USB Safely Remove Blog Archive

Meet Zentimo 1.0, a Swiss army knife for your external drive needs

Meet Zentimo 1.0, a Swiss army knife for your external drive needs

After several months of beta testing and fine-tuning, we proudly present the final release of our newest tool, Zentimo 1.0!
Zentimo is the successor to 'USB Safely Remove', our original, extended device dismounting/removal tool. By comparison, Zentimo is truly a Swiss Army knife for the management of external storage devices.

Zentimo's many enhancements include:

More powerful and informative device menu

Now with this menu you can see device drive volume and free space, display hidden devices in a click right in the menu, and do frequent actions in a click such as browsing a drive or launching a portable program

Honest drive speed test

The program can show the real performance of your device

Portable application quick launch menu

Just a menu available via a click to the menu button where you can add programs from your drive and run them in a couple of clicks.

Strong TrueCrypt integration

Your TrueCrypt containers that are stored on external drives can be handled like a part of device: you can see them on the device menu, they can be automatically mounted\dismounted on device connection\disconnection and even if a program prevents TrueCrypt volume from being stopped Zentimo allows you to see and unlock such programs.

Portable settings

You can set up your device name, image or app quick launch list once and these settings will be available on the other computers where Zentimo is installed


And this is just the beginning, we are going to add much more features to make it a full-fledged tool that cover all your external storage needs! It doesn't mean that we will stop working on USB Safely Remove, it will stay an elegant and lightweight tool for safe hardware removal without hassles and we will develop it in this vein. Our goal is to provide the most appropriate tool for your needs: if you need something simple and easy, consider USB Safely Remove, but if you need more features at your fingertips choose Zentimo!

Another great news is that if you have a paid license to USB Safely Remove you can switch to Zentimo with 50%. Find more information on Zentimo's order page


P.S.
License policy of Zentimo differs a bit from USB Safely Remove's. You can still use the program for lifetime and on each of your computers,  but there is a different approach to upgrades. Zentimo has subscription based upgrade policy, you can purchase either license with one or two year of upgrades included. After your upgrade period is over you can either continue with the latest version or purchase maintenance renewal which costs a fraction of the initial license price.
Real life shows that the only lifetime upgrade policy like in USB Safely Remove is not a good practice since our user base and support loading grows while the revenue stays the same, so we have to spend more time to support users and less to improve the program. This is not good either for the company or for our users.  We are going to implement such upgrade policy in USB Safely Remove as well, but of course this will concern only new customers, those who already purchased the lifetime licenses will get lifetime upgrades. Promise is promise.

Honestly, this new licence

Honestly, this new licence policy is a joke. C'mon, you surely want people to rent this gadget-class util? haha -1

IgorSR's picture

Hello, Perhaps we wrote this

Hello,
Perhaps we wrote this unclear but Zentimo license is lifetime usage. You just need to pay for upgrades only if you need them.

This is a joke we purchased

This is a joke we purchased lifetime upgrades and here we just have the next version of aka "successor to 'USB Safely Remove'" and its not part of our upgrade. Something tells me that USB Safely Remove will quit getting support very soon.

IgorSR's picture

Hi Jim, Thanks for your

Hi Jim,
Thanks for your opinion.

All users who purchased the lifetime license for 'USB Safely Remove' will get all future upgrades for free, but of course not for our another products. And we plan to continue supporting both of the products since they supplement each other: 'USB Safely Remove' aimed for those who just need an improved but simple safe removal tool and 'Zentimo' aimed for those who need much more features. Of course we do not plan to rework USB Safely Remove user interface or add all feature of Zentimo to USB Safely Remove, but the majority of USB Safely Remove users ask us not to add any more features and keep it as simple as possible.

The fact you changed your

The fact you changed your licensing and aren't going to honor the lifetime licenses people had previously purchased tells me that I don't want to purchase your software. Unless I see where you will continue to support USB Safely Remove, I want no parts of your new software. I think some clarification on how much longer you will support the previous version would help.

