1Password 4 Detailed for Mac, Adds iCloud Syncing, Encrypted Messaging and Custom Fields

[aristotle]

STOP WHINING ABOUT THE PRICE!!!!!!!!!

The reason why it's so expensive is due to the licensing for all the encryptions used in the app, which are not cheap, in addition to the size of the company, and the development time.

The main hurdle for all password app, like 1Password is the fact that most country has huge restrictions on export of cryptography, with United States being one of the strictest. Since Agilebits is a Canadian company, they are bound by Canadian export laws in terms of cryptography:

http://www.international.gc.ca/controls-controles/export-exportation/crypto/Crypto_Intro.aspx

Obtaining the permit for export in cryptography is not cheap. In fact, it's pretty expensive when you factor in lawyers, fees, etc. This also leads to development time for the app being increased, since there are waiting periods for obtaining the permit. This means you have to pay the developers more money for extra hours spent on making the app.

Add all those factors together, and making a very simple password app management app, such as 1Password suddenly becomes very expensive.

Size of the company also factors into the price. Agilebits is a small, indie software company. LastPass is very large company with multiple backing from several corporation. That's why they are able to offer the app for free, and AgileBits charging for higher price. In general practice, Indie software company tends to deliver higher quality product.

I'm confused. First you say that they have to pay developers but then you say that they are a small company.

Maybe the problem is that their staff is too bloated? Maybe they did not take the time to figure out their business model properly? Why should I, as a Canadian pay for export fees to other countries? Shouldn't the price of the app differ per country?

I bought the desktop version and the iOS version but now they want me to pay again for another release? No.

I should have a right to complain about the price especially considering how much I paid previously.

 

[thekingofnerds]

Looking at these replies to my previous post about the license feature I guess I've really been missing something.

Does the feature saved scanned copies of the license? If it does that - then I could see it being useful. I've needed to scan in my license from time to time, but never just the #.

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

No $h**. But my point isn't that they should profit the bare minimum, my point is about the extent to which they are capitalising. Even from their own point of view it doesn't work. Presumably like quite a few people I was tempted by their iPhone/iPad app, but then saw that if I wanted a whole password ecosystem (you know, one password), it'd cost $17.99 for the Mac version with was a deal breaker for me. So I didn't bother even with their more reasonable iOS version.

Sorry, you can do all the market research you want but at such a price you're locking out eager customers from the whole ecosystem.

I even bought Tweetbot for Mac (while drunk) because it's so good in its design and offers so much, and at least they had the explanation that Twitter were being dicks with their new token limits for new apps.

Many members of this site have bought into the ecosystem, and I have friends and family that have also bought this product, so I can tell you that while it may be too expensive for you, it's not too expensive to some people.

How much is your time worth? How many minutes a year do you spend remembering and typing passwords? Both numbers will vary from person to person, but for perhaps more people than you'd expect, it works out to make sense for them.

I'd be buying it if I weren't expecting Apple to roll out a similar or better complimentary service for their products soon.

 

[isomorphic]

Seriously? Are they dropping local sync? Why would they be stupid enough to make it less secure?

They removed local sync via WiFi.

They have a beta Mac<-->iOS USB-sync utility. It works fine, with Mac v3 and Mac v4b.

 

[Philintheblank]

Firstly let me bitch about the price.

Damnit! Bought their store version about 10 days before the free upgrades to V4 kicked in.

Now let me defend the price. The $80 I have invested or so in the program has been worth its weight in gold. Before I jumped on board with 1password my papal, steam and hotmail accounts were all hacked. The time, effort, and mental stress of having to jump through hoops to ensure I wound up not out of pocket was quite frankly intense. The $80 to ensure I never had to go through that is rather cheap in the grand scheme of things.

And yes I know there are alternatives, but lastpass's interface didn't really click with me. Plus I would had needed the premium version anyway which means that overtime it may very well have cost me more.

 

[StevenHCarter]

1Password is truly life changing software if you run a business and are mobile. A single purchase from the App Store allows installation on up to five devices. I have 506 files in it, many with several windows of data each. Each day we, add more.

Before 1Password, trying to keep all that straight across devices and employees was pretty much impossible. Now, entering account data (e.g., passwords, account numbers, user names, etc.) is fast and easy. If some changes something, everyone else knows seconds later when the accounts sync.

