1Password Developers Tease Support for iOS 12 Password Manager API

[zepfhyr]

I am using 1Password 7 on iOS without a subscription (having originally bought 1Password 4), but if I buy/download the app today, there are only two in-app purchase options: 1) subscription and 2) pro features. Is the in-app purchase 'Pro features' what de facto buys the standalone version of the iOS app?

Yes. If you bought 1Password 4 for iOS, then 1Password automatically unlocks the Pro IAP when you tap Restore Purchases. If you sign in with a 1Password.com account, it does the same.
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Go look at their site and their online dialogue the last 12 months. They want to be subscription usage only as soon as possible. They'd already be on that now if it weren't for the enormous amount of pushback they got (IMO).

Small, independent developers have been heavily disrupted by the App Store business model. So many customers expect free updates for years, no matter how much the software cost in the first place. On top of that, they expect to be able to pay once for a piece of software and use it on as many devices as they own. As a result, developers need to either move to a subscription model or release paid upgrades yearly/semi-annually to keep their devs paid and moving forward.

I've never felt pressured to sign up for a 1Password.com account (I did, because I wanted to be able to easily separate out different vaults for my children to use for the passwords they need). I suppose I might be the exception, though. I bought 1Password 4 for Mac twice.

 

[jasonsmith_88]

I tend to object to this new trend of subscriptions in general. Devs have figured out how to continually monetize something for which you used to have to pay once. They figured out that they can make more money by forcing users a revolving fee for “full access” than even periodic app upgrade fees. And technically, you’re not even getting an actual subscription (new content monthly, etc.), you’re just being forced to pay for the right to continue to use the app you own to its full extent. On top of that, when AgileBits rolled out the syncing “subscription” (when DropBox, iCloud, and WebDAV syncing were already working perfectly well ... money grab, anyone?) they made it suspiciously difficult for an inexperienced user to realize that you didn’t have to enroll in it when setting up a new installation. Kinda scummy imo.

I tend to object to this new trend of mechanics charging money to fix cars in general. They figured out that they can make more money by forcing car owners a servicing fee for "maintenance" than even periodic car upgrade fees. And technically, you’re not even getting anything (new engine, tyres, etc.), you’re just being forced to pay for the right to keep the car you own in good working condition.

Of course, this sounds ridiculous when applied to any industry the world. Except for software development - where suddenly people think that paying a meagre one off fee entitles them to unlimited support and updates until the end of time.

If developers are constantly working on the app even after you've paid for it to provide you with incremental updates, bug fixes, security updates, compatibility fixes etc etc, why shouldn't they get paid for that?

 

[Kabeyun]

I tend to object to this new trend of mechanics charging money to fix cars in general. They figured out that they can make more money by forcing car owners a servicing fee for "maintenance" than even periodic car upgrade fees. And technically, you’re not even getting anything (new engine, tyres, etc.), you’re just being forced to pay for the right to keep the car you own in good working condition.

Of course, this sounds ridiculous when applied to any industry the world. Except for software development - where suddenly people think that paying a meagre one off fee entitles them to unlimited support and updates until the end of time.

If developers are constantly working on the app even after you've paid for it to provide you with incremental updates, bug fixes, security updates, compatibility fixes etc etc, why shouldn't they get paid for that?

Anything sounds ridiculous when you compare it to a false equivalency, like equating software to a car, which breaks down over time. $36 is a decent price for an app. Now you have to pay it annually ($60 for families) with doubtless future increases. Used to be that the dev’s work was reimbursed by version pricing, which they set. Now a lot of them capitalize on core functionality, like syncing, to extract a monthly fee for what amounts to a few actual lines of code and in many cases not even having to maintain their own servers. Want to sync across devices? Pay us monthly then. I just don’t think it’s cool. I’m a believer in content ownership, rather than renting the right to use something I paid for.

Maybe your car analogy would be more accurate if you could imagine a car that can go 50 miles an hour, but for a monthly fee, which the manufacturer may increase over time, it can go highway speed. Don’t want to pay the fee? The car will be perfectly fine taking the local roads.

