2nd follow up: after moaning that when I eventually received multiple licence emails overnight & the offer had expired, I was impressed by a personal email saying I could still use the licence. Despite the offer having expired I successfully licensed the produce. Well done. I haven't used the software yet, but, as I said, impressed with the follow up.

Not a mention today (July 31).
Zig

Follow up to earlier comment about no key: overnight I've received 8 key emails, but the offer has now expired! I withdraw my previous comments, & I may try this maker's software in the future, but their system does need sorting before their trying again.

i went to revised link and downloaded the program. but as soon as the program started it crashed and said it encountered an error etc. this second glitch will forever make me skeptical in downloading any of your programs in near future (engelmann)

Some last advice to users: The two installation methods seem to have now been partially fixed. I say partially, because after entering the key, a message of failure appeared, yet the program seems to be registered and working, so far at least.

Even if it continues to work, this is the most ineffective activation procedure I can remember. To put it mildly, the developer hasn’t made a good impression thru this offer. Yet, with a little preparation, all this could and should have been avoided.

Just for the heck of it I went to the site, downloaded the "Free" version, installed it (without even disabling my AV), and asked for the serial via the link on the site. Had to jump through a hoop and ask again per emailed instructions. Was sent another link which gave a serial. Entered said serial and it instantly worked!

I'm surprised.

Had some version of this a while back...wasn't too impressed and have stayed away from Engelmann products since.
Have had good luck with fotor...

https://www.fotor.com/windows/index.html

and PhotoScape...

https://www.techradar.com/reviews/photoscape-editor

Wasn't this publisher advised in advance when this program was to be offered? Why did it not prepare for the day? The appearance is some poorly planned registration system that frankly has fallen flat. Not a good way to make an impression on the users here. The sad part is after someone jumps through the hoops, installs and registers the program, they find they could do the same thing with the always free, portable Xnview.

I downloaded the program this afternoon over 7 hours ago and still have not received the activation code. I filled out the request form twice using both methods and still nothing back! I have also checked my junk folder and still nothing. It is now 11:00 PM EST and I am going to bed I have to get up early tomorrow morning. If I receive the activation code overnight can I still use it even though the time will have run out? I can not stay up all night waiting for it!
Not a very good first impression of SimplyGoodPictures.

Hi all it didn't work for me at first so downloaded again and it worked .

I followed the directions in the downloaded ZIP file from this page and it installed then registered fine. Total time, including back-and-forth website-to-emails (twice) took less than 10 minutes.

It automatically works somewhat subtly-to-strongly to enhance images with two sliders: one for "optimization" (appears to be sharpness and contrast/brightness black/white level), and one for colorization (perhaps an extra boost to hue). They worked acceptably (for me, on a few example images) as adjusted to the default settings.

I confirmed that the EXE file included in the ZIP file downloaded from GOTD, and the one downloaded per the link in the 2nd e-mail (with activation code) are identical, so I don't understand what is causing so many problems for others today now that the initial errors were cleared up hours ago.

For installation help, see the GOTD user forums at https://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/forum/6 ,

...and including this entry:

Installation tips; and dealing with tiny text, etc., on higher-DPI "4K" displays, https://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/467145

Hopefully you can achieve success with the tips mentioned there.

Ok I went through the circles you guys did. Got the serial finally in email. Course the program initially didn't want it. Tried again. Finally when ran shortcut (not even as admin either) I got the popup screen. Clicked the activation line there. Pasted Cntl-V serial into the code boxes. Message went from unregistered to Status: Licensed type: full version.
Ran it again, loaded bit faster. The two sliders moved to right. Looks like working now.
Maybe they fixed the checking server? Near 6pm ET.

But if I install as administrator from the corporate setup file, THEN RESTART THE COMPUTER, the program comes up, asks for password, which is then INVALID. Zig

Installed and registered flawlessly. Tried one jpeg (was already a fairly good pic), and there was slight improvement. I have used previous versions, and I'll keep it in my editing arsenal. It isn't an all-around image editor, and doesn't claim to be. If I need a full-fledged editor, I'll use Photoshop, or PSP, or Zoner, or On1, or Topaz, or PhotoDirector, or . . .,, all of which I own . This is meant to be a no-learning-curve tool, which many people need. Certainly it is limited in what it can do, but there are numerous always free image editors/viewers available if you need more, e.g., Photoscape, Xnview, Irfanview, etc.

I downloaded the free installer from the company's website (not a .zip file) and attempted to install; exact same result.
Zig

Sounds like a good program, but can't get it to work.

I have installed twice (2nd time as administrator), and HAVE gotten the serial number, but the program will not open, either from the install routine or the shortcut or directly from the program; also, the program size is only 1042 KB. What's up??
Zig

Install exe just gags in the initialization phase. Just sits there doing nothing - hung. I fainlly needed to use task manager to cancel it out.

