freeware

software that is provided without charge

Freeware (also called gratis software or "free as in beer" software) is computer software which # is made available free of charge and# is not necessarily free to be used, copied, studied, modified and redistributed.This contrasts with "free software" (also called libre software or "free as in speech" software) which# can be used, copied, studied, modified and redistributed but# may or may not be free of charge.

Freeware limitations - Freeware is typically proprietary, distributed without source code, and carries a restrictive license. For example, a license might allow the software to be freely copied, but not sold, or might forbid commercial, government or military use.As the open source free software is taking over in the Linux world, those who speak about freeware nowadays are usually talking about free software in the Windows world.

History of use of the term - The term ''freeware'' was coined by Andrew Fluegelman when he wanted to distribute a communications program named PC-Talk that he had created but for which he did not wish to use traditional methods of distribution because of their cost. Previously, he held a trademark on the term "freeware" but this trademark has since been abandoned. Fluegelman actually distributed PC-Talk via a process now referred to as shareware.

Types - There are many variations on the freeware model. Freeware is an umbrella term which includes:

Loss leader. Commercial vendors often release freeware as a loss leader to attract customers to other services or products available for a fee.

Adware. Adware is distributed as freeware, but it requires the user to view advertisements to use the software. Many cases of spyware have been adware.

Donationware or Beggarware or Nagware. The authors of donationware ask that anyone using their software make a donation to the authors or to some third party such as a charity. Because the donation is optional, donationware may also be freeware or fall into some other category.

Abandonware. Abandonware is commercial software that has not been sold for a long time or whose copyright holder is defunct; it has been "abandoned". The licenses of most such software forbid redistribution or require payment, so distributing it violates the author's copyright (even if the author does not or cannot enforce it). "Legal abandonware" is a misnomer for commercial software that has been re-released by the copyright holder as freeware.

Postcardware. The software is essentially freeware, however the author requests that you send a post card expressing thanks and providing feedback.

Baitware. Very limited or defective freeware software, released to deceptively attract users and drive them to commercial products.

Related software types -

Shareware is distributed similarly to freeware, except that it requires payment after some trial period.

*One type of shareware is crippleware, for which the user can pay to unlock more features or get a "full version".

See also -

b:FreewareFreeware at Wikibooks.

List of freeware games

List of shareware games

Pricelessware

External links -

Sources -

paulspicks.com - ''The History of Shareware'' by Michael E. Callahan

gnu.org - GNU's declaration that "freeware" is not the same as "free software"

techsoup.org - Making Sense of Freeware, Open Source, and Shareware

textfiles.fisher.hu - ''Andrew Fluegleman: In Memoriam'' by Kevin Strehlo

arachnoid.com - Paul Lutus: CareWare concept

Some freeware sites -

freewarehome.com - The most extensive collection of truly free software

pricelesswarehome.org - Freeware selected by participants of a newsgroup about freeware

freewaregames.net - Freewaregames.net: A directory of freeware games

photo-freeware.net - Photo-Freeware.net: Image Editing related freeware archive

nedwolf.com - nedwolf.com: A directory of Windows freeware

freewarebox.com - FreewareBox.com: software download archive with freeware only

freeinternetsecurity.info - A regularly updated list of Freeware Internet Security Software

neowin.net - Neowin.net's Freeware Alternatives List

freewaredirectory.net - Freeware Directory of Applications and Games

acid-play.com - Acid-Play.com - The best source for freeware games/reviews/screenshots and more

socr.ucla.edu - Statistics Online Computational Resource (UCLA)

planetfreeplay.com - Planet Freeplay - A Freeware Gaming Portal

wiredfile.com - WiredFile.com - Freeware and Shareware downloads for Windows

reloaded.org - Abandonia Reloaded - A site dedicated to Freewares and Retro Remakes

mysharewarebox.com - Find Freeware, Shareware Apps & Games at My Shareware Box

!freeware.focusdevelopments.com .au - !www.freeware.focusdevelopments .com.au? - A Free place to host your Freeware

all4you.dk - Freeware World Team - Freeware programs for Windowssoftware distribution Category:Application !softwareCategory:Freeware!*da:Freewarede:Freewarefr:Grat icielko:프리웨어it:Freewar enl:Freewareja:フリーウェ アpl:Freewaresimple:Freewares k:Freewaresl:Brezplačno? programjesv:Freeware