 

[BadgerRustler]

On top of that, they expect to be able to pay once for a piece of software and use it on as many devices as they own. As a result, developers need to either move to a subscription model or release paid upgrades yearly/semi-annually to keep their devs paid and moving forward.

There are many innovative ways that they could charge for 1Password without making their users a giant cash cow.

I have paid for the pro version and paid for it multiple members of my family. Nothing is for free and everyone deserves to get paid for their work. That being said I object to being a passive source of cash and I especially despise AgileBit for charging users in Australia almost 100% more for that subscription. There is no justification for this, their costs of business are more or less the same (save for minor marginal taxation differentials).

Take a look at Agenda2.0 in both the Mac App Store and the iOS store. They have taken an annual subscription approach. Subscribe for the year and you get all the paid for functionality that has been released to that point and access to the paid functionality generated in the next 12 months. At the end of 12 months, either pay again or don't, if you don't you still have access to the functionality that you paid for up to that point. Simple and as a customer I am in control.

The icing on the cake to the badly handled roll out of 1Password v7 on Mac: hiding the one off payment outside the MAS. You've got to go find the hidden download on the AgileBits website and download and pay there. That to me is the very definition of shady practices, especially in a world where less technically aware users are encouraged to see the MAS as a one stop safe place for all their software purchases.

 

[mag01]

You mean these 2 links for the standalone purchase?
https://1password.onfastspring.com/in-app/1password-7-for-mac
https://1password.onfastspring.com/in-app/1password-7-for-windows
Yes, they're really trying to hide them pretty hard. No mention of that possibility at their regular purchaisng page at all, it just screams subscription everywhere.
They also used to sell a Mac+Win bundle for a better price - that's gone now.
Given how things look right now it's possible that with their next major version standalone license will be a thing of the past.
By the way they already tried going subscription only when they released version 6 for Windows. It probably just didn't work out well then, but that may change next time.

But what other options are there? I was recently looking at some alternatives and almost all of the acceptable ones went subscription only as well.
I need a macOS+Windows solution so that's quite a limitation when it comes to possible options.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Yes, they're really trying to hide them pretty hard. No mention of that possibility at their regular purchaisng page at all, it just screams subscription everywhere.

Where on the home page or the pricing page at 1password.com can you find anything about a single, regular purchase?

I'm on there now and the "pricing page" is literally a funnel to signing up for the subscription.

I guess you mean on the very bottom of "1password for Mac" where it talks about "upgrade options" and the takes you to a support doc?

In any case..

An objective person has to admit they are trying very hard to get people on the Subscription route above all else.

 

[tomccabe]

Anything sounds ridiculous when you compare it to a false equivalency, like equating software to a car, which breaks down over time. $36 is a decent price for an app. Now you have to pay it annually ($60 for families) with doubtless future increases. Used to be that the dev’s work was reimbursed by version pricing, which they set. Now a lot of them capitalize on core functionality, like syncing, to extract a monthly fee for what amounts to a few actual lines of code and in many cases not even having to maintain their own servers. Want to sync across devices? Pay us monthly then. I just don’t think it’s cool. I’m a believer in content ownership, rather than renting the right to use something I paid for.

Maybe your car analogy would be more accurate if you could imagine a car that can go 50 miles an hour, but for a monthly fee, which the manufacturer may increase over time, it can go highway speed. Don’t want to pay the fee? The car will be perfectly fine taking the local roads.

This is a lot of words to say “I have no idea how software development works.”

 

[mattyj2001]

This is a lot of words to say “I have no idea how software development works.”

Or, it's a lot of words to convey the idea that software subscriptions are a blatant money grab that some corporate bigwig (probably at AutoCAD) thought of to bring in more money with the same amount of work.

If you stop your Playboy subscription you still have all your old Playboys that you can put to good use. The increasing trend in software is to completely disable features, or the software itself, if you don't pay the extort ... er, subscription fee. My guess is that in the not so distant future this whole notion will go away as consumers realize what's going on and they stop buying software with that pricing model.

This isn't just old man rantings. I have yet to see a valid, believable explanation about why software subscriptions are better that didn't boil down to 'greedy company wants more money.'