IgorSR's picture

Hi JTS, This is a good point

Hi JTS,
This is a good point and I respect it, time will show. Moreover I do not recommend you to blindly purchase Zentimo since this is not just a new version of USB Safely Remove, but it's a really another product with different goals and you may not like its UI or just may not need its features.

"...our user base and support

"...our user base and support loading grows while the revenue stays the same..."

NONSENSE. As your user base grows, your revenue increases. "Free LIFETIME support" "Sorry, but, but that program is DEAD! No more support."

Changing the name and adding a few features is no justification for sc***ing you existing customer base.

IgorSR's picture

>NONSENSE. As your user base

>NONSENSE. As your user base grows, your revenue increases.
Let's suppose we sell 10 licenses a day or 300 a month or 300*365 = about 10k a year. For the first year there will be 10k users. For 5 years our user base will grow to 50 000k. Do you agree that 50K users produce 5 times more support requests than 10K? But we still sell only 10 licenses a day or 300 a month and our revenue per month stays the same, but we have 5 times more support requests than 5 years ago so we spent more time doing support rather than adding features. That was what I mean.

Now explain me why Rarlab's

Now explain me why Rarlab's WinRAR is successful and they aren't broke yet. Their lifetime license means lifetime and last time I checked, there's no "WinRAR Pro", no upgrade fee to major new 4.x and certainly no "Whatchamacallit"... which is just a renamed pro version of WinRAR.

As I registered your product I emailed your support and asked if lifetime means lifetime, because I've been screwed all over with shareware authors offering lifetime licenses, but then released a "pro" version or demanded upgrade fee for major changes. Of course, once such "pro" version is out, the normal version sees no updates anymore.

Your support answered me this won't happen.

You lied to me. You did the same. Instead of adding "pro" you renamed it. You really think I'd ever pay for your software again, after this?

Telling USB Safely Remove will be still supported is a lie. There's hardly been an update recently, let alone new features. You sold me a lifetime license which is dead, or as you explain, users don't want new features. This is bullshit. Your tool is for geeks. Novice users don't even use your program. They just unplug their devices.

Anyway, I'd like ONE update in USBSR.. Get rid of the "can't connect to service" window I see again and again. I sent this bug report months ago, no fix yet.

If you truly care about your customers, give every lifetime buyer of USBSR a 2 years license for "USBSR Pro", .. eh, sorry... "Zentimo" and give away USBSR for free as UNSUPPORTED "light version".

IgorSR's picture

Alex, Many thanks for your

Alex,
Many thanks for your feedback!

Unfortunately I cannot answer your question regarding WinRar since we do not have any relations to WinRar team and not aware of problems its command struggle with.

Regarding the bug you reported we will try to address it as soon as we can identify causes of the problem (really we still may not reproduce it on no one of our test systems). Also I recommend you to write us once again to our support where we will probably find a resolution for your case.

And finally, the lifetime license means life of the program, not life of its developers. Which in turn means that the developers may stop supporting it anytime, in contrast to so called subscription based model where developer take responsibility to support the program until the purchased subscription period.

However USB Safely Remove is still a supported product and will be. We plan to release a new version soon and we are here answering your questions and helping you solve problems with program.

I expect you to fail badly

I expect you to fail badly with this kind of upgrade policy.

I find the "upgrade" policy

I find the "upgrade" policy (like others here) both Unfair and insulting. The policy (imho) should be "since you have lifetime upgrade privileges, we will allow you to apply this to either product - the "new" one OR USB Safely Remove.

To ask me to once again buy anything tells me your company has a greedy self serving reputation (imho) it would sadly seem like Microsoft, who I refuse to do business with.

The old "bait-and-switch" is sadly seems is alive and well....

YOU SHOULD FEEL ASHAMED (but nowadays about almost anything, who does)?

I'm done with further business with your firm and will post my reasons why on my blog.

I would suggest reconsidering this greedy approach!

