I tried it and I am 100% disappointed with it. It promises "advanced learning technologies", while instead it is nothing but a quiz collection, a sort of linguistic Trivial Pursuit. I can better improve my English by reading Herald Tribune with a Thesaurus at hands and at least I keep myself up to date about economy. I rather expected a revolutionary learning method, possibly based on word roots or on links between semantically connected words, or other methods easily implementable by a piece of software. This Lango Max is not worth 25 Usd, not even 50 MB of disk space!

#1 - Your point is met by many readers, who give you thumb up (343+)...

I do disagree in some of your statement... for some people it´s the best way to learn, but none would ever be better than the program itself, that fact is 100% true. So when the developer don´t use an expertsystem in the program then can´t the program do more than said.

#24, clf-kent -- Seems like a fair number of other people commented "without even having installed the software." It doesn't SEEM, from the reaction (an apparently record-breaking 345 positive clicks, and counting), that it wasted anyone's time -- rather, it probably SAVED a lot of people's time.

Normally, I would be the first to agree with you -- you probably can't say much about a programme you "haven't even tried." But when you've been around a while, and you see the mistakes, and read the outlandish claims, it doesn't take a Ph.D. to know that it probably isn't worth downloading, let alone installing.

And you missed the real point -- it was also a VERY CLEAR message (judging by the number of +'ve clicks) to GAOTD that they are losing touch with their "clientele" if they are going to continue to put up stuff that leaves the vast majority of us (74% IS the "vast majority") COLD.

I rest my case.

@GrammarPolice must be practicing his English as a second language, because, to begin with, at least, subjects do not improve, only our skills in those subjects.

There's more, but this is about FREE Programs.

Have downloaded many hundreds of programs here, and thoroughly agree with Comment #1. Thanks to GOTD, we get to sample so many programs we otherwise would probably not bother with, and they cannot all be winners. So, thank you, GOTD.

@AristotleChristie:
"Thus 'they' becomes the pronoun of preference when frequenting transgender, transexual, transvestite and other Adult clubs or pubs on both sides of the Pond.

Harry Wacker: Sorry to say, but 'Youare the weakest link! Goodbye!' "

.


Regret to admit I've never had occasion to visit any transsexual or transvestite clubs or pubs.

Perhaps I should spend more time on your side of the pond?

I aint done yet have used this cause I am going to download it now and test the reults and see if it as bad as everyone is sayin

English, British, Aussie... What is this bigotry? Let us hate everyone equally

This is obviously a UK website, so Americans are outnumbered here. I am an American, but I respect all people.

It is so annoying when so many of you get on here and bash GOTD and/or each other.

It seems like most of those posting are having a bad day.

I come here for the usually intelligent discussions going on between those who actually know something about software. The whining and bashing is unnecessary. Please learn to respect one another here instead hurling insults.

In the words of the late John Lennon, "Give Peace A Chance".

A no vote for the #1 poster gives it a plus, so that is somehow corrupt or manipulated in some way. Inaccurate count to say the least. Sad that this place has come to this.

proper English is from England not America may as well teach slang as this program teaches wrong spelling which makes it worth nothing

I couldn't make Column Matching to work. =(

Whoever wrote this program had a good idea. . . however, when they programed it, they missed the boat. Putting in a password each time you want to use the program is kind of lame since most people are using their own computer and you can create multiple profiles so that if you are sharing a computer, the user can be easily changed without the need for high security measures. It isn't like it is my bank account after all.

The sentences are awkward in many cases and the definitions don't really fit the usage in many cases. This program could have been great for those needing to learn English, study for SATs or other vocabulary tests but in my opinion it is a complete fail. Uninstalling after 900 minutes of using it.

To #34 GreenyEyed Newbie
Would you please explain just what the hell you are talking about.
if you are going to lecture on grammar you may wish to NOT split infinitives and NOT use bad metaphors. Last time I looked osmosis was the process of liquid being absorbed into solids.
Fenceposts absorbing grammar buy osmosis, ebonism and fingers across a blackboard is just what it appears... nonsense.

Hi, when I first saw the Tile of Today's Software "LongoMax Adult Advantage".., I had to blink my eyes few times and thought - no, surely not "our" Max (I live in UK) getting into new Pastures at his ripe old age..?