It's a critical part of our daily operations and the succession plans for my companies.

 

[r3m1]

Its overpriced bloatware (I am a v3 user).

The fact that it does not automatically fill in passwords is beyond hiliarious (oh sorry its a "feature")

The price is too high compared that you buy OSX for a third of that price. But, hey if people buy it, something must be right.

 

[buzz0]

upgrade for free?

When 1password launched in Mac App Store, AgileBits said the new 1 password 4 would come only in Mac App Store.
So, I purchased MAS version even though I had some license through AgileBits store.
And now it's also available for free upgrade.
Okay, I wasted money for what I already had.

 

[ValSalva]

1Password is truly life changing software if you run a business and are mobile. A single purchase from the App Store allows installation on up to five devices. I have 506 files in it, many with several windows of data each. Each day we, add more.

Before 1Password, trying to keep all that straight across devices and employees was pretty much impossible. Now, entering account data (e.g., passwords, account numbers, user names, etc.) is fast and easy. If some changes something, everyone else knows seconds later when the accounts sync.

It's a critical part of our daily operations and the succession plans for my companies.

I agree completely. This is the second app I put on a new Mac or a fresh install of OS X after Dropbox.

iCloud Keychains sounds like a good idea but you just know Apple isn't going to get it working smoothly right away and will never do it as well as AgileBits. Apple has too much going on to perfect iCloud Keychain. Look at Calendar and Contacts. That's what will happen to iCloud Keychain. It will stagnate.

 

[Roller]

Its overpriced bloatware (I am a v3 user).

The fact that it does not automatically fill in passwords is beyond hiliarious (oh sorry its a "feature")

The price is too high compared that you buy OSX for a third of that price. But, hey if people buy it, something must be right.

Your last statement is correct: 1PW has features that I'm willing to pay for.

By "not automatically fill in passwords" do you mean that it doesn't automatically enter login data for a site when you navigate there? I prefer it that way. It only takes a keystroke to fill and submit credentials.

 

[satcomer]

Although to be fair, if you have misgivings about the NSA perhaps iCloud Keychain should be avoided.

The No Such Agency taps YOUR ISP!

 

[FelixAng]

it's probably the case that there's a large-scale plan underway at Apple:

iOS 7 keychain + fingerprint sensor

 

[skinned66]

Edit: Whoa! $18 wasn't for the whole deal, but only iOS?! $67 for both iOS and Mac is way too expensive for what's free with LastPass, although it looks a little bit better interface-wise. Scratch this one.

This. This has always been the problem with 1password - desktop pricing. And I say this as someone who likes it a lot and counting everything has 8 separate installations combined; all of it all synching nicely between iOS, OS X & Windows .

 

[ugahairydawgs]

I think there are still a few reasons still to use 1Password.

Do you use Windows or want to view your passwords in browser on other OS's?
Do you trust Apples iCloud to keep your passwords secure (1password by default stores everything locally)?
Would you rather use Dropbox to sync?
How about storing files securely, or having a dedicated place for secure notes, other personal information, software keys etc...
You can easily backup, restore and merge the 1Password file store.

The storage and syncing setup for 1Password and Dropbox is exactly the same for how it is with iCloud Keychain (local > cloud).

 

[skinned66]

The fact that it does not automatically fill in passwords is beyond hiliarious (oh sorry its a "feature")

With the browser plugins mine auto fills once I unlock the repository for the session via the plugin.

The site field labels have to be perfect though. Easiest way to do this is to sign into the site for the first time and have the browser plugin store the info initially.

 

[Danyboy]

So the desktop app is free (which is good), but I have to keep paying for iOS updates every release. Wow.

And still no proper Android app. Glad I switched to LastPass Premium.

How is the desktop app for Windows? Is it like 1Password? I'm in the process of moving away from 1Password as I'm not pleased at all with the lack of an Android app and they constantly ask for more money with every new version. In the end I think it's cheaper LastPass. The only thing that's keeping me to make the switch is that I'm used to 1Password and LastPass does seem to be more a browser plugin than a true program (for Windows). So, how good is the desktop app?