 

[Kabeyun]

This is a lot of words to say “I have no idea how software development works.”

Looks like you pulled it off in exactly eight words. Well done!

 

[3JL]

Any news on this? Specifically regarding ETA?

 

[Mr. Heckles]

Any news on this? Specifically regarding ETA?

When iOS 12 comes out...

 

[3JL]

When iOS 12 comes out...

I didn’t notice any evidence of this in the latest PB, so was afraid it would be a later version?

 

[3JL]

https://9to5mac.com/2018/08/21/hands-on-password-autofill-ios-12-1password/

 

[tomccabe]

Looks like you pulled it off in exactly eight words. Well done!

To use your car analogy, your car’s engine has a max speed of 50mph. The car company releases a new engine and you want the parts and labor for free. Welcome to the real world.

 

[Kabeyun]

To use your car analogy, your car’s engine has a max speed of 50mph. The car company releases a new engine and you want the parts and labor for free. Welcome to the real world.

That’s not an accurate analogy. You’ll realize it too if you think about it. We’re talking about SUBSCRUPTIONS here. They’re making you pay monthly (or annualized) just to keep using all the features of the app. Sure, I’ve paid for major app upgrades (your “new engine”). 1P is already one of the more expensive utilities out there. And now they’re peeling off essential functions and making you continue to pay for them forever. Great car! Want to drive 70 instead of 50? That’ll be $10/month. Beautiful house! Want to use the front door? That’ll be $20/month. Nice shirt! Want to use the buttons? That’ll be $2/hour as long as you’re wearing it. The cooking is delicious! Want to eat with utensils instead of putting your face in your food? That’ll be an extra $5/meal. Bull crap. Just charge me more up front for a COMPLETE app (they did. ain’t cheap.) and leave me alone.

 

[Kabeyun]

greedy company wants more money

you want the parts and labor for free

So. Matty (and I) think the subscription trend is b.s., tom thinks they’re fair. In the last three days I’ve been shown these two screen grabs.

The first is Star Walk, which now wants me to continue to pay, presumably forever, to see all the objects in the app I already bought.

The second is Year Calendar, which I already own for iPad, and now offers an iPhone app. My interest lasted until this launch screen, when I discovered that to use a calendar app, a BASIC CALENDAR APP, I have to keep paying, forever. Mind you, this is WITHOUT SYNCING. Just for the privilege of looking at the entries. Forever. I don’t even know if I’d be “subscribing” to find further development, or if they’re laughing all the way to a bigger McMansion. Even Flexibits doesn’t do this with Fantastical, and that’s a top-tier, multifunctional app with syncing and watch and iMessage apps.

This is crap, this is greed, this is total bovine excrement. There is no justification for this, other than barefaced wallet squeezing with no added value. Apparently it’s not profitable enough anymore to ask us to just BUY an app. We now must SUBSCRIBE to an app. Other devs have done it, so why not everyone?? Yay!

And let’s at least be honest. At one recent point didn’t the word “subscribe” mean “pay for a regular supply of new things”? My Sports Illustrated subscription gets me a whole new magazine every month! Now, “subscribe” means “keep paying indefinitely (FOREVER) to keep using the thing you already have”! Maybe in this new paradigm next month’s SI will come with a lock with a credit card chip reader. Only $5 to read it for an hour. Bovine excrement!

tom, you’re up. Tell matty and I how this is all good, fair, and appropriate. Should ANY apps be a single one-time price anymore? How about an iPhone itself? Want to continue to turn it on again? $10/month please. Don’t want to? It makes an awesome paperweight.

 

[tomccabe]

They’re forcing you to pay for those things, eh?

 

[Kabeyun]

They’re forcing you to pay for those things, eh?

In the case of StarWalk, yep. Otherwise I can no longer access content I already bought.

It fine. I get it. You’re not interested in this perspective. You quickly might be if someone welded a padlock with a credit card reader to your car door. You could then have, totally at your option, a subscription to open the door and go in. Then again, a guy with your viewpoint might not. After all, no one’s forcing you to pay extra to drive, right? If you don’t, you still own a pretty decent car, so no problem there!