Please read this to see where I'm coming from: "Max Bygraves OBE (born 16 October 1922 in Rotherhithe, London as Walter William Bygraves) is an English comedian, singer, actor and variety performer (...) For many years Max, his wife, and his son Anthony lived in the Alum Chine area of Bournemouth. Whilst living there he noticed a guest house named "LingaLonga" and from this got the idea for his series of "SingaLonga" albums.
In UK he is known as Linga Longa Max, old Cockney gentleman, who at one stage was "into everything".., lol.
See what I mean?:)

OK, joke then, I know. But as entertaining as it all is (especially Comments, Title connotations and.. passions:) - I personally take slightly different approach to languages, their diversity and beauty and never rely on ONE Package alone, it would not satisfy me, I'm too picky.. I think using (or more appropriate here - not using) Software such as Today's Gigveaway is probably a matter of habits? I will stick to "rummage and raid" on Google when doing words research and I truly don't mind visiting many, many Sites I would not know about otherwise. It's fun (urban, slang, dialects, all sorts of fantastic Language Dictionaries and.. Lingo-related Adventures!) and I wouldn't change it for the world.
Thanks GAOTD and LongaMax, not for me personally.

No 60 internetexplorer, asked for Giovanni, or better for freebies,
a lot can be done online but I had some collection on XP, guess most are updated for Win7 now:

BRW:I remember Reader’s Digest feature

http://www.wartoft.nu/software/ on the right Selingua - freeware
http://download.cnet.com/Polyglot-Azeri-Dictionaries/3000-2279_4-10448625.html polyglot-free
http://www.freelang.net/dictionary/latin.php freelang free classic Latin
http://www.byki.com/ different languages, free express version
http://www.transparent.com/language-resources/free-software.html byki and more
http://fishcodelib.com/ DICTIONARY.net and Vocabulary.net
http://download.cnet.com/Lyricmaker/3000-2133_4-10118323.html?tag=mncol;1 for Rhyme and poetry
http://bryantmcgill.com/verseperfect/?source=update with Hyperbolic Thesaurus
http://ptf.com/multicon/multicon+english+2+hindi/
http://www.fileguru.com/apps/multicon_english_to_hindi I myself have only demo version

http://www.eiktub.com/download.html Arabic transliteration
http://urdu.wordinn.com/home wordinn urdu

http://gonaomi.com/ online and downloads many languages
http://www.1morepeat.com/ learn Chinese with speech -lite version free
http://ww2.euroasiasoftware.com/ Chinese and English etc German Spanish
http://download.cnet.com/Chinese-Homework-Trainer/3000-2279_4-10566782.html
http://www.mdbg.net/chindict/chindict.php?page=cc-cedict more chinese
http://www.njstar.com/cms/products

LangoMax Adult Advantage is really, really.. really.... good.

What's with all the nit picking?
Sure..LangoMax Adult Advantage still needs further improvement, so I reckon the devs will be thrilled reading some of the useful comments here.
All in all a neat giveaway that comes with a 2.262 words vocabulary.
Some of the other editions might prove to be interesting too.
Thanks.

Thanks GAOTD. This kind of software is the kind I like... free learning! Cheers

I had problems leaving feedback today! First the Feedback widgit threw repeated script errors. Then after what seemed (to me) a well crafted comment (complete with markups) the submit button told me my e-mail address was invalid and erased everything I had typed aarrgghh. So this will be a simplified version of my previous attempt!

Overall: I find it a good program with some improvement needed in the interface.

-- tooltips or hints on the interface items would have been nice. E.g.:
-- there is unusual use of +/- for window expand contract, in a way that was unobvious until I experimented. A hint on hover would have helped
-- It took me a while to get the hang of the column matching. a short explanation of the drag and drop specifics (i.e. left to right dragging only) could have prevented my confusion. as would making the drag and drop interface symetrical)

I've only played with it a little but so far it's a keeper!
I don't understand all the griping and sniping.
--It installed and ran fine on my Win7-64.
-- Re: The dreaded email address requirement (peraonally I don't find it onerous) probably could have been satisfied with any dummy adddress of propoer syntax
-- why all the griping about dialects and spelling??? As an american (USA) I don't care if it's "color" or "colour", Brit, Canadian, Aussie or Yankee. I didn't get asked to spell anything! Haven't we all realized that not all anglophones speak or write "the Kings English?" Look at all the variations in the UK alone! Enough whining already!

