My old version (5, from 2016) quit working. Shows an error when I click the Optimize button and says process can’t be completed. So I downloaded the 2020 version given away here today. Is it newer, better, different? Who knows….

Installed and registered fine on Win 10/64 Home. Went into Program Files instead of Program Files(x86). I assume that means it’s now a 64-bit program, so likely newer than version 5.

I’m underwhelmed by the results after trying Auto Optimize on just 2 photos. I liked the originals better. Optimized were washed out, much of the color and detail gone. There are ways to adjust what is changed so maybe some manual trial and error would produce better results. At least Auto Optimize helps me see what I liked about the originals, and that would give me a head start toward manual adjustments.

This might work better with your pictures than my test pics. Ignore the SOS link that offers to upgrade to version 6, it leads to a sale that ended long ago and Ashampoo is selling version 8 now. I don’t know what’s different or fixed, they like to keep that a secret :)

[@Mr.Dave] Update: I got a reply to my uninstallation survey at Ashampoo (from uninstalling version 5):

“We don’t provide a comparison chart, sorry.

Photo Optimizer 5 is an older edition from the year 2012. Photo Optimzer 2020 is an edition, available for free and based on Photo Optimzer 7, but with less functions and you can’t disable advertising.

The successor, latest and most improved version is Photo Optimizer 8”

I don’t like the lack of any comparison charts — it adds confusion and makes me think they are pushing newer versions that are not much different from previous versions. Still, their products usually work well. Sounds like ads are now forced. The effort to clear them and delay in getting to the program you want to run is not so bad if you like the program. Purchase costs are not so bad (if you can wait for a sale) if you don’t want ads and like the program :)

i like