IgorSR's picture

>The policy (imho) should be

>The policy (imho) should be "since you have lifetime upgrade privileges, we will allow you to apply this to either product - the "new" one OR USB Safely Remove.
I'm sorry but we never sold upgrade lifetime privileges for everything. The only thing we promised is free lifetime upgrades for USB Safely Remove and kept this promise for more than three-year's life of the program and won't plan to broke it.

As a software developer, I

As a software developer, I can appreciate the bind they are in. It looks to me that as long as USBSR gets updates to suppot new OS versions and bug fixes, they have met their promise. As for the subscription model... if the program woks, you don't need the upgrades, and I'm sure they'll have the bugs squashed by the time your upgrade protection expires. If you want new features, then fork up a few bucks to upgrade. These folks produce quality unique software. I look forward to trying Zentimo.

IgorSR's picture

rcobourn, Thanks for your

rcobourn,
Thanks for your support and kind words!

I have mixed feelings about

I have mixed feelings about all this. As someone pointed out, it does feel like a bait-and-switch scam. I understand that you consider Zentimo to be a different product than USB safely remove. If so, don't say in the description that zentimo is the successor of USB safely remove! This amounts to admitting that zentimo is the new version of USB safely remove (bait-and-switch).
In other words it feels like we're left with a USB safely remove light. And yes, it does feel frustrating.

IgorSR's picture

Hi Arto65! > If so, don't say

Hi Arto65!

> If so, don't say in the description that zentimo is the successor of USB safely remove!
Yes it seems we have to choose the description since the current one caused too many users' anger. We described it as successor because it continues to support main function of USBSR: safe removal, though this function isn't main. How do you recommend to describe it in one one another word relating to USB Safely Remove?

>In other words it feels like we're left with a USB safely remove light.
I'm sorry didn't understand this sentence. Could you clarify what did you mean, please?

> How do you recommend to

> How do you recommend to describe it in one one another word relating to USB Safely Remove?
Well IMO you have two options:
1) Don't mention USBSR, just specify that zentimo does safe removal.
2) Advertise Zentimo as a bundle consisting of USBSR and an information utility. It will still be one software (one .exe), but two different utilities. Ex: copytrans suite is one software including different utilities. Therefore, people won't be afraid that you stop developping USBSR in favor of Zentimo.

>I'm sorry didn't understand this sentence. Could you clarify what did you mean, please?
When you say that Zentimo is USBSR's successor, it feels like it's an update of USBSR, and you just rebranded it. In the eyes of your customer, you leave them with a diminished version of the same software.

Just make sure that your customer know you plan to keep developping USBSR along with Zentimo, and I guess they'll feel better.

Hi... I think he's referring

Hi... I think he's referring to "lite" in this sentence as "cripple ware" or demonstrations ware... that is where many of the features of the non-lite software ie: zentimo are not included in the lite version ie: usb safety remove...

To be honest I am surprised

To be honest I am surprised by the hoohaa surrounding USBSR & Zentimo, given the price of the software and the promise to honour the lifetime upgrades for USBSR. Let's be fair here. No software last forever/can be continually developed for ever...USBSR does what it says (and in fact said) on the tin and will continue to do so for a while. Zentimo does more and therefore costs more if one wants that functionality...and if one does and already uses USBSR then one gets it at 50% off.

Have been buying this sort of software for years and can honestly say that I would prefer that the developer switches to a sustainable model...and therefore continues to provide support for the product I bought...than goes out of business because they can't make ends meet.

I use USBSR and will be trialing Zentimo to see if I need to additional fucntionality...if I do then I will happily pay the $17 for an upgrade.

Just my halfpenny worth.

Why all this nonsense

Why all this nonsense discussion about licenses???
Every developer has right to set its own way of licensing.

If you agree with it - pay the price and sleep well; if not get it cracked from forums/usenet/etc. and feel guilty or not, do not pay and again sleep well.

You're right. I have paid for

You're right. I have paid for all the tools that I have, it is just fair. But changing the update policy like this - and updates are unavoidable, not only because of removed bugs but also because of changes needed for newer OS - will make me get a key somehwere and that's it. They don't earn more money, they earn less. And as this kind of rental (yes, the first poster was right, it is just that, no matter what Igor thinks about 'I can use something half broken for the rest of my live) will not attract the typical customer buying this kind of software they will loose even more.