Thanks to GOTD and LingoMax, ---Chuck Brotman
P.S. I agree that the name "Adult Advantage" might not be the wisest choice - it does have "certain overtones"

#1 Tranmontane - I cannot understand how anyone can evaluate a programme without trying it out. As for the people who think the the comments of Tranmontane are useful, The best discription I can give them are "Lemmings" !! I downloaded the programme and found it somewhat entertaining. A keeper for a rainy day.

Anybody who does not have English as their first language and is thinking that this programme will expand their vocabulary is in for a shock if they ever try to use what they have learnt from this software.
Buy a good dictionary/thesaurus

I'm not a native speaker, but like others I dislike adobe, so I will not download the program. However I would like to thank the writers as it introduced the discussion regarding the singular they. It made me curious to look further into it. A great write up with examples on singular they pro's and con's with different viewpoints can be found on wikipedia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singular_they

happy reading

This isn't software that I need or want, but it's still nice to see GotD branching out into new kinds of software, offering something that's not just another DVD-ripper.

Apart from all the other errors (in the program and in opinions on English (Bommer: he's meaning in your war against the British; the WoI)), perhaps we could from now on agree that gerunds are not yet dead: it is, in fact, a 'spelling checker'. A checker of spelling.

All the arguments over British English and American English are pointless, just wait for the Chinese edition because that's what we are all going to be speaking soon. Hope they improve the software by then.

#9 #18 #21 and #32
I am amused that there is a wordplay here. All others who say that the program should be renamed could also suggest "Word Advantage" but I'll bet buttons on toenails that some competitor is using it already. As for the "error". (#32 I didn't download this because I use too many words already).

The suggestions was (ABOUT) but it could also be: (OF), (REGARDING), (CONCERNING), among others perhaps that I don't think of or know. The software shouldn't have a password. What is it protecting? Words?

In the words of the Bee Gees, "It's only words, and words are all I have....."

Cheers!

Haha, I so agree with Chrissy(60). If the program itself is as much fun as the comments it's inspired it's worth having. Had a great time reading and rating all the bitching above- magic!! Thanka GOTD and the contributers :)

#61 - Aussies speak a slang of what the British speak. Americans also speak a slang of what the British speak, except we refine it to one of the most understandable dialects in the world. Its called English because thats what our founders spoke. I have no idea how "a spell checker" has anything to do with talking. If anything thats the only way to understand an Aussie. (BTW - you used "the" twice in your first sentence. A spell checker would have helped you spot that.) If history serves me right, it was America that saved France in 2 world wars. We aren't arrogent BTW, we are superior! 97% of everything you come in contact with was invesnted by Americans. If it wasn't for our country, you'd be blowing on a Didgeridoo from a cave looking for a wife!

@#1 most yes votes ever????

http://dynamo.dictionary.com/ is an online site that has tests for vocabulary.

For people who want to use a good spell checker, try (free) "WebWord". The later versions also will pronounce words in UK and US English.

The main problem I've seen on various forums is not lack of correct English as much as lack of spelling ability and/or not even using a spell checker.

All the semantic quibbling reminds me of a Winston Churchill quotation responding to criticism of him for ending sentences with a preposition (I think I have it right anyway, so here goes): UP WITH SUCH ARRANT PEDANTRY I WILL NOT PUT.

#53 A lot output from the the US now has the phrase "do you speak American?" So, if the US now believes that they have their (plural) own language; why reference ENGLISH at all? After all, why should the "English" adopt "American"? I am an Aussie and quite happily accept that my dialect is not "ENGLISH" as known in ENGLAND! I really think that you are the snob and not the pommy bastards who simply want to speak ENGLISH and not AMERICAN, or my Aussie dialect!

Grow up and appreciate diversity...duh (an INTELLIGENT word introduced by the American language).

P.S. If you (Americans) didn't have spell checkers, no one would understand you! Even the French are less arrogant and at least they some history, they even saved America in the past.

LOL - cable

What entertaining comments which have really fired up my appetite to see this programme (sorry - 'program') for myself.
Keep 'em (the comments) coming you guys, it all makes a great read.
Thanks GAOTD

Where's Giovanni? After going through the above, I feel the need for some freeware alternatives. Anybody else have any of them today? Need something to offset all the negativity starting with comment #1.

As an aside, I remember Reader's Digest feature called "It Pays to Increase Your Word Power." Wonder if it's still available? In response to the obvious question, I meant the feature not the magazine.

