FAQs

When you say ‘freeware’ what do you mean?
On this site, freeware is NOT : shareware, a demo, a trial or majorly crippled (in it’s use or functioning).
Also there are NO forced registrations or memberships demanded, in other words – freeware = totally FREE.
A brief overview of some of the basic criteria I 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.
The above are the key initial criteria, 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, for that is their choice, I merely reflect that this is a freeware only site. And in that, listings on Freeware Asylum (FreewareArena) are arrived at to reflect such.
I also look at some of the following :
* – Does the program/app do what is “claims” to do.
* – Does it perform 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 plagiarism.

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.

Why Freeware Asylum, what happened to Freeware Arena?
Well for all intentionally purposes this site will always be the Freeware Arena, for the mission behind FA (please indulge me for that is just how I have long referred to this site) was and remains to ‘deliver the 100% real freeware goods (since 1997)”, I just wanted to give the ‘new’ site a new moniker:) Trust me whether you call it Freeware Arena or Freeware Asylum, they both coincidently have the same initials – FA. And although that wasn’t a conscious decision, it actually is a fitting irony.

What is ‘Rareware‘?
A few select listings on this site are labeled as such as either they are the last freeware version of the program/app, or the developer may have disappeared, or it just may be a piece of freeware that is rather rare to obtain online (for whatever reasons).

Why are there so few listing of freeware on this site?
I am rather selective.

I see some listings as having a description drawn from that program’s author’s site, do you use the freeware is listed on this site/blog?
A - I absolutely use what I have listed.
B – Sometimes an author is so almost intimately familiar with their creation(s) that they can better describe it (and usually more concisely) than I feel I can. So rather than bloviate about an app and/or program I will let the creator(s) give you the scoop on their program/application(s).

Do you accept freeware and/or open source that isn’t listed here for listing?
Of course, so please feel freeware to contact me with all the details (ie, name of the app/program, homepage link, download link(s), info on the program/app, compatibility, etc.) I primarily work using Windows, but also dabble with Linux, Mac and Android. For now this site/blog will focus on freeware for Windows.

Do you host all the programs and/or apps that you list?
Not really, though I wish I could. Typically I will point to a url on an author’s site where there are links to download from, though in a few instances I point to one of several free online file storage providers that I use where I may host a copy of a particular program and/or application.

Need any help with this site?
YES! Whether you want to suggest freeware for listing, write reviews, help do research, are a graphically talented person who can create a better logo (or other graphics items) for this site/blog…by all means let me know.

How can I contact you?
Via my contact form, or by leaving a comment in the ‘Leave a Reply’ below.

This page last updated September 7, 2011