I followed the link provided in the "Comment by Engelmann Software – 6 hours ago," and after jumping through the email signup and terms agreement hoops, got a serial key that worked first try. That said, I'm frankly not sure it's worth the effort. You have two choices after opening a photo to optimize: Auto-optimization on/off and Auto-Color on/off. If you turn off auto for either option, you get a simple slider for "strength of optimization/color." That's it. No other adjustments for either function. Just take the optimization/color algorithms as they are, even if a slight further hue or gamma adjustment, for example, might make the optimized image perfect. Oh, and clicking on "Edit" gets you Rotate Left/Right. That's it; no Mirror/Flip Horizontal or vertical, or Rotate 180°, or Select Angle... I've seen some simplistic, take-it-or-leave-it optimization apps before, but this one takes the cake for lack of useful options. There are many other free optimization apps out there (google it), both downloadable and Web-based, that provide more control over the process, and that work equally well in their auto modes. While it does work, its lack of fine-grain functionality means it does not earn a slot in my Start Menu. Uninstalled.

Yes it's a pain to register but it's worth it. For those without Photoshop experience I highly recommend this program.

I have waited all day because of the problems and now, 12 hours after the programme went live I downloaded it and sent for the key - nothing arrived. I then went to the website and again sent for the key - nothing. Since I had to agree to accepting their mail to "get the key" I am annoyed as this is not what Give Away of the Day should be about. This is just a marketing exercise to increase their database for little cost.

I am uninstalling and when the junk starts from Engelmann as I know it will I shall ensure I unsubscribe. Please do better next time!

Well after all the negatives below I nearly always give it a try - and sounded like a program I could use almost daily since I've got thousands of pix's I have to "fix"...........so tried........got as far as my virus pgm that stopped it in it's tracks ......typically I override it......not this time after 3 tries - so back to here and WOULDN'T YA KNOW.....it don't show XP.

Got a serial number but can't start the program. Uninstalled and reinstalled it twice, but still had the same problem. Won't start when run as administrator, either. Trashed it.

Received key via email but software said "Invalid" when entered. Entered again and got "There was no licence key requested".
Maybe 2nd message means program is activated? Appears to be working and seems to do a good job drawing out detail
from photo shadow areas.
Just annoying that this software does not confirm it has registered ok
Maybe Status = "Licence Type Full Version" is saying it is registered
and "There was no licence key requested" is also saying it is registered?

Finally got round to trying a monitored installation - and all I get is a 0x80072ee7 error and it aborts with a view log file option. The log file is about as cryptic as it gets but it seems to be something to do with a NET error - despite the fact it's Win 7 and NET 4.5 is installed.

The second time and the third time the program was installed, no code was asked.
The program was registered after a contact with the internet.
If there was no contact, a code was asked.

Went through all the emailing s as requested in the instructions, more than once, installed the software, entered the reg key that was sent to me, Message , not a good software key, uninstalled, reinstalled, message there was no key requested.
Spent over one hour trying to get this to work, uninstalled software, I have other things to use my time for. I do not usually have any problems when installing Go To Software.

The GOTD Simply Good Pictures does work -- sorta... It took a while for the web pages where you request a serial number to open, using both the new URL & the one in the GOTD readme.txt file. With the new URL it eventually showed that the serial number had been sent -- with the GOTD URL once I submitted the email address that confirmation never did load. In both cases I did receive an email with a link to confirm the email address I had used, and in both cases that confirmation web page never did finish loading -- it just remained blank. In both cases I did receive a 2nd email with the serial number, but only the serial number I got using the GOTD URL [from the readme.txt file] actually worked -- the app failed to activate when I used the other serial number.

Installing & running Simply Good Pictures in a win7 64 bit VBox VM [4 CPU cores + 4 GB RAM] didn't start out too well -- this may have been at least partly due to the registration processes & windows that open when you start the app unregistered that attempt to access their overloaded servers. 1st a web page opened, that wouldn't load. Then the registration window popped up, but never finished loading. Closed that window, closed the app, tried starting Simply Good Pictures & it threw an error & wouldn't start. Tried again running as admin, but didn't get anything -- no window or any sort of display -- but it did show up in Task Mgr. where I killed it. Third time, also running as admin, was the charm, & this time while it seemed to be Barely working, I was able to enter the serial number in the window that popped up to request a key &/or enter the number. As above the number I got using the new URL didn't work -- the one I got from the GOTD URL did work. One I finally got Simply Good Pictures activated, it seems to behave OK.

The app itself is small -- the program's folder [Program Files\Engelmann Software] holds ~2.6MB. An HDX4 folder is added to Common Files, with an Engelmann_Software folder added to [UserName]\ AppData\ Local\. The user temp folder had error logs from the earlier problems, while a new folder was added to VirtualStore, likely from my failed attempt to run normally -- not as admin. 3 new folders were added to the ProgramData folder... Licenses is self explanatory - - Engelmann Software holds a log file -- Package Cache holds 2 sub-folders, & one of them holds Setup.msi. That .msi file *might* come in handy if you can't get Simply Good Pictures installed using the downloaded setup file, as it likely down't include all the stuff to open that registration window etc.