Nice little piece of software, but I agree with 51 mathymarge; the developers desperately need to confer with cunning linguists and erudite English majors. Perhaps Garrison Keiller might be available.

@10 Harry Wacker, 15 Grammar Police, 34 GreeneyedNewbie, 38 Flash, 53 Melika and the rest of us who are sufficiently anal-retentive to care:

The online versions of The Cambridge British English Dictionary, Cambridge American English Dictionary, Merriam Webster Dictionary and the Oxford Dictionary all agree the use of “they” in the singular is properly used to refer to a person of unspecified, unknown or indeterminable gender. This is not a recent evolution in the use of the term; my Webster's from the 50's concurs as well.

Thus “they” becomes the pronoun of preference when frequenting transgender, transexual, transvestite and other Adult clubs or pubs on both sides of the Pond.

10 Points to Gryffindor

Harry Wacker: Sorry to say, but "You are the weakest link! Goodbye!"

I don't care whether one speaks American English or "English" English or "Programers English" <---- (arrgh). The core concept here is to test and build the users vocabulary skills. The comment @ 42 has a point. This program ultimately fails it's overall goal if it does a poor job of properly expanding the user vocabulary by giving poorly matched answers. When questioning the user on a word, a corresponding and near to exact simile should be offered amongst the answers.

Ex: COMPLIMENT == ENHANCE

I am not an English Teacher, in fact I have come to speak a sloppy form of "Programmer's English" <---- (arrgh), but even I know enough to understand that this program misses it,s mark. I guess this one is a no go. I think it would just irrigate me. <---- (piss me off), to learn English definitions from such a poor teacher. Thanks... but no thanks. It's a shame too, the basic concept is valuable and would be welcomed if the overall program execution was better. Even better yet, would be a software to help expand our acronym vocabulary. I am still a student in the arena of geek speak. Maybe a computer edition, a military edition, and a medical edition of such an acronym knowledge building program might be of value to these 3 niche markets. See ya'll tomorrow GAOTD community. God Bless...

excellent software, do not understand why so many reviews, thumbs up to with praise. approved.

This sounds like those "Language Academies" offering to make you proficient in English in just 6 weeks. Ha!

For those who don't know, posthumous is a synonym for postmortem. Postmortem simply means occuring after death.

Managed to run on Windows7 64 bit, but once closed down, how do you open the program up again?
Can't find LangoMax listed in programs. No shortcuts either.
A search only takes me back to the original zip file from Giveaway of the Day.
Answers would be very much appreciated.
Looks interesting software from the short time I've used it.

@ comment 15: Actually, you are wrong and comment #10 is right. "Their" is the plural form of possession. Thanks to political correctness, it has become common usage to use "their" instead of "his" or "hers". So the company should either pick a single gender of possession or change "child" to "children".


To all you Brits whining about the American spelling: this is an American company with American English. We have a culture, a language, and (presumably) borders, just like every other nation in the world. I understand Brit spelling/grammar and I accept it from Brit companies with no problems. Why don't you try practicing not being such snobbish bigots and and accepted ours.

42, I had no idea "companion" could be used as verb. It still seems off. Maybe it refers to opposites attracting. Perhaps "extend" is the right answer, as each makes greater the flavor of the other. Which is correct?

I like the software. One might need to have http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary up, as the program is a review and not a course.

I don't mind errors. Mistake happen. I enjoy correcting slips in literature. I've even printed out emendations and pasted them in books.

Instead of bickering about British or US English -( do not know whose haughtiness is the most disgusting)-
and discussing hair-splitting semantics (with or without hyphen), let us, please, come to the program itself!
agreed- name and title is not a good choice
program needs improvement:
multiple choices examples:
1.At birth, she was ABANDONED by her mother
Bail out (grammatically: bailed out, but not right here, mother bailed out-negative action, but did not bail out her daughter,
which would be a positive action
Awkward
Saying
Wrong (wronged , yes the child was wronged, but this is NOT the correct answer
Clever

2.He had problems with personal HYGIENE. (noun)
Adduce
Health (suggest) cleanliness
Abate
Order (problems with hygiene are also problems with order, not necessary with health; not hygienic is out of order
Perambulator

