WinZip app for Windows 8 now free. Update: Not
One of the first apps to land in Windows Store that allowed you to unpack archives was WinZip, and like the desktop application it was not available free of charge. What users received in return for the $7.99 they had to pay to purchase the application? Support for the creation and extraction of zip and zipx archives, options to save and load archives from and to the PC, Dropbox, SkyDrive and Google Drive. That's about it and it seems that many users felt that it was not enough to justify the price, especially since Windows 8 supports the extraction and creation of zip archives natively (but not the creation ).
There was simply no reason for Windows 8 or Windows 8 Pro users to pay for the app as they could easily download and install a superior alternative such as 7-Zip. Windows RT users on the other hand have alternatives available in the form of apps like MetroZipFiles or Unpacker which are both free and offer at least a similar functionality.
The WinZip application for Windows 8 has been turned into a free to download and use app as of today. While it is not clear why the company made the decision to remove the price tag from the app, it is likely that the lukewarm reception has something to do with it.
The majority of reviewers complained about the lack of functionality the app provided. This included that it only supports zip and zipx archives and no other archive format, and that the application in general did not really offer that much more than the integrated zip tool of Windows.
So what can you use the application for? When you start it up you are presented with a nearly blank interface. A right-click displays the bottom toolbar that you can use to add files or folders to a new archive you want to create, or load archives that you want to extract on the system (from the PC, Dropbox, SkyDrive or Google Drive).
Here you can also use ZipSend and ZipShare, two native features to send archives or share files on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn, or to save contents to the local system.
You can furthermore open the Share Charm to share an archive via supported applications.
Verdict
It is definitely one of the better free apps. Especially the choice of colors, fonts and the overall appeal and design needs to be mentioned in this regard. As a free application, it may be worth the installation, especially for users on Windows RT who have to work with zip archives regularly.
Update: Turns out that the Winzip app is not free after all. It appears that it is free to try for 15 days and then available for a subscription fee of $7.99 per year. Windows Store does not appear to differentiate between the two offer types.
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Uhh, this has already been possible – I am not sure how but remember my brother telling me about it. I’m not a whatsapp user so not sure of the specifics, but something about sending the image as a file and somehow bypassing the default compression settings that are applied to inbound photos.
He has also used this to share movies to whatsapp groups, and files 1Gb+.
Like I said, I never used whatsapp, but I know 100% this isn’t a “brand new feature”, my brother literally showed me him doing it, like… 5 months ago?
Martin, what happened to those: 12 Comments (https://www.ghacks.net/chatgpt-gets-schooled-by-princeton-university/#comments). Is there a specific justifiable reason why they were deleted?
Hmm, it looks like the gHacks website database is faulty, and not populating threads with their relevant cosponsoring posts.
The page on ghacks this is on represents the best of why it has become so worthless, fill of click-bait junk that it’s about to be deleted from my ‘daily reads’.
It’s really like “Press Release as re-written by some d*ck for clicks…poorly.” And the subjects are laughable. Can’t wait for “How to search for files on Windows”.
> The page on ghacks this is on represents the best of why it has become so worthless, fill of click-bait junk…
Sadly, I have to agree.
Only Martin and Ashwin are worth subscribing to.
Especially Emre Çitak and Shaun are the worst ones.
If ghacks.net intended “Clickbait”, it would mark the end of Ghacks Technology News.
Ghacks doesn’t need crappy clickbaits. Clearly separate articles from newer authors (perhaps AIs and external sales person or external advertising man) as just “Advertisements”!
We, the subscribers of Ghacks, urge Martin to make a decision.
because nevermore wants to “monetize” on every aspect of human life…
“Threads” is like the Walmart of Social Media.
How hard can it be to clone a twitter version of that as well? They’re slow.
Yes, why not mention how large the HD files can be?
Why, not mention what version of WhatsApp is needed?
These omissions make the article feel so bare. If not complete.
Sorry posted on the wrong page.
such a long article for such a simple matter. Worthless article ! waste of time
I already do this by attaching them via the ‘Document’ option.
I don’t know what’s going on here at Ghacks but it’s obvious that something is broken, comments are being mixed whatever the article, I am unable to find some of my later posts neither. :S
Quoting the article,
“As users gain popularity, the value of their tokens may increase, allowing investors to reap rewards.”
Besides, beyond the thrill and privacy risks or not, the point is to know how you gain popularity, be it on social sites as everywhere in life. Is it by being authentic, by remaining faithful to ourselves or is it to have this particular skill which is to understand what a majority likes, just like politicians, those who’d deny to the maximum extent compatible with their ideological partnership, in order to grab as many of the voters they can?
I see the very concept of this Friend.tech as unhealthy, propagating what is already an increasing flaw : the quest for fame. I won’t be the only one to count himself out, definitely.
@John G. is right : my comment was posted on [https://www.ghacks.net/2023/08/23/what-is-friend-tech/] and it appears there but as well here at [https://www.ghacks.net/2023/07/08/how-to-follow-everyone-on-threads/]
This has been lasting for several days. Fix it or at least provide some explanations if you don’t mind.
> Google Chrome is following in Safari’s footsteps by introducing a new feature that allows users to move the Chrome address bar to the bottom of the screen, enhancing user accessibility and interaction.
Firefox did this long before Safari.
Basically they’ll do anything except fair royalties.