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Journaling Platform 'Day One' Transitions to a Subscription Service
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These devs, lol, .. trolling for views, complaining the industry sucks right now .. and then milking for more ..
Wow, you got a special mention on MR frontpage, good job.. many well established companies dont even get this when they release a new version once a year. .. monthly.
Wow, you got a special mention on MR frontpage, good job.. many well established companies dont even get this when they release a new version once a year. .. monthly.
You have to love their strategy now.
So they released immediately a new update so that all the negative comments merged in previous ratings and comments and overall they still maintain the good ratings overall
)
So they released immediately a new update so that all the negative comments merged in previous ratings and comments and overall they still maintain the good ratings overall
)I'm glad I listened to my gut feeling and never started using Day One. It was just weird to need a cloud for something that can be easily done locally on the device.
When you look at that price, it does cont more this way and that not the case with Adobe cc apps.
Looked into it. Glad I didn't get it. What a scam.
These guys think they're worth half of what Microsoft charges for Office 365 (and includes 1 TB of OneDrive) or Adobe with CC? LastPass charges only $1/mo. Why do you have to pay for sync when it all goes through iCloud? I'll just use Notes. Or if I want something fancy, Bear. At least they only charge $15/yr.
These guys think they're worth half of what Microsoft charges for Office 365 (and includes 1 TB of OneDrive) or Adobe with CC? LastPass charges only $1/mo. Why do you have to pay for sync when it all goes through iCloud? I'll just use Notes. Or if I want something fancy, Bear. At least they only charge $15/yr.
I am okay with the idea of subscription apps up to a point.
At one time a few years back, the developers behind apps like fantastical and drafts would release a new version of those apps, while halting support for the older versions. If you wanted the newer versions, you would have to buy them again, effectively simulating an annual subscription model.
I feel that a subscription based model solves a very real problem - how long to support an app for. There has always been a conflict of interests - money for an app is paid upfront, while the developer doesn't earn a cent from subsequent updates, so the developer actually has little incentive to do so beyond maintaining his good reputation.
Personally, I don't mind paying $5-10 a year for an app if it means the developer can commit to updating his app at least once a year to support the latest iOS APIs. It roughly works out to buying him a cup of coffee to thank him for his efforts.
But $50 a year? You are talking major OS-level updates at this point, not a simple journaling app.
At one time a few years back, the developers behind apps like fantastical and drafts would release a new version of those apps, while halting support for the older versions. If you wanted the newer versions, you would have to buy them again, effectively simulating an annual subscription model.
I feel that a subscription based model solves a very real problem - how long to support an app for. There has always been a conflict of interests - money for an app is paid upfront, while the developer doesn't earn a cent from subsequent updates, so the developer actually has little incentive to do so beyond maintaining his good reputation.
Personally, I don't mind paying $5-10 a year for an app if it means the developer can commit to updating his app at least once a year to support the latest iOS APIs. It roughly works out to buying him a cup of coffee to thank him for his efforts.
But $50 a year? You are talking major OS-level updates at this point, not a simple journaling app.
This is insane! I'm so glad I kept the DayOne 'classic' app instead of upgrading to 2.0, which I did because I didn't like the idea of my data being stored on their servers rather than iCloud. So far I don't miss getting any new features, but I do hope maintanance updates will continue. So sad they got carried away and ruined a great journaling app but not keeping it simple. I'm just looking for a place to write my personal thoughts, not document a trip around the world for National Geographic.
so...I didn't write in my Day One Journal last night. I was kinda ticked at the situation. I'll probably stay with it (Heck I am still with Aperture and my photos) but the day may come I switch, I just need to find the right switch to write.
the Mac App I got for Free yesterday is useless without a subscription to sync mobile to Mac.
oh, and I got another Day One update this morning
the Mac App I got for Free yesterday is useless without a subscription to sync mobile to Mac.
oh, and I got another Day One update this morning
I am not related to Day One's team in any shape or form - I'm just an on-again, off-again user, and according to Day One, I have "Plus" status.
Like many people here, I had my moment of "WTF??? SUBSCRIPTION? BURN!!!" However, after a couple days of searching for alternatives and messing around with the apps I currently have, I came to a realization that it really comes down to relative value.
