1src Forums - Palmgear.com requiring User Name and Password

rhart00

03-24-2003, 10:28 PM

I just realized this too. since I have bought a lot of stuff from palmgear they already have my email and password. It is really annoying having to login or input email/password to download. That is why I have stayed away from sites like handango.

rob_squared

03-24-2003, 11:53 PM

That's slightly annoying. But then again, I never would have joined this site if they didn't require registering to download...

kss55442

03-25-2003, 06:51 AM

Originally posted by rob_squared
That's slightly annoying. But then again, I never would have joined this site if they didn't require registering to download...

It's not the registering that bothers me. What is PalmGear going to do with it? Start sending targeted email? I already unsubscribed to their constant "specials" emails that I magically had subscribed to even though I don't remember doing so.

iebnn

03-25-2003, 07:43 AM

Let's not assume the worst... it might just be for demographical purposes? Dunno.

aem2kcivicsi

03-25-2003, 07:59 AM

Ya i wasn't to happy right now when i went to download something. I like the part where they tell you about the cookies and that way they can monitor you, what's up with that!!!!

thenightfly42

03-25-2003, 08:06 AM

Also, no link to a privacy policy that I can find, makes me nervous.

Jay N760

03-25-2003, 10:16 AM

Originally posted by thenightfly42
Also, no link to a privacy policy that I can find, makes me nervous.

No doubt. I'm done with PalmGear. They can't have any of my information--especially when they don't even bother posting a privacy policy. It's understandable if I'm buying something from them or posting a software review. But they don't need my home address etc just to download a demo or a piece of freeware.

I usually go to the developer's site to download files, but that's not always possible. For instance, this morning I was trying to download the freeware calendar app 1 Year. The developer apparently doesn't have a site. So, I'll either find another site that hosts the file, or go without.

Anybody have any experience with a good alternative to PalmGear?

jamester

03-25-2003, 11:07 AM

PalmGear used to be the bomb - they'd have links to the developers site and *everything*. I was saddened when they removed the developer site links, as that's how i made sure I was getting the latest latest release. And now they want me to register at PG *just to download*? That just bugs me. Looks like Google and I are going to be great friends. :)

Unregistered

03-25-2003, 01:13 PM

you go girl! nuff said.

and yes, I agree fully.

Alistar

03-25-2003, 01:37 PM

Handago still only requires am e-mail address you don't actually have to sign up, and I just a fake e-mail address or one I set up for junk mail such as this.

iebnn

03-25-2003, 03:22 PM

Geez people, you can just use a fake email if you're that worried....

thenightfly42

03-25-2003, 03:49 PM

iebnn, that's not the point. I can do that, in fact, I have a great disposable email system (mailshell.com). But PlamGear's actions seem so abrupt and strange, and PalmGear has done some questionable things in the past (for instance, when they stopped showing freeware applications in the updates).

With no explanation from PalmGear, and no posted privacy statement, I don't even want to leave a disposable address.

I dropped a note to the editor of PalmInfocenter, hope he can get some answers.

T1000X

03-25-2003, 04:05 PM

I think it's bogus for them to require the "necessary" information without a privacy statement. Next thing we will see is PalmGear will require a monthly subscription fee of $20 just to download other programs and have to pay for them.

fjl307

03-25-2003, 04:10 PM

Originally posted by kss55442

It's not the registering that bothers me. What is PalmGear going to do with it? Start sending targeted email? I already unsubscribed to their constant "specials" emails that I magically had subscribed to even though I don't remember doing so.

 

I'm sure it has something to do with copyrght...they probably don't want other websites to directly link a download from PalmGear...

fjl307

03-25-2003, 04:10 PM

sebring

03-25-2003, 04:13 PM

Originally posted by Alistar
Handago still only requires am e-mail address you don't actually have to sign up, and I just a fake e-mail address or one I set up for junk mail such as this.

Actually, you don't even have to give Handango your email address, just download as guest and leave the boxes blank.

rob_squared

03-25-2003, 05:51 PM

For any email addresses I enter you@fellfor.it

Works every time.

*Jive Turkey*

03-25-2003, 05:55 PM

Just came across this thread:

It's easy to overlook but it is there:

http://www.palmgear.com/privacy.cfm

at the bottom of the homepage.

cbulock

03-26-2003, 02:39 AM

Originally posted by *Jive Turkey*
Just came across this thread:

It's easy to overlook but it is there:

http://www.palmgear.com/privacy.cfm

at the bottom of the homepage.

Easily overlooked, or just recenlty added?

yorrick

03-26-2003, 03:04 AM

I found that Palmgear requiring a login to download software was a stupid idea.

