Almost a year ago, I posted an article about an autotext program that was free and it was really good, in the aspect that it was from the same people that created PhraseExpress [Gunnar Bartels] group.

It was an excellent option for people that just wanted a quick, down and dirty option for doing autotext’ing in just about any application in Windows; it was portable, simple and fast.

When I went back to checkup, but something changed…

While the screenshot is still on the website and the instructions on how to use it are there; they aren’t offering it anymore. The download link you find is ALMOST exactly the same, except for a small section .

Update: We have replaced Autotext with PhraseExpress as we had to cover cost for hundred thousands downloads. Unfortunately, only too few have donated in order to allow us to continue to provide Autotext.

Apparently free is too popular.

I wonder if they ever understood the concept free [freeware]?

So, in less than a year they go from ‘…we want to offer you a free alternative to our professional product [PhraseExpress]’, to wait this is very popular and were going to have to pull it cause people like it so much.

Their mission statement still says on their website… They have screenshots of the old program and everything, but it’s gone…

We give away the program free-of-charge. No strings attached. We want to provide a free alternative to our full-fledged professional text phrase software solution PhraseExpress.

So, what happened? – I say dollar signs.

I suspect they realized the inescapable fact that they’re missing out on a wealth of possible customers, and if people like this so much they need to use/buy the PhraseExpress product.

And visiting the current website for PhraseExpress, the structure looks like this…

The full product is $49 [kinda steep for an autotext program].

PhraseExpress like to say it saves time and money, and it’s irreplaceable in some situations. It’s almost $50 and the program, for as powerful and useful as it can be, and it offers no safeguards to backup your PhraseExpress files [only if you buy the network version]. I’ve to use a CMD file to backup my PhraseExpress files; sad really.

But the latest stuff… it’s different. PhraseExpress is in the process of BETA trials for v7.

What’s different?

Oh there’s a new column; it’s called EASY and it’s $29. Well that’s interesting… They’ve gone to a completely free option, to it’s now $29.

Before I get charred by the PhraseExpress group, they do offer a ‘free for personal use’ version of their software. And using this software is fine unless you happen to put the word ‘invoice’ the PhraseExpress system and then it thinks you’re using it commercially and thus beings the NAGs.

And clarifying their position [and covering their assets] their website clarifies the terms of acceptable use. Every software maker has the rights to change, or adjust, to protect their product.

From the PhraseExpress website…

What is considered “commercial use”?

PhraseExpress is free for non-commercial user only. Any activity where the user receives financial benefit from that task (salary, wages, commission, revenue, etc.) is considered commercial use. This includes educational and/or charity organizations if the actual user is being paid for the task.

PhraseExpress recognizes if the computer being used is connected to a corporate network or if the user is selecting phrases that are used in a commercial context. In such a case, a license reminder dialog is randomly triggered. This check is done internally within the program by using an internal word list. No data is transmitted to us or anywhere else for this task.

It is understood that phrases such as “Your order”, “Dear Customer” or “Thank you for purchasing…” clearly indicate commercial activities. We kindly ask for your understanding that we are not able to publish the complete list of phrases and PhraseExpress also checks other parameters to determine commercial use.

We hold ourselves to the highest of standards and ask the same from our customers. Please do not cheat us. Purchase a license if you benefit financially from using PhraseExpress. Your support enables us to provide PhraseExpress free for all personal users and make it even better in the future.

What I found that was interesting about this program [autotext], and the turn of events, was a disingenuous commitment to their offering.

They created a website to promote this program, pushed it out to all the download websites, took the position that they were going to offer this as a ‘program free-of-charge’ and then less than 1 year later it’s pulled from the Internet.

I spent an hour scouring the web for this program ‘autotext.exe’ and I couldn’t find it; it’s been stripped from the web. Wisely, they linked everything back to their site- you can’t download this program anymore.

I was told that LEHSYS was the first website to review it… and I still have it.

Download it here:

And to make a statement so freely to say…

…We have replaced Autotext with PhraseExpress as we had to cover cost for hundred thousands downloads. Unfortunately, only too few have donated in order to allow us to continue to provide Autotext.

…clearly the commitment to providing an ‘free alternative’ was never there to begin with.

My position on freeware is that if you openly offer a program for free, no strings attached, no support and provided as is, you need to release it in to the wild and let it go, not pull it back… otherwise your objectives are transparent, and we now see the true goal.

Thanks for reading!

Thanks,
LHenryJr.
www.lehsys.com

Similar Posts:

• Download Worthy: AUTOTEXT
• Review: PhraseExpress 6
• An Example: How Poor Customer Support Kills a Good Product
• Review: PhraseExpress v5
• eMclient sets a date for end of BETA