Softpedia: Difference between revisions
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==Criticism== |
==Criticism== |
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Softpedia has been accused of using a technique referred to as "Disguised Ads"<ref>[http://darkpatterns.org/disguised_ads Naming and shaming sites that use black hat, anti-usability design patterns - "Disguised-Ads"]</ref> to drive advertisement clicks from site visitors by making the most prominent features on the download page advertisements and not the application/file the site visitor was attempting to locate |
Softpedia has been accused of using a technique referred to as "Disguised Ads"<ref>[http://darkpatterns.org/disguised_ads Naming and shaming sites that use black hat, anti-usability design patterns - "Disguised-Ads"]</ref> to drive advertisement clicks from site visitors by making the most prominent features on the download page advertisements and not the application/file the site visitor was attempting to locate. |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 14:39, 6 December 2010
| File:Softpedialogo.png | |
| File:Softpedia.png Screenshot of Softpedia.com | |
Type of site | Software Index |
|---|---|
| Available in | English & Spanish |
| Owner | Cătălin Gârmacea & Bogdan Gheorghe |
| URL | Softpedia.com |
Softpedia is an Internet web site that indexes information and provides software downloads. The site also covers major technology, science, health, and entertainment news from both external and in-house sources and provides software and game reviews. As of December 2008[update], it is one of the top 500 websites according to Alexa traffic rankings,[1] and the 10th most visited site by Romanians.[2] The site was originally known as Softnews.ro, but was changed to Softpedia near the end of 2003.
Software categories are arranged hierarchically and are modeled after Windows filesystem paths, such as "C: \ Mobile Phone Tools \ Sony Ericsson". Users can sort by criteria such as the date of the last update, the number of downloads, or the rating. There are three viewing modes, normal, freeware, or shareware, allowing users to screen out certain types of software.[3] As of May 2010, some sections of the site are also available in Spanish.
Malware testing
According to Softpedia, all software products and games they list are thoroughly tested. To check each one for evidence of viruses, malware, adware or spyware a variety of well known antivirus and antispyware products are used. Programs which Softpedia finds to be free of viruses, malware, adware, and spyware are given its "100% Clean" award; programs which are also freeware or open source are given Softpedia's "100% Free" award.[4]
Statistics
As of November 24, 2010:
- Number of applications indexed: 844,960
- Total number of downloads: 1,668,501,109
Criticism
Softpedia has been accused of using a technique referred to as "Disguised Ads"[5] to drive advertisement clicks from site visitors by making the most prominent features on the download page advertisements and not the application/file the site visitor was attempting to locate.
References
- ^ "SoftPedia.com". Alexa. 2010. Retrieved 2010-09-21.
- ^ "Top Sites in Romania". Alexa. 2009. Retrieved 2009-12-25.
- ^ Kraynak, Joe (2005-08-29). Que's Official Internet Yellow Pages, 2006 Edition. Que Publishing. p. 202. ISBN 0-7897-3408-7.
- ^ Softpedia's licensing for freeware/ open source
- ^ Naming and shaming sites that use black hat, anti-usability design patterns - "Disguised-Ads"