Once you finally get Simply Good Pictures installed, it is what it is, a simple app with few controls that may automatically improve the way an image or images looks. IMHO it's designed & intended for those who would rather not bother editing images, but wouldn't mind taking a quick moment to see if the app might improve them. And IMHO, FWIW, it's priced too high [for those who don't get it on GOTD] considering most photos are taken with cell phones, which already will have the same or better options right when the picture's taken, not to mention the easy tools & FX available from whatever site those photos are uploaded to.

Here is a FREE, SAFE and DOES MORE program that will be of interest. I use this program often. Hope this helps.
http://photoscape.org/ps/main/download.php

I've been an advanced digital photographer since digital SLRs came out. I have advanced photographic editing packages for my serious work. I've been using the same software for my more casual work as well, such as eBay, Craigslist and Fb sale ads, and that has been overkill and a pain. This software works well for those uses, and casual uses, such as personal gatherings as well. Englemann software has been around for a long time (in terms of the Internet, anyway), and has always had good and reliable products. This is their best Simply Good Pictures offering so far, with just what editing is needed for general photography, such as rotation.

Hopeless. I now have 10 emails with a download link. That page isn't working. I'm not going to bother installing the program.

I can't even get an invalid key. I get from the page that I assume gives you a key......
That should not have happened!
Unfortunately, an error occurred during your request. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Our service team has already been notified of this error.

Back

Installed ok on Ultimate 7 64bit. Took awhile to get the registration, but all went well otherwise.

Nothing what so ever works to get a proper license key. After many trials I was lucky to get a license key. Tried to register and got the message that the license key was invalid.

After reading about all the issues folks have been having all day with installing or activating today's offer, I saw comment #13 and decided to try my luck.

It took extremely long for the page to load when submitting my email address, same thing with activation.

After I got the activation key on page + in subsequent email, it looked like a joke, but it's been rejected!

In another attempt after restarting the program and pasting the key from clipboard, I get "There was no license key requested"!

Not sure what to make of it, but I think that will do for today.

Sad ...

I have tried to install this program; but keep getting message "No key is installed." Have tried getting the key, unfortunately, getting key is impossible to obtain even when subscribing to the newsletter. If they are going to offer a program, they might like to be sure its acquisition works.
The concept of this program seems like a good idea, too bad cannot obtain the program. This is not the first time this sort of thing has happened. Giveaway of the Day might just check out these before offering them.

Tried both links several times - every serial I got is not valid.

Just wasted three hours. Finally got the registration key but on trying to start the programme I received notification that something went wrong and the programme had to close. I tried uninstalling and reinstalling, disabling virus software etc but to no avail

Although I got the INVALID KEY message, after I closed that window the Help About says it's the Full Version.
It made some pictures with water in them much better. Other software can do the same thing but this is Bam-Easy.

Registration was not possible after several attempts.
Sorry mail received

Just tried it myself. After a LONG wait on the initial registration page, another on the Confirmation page, and another waiting for it to verify,... "The entered License key is invalid." Given that I copied it from the confirmation page, and used the 'Insert from Clipboard' function, it seems unlikely that I miskeyed it.

nothing works as far as getting serial key. I Tried 4 times. Finally got a response and they sent me to GOTD to download the software. I already downloaded it. I will uninstall from my computer now. What a waste of time.

The "new method" worked for me. The web server is clearly overloaded and each step took several minutes instead of the few seconds you'd expect, but it did work.
The software seems excellent: it doesn't do much, but what it does, it does well and easily.

This may help... After you use Ctrl and V to insert your key, close the program and reopen it then go to HELP tab, then ABOUT and see if it says Full version...mine does. (Give me thumbs up if I helped any). Thanks.

Ich gebe auf.

"Ihre Anfrage konnte nicht bearbeitet werden. Die eingegebene E-Mail-Adresse wird nicht akzeptiert."

Seit einer Stunde mit mehreren Adressen

After all the code was accepted, the code acquired by the new link from GOTD.
There are 3 things to do in a screen - zoom:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/0igoayqw4dng1oy/Hoofdscherm.png
And two slices/switches on/off:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/thexnylr1wsjgjm/Effect.png
3 photo's are processed and the result.
first the original(jpg), then On-On, Off-On, On-OFF . . .(all .png):
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/pubmibllmdns3p0/AADPgC8Qpk58XA8oPUzh-NX9a

This is just too good to be true, can't get activated. I agreed to the terms, blah, blah, blah. Hopefully this will get fixed before the giveaway is over. Normally GATD has no problems with the registrations. (I hate Mondays). hehe.

Even tried to run as administrator before inserting the key
Not working..
Very strange..

None of the methods work. The second one just times out.