Gene said:
I had no trouble finding on the site that they are selling the advanced
version for ~$30, which unlocks some (listed) features that are not
available in the free version.
Oh, so it is lureware as I suspected. Take a look at their payware
version and what features it lists that are supposedly not available in
the free version:
http://www.free-audio-editor.com/order/buy-now.htm
says
- Create audio using the premier codec: MP3 (or WMA/OGG)
- Burn or rip audio CDs
- Batch convert/merge audio files
- Text-to-speech
Now go back and read the features they claim for their free version.
Oops, looks like they made mistake and listed some of those payware-only
features in the freeware version. If YOU do the compare of their
features list for both, you'll notice the payware version only gives you
the rip and batch features.
Read the user reviews and they complain that the freeware version is so
crippled that the product is only usable by paying for it to unlock all
those "deluxe" features.
They list a lot of their formats and capabilities on the site, and even
provide a tutorial (I didn't look at it).
They only list a few file formats: MP3, WMA, WAV, and OGG. Anything
else is lumped under "and many more". I saw no list of all supported
file formats.
From user reviews, only the WAV (Windows PCM) output file format is
supported in the freeware version to save the edited content. You have
to PAY for the Deluxe version to get the other output file formats.
They even give a street address and a phone number (with area code!).
Yes, they do provide decent contact information. Makes me wonder why
they hide their domain registration behind WhoIsGuard who provides
private registration services (i.e., the registrant gets to hide while
the registrar takes over the duties as the responsible contact as
required by IANA for registrars). Oh, a company that distributes
software but feels they have to hide. Uh huh.
For phone support, you must be a registered user of their free product.
That means doling out a valid e-mail address. Gee, now why would they
need an e-mail address for PHONE support? When you install the freeware
product, you are also requested to provide an e-mail address. You don't
think spammers, marketers, or other slime consider divulging valid and
active e-mail addresses worth the cost of producing free software,
especially if it is just some reskinned program?
Take note of the postal address: FAE Distribution. They distribute the
product. Doesn't look like they actually produce it. Might be just a
reskinned version of some other program. For example, Applian dumped
their own Replay Media Catcher and acquired the rights to distribute a
reskinned version of Jaksta. They added a couple extra features but the
base product is Jaksta. Several AV products are reskinned versions of
licensed distros they bought from some other existing AV vendor.
When you start the install, the first dialog shows the Publisher is
"Tsingsoft Imagination Information Technology Co., Ltd." and the cert
shows Country is CN (China). Doesn't really have that American ring to
its company name despite giving out a Calif postal address and USA phone
number. Sounds more like a Beijing (Chinese) company and perhaps found
here:
http://www.tsingsoft.com.cn/. I didn't find a Google match for
"Tsingsoft Imagination Information Technology Co., Ltd.". "[Beijing]
TsingSoft Innovation Technology Co., Ltd." came close but their product
descriptions don't look like they would be producing audio editors unles
FAE is some spin-off or sibling enterprise. When you launch FAE, you'll
notice its banner shows Gmbh (German: Gesellschaft mit Beschränkter
Haftung, meaning Limited Liability Company). Postal address and phone
number in California, indication of German influence, reference to a
Chinese software developer (or re-coder).
Although the installer is supposedly digitally signed, it contains no
e-mail, web/domain, or other identity information. It just has the
company name and which certainly doesn't match on "FAE Distribution".
The default install qualifies this freeware product as adware due to the
default inclusion of their search & capture toolbar. Softpedia.com
correctly classifies this product as "ad-supported" (their polite term
for adware).
Good thing my extremely short-lived trial was inside a virtual machine.
Just select "turn off and delete changes" when I exit the VM to blow
away anything from this product. I wouldn't want this on my real host.