Some people are really on top of things about journaling. They make lots of detailed entries every day, or maybe even multiple times every day. 50 bucks may sound atrocious to some people, but for others, it may be a bargain because they're probably SAVING money and by not buying additional notebooks and pen/pencil/ink/etc. every month. Of course, the upside of physical books and writing tools is that you're not reliant on a cloud or what have you.
I think the market forces will always present us with other solutions and alternatives when there are changes. Many people think that Day One is shooting itself in the foot - I think it's too early to tell, and that it really can go either way. For all we know, for every irregular user that switches away, there may be a hardcore journal writer who'll gladly pay up.
Like many people here, I had my moment of "WTF??? SUBSCRIPTION? BURN!!!" However, after a couple days of searching for alternatives and messing around with the apps I currently have, I came to a realization that it really comes down to relative value.
Some people are really on top of things about journaling. They make lots of detailed entries every day, or maybe even multiple times every day. 50 bucks may sound atrocious to some people, but for others, it may be a bargain because they're probably SAVING money and by not buying additional notebooks and pen/pencil/ink/etc. every month. Of course, the upside of physical books and writing tools is that you're not reliant on a cloud or what have you.
I think the market forces will always present us with other solutions and alternatives when there are changes. Many people think that Day One is shooting itself in the foot - I think it's too early to tell, and that it really can go either way. For all we know, for every irregular user that switches away, there may be a hardcore journal writer who'll gladly pay up.
Developers seem to like to plead poverty like this. If you can't make a sustainable income from your product, then rethink the product! Dont just rejig the revenue model around the the existing product.
Why are developers so special that they should be able to produce a single product and expect it to keep paying them? I dont get charged a subscription from Ikea for my Billy Bookcase. Ikea need to make new products to refresh their line and/or find ways to sell more of their successful products (hello Billy!). And Dont tell me this Journal app requires a revenue stream to fund the service. It appears to only leverage iCloud which I pay for already. Make v3 and charge for that. Hell make a version every year and charge for it. People can choose if they want to get the new features or not then. If you can't get people to buy your new version then maybe your app is no longer viable. Move on...
Subscriptions have a place for sure, but they have to be earned and constantly show value. You also dont shoe horn subscriptions into your existing application just to squeeze new revenue out of it, unless you really can transition it to a valuable service based model. Which this does NOT appear to be.
In general there is no problem with subscriptions, but they comes with big (IMHO) responsibilities for the developer. Such as providing 24/7 support, responsiveness to the user requests, frequent updates, subscription perks. I believe to many developers see subscriptions as a way to keep charging for their application with minimal or meaningless updates and minimal support just to elongate the revenue stream artificially.
Microsoft (can't speak for Adobe as I have no experience of their subscriptions) have long earned their right to do subscriptions. Well before O365 they have been selling software by subscription and have built a model for doing it which includes all the things I said above and they do it very well.
Thanks,
James
Their pricing model is fine, and the right of the original (Plus) users is promised. The problem is how could Day One earns profits only from the extremely hardcore users who would like to spend the whole day on writing journals.
Everyone keeps touting the $50 per year subscription, which is basically for new users. If you've been using the app and have already purchased Day One 2.0 then you can either keep using the app as usual with no annual fee, or if you want the new premium features the you only pay $24.99 a year. Currently they are also offering a discount to Day One Classic and new users an introductory rate at just $34.99 a year.
If you've been using Day One since literally Day One like I have, then you know how good the product is. Personally I wouldn't call myself a power user, but I do post at least one entry a day, sometimes 3 or 4. I have several different journals set up. Although I haven't reached the 10 max Day One 2.0 allowed, the idea of an infinite number as the Premium subscription allows is nice. In addition the knowledge that a web version will be available soon is nice which means that when I don't have access to my Mac/iPad/iPhone I can still post a note using a WinDOZE based computer with an internet connection, such as my desk from work or whatever. I haven't printed out any books yet of my journals but I do have a vacation coming up and have s separate journal for notes relating to said vacation and when finished would be interested in printing that out so the discount on books that the subscription offers sounds nice. I currently enjoy having all my Day One apps and devices synced together and if the subscription allows that to continue, then yes it is worth my $25 a year.