This program is a good attempt, but obviously needs much more input from linguists
it has been mentioned that the program is probably written in C++,
but you cannot construe it without expertise in languages, in the same sense that you could not write a music notation program without muscians or a serious graphics/ cad program without engineers or people who are likely to use it --
before getting on too high a horse, if your language is ONLY WHATEVER ENGLISH -take note!
even the closely related language "German" has words like 'Gericht' which could mean meal(not flour), recepy, menu, or court(of law)- not (back)yard (or length) or court of monarch
A (Brit) mobile is a (US) cell phone and in German: ein Handy-
German words in Eastern Europe often totally differ from their original meanings
the Spanish in Spain is different from the Spanish in Mexico or Argentina- you English speakers are so exclusive, you think!!
language lives or dies out
look at Gaelic or Erse, with totally different grammatical structures from English, still spoken in parts of Scotland or Ireland, maybe even Nova Scotia, not so far away!
So, do not laugh at the seemingly funny selections of muliple choice, these choices might make sense if you come from a Chinese, Japanese or Indian language! You native English speakers do not know, or do you? The program is aimed at people who are learning a second or third language-
even in French the word 'eighty' is 4x 20 or fourtwenties =quatre-vingts , you have to understand how the language is constructed!
So, my advice to the developer is : get a consortium together, people from different language backgrounds, also compile a wee help file, especially for the column matching,
most of all: Do not be put off or perturbed by some people who most probably have never even tried to master ANY language

Uninstalled. Refuse to install Adobe Air.
Don't depend on this to improve your English.

To improve your English, read:
The Spectator. http://www.spectator.co.uk/
The Economist http://www.economist.com/
and archives of the now defunct The Listener http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/mar/31/bbc-online-archive-the-listener-magazine

Hey - This is a neat product. Installed fine on XP64b. Took a minute to figure out how each section worked, but I learned some new words (BTW I read a lot and went to college). I intend to tell others about it and intend to use it every day. I am sure it is not perfect but it is a keeper for me. I do not understand some of these other comments; no problem installing (took a while to load) and prolly some errors but prolly minor.

I loved it. It was addictive at first and much more fun then any game that comes on the internet. I would recommend just for playing around with words.
Whats the big deal about giving your email to the company. You do and most likely have a spam killer anyhow. I dont know anyone that does not get a little spam eva so often.
Jacuzzi time.!!

Developers: your program implies it will create a conversational advantage, yet it 40 comments there are multiple mistakes detailed; even the fact that you do not even address the differences between American and British English (Color vs. colour, etc.)speaks to the inappropriateness of your goals. You cannot have a single mistake in your program, or the "advantage" crumbles. As an American reader/writer, I will tell you "adult" as a label implies SEX, period. Personally I would be more interested in a program designed to promote values, rather than personal advantage, given the state of the world! Read the other comments carefully, they will help you. I also personally will not download a program whose title alone made me laugh out loud.

If I were to download this and my mom saw the file name I wouldn't have my laptop for much longer. Someone within their company needs this program and a pink slip.

Interesting software.

CONS:
- Cannot go back to correct or give a different answer. If the previous one was wrong, no hint as to why, like a definition
- Multiple choices are dumb. If there were levels (I'm saying that because I don't how long I'll be stuck at level 0, as there's no possibility to change the level), choices could be more subtle, with more than one synonym.
What about "BIODEGRADABLE plastic is friendly to the environment" ---> "Eco-friendly plastic is friendly to the environment". Makes the word friendly appears 2 times in what has become a plain uneducated and idiotic sentence (not taking into account that plastic is an industrial oil by-product thus not friendly at all to the environment)!
- "Authentic" cannot be replaced by "reliable". I'm not a native English person, but I can do better than that. Did the authors got help from a linguist or an English teacher (for foreigners, e.g) ?
- Simple words only, no expression of very frequent usage (like turn + out/in/off).
- Product name is plain stupid (already mentioned but I feel it must be repeated)
- Spelling mistakes or typos or else. Example: "The poem has a REFRAIN i."
- No options to disable the sound. No option to have a visual signal instead. Luckily, sound files can be modified: they're MP3s.

TO BE IMPROVED:
- Options for written English: UK or US
- Options for pronunciation: Australia, Texas, Scotland, Ireland. Depending on the country where it's spoken English is sometimes not understandable. Also, pronunciation for all the words given in multiple choices. And, please, tell us which accent the woman's voice has.

This said, I recommended a friend to try this product because I think it's not bad at all and he could benefit from it.

Thanks GOTD and Langomax for offering an original but very imperfect product.