.com, but tried again after you inquired and it doesn't
come up anymore. As I recall, all it did was remove read receipts
manually or automatically. That's all it did. However, based on your
comments... if the software is still available that may be just enough
to solve your problem.

 

[opus2008]

Registered user, now very sad

Grr. I was a very happy, registered user of WYB!, but I lost the final copy I downloaded iin a hard drive crash. Now I'm left wanting.

I don't suppose there's someone out there who would provide me a copy of the last version if I were to forward you my registration confirmation, is there? I love the product, and I miss it terribly.

 

[Brian Tillman]

I don't suppose there's someone out there who would provide me a copy
of the last version if I were to forward you my registration
confirmation, is there? I love the product, and I miss it terribly.

Why not contact the original vendor?

 

[Vince Averello [MVP-Outlook]]

I think Grinning Shark's site says it all:

Grinning Shark Software ceased operations on December 31st, 2004.

All service, support, activations and registrations related to the
Watch Your Back! software ceased at the end of January, 2005.

We hope all our registered users took advantage of our email
offer and had a chance to download the special version of the software
that was designed to work even after our operations ceased (please note
that this download is no longer available as of March 1st, 2005).