CDizz - Making Music LOOK Better
CDizz adds multimedia content to Audio CDs and turns ANY CD into a multimedia experience. Displays Images, Lyrics, Karaoke, Slideshows, News, Guitar Chords, Pops and more. Users can publish their CD Collection page on the web. Users can submit and share their own creations with other music lovers. (Special timing tools are included)
http://www.cdizz.com/

REBO-Soft
Some shareware and freeware tools for home users and network administrators.
http://www.rebo-soft.de/

Fertiglösungen für Excel
Fertiglösungen für Excel - Freeware, Shareware, Arbeitszeiterfassung, Urlaubsplan, Kalender, Terminplaner, Feiertagskalender, Exceltools, Beispieldateien uvm. für Privatanwender und Firmen
http://www.marusoft.de/

top webkatalog die suchmaschine unter den webverzeichnissen. webverzeichnis suchmaschine & webkatalog / kostenlos eintragen und sich finden lassen
der kostenlose webkatalogeintrag mit suchfunktion. suchen sie nach erotiktruhe,6mile das erotikauktionshaus oder arbeitsgebote , webmastertools, branchen, private hompages uvm. wir bieten ihnen einen webkatalog mit 2367 kategorien nur bei web.de, google oder jahoo gibts mehr
http://www.top-webkatalog.de/

Font Garden - the home of handwriting fonts
Font Garden - the home of handwriting fonts thousands of fonts and dingbats for PC and Mac. Handwriting to font conversion. Welcome!
http://www.fontgarden.com

Dodo Bird
Web site of Dodo Bird, a musician and programmer. contains Dodo Bird music, The Super-Eel free VST plugin, and also a link page of free VST plugins.
http://www.sadglad.com/

Spiele-Versand: Versand von Computer- Video und Brettspielen
Versand von Brett-, Computer- und Videospielen sowie DVD-Filme
http://www.spiele-versand.de/

Claude's PC-Tipps
Link-Datenbank für Software (Freeware, Shareware, Updates, Upgrades, Patches, Treiber) mit Beschreibung, Bewertung, Preis-Angaben. PC-Tipps-Datenbank (Windows, Linux, Anwendungen, Programmieren,...) Die Links und Tipps stammen aus PC-Zeitschriften oder aus dem Internet, oder aus der Praxis.
http://www.cpctipps.de/

BigLoad
BigLoad.de is a Download Portal for Freeware, Shareware and Demos.
http://www.bigload.de

Encryption library
HIME is an encryption library that can be used by any programming language that can call a 32 bits dll. The dll does not have to be registered.
http://www.devotechs.com/

Trivial Proxy
Trivial Proxy is a small application that allow to see and log network activity of the any applications(browsers, email clients etc.). So what does that mean in English? Simple, run TrivialProxy and configure it to redirect the local port to the specified host:port; configure the appication to use this port and localhost (it's very easy, there's), and voila! You're seeing and logging the network activity of this application! Supports HTTP (web), HTTPS (secure web), POP3 (recieve mail), SMTP (send mail), NNTP (newsgroups)! It works great with Internet Explorer, Firefox, Outlook, and many more! Trivial Proxy is totally FREE for personal and non-commersial usage.
http://www.xrayapp.com/trivialproxy/

deinmeister digital delusions
Coding tutorials (mainly x86 asm), freeware tools, games and animations for download as well as tips and articles for hard- and software configuration. A bunch of handdrawn cartoons are there as well.
http://www.deinmeister.de/

NIT - New Information Technology
Firma di consulenza e sviluppo software specializzata in applicazioni per i settori energia, domotica e tecnico / scientifico. Servizi IT
http://www.nit.it/

Zdarma.sk - freeware, shareware.
Freeware, shareware, open source software, download, information for free.
http://www.zdarma.sk/

Free Software Downloads
Directory of free and trial softwares that you can download online.
http://www.goloads.com/

qsBarcode Code39 recognizes Code39 barcode
qs Barcode Code39 can read horizontal Code39 barcodes with 6 digits on monochrome images (windows bitmaps). qsBarcode Code39 is an easy-to-use DLL that can be from many different developer environments, such as C/C++, Java, VisualBasic or Delphi.
http://www.qsbarcode.de/

we make you successful
Leading infoportal for IT-Startups with more than 600.000 tips and links.
http://www.hannoverstartup.de/