 

[Dark Dragoon]

The storage and syncing setup for 1Password and Dropbox is exactly the same for how it is with iCloud Keychain (local > cloud).

Indeed, but what I meant was that you don't have to use any cloud service at all, you can synchronise your password store locally without it ever touching the internet. local > local.

For the second point you highlighted, some people may want to use Dropbox instead of iCloud. For example if you want to sync with a Windows computer. Or want to have access to the password store which allows itself to be opened in a browser when 1Password isn't installed. I think you can use this method to sync with 1Password on an Android phone as well.

 

[Boghog]

The place where the new Apple solution will automatically have the edge is the integration with Safari in iOS, which is less than perfect in 1Password.
I will probably never use the Windows versions but I still think if Apple wants their system to be on par with 1Password they have a lot of catching up to do.

I also wonder what EU regulators will say here in Europe seeing as Windows wasn't allowed to come pre-bundled with a web browser. Isn't OSX's new functionality rather anti-competitive?

 

[IGregory]

The place where the new Apple solution will automatically have the edge is the integration with Safari in iOS, which is less than perfect in 1Password.
I will probably never use the Windows versions but I still think if Apple wants their system to be on par with 1Password they have a lot of catching up to do.

I also wonder what EU regulators will say here in Europe seeing as Windows wasn't allowed to come pre-bundled with a web browser. Isn't OSX's new functionality rather anti-competitive?

I don't believe the goal of Apple's password is to be on par with other password apps. I don't see apple's program coming anywhere near 1Password features. For example, Apple Calendar. How many calendar apps are there in the App Store? Many of us choose to use a calendar app other than Mac. Yet, the same concern isn't being is present with calendar apps as with Mac new password application.

Another example is LastPass. Will Mac new password application surpass LastPass? Probably not, yet many of us chose 1Password at a cost rather than LastPass. Those who want something for nothing will probably switch to Mac new password. Those of us who want a little more will stay with 1Password. So, the point is this thread is all about nothing.

 

[vmachiel]

I really want this, I hope they do an introductory price.

 

[Razeus]

How is the desktop app for Windows? Is it like 1Password? I'm in the process of moving away from 1Password as I'm not pleased at all with the lack of an Android app and they constantly ask for more money with every new version. In the end I think it's cheaper LastPass. The only thing that's keeping me to make the switch is that I'm used to 1Password and LastPass does seem to be more a browser plugin than a true program (for Windows). So, how good is the desktop app?

There is no "desktop app" per se. It's all in the secure browser called the LastPass Vault. Works just like 1Password. I like it because my $12 premium, allows me 1Password like experience on ALL my devices, in sync. 1Password wanted even more money for the Windows desktop version even though I paid for the Mac desktop version already.

Even Adobe and Blizzard allows their software to be installed on Windows and/or Mac with one purchase. I won't stand for overpriced products from greedy companies anymore. I find it funny that Agilebits is given 1Password 4 to Mac users for free, but charge us for each new iOS app.

I'm pretty sure they'll want another $20 if and when the Android app becomes available. No thanks.

 

[3282868]

With the browser plugins mine auto fills once I unlock the repository for the session via the plugin.

The site field labels have to be perfect though. Easiest way to do this is to sign into the site for the first time and have the browser plugin store the info initially.

That's the one gripe I have with 1Password. I had to go through 200+ stored logins as the saved URL was from a first time registration of an account which would always lead back to the wrong link (didn't realize the error until months later, have 500+ logins stored). It took me 2-3 days to fix them on my free time. 1Password should automatically detect whether the link is from a first time registration verification and offer to store the proper URL or warn the user.

 

[00sjsl]

I trust 1password because I have to pay for their service, and it has never let me down. Why would I trust a free service that stores all my critical passwords ?

Payed for services have had security problems before. Being able to see the source code would have been more reasuring. Particularly with the random passwords, how random are they realy, where does the entropy come from?

 

[Cod3rror]

Why not use open source and free KeePass and MiniKeePass instead of this overpriced app?

 

[techpr]

I can't live without this App. I use 1Password almost 30++ times a day on iPhone, iPad and Mac. Anybody arguing about the price or it's security has not used it. This is premium software.

Finally version 4 on the Mac.