Been using Alomware for a while now on the free tier, and it seems there's an update to the app every week or two. It's kind of annoying and I can't turn off updates because I'm not a paid user. Why do you have so many?
Hi Xoannon. AlomWare Toolbox is regularly updated because we "dogfood (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eating_your_own_dog_food)" our products (ie. use it ourselves). This means we often add new things that we'd like it to do (like the recent firewall function (https://www.alomware.com/forum/index.php?topic=85.0)), or find unexpected bugs that need fixing. It's good practice for a company to actively maintain their software and not just leave it to rot. Paid users get the option to not have update checks, so you could explore that option (maybe our $12/year tier).
Regular updates for software is a good thing, Xoannon. Toolbox just keeps getting better and better with each one. Like Paul said, I highly recommend you pay for a license to avoid the checks if they bother you that much. It's worth it. I had no regrets paying for Toolbox because I know I'll be using it for years. It's that good.
Hi again. I understand why updates are done now. Just wish I could stop the app checking for them every day.
Sorry Xoannon, but that benefit is reserved for those who support us with a paid unlock code.
BTW, our updates are always quality updates, and not just generic bug fixes with no explanation (like some other companies do, to fake an update). For example, here's what's coming in the next release (hopefully this Sunday). As you can see, AlomWare Toolbox's updates are always meaningful and bring new value to the table each time. :)
- Bug fix: The "Action: Repeat this block" steps were not being selected when "Select block/routine" was chosen.
- Bug fix: For the middle mouse button not showing the Power menu on UWP apps (you had to click close to the top of it).
- Major enhancement: You can now right-click an action's block or routine to collapse (fold) it, to hide/show the steps inside it.
- Enhancement: After filtering a list (such as the Clipboard list), the list now gets the keyboard focus after the filter is applied.
- Enhancement: Using the "Action Wizard" function to save window states (all or current) no longer includes any of AlomWare Toolbox's windows, and now also includes each sound volume level for the window(s).
- Enhancement: The "Window: Put inside other window" step now accepts "none" to specified, to take the assigned window back out of the other window that it was previously placed into.
- Addition: New automation step called "Window: Open 'Properties' dialog", which opens the 'Properties' dialog for the assigned window's executable file.
- Addition: New Power menu item called "Properties > Open 'Properties' dialog", which opens the 'Properties' dialog for the active window's executable file.
- Addition: New variable called "upcoming$", which holds the next five reminder/task items in the "Calendar" tab. This variable means you can now see these upcoming events without opening AlomWare Toolbox's window, by using the variable in an alert message or some other custom display method.
- Addition: New default action called "Toolbox\Find screenshot by OCR", which lets you filter screenshots by the specified text in them. You can add this action to your existing Toolbox folder by clicking the "Action Wizard" button in the "Automation" tab and then selecting "Add default actions" from the pop-up menu. Alternatively, you can add it manually as shown in our forum post here: https://www.alomware.com/forum/index.php?topic=86.0
- Maintenance: Other miscellaneous internal bug and stability fixes, code optimisations, and cosmetic text changes.
Another update today. :(
Yes; they're not going to stop. AlomWare Toolbox is an actively-developed app, as already stated. Please buy an unlock code (https://www.alomware.com/payment.html) if you want the ability to never check for updates.
Don't worry about him, Paul. I for one love the constant updates and dedication.
There's been no updates for a while now. Xoannon must be happy. ;D
Very funny, Bazza. :) There hasn't been an update since May 23 now, which is very unusual. Hope everything is okay. Or maybe my complaint has made them slow down? :-\
Lots of updates going on at the moment, as well as dealing with the issue of piracy. :(
Quote from: Paul (Lead Developer) on August 02, 2026, 12:27:22 PMLots of updates going on at the moment, as well as dealing with the issue of piracy. :(
Piracy? Oh no, dealing with that's got to be a challenge. You going to redo the registration stuff, or is there a less drastic option?
Not sure at the moment. I don't want to require online activation checks, but I can't see any other way. It costs me $10 in PayPal penalty fees when someone disputes their payment after getting their code, so they get the app for free and I have to refund their purchase + $10 penalty. :(
Quote from: Paul (Lead Developer) on August 03, 2026, 08:51:15 PMIt costs me $10 in PayPal penalty fees when someone disputes their payment after getting their code, so they get the app for free and I have to refund their purchase + $10 penalty. :(
Yeah, that's rough. And without an online check, there's no way to invalidate the issued code, although you could probably invalidate known pirate codes for versions later than the one the code was issued at. Maybe that's a halfway house?