Finally: you guys think your software is too cheap. Then you will have to be honest and raise the price, not try to hide the raised price in a new update policy. But then you will find out that the price had bbeen correct, a higher price for a small tool like that is just not worth it.

I find an interesting pattern

I find an interesting pattern in the industry: A.) Free Software "religious zealots" that are under-employed, under-paid, and complain about any company trying to, well, act as the definition of a business, and then;
B.) The rest of us, who are worried if a company charges too small a fee, because we are real business customers and want the vendor to be around long enough to support us. Igor is trying to run a business. He has a right to make a living, and I have the right to purchase the product, especially if I want support. I do not expect him to support me for free, and find some other way to feed himself.

I suppose that those complaining so loudly above, somehow missed the fact that Adobe charges for upgrades to Photoshop. If you want the world for free, then go use GIMP instead and hope the features are enough. But if you are a professional, you pay Adobe for your tools and support. Same here.
Windows has a built in USB manager. If you want something better, and you are a working adult, buy this product. It's better. If not, use something else. But either way, Please, just shut up.

HI. II am a blind user

HI. II am a blind user using usb safely remove. will accessibility be taken in to account with this new programme? I don't mind paying a reasonable price for a programme but only as long as I can still use it. I hope to see screen reader and low vision users being taken in to account. Will there be a triaal period with this software? thanks

IgorSR's picture

Hi Maria, Yes, we'd wish to

Hi Maria,
Yes, we'd wish to add some options to help blind users but we need to know more detailed what features we should add. I've sent you a personal message.

I also do not like timed

I also do not like timed subscription based upgrades, however I like this product, and so, I purchased the 2 year subscription. I'm kinda disappointed that only 1 year renewal's are offered. I hope this changes.

USB Safely Remove is NOT that

USB Safely Remove is NOT that big program, so it does not need subscription. It is like punishment for people who bought it long time ago and don't get the same function and bug fixes like people who get it for the same price now. It is not possible to compare it with Windows - upgrade from Win2k to Win7 is really not the same ;)

This really looks like that all the money you get is just not enough for you. All the incomes you get cover your expenses of your time for sure.

Zentimo looks good. But it is the same program, you just added very few new functions. I don't really need TrueCrypt integration, but it would be nice.

And the 50% discount ... good joke ;)
I bought USB S-R for 20$ + Zentimo 17.5$ = 37.5$
The discounted value for the same product should be less than original value (35$).
Anyway, it is not worth it to buy it "again" (almost same price) just to get 2 new function which are not that really important.

"Support loading grows" ... well, I haven't complained ever and I don't suppose that all the people want just to talk. Either they report bugs or they ask for new function. But it is not possible that you have to fix 30 bug every day - or is it so buggy? :D
As you get salary from this every day, it is like normal bussiness and you are expected to work ;)

So, when you think about it. This program is NOT worth 45$ for just 2 years - this is price for some REALLY BIG application, not for small utility.
If you make it 10$ + 5$ for subscription - that is adequate ;)

I guess one thing that

I guess one thing that matters about the subscription upgrade plan is how many / what they contain. If there is only one "new feature" upgrade each year then it seems expensive.

Bug fixes should be provided to all users since they fix problems with the software. Otherwise it's like saying, "We know there is a defect but you have to pay for it to be fixed."

If 1.0.1 fixes a "bug" it should be provided to all users. 1.1.0 shouldn't be considered an "upgrade" either. 2.0 is an "upgrade". Paying for a "major" upgrade is normal, but it has to be worth the price. Subscription based or not.