Servant of the Lord: Online!
Central Virginia's Premier Christian Online Service
http://www.sotl.org/

intern-europe
top weblinks top downloads and verry more. FREE
http://www.intern-austria.net/

Downloadarchiv XPArchiv
Download Freeware, Shareware, trial versions, Treiber und andere kostenlose Demos.
http://www.win2000-software.de/

bcTester reads linear and 2D - barcode from digital images
bcTester 4.0 is a freeware software for barcode reading (linear and 2 dimensional) on digital images captured by scanning or photographing. A lot of input formats are supported, e.g. BMP, GIF, PNG, TIFF, JPG. All common barcode types are recognized,, e. g. 2 of 5 familiy, code 39, code 93, codabar, code128, ean and upc, patchcodes, DataMatrix and PDF 417. Test if your bar codes are readable and check the content.
http://www.bctester.de

dHAL Software
A software company for orthodontic, cephalometric and related software.
http://www.dhal.com/

Avete@khabs.de
this site is essentially on philosophy with a second emphasis on technical questions concerning programming in C
http://www.khabs.de/

HBTeam Web Site
We develop engineering software for fluidodynamic applications and general purposes utilities and games
http://www.hbteng.com/

Doppelkopf bei karlchen.com
Willkommen bei der kostenlosen Community zum Thema Doppelkopf. Auf unseren Seiten finden Sie Freeware Doppelkopf-Programme, regelmäßig aktualisierte Neuigkeiten, eine große Linkliste und ein Forum.
http://www.karlchen.com/

Bulletin Boards for the Music Classroom
Bulletin Boards for the Music Classroom contains hundreds of ideas for music bulletin boards as well as other bulletin boards for regular classrooms including character education. Most entries include photos. Stop in and be inspired!
http://www.musicbulletinboards.net/

GM-Software
Software Solutions
http://www.gm-software.de/

Freelang
Free Dictionaries to download and Free Human Translation.
http://www.freelang.net/

Sigma Team Site
Sigma Team's goal is creating games for a wide range of users of different age, social status, genre preferences etc. That's why we have developed Crazy Lunch – a funny arcade for the kids. Of course it is not as popular as Alien Shooter, but is sells steadily on CDs and on the web as well. Our company became famous thanks to the Alien Shooter game. It gained various awards on large Internet portals, being highly appreciated by ordinary users and by aces of the game industry as well. This can be proved with a great many of favorable professional reviews placed in game portals and mass media.
http://www.sigma-team.net/

http://www.vsop.ch
Oxygene hotel software for Windows and Macintosh. Freeware for one room or one vacation home. Connects to your web homepage for reservations. Since 1997.
http://www.vsop.ch/

Caiman Free Games
Free PC Games, Recurring Game Contests, Freegames, free games, Cool freeware games.
http://www.caiman.us

YAFPC, the freeware PDF Composer Printer Mailer
YAFPC (Yet Another Free PDF-composer) can compose PDF documents from picture files and other PDF files, encrypt the created document and send it to some e-mail address. YAFPC is aimed to act as command-line tool in combination with GhostScript for providing a network shared PDF-printer, which automatically adds letterheads, company-logos, watermark and Terms & Condition-pages to the printed documents, and then mails the document to the user, who initiated the print job.
http://www.yafpc.net/

Ashisoft - Find and remove true duplicate files
Find and remove duplicate files, true byte-by-byte/crc32 comparison, fast and accurate results.
http://www.ashisoft.com/

WinTopo
WinTopo is a high quality software application for converting TIF, JPG, PNG, GIF, BMP files and scanned images into useful vector files suitable for CAD, GIS and CNC applications.
http://www.wintopo.com/

Freeware Home
A large, diverse collection of links to free software and Internet services in more than 140 categories.
http://www.freewarehome.com/

Jumbo
Source of free and shareware computer programs and utilities for PC and Mac. Evaluate software and read product reviews. Download games and screen savers.
http://www.jumbo.com/

Freeware Files.com
Download the latest free software for Windows. Games, utilities, screen savers, themes, net tools, Desktop, Mp3/multimedia, drivers and libraries.
http://www.freewarefiles.com/

FreewareWeb
Net apps, games, desktop tools, screen savers, and wallpapers. Even a newsletter and FTP Search.
http://www.freewareweb.com/

Nonags
Downloads and links to Windows software web pages. Every program is tested and rated.
http://nonags.com/