4k Video Downloader+: Difference between revisions

Line 2:

{{InfoboxProductLine

| Title = {{PAGENAME}}

| Release Year = ~~2023~~

| Release Year = 2018

| Product Type = Software

| In Production = Yes

Line 16:

It's not clear at this time if an acquisition was a precursor for the re-release for additional revenue.

==Code Review and Versioning==

A cursory review of the libraries and files from both applications shows that "4K Video Downloader+" has only six new files not existing in the prior version. See screenshot.

Also about 27 files were eliminated/not included in the new version.

Despite having been released relatively recently, the "4K Video Downloader+" exe file shows it is version "25.0.0.182", which *may* suggested it's a continuation of the prior "old" version.

[[File:4K DL vs 4K DL Plus Ophaned (New) Files.png|thumb|4K DL vs 4K DL, only six new files when updating "an outdated stack".]]

==Incidents==

Line 22:

Line 36:

===Discontinuation of lifetime license (''2023'')===

The developer sells Lifetime License of 4k Video Downloader since 2012<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.4kdownload.com/products/product-videodownloader|title=4k Video Downloader|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120723220906/http://www.4kdownload.com/products/product-videodownloader|archive-date=2012-07-23|url-status=dead}}</ref>, but discontinues it to sell 4k Video Downloader+ since July 26, 2023. The old license key is not valid because it's a "different program".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.4kdownload.com/blog/2023/07/26/4k-video-downloader-faq/|title=4K Video Downloader Plus FAQ: Your Questions, Our Answers|date=2023-07-26|author=Klara|access-date=2025-04-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250124025437/https://www.4kdownload.com/blog/2023/07/26/4k-video-downloader-faq/|archive-date=2025-01-24|url-status=live}}</ref>

The developer sells Lifetime License of 4k Video Downloader since 2012<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.4kdownload.com/products/product-videodownloader|title=4k Video Downloader|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120723220906/http://www.4kdownload.com/products/product-videodownloader|archive-date=2012-07-23|url-status=dead}}</ref>, but discontinues it to sell 4k Video Downloader+ since July 26, 2023. The old license key is not valid because it's a "different program".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.4kdownload.com/blog/2023/07/26/4k-video-downloader-faq/|title=4K Video Downloader Plus FAQ: Your Questions, Our Answers|date=2023-07-26|author=Klara|access-date=2025-04-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250124025437/https://www.4kdownload.com/blog/2023/07/26/4k-video-downloader-faq/|archive-date=2025-01-24|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Questions Regarding the Company's Explanation for a new Version==

According to the company's FAQ<ref name=":0" />, the reason for the new version is "the outdated technology stack" is impossible to fix.

While the company (InterPromo GMBH, the current company name used on the footer of the website) claims that updating the original 4K Video Downloader was "impossible" due to an outdated technology stack, this explanation lacks technical detail and may oversimplify the issue. In software development, very few features are truly impossible to implement—more often, they are deprioritized due to cost, complexity, or strategic business decisions. Without transparency about the specific limitations, it's reasonable to question whether the shift to a new app was driven more by monetization goals than technical necessity.

Additionally, a stack update (libraries, frameworks, etc.) would typically include minor UI/UX changes because of the underlying changes. Based on the visual appearance and menu behaviors of both applications, it's not clear a large-scale rewrite was performed, the applications are visually identical.

==References==

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 {{InfoboxProductLine
 | Title = {{PAGENAME}}
-| Release Year = 2023
+| Release Year = 2018
 | Product Type = Software
 | In Production = Yes
@@ Line 16: / Line 16: @@
 It's not clear at this time if an acquisition was a precursor for the re-release for additional revenue.
+==Code Review and Versioning==
+A cursory review of the libraries and files from both applications shows that "4K Video Downloader+" has only six new files not existing in the prior version.  See screenshot.
+Also about 27 files were eliminated/not included in the new version.
+Despite having been released relatively recently, the "4K Video Downloader+" exe file shows it is version "25.0.0.182", which *may* suggested it's a continuation of the prior "old" version.
+[[File:4K DL vs 4K DL Plus Ophaned (New) Files.png|thumb|4K DL vs 4K DL, only six new files when updating "an outdated stack".]]
 ==Incidents==
@@ Line 22: / Line 36: @@
 ===Discontinuation of lifetime license (''2023'')===
 {{Main|link to the main article}}
-The developer sells Lifetime License of 4k Video Downloader since 2012<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.4kdownload.com/products/product-videodownloader|title=4k Video Downloader|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120723220906/http://www.4kdownload.com/products/product-videodownloader|archive-date=2012-07-23|url-status=dead}}</ref>, but discontinues it to sell 4k Video Downloader+ since July 26, 2023. The old license key is not valid because it's a "different program".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.4kdownload.com/blog/2023/07/26/4k-video-downloader-faq/|title=4K Video Downloader Plus FAQ: Your Questions, Our Answers|date=2023-07-26|author=Klara|access-date=2025-04-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250124025437/https://www.4kdownload.com/blog/2023/07/26/4k-video-downloader-faq/|archive-date=2025-01-24|url-status=live}}</ref>
+The developer sells Lifetime License of 4k Video Downloader since 2012<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.4kdownload.com/products/product-videodownloader|title=4k Video Downloader|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120723220906/http://www.4kdownload.com/products/product-videodownloader|archive-date=2012-07-23|url-status=dead}}</ref>, but discontinues it to sell 4k Video Downloader+ since July 26, 2023. The old license key is not valid because it's a "different program".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.4kdownload.com/blog/2023/07/26/4k-video-downloader-faq/|title=4K Video Downloader Plus FAQ: Your Questions, Our Answers|date=2023-07-26|author=Klara|access-date=2025-04-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250124025437/https://www.4kdownload.com/blog/2023/07/26/4k-video-downloader-faq/|archive-date=2025-01-24|url-status=live}}</ref>
+==Questions Regarding the Company's Explanation for a new Version==
+According to the company's FAQ<ref name=":0" />, the reason for the new version is "the outdated technology stack" is impossible to fix.
+While the company (InterPromo GMBH, the current company name used on the footer of the website) claims that updating the original 4K Video Downloader was "impossible" due to an outdated technology stack, this explanation lacks technical detail and may oversimplify the issue. In software development, very few features are truly impossible to implement—more often, they are deprioritized due to cost, complexity, or strategic business decisions. Without transparency about the specific limitations, it's reasonable to question whether the shift to a new app was driven more by monetization goals than technical necessity.
+Additionally, a stack update (libraries, frameworks, etc.) would typically include minor UI/UX changes because of the underlying changes.  Based on the visual appearance and menu behaviors of both applications, it's not clear a large-scale rewrite was performed, the applications are visually identical.
 ==References==
 {{reflist}}
 [[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]