Just my .02 worth

I gave the Zentimo betas a

I gave the Zentimo betas a test drive and loved them. I installed the final version and it works flawlessly. The extra features are perfect for someone with an abundance of external drives, cards, and USB devices. The ability to rename devices is really helpful. Zentimo works much faster and more accurately within Windows 7 than does USBSafelyRemove. As a registered user of USBSafelyRemove, I purchased the 2 year license at a discount and couldn't be more pleased. Thanks for another great software utility to help make USB device integration and removal less complicated. People, look around your homes, your cars, your clothes. Look at everything you purchase and ask yourself what you own that has a lifetime "no cost" guarantee. Something that will be eternally replaced with a better version at no cost to you.

I'd like to add my voice to

I'd like to add my voice to that of the apparent minority. I've received more than my money's worth with USBSR. I have not yet tried Zentimo, but if it works as advertised, it will also be worth the money.

I'm quite familiar with companies that change a few features in a program and label it a major upgrade (not qualifying for free updates). Zentimo seems to be a different and far more ambitious product, and I believe the author is justified in marketing it accordingly. In the case of USBSR [some of us] were promised free upgrades for the lifetime of the product. This means the lifetime of active development, not a user's lifetime. The author's position that it would be economically unfeasible to devote the remainder of [his] productive years to supporting a single, inexpensive product is reasonable.

Would not it be better to

Would not it be better to have two USB Safely Remove versions? A standard (The current one) and then the Pro version (Zentimo)

IgorSR's picture

That's exactly we are going

That's exactly we are going to do

I found USB Safely Remove to

I found USB Safely Remove to be an excellent and worthy product. It worked very well and yes... upgrades were free. Now that there is a new product I gladly spent my $17.50 for Zentimo and look forward to its progression. People have been complaining about now having to pay for upgrades. Come on now... most software upgrades are NOT free. These guys are entitled to the new costs associated with developing and maintaining a new software product. Give them a break... pay up and enjoy the new version.

Bait & Switch = Cash Grab.

Bait & Switch = Cash Grab. This is becoming a nasty cash grabbing trend. Develop a good product for a good (or even great) price. And once you have a strong following pull a bait and switch by developing a new product where all the improvements are and charge a whole bunch more.

I have come to use and really enjoy the product and was considering having it licensed for my entire company, all locations. But seeing this. I don't think so. Not because it is expensive and not because I don't like the program. Just the principle of it.

Don't get me wrong. I believe in supporting good work and I don't mind paying for major upgrades. Where others find hacks and free downloads of cracked programs I believe in paying for mine. But subscriptions as opposed to upgrades are just a cash grab. You have no idea if any truly useful improvements are coming out each year (or for that matter any new features) but you still have to pay every year to ensure you are getting even the bug fixes. Paying to use a program AND having to pay more to get fixes. Even Microsoft the king of marketing and profit doesn't charge you $$ for service packs.

Minor versions should be fixes and minor improvements and should not be charged for regardless of when they come out.

Major versions should be new features and substantial program improvements and should be charged full price for new customers and an appropriate upgrade cost for existing customers (not a endless pay-me subscription game).

I had a lot of respect for the quality of this program but now have lost a lot for the company/programmer. I like some of the Zentimo features like TrueCrypt integration. And I would pay for the product again. But paying for it every year. I don't think so.

I just bought my license of

I just bought my license of USBSR today and then found out later about Zentino.
I haven't tried it yet, but TrueCrypt integration sounds very good, since I use an USB stick as a TrueCrypt volume.
I have no real problems with the new licence model, except one: if there is a real bug in an older version I still need to renew the licence even if I don't need any new features. So there is no real choice...that's bad...
Most of the time it is also customary to offer a *free* upgrade to a newer version if the old version was bought recently.
As someone pointed out earlier: if I choose to upgrade to Zentino from my USBSR license now I have to pay even *more* than the original Zentino licence would have been, even with the rebate. And that *really* pisses me off! Sorry for the harsh words...

IgorSR's picture

Hi Frank, Thanks for your

Hi Frank,
Thanks for your feedback!

>I have no real problems with the new licence model, except one: if there is a real bug in an older version I still need to renew the licence even if I don't need any new features. So there is no real choice...that's bad...
From one point of view you are right, but on the other side if there's a REALLY big bug in a version it will probably be fixed within your year of upgrades. With that model we are really interested in supporting the program and fixing bugs because if we will not do this and you will not get needed upgrades and technical support you will never purchase an upgrade.

