A suggestion for you Jim to provide to Tony: Create a nag screen on startup that explains the situation re: the FREE/PRO version of Xwidget. It should show only once when the widget restarts but should show every time Xwidget starts.
The text should say:
"Xwidget is the result of a vision by one lone developer. Xwidget tries to be as free as possible but one of the trade-offs is this nag screen. We feel that this is a better approach than adding installer bundles or some other deceitful practices that other organisations have adopted.
The home version comes with a just a few basic widgets. Please note that FREE widgets are still available on deviantart at the official group gallery: https://xwidgetsoftware.deviantart.com/
Home users are therefore encouraged to support this project by upgrading to the PRO version which will give you full access to 8,000 widgets and a more advanced version of the Xwidget engine in the very near future. Commercial users are required to purchase after 30 days.
Your purchase goes directly to further development of Xwidget and the creation of even more intriguing desktop and Android widgets!"-oOo-
There should be three buttons at the bottom:
1. Purchase PRO (takes you to the worldpay or whichever is the default payment method)
2. Activate PRO (allows you to activate with your licence code)
3. Wait 20 secs ( button is greyed-out but shows a countdown and after 20 secs the button activates and its text turns to CONTINUE - all this obviously only occurs on non-activated version).
Activated versions never see the nag screen.
This encourages Xwidget users to buy the PRO version in order to get rid of the nag screen and gives them the information every time they use the product. It also makes people realise the investment in time that Tony and Jim have contributed.
I suggest you change the name to HOME and PRO as it seems a lot more valid and professional than FREE and PRO. People understand the concept of a HOME version, Windows and other products having such a distinction. They accept it and its limitations.
Jim, please let me know you have read and understood the importance of this suggestion. I think it will be a very useful addition which will explain the reasons why Xwidget appears to have "gone commercial" and it will play on user's guilt each time it runs. More purchases should result.