Already been doing that for a while. Banned codes are inside each update, so pirates can only use the version they illegally gained and not any later versions. But even that bothers me a lot, because they shouldn't be permitted to use it at all.
One idea I'm considering is to issue a temp one-year unlock code at the user's first purchase, then auto-issue the actual permanent one after that period. The buyer would be aware of and agreeing to this before purchasing. So if they get a refund from PayPal within that first year, their code only lasts for that time and then dies.
I guess that might help. Won't make the $10 out of pocket problem evaporate, though.
What a horrible way for people to behave.
I'd like to apologise on behalf of the whole of humanity for the extraordinary number of complete [removed to avoid frightening the horses] that exist.
Quote from: oblivion on August 06, 2026, 12:40:17 AMWon't make the $10 out of pocket problem evaporate, though.
True. :( But maybe this can be mitigated by the app doing an online activation check once a month for the first year after payment? After the year, the online checks can stop because PayPal doesn't refund after 180 days and the user has proven themselves to be honest. That sounds pretty good to me!
I'd be okay with an online activation check once a month. Most programs do that these days and everyone's online 24/7 anyway. In fact, I strongly recommend you do this if it means supporting the product and keeping it going. I've seen too many developers shut up shop because of piracy and I don't want yours to be next. :-\
I'd certainly be okay with that too. :)
Do it, Paul. Almost every Android app I have does an online check for validity. It's the expected norm these days. Stop making it easy for people to get your excellent tool for free.
I've decided it's going to do an online activation check at every app launch, instead of every month. So it the check passes at launch, the app won't check again until it's relaunched, which could be quite a while if the user never quits it. I'm fine with that because I tried a monthly check but there's false-positive checking issues if the PC is in standby mode or is shut down when the month changes. I've determined it's better just to check at launch.
Sounds great to me, Paul. I'm willing to beta-test that if you like (you have my email).
Quote from: Paul (Lead Developer) on August 29, 2026, 10:53:46 AMI've decided it's going to do an online activation check at every app launch, instead of every month. So it the check passes at launch, the app won't check again until it's relaunched, which could be quite a while if the user never quits it. I'm fine with that because I tried a monthly check but there's false-positive checking issues if the PC is in standby mode or is shut down when the month changes. I've determined it's better just to check at launch.
Only problem I can see is if the user's Internet is down, or flaky. I suppose they'll just have to live without Toolbox for the duration.
The app's free mode has been changed to an hour per launch now (for the next release), for indefinite relaunches. So if the user's internet is down, they can still use it in the free hourly blocks until it comes back. I will never totally lock paid users out of the app at any time. :) The check is only done at launch, so if their PC is running 24/7 then the app will never do another activation check after it first launches.
It's time that Toolbox took this proper online activation stance like other paid apps. I'm losing sales by not doing it, and tired of people disputing with PayPal to get refunded after they get their permanent unlock code. The dishonesty in the world disgusts me.
@GrahamB: Email sent. :) Make sure to test it with your PC in airplane mode at launch, and in normal mode.
Thanks for the test version. All good with my tests! Hope this solves your piracy issue. 8)
Quote from: Paul (Lead Developer) on August 30, 2026, 09:02:20 AMThe app's free mode has been changed to an hour per launch now (for the next release), for indefinite relaunches. So if the user's internet is down, they can still use it in the free hourly blocks until it comes back. I will never totally lock paid users out of the app at any time. :) The check is only done at launch, so if their PC is running 24/7 then the app will never do another activation check after it first launches.
It's time that Toolbox took this proper online activation stance like other paid apps. I'm losing sales by not doing it, and tired of people disputing with PayPal to get refunded after they get their permanent unlock code. The dishonesty in the world disgusts me.
OK, thanks!
I've heard of the 'PayPal refund' trick before, but only once, and hadn't realised it was so prevalent. Nasty.
Quote from: rjbull on September 01, 2026, 06:17:33 AMI've heard of the 'PayPal refund' trick before, but only once, and hadn't realised it was so prevalent. Nasty.
Yeah, it's bad. PayPal always sides with the buyer too, so I have to refund the buyer AND pay a PayPal dishonor fee. So the user basically gets the unlock code for free to use the app for life. :( Well, until now due to the activation check.