Before Day One I did journaling on the iPad with another app which over the years promised an iPhone app and it never materialized. Then Day One came around and in a short time they had a Mac app as well and everything was synced. I could easily add, edit or delete entries from any device and it all was synced together. When 2.0 introduced their own sync service I was skeptical at firs, but other apps I use that have their own sync services I never had a problem with and so far have not had any sync issues with Day One. So the subscription to me is worth it. As of right now I have close to 9 years of journal entries in Day One since I transferred those entries from prior to Day One into it. I have over 4700 entries covering 3034 Days. I use the app, I love the app and I will subscribe to it.
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The Billy Bookcase is an inanimate object. Doesn't have bug fixes (unless you spray it with Raid) and does not require tech support from Ikea because someone can't get it to do something they want it to do. When a software developer DOES an upgrade and charges for it, you hear arguments that the upgrade should be free. Well some people seem to think that the developer should offer these updates in perpetuity of no fee. That is not sustainable. They could update and charge for the app annually, which then also creates a subscription mode after having to buy upgrades every year so where is the difference? Yes, you could skip the upgrade, but at the same token you could skip the subscription. You can't have your cake and eat it too. I have subscription to several apps, and they are all updated frequently, I have no issues with any of these apps and I am guaranteed to have the latest version and features. Some new features I may not use, but they are there and it is my choice to use them. When I decide to use them I don't have to go and get the update they are already there.
People are making that point a lot - but think about it. Does that mean that the developer has basically given up any new sales of Day One?
Am I the only one who thinks free Basic tier is very usable?
Whether you like Day One Premium pricing or not, it doesn't take away the greatness of Day One iOS and macOS apps. They are polished, very functional, and IMO, best in class.
Basic tier is limited to just 1 photo per entry and just 1 journal. That is sufficient for most casual users, especially kids. And you can always create one entry for each photo.
My only quibble is that Day One does not allow you to store data on Dropbox or iCloud Drive like it did on 1.x.
Whether you like Day One Premium pricing or not, it doesn't take away the greatness of Day One iOS and macOS apps. They are polished, very functional, and IMO, best in class.
Basic tier is limited to just 1 photo per entry and just 1 journal. That is sufficient for most casual users, especially kids. And you can always create one entry for each photo.
My only quibble is that Day One does not allow you to store data on Dropbox or iCloud Drive like it did on 1.x.
Yeah but the huge difference is that even if they stop supporting the older version after introducing a new one, that version would still work, maybe forever if you don't update your OS or your machine. You can still decide to update whenever you feel ready, or if you really feel the new version is worth it. I still have software that was abandonned by the developpers and it's still running on my older machines.
If I want to move to another software, I can try to export my data and import it into the other one.
That's the huge difference with subscriptions : Stop paying one month, and your software stops working, along with your data held hostage. It's just inacceptable.
Completely agree. Once the subscription model starts, data is held hostage the moment you stop paying, and the app becomes unusable. Most of the times.
I have a cell-phone, cable/internet, Netflix and Apple Music. That's quite enough for me. I think it's a great app, but I didn't use it enough. However, the idea of this being a subscription service is laughable to me.
I understand developers have to constantly work to upgrade/improve their apps, but I'd rather pay a few bucks for major releases than subscribe to something. I haven't looked at 1passwords subscription features, but I know I upgrade to all major releases on the Mac/iOS store and will continue to do so because it works great, has regular upgrades after purchase, and each new major release has been worth purchasing. I think the key to a subscription model is to offer both; give basic users a single price to upgrade, and offer features that are outside of normal use as subscription features. Don't hamper your app to make me pay for something I'll never use.
I understand developers have to constantly work to upgrade/improve their apps, but I'd rather pay a few bucks for major releases than subscribe to something. I haven't looked at 1passwords subscription features, but I know I upgrade to all major releases on the Mac/iOS store and will continue to do so because it works great, has regular upgrades after purchase, and each new major release has been worth purchasing. I think the key to a subscription model is to offer both; give basic users a single price to upgrade, and offer features that are outside of normal use as subscription features. Don't hamper your app to make me pay for something I'll never use.
That is exactly what is happening. If you already purchased Day One 2.0 or even are still using the Day One Classic, you still have the features you had and can continue to use them without the subscription. However if you want to use any of the features that are now considered Premium, you will need to subscribe.
I'm "plus" because I'm an older user, but no, I think that "basic" looks very usable for what I use Day One for.