>As someone pointed out earlier: if I choose to upgrade to Zentino from my USBSR license now I have to pay even *more* than the original Zentino licence would have been, even with the rebate.
It depends on kind of license that you purchase. If it's a basic one year license, you will pay 17.5 + 20 = 37.5 USD which is 2.5 usd more than if you pay for only Zentimo. But if you purchase license with 2 year upgrades you will pay 22.5 + 20 = 42.5, which 2.5 USD less. But remember thar you get licenses for both of the programs.

Anyway if you wish to purchase only one year license feel free to request us a special discount coupon that will let you pay only a difference in price of Zentimo and USBSR. Write us here

P.S. Zentimo, not Zentino :)

Just want to add what I think

Just want to add what I think is fair enough for the registered users, who have supported your product (USBSR).

I think with all the controversy going on, I think it's best for people who have bought your USBSR (who has the lifetime upgrade license) to purchase the Zentimo with the half price. BUT the upgrade policy should be the same like USBSR, which is a lifetime free upgrade. Not just a year or 2 years. You decide which registered users who qualify for this. For example users who bought the product before November 2010 get to qualify for the lifetime upgrade.

For the new users, you can have the one or 2 years upgrade policy.

I bought your USBSR when it was first released. I was able to get the crack version but decided to suppport your company. I think people are here saying you are unfair because they've supported your company when yours was barely known and when yours already been used and got famous you just get a new features and change the name of the product.

So, I would like to know what you think of my idea.

I haven't tried this new zentimo yet but will try it as soon as I hear your response.

Sorry for my bad english...

IgorSR's picture

Hi Stingbandel, Thanks for

Hi Stingbandel,
Thanks for your reply and for your support. Unfortunately we may not have so different license policies for those who purchased USBSR and for those who hasn't done this earlier. Everything we can do is to provide a discount for Zentimo in the amount equal to the price of USBSR.

what's wrong with usbsr? why

what's wrong with usbsr? why this new name?
why you don't just add new feature to usbsr?
the new name su*ks!

IgorSR's picture

We have already described

We have already described this in this post, so I'll just quote it:

"It doesn't mean that we will stop working on USB Safely Remove, it will stay an elegant and lightweight tool for safe hardware removal without hassles and we will develop it in this vein. Our goal is to provide the most appropriate tool for your needs: if you need something simple and easy, consider USB Safely Remove, but if you need more features at your fingertips choose Zentimo!"

USB Safely Remove is very

USB Safely Remove is very well designed. Not really necessary (it's an enhancement of a built-in function) but so good that I wouldn't part with it.
Now comes Zentimo, with interesting additional features.
It's not cheap but not expensive either and I was ready to buy a license with the discount when I noticed that it's limited to one year only.
Please note: it's not the price, it's the concept: nice as it is - the new Zentimo seems to be even nicer - why pay a subscription for this particular category of software?
Please do think again about your new price policy - don't spoil the fine product(s) you have.

makarther's picture

Hello everyone have a great

Hello everyone

have a great day

cloud i get my license number

THANKS

After reading some of the

After reading some of the posts here, I believe there may be some confusion. The software is NOT subscription-based, it is a LIFETIME USAGE product. UPGRADES to the software are where the subscription model comes into play.

So, if you buy the software, install it, and it works fine for you, and you don't need or want any new bells and whistles, you don't have to pay another dime, ever, period.

If you want the latest and greatest, with the new bells and whistles and features, you have to pay for it. You're simply compensating the developer for his time and effort in the further development of the product.

This is both reasonable and customary.

Bug fixes should be included free of charge to registered users for a period of one or two years.

Just my two cents worth......

I too as lifetime license

I too as lifetime license user find it hard that I need to pay to use the new version of USB Safely Remove now labelled Zentimo!

Hello Everybody !!

Hello Everybody !!

You are viewing an old blog of USB Safely Remove, the new blog is available here: blog.crystalrich.com