This is besides the fact that I do have a login to palmgear from previous purchases. However, there is no added value in having requiring a login for a download of a demo game - apart from having more trashy adverts flashed up on my screen (a huge put off on Handango ... and now - Palmgear)

I don't believe it is an issue of copyright for the website since the authors of the software either intended as freeware or shareware with their timeouts.

Palmgear seems to be getting more raspberries with logins, adverts that puts people off putting good stuff on the web site.

aem2kcivicsi

03-26-2003, 08:01 AM

im finding myself going to that sight less and less, havent downloaded anything since the whole password deal though

sebring

03-26-2003, 08:15 AM

I just fed them a pile of BS and it's back to functioning as it did before.

Willber-Force

03-26-2003, 10:53 AM

PalmGear has effectively given me the motivation not to look for software there anymore. Why bother when there are plenty of other viable solutions?

Thumbs up to PalmGear!

boagie17

03-26-2003, 11:13 AM

Actually, when I wanted to download some Freeware Palmgear prompted me to enter my login again....but that page which loads half-arsed doesnt even work! I try to login but nada...zip...squat.

thenightfly42

03-26-2003, 11:15 AM

Originally posted by Willber-Force
Why bother when there are plenty of other viable solutions?
Please, tell us more. I find Handango to be difficult to read, many people dislike FreewarePalm because it installs spyware through ActiveX.

There's also the downloads section of this page and the CliePlanet sites, but those only list speciality software that use the upper features of the Clie, and I want to see everything.

So, what else do you use?

T1000X

03-26-2003, 02:55 PM

What are some alternatives to Palmgear and Handango? I've all but stopped buying and downloading stufff from Palmgear before they required registering and I found Handango doesn't have the wider selection of Freeware that Palmgear has. But, I do like the shopping karts and store interface of Handango over Palmgear.

sebring

03-26-2003, 03:08 PM

You might try Tucows.com.

kidfixer

03-26-2003, 03:12 PM

how about the little clause:

...From time to time, we may use customer information for new, unanticipated uses not previously disclosed in our privacy notice...If you are concerned about how your information is used, you should check back at our Web site periodically...

<P dir=ltr>They do give you the chance to opt out of their new customer information policies, but they do not tell you with what sort of time frame you have to do so, so they essentially can do whatever with your information and then say that it was presumably posted on their site one day then changed it back and you did not object to it on time.
 

sebring

03-26-2003, 03:49 PM

Originally posted by kidfixer
how about the little clause:

...From time to time, we may use customer information for new, unanticipated uses not previously disclosed in our privacy notice...If you are concerned about how your information is used, you should check back at our Web site periodically...

<P dir=ltr>They do give you the chance to opt out of their new customer information policies, but they do not tell you with what sort of time frame you have to do so, so they essentially can do whatever with your information and then say that it was presumably posted on their site one day then changed it back and you did not object to it on time.
 

That is the equivalent of NO PRIVACY POLICY. Actually, I opted out by simply feeding them nothing but BS. Although I am generally anal about telling the truth, I have no hesitation about lying to someone who demands information that I consider to be none of their business.

pusfarm

03-26-2003, 04:43 PM

Originally posted by thenightfly42
...many people dislike FreewarePalm because it installs spyware through ActiveX. That's more than a little spooky.  Do you have more info on this?  If my security settings are to deny or prompt for ActiveX components then I should be OK... right?

Willber-Force

03-26-2003, 05:52 PM

Originally posted by T1000X
What are some alternatives to Palmgear and Handango? I've all but stopped buying and downloading stufff from Palmgear before they required registering and I found Handango doesn't have the wider selection of Freeware that Palmgear has. But, I do like the shopping karts and store interface of Handango over Palmgear.

Most of the time I just Google it if I know the name of the software. The developer is almost always on the first page. I prefer downloading from the developer anyway, it ensures that I have the most current version and information.

Palmgear is at most a search engine for palm software now. And I think I have heard that others feel the same way.

iebnn

03-26-2003, 05:53 PM

What's the big problem? Just enter in fake information and you're all set.

Willber-Force

03-26-2003, 07:09 PM

I reserve my right to protest corporate stupidity.

fjl307

03-27-2003, 05:28 PM

I take what I said in my previous post back!!! It's a bunch of BS....espescially when you can't ever log in again because you deleted your cookies :mad:

kdn102

03-27-2003, 05:49 PM

Damn, I blinked a millisecond too long! When did this crap happen????

The big problem is that some developers do not offer a non palmgear/handango way of registering! Be sure to email any developer like this and demand a way to pay them directly through paypal or some other online source.

Unregistered

03-28-2003, 06:53 PM

If you want to download from Palmgear without logging in just right click on the "StreamLink" icon, click on "save tatget as" and change the pgz extension to zip.....