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Mac and iOS Writing App 'Ulysses' Transitions to Subscription Model
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After reading more about Scrivener, I believe I will give it a try.
Hey there, fellow Graphic user! Nice to see the assortment of Panic apps, too. So glad they haven't gone subscription. Love those apps.
Yeah, I'm a mutant game dev
Yep just did it and replaced Ulysses:
Voilà!
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I made an account with MacRumors just to post this. For those looking for a Lightroom alternative (that don't use Photoshop), I recommend going with Capture One Pro. While they do offer a subscription option, they also have a standalone purchase available for those who don't want to go with the subscription route.
Truth. It's hard to make a living when people only buy updates at major releases and even then they complain about them even with a reduced upgrade price.
If you want your favorite apps to see continued development, subscriptions are going to be the way it's going to happen. It's the only way developers can make a steady stream of income to keep working on these products. Otherwise expect those apps to generally remain a hobby with infrequent updates and bug fixes.
Many may complain but if you get real value out of an app each and every day/week, why not throw their developers a bit each month in order to keep making it better.
That's absolutely no reason to move to a subscription model. Sorry, but if they depend of a subscription model like this, they're doing it wrong. As I said they could have added the possibility to optionally buy Extra Features. But looks like they run out of new groundbreaking ideas to offer solid Feature Packs over IAP. They are just trying to charge for the same features over and over again, while adding minor improvements to the app. That's just ($)_($) eyes...
I stopped using Scrivener because it was often getting in the way of my work. Ulysses is simply a beautiful piece of software to work in. I considered Bear, but I don't like the subscription model. Now I feel torn. Grateful that the lifelong discount is being offered, but I suspect I will be using Ulysses as long as it will go, without having to switch. Now perhaps I am a hypocrite, as I am happy to pay subscription to Evernote, as its brilliant for my work, and I've been using it for years -- primarily for storing articles and short notes. Recently, I use Ulysses a lot, for writing longer-form stuff. Now that Ulysses has trained my mind more in that form of organizing my writing, maybe I would have an easier time with Scrivener, and I should look at it again. But to be honest, I'm hesitant. I pay subscriptions for Apple Music, iCloud, Evernote... there are obvious benefits to doing so, and these are clearly server-based storage solutions. But Ulysses is hardly that, and already does what its supposed to do, largely on one device (my laptop), and sometimes my iPad. It lives on my iCloud, for which I already pay. So, what am I not seeing here? I am just not sure Ulysses is not gouging me. I will leave if I have to. I am not so long using it that I couldn't port it all over to Scrivener
I wonder where all those apps used to come from before software rental was so 'necessary'.
Perplexing. If fellow MR readers would like me to find out the answer, pay me $5 a month forever and I will attempt to find out for you. I'll get on that right away, no, I promise, really, it'll be the best investigation into that question you can get, and you'll get regular updates about how far, um, I mean near I am from reaching a conclusion!
Say no to software rental.
Perplexing. If fellow MR readers would like me to find out the answer, pay me $5 a month forever and I will attempt to find out for you. I'll get on that right away, no, I promise, really, it'll be the best investigation into that question you can get, and you'll get regular updates about how far, um, I mean near I am from reaching a conclusion!
Say no to software rental.
I just wonder what kind of SaaS approach they will internalise. Will it be once a year "shades of purple upgrade" like OneNote? Is it going to be the "break things in one update, revert back to original stage in the next" model like Todoist? How about Evernote style "go berserk since we collect our annual rents"? Creative Cloud seems legit as well with their "annual most useless single feature inclusion festival"? There is the Grammarly model, too! "Do absolutely nothing and still get paid!"
I will say that if Ulysses and 1Password joined this site along with a few other subscription services, I'd sign up - https://setapp.com/apps
Edit: Looks like Ulysses is in this so if you plan on using 5 of the apps in this package, $10 a month is a good deal considering Ulysses is $5
Edit: Looks like Ulysses is in this so if you plan on using 5 of the apps in this package, $10 a month is a good deal considering Ulysses is $5
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And what exactly is wrong with releasing a version for money, doing minor updates to keep things running smoothly -- and then releasing another paid upgrade down the line when a major version is released? Somehow they can't quite make enough money for that? I'm not arguing for free software here, not by a longshot.
I'm sick of renting software. I happily bought both the OS X and iOS versions of Ulysses, paid a pretty hefty price for them (which I don't dispute, it was worth it) and am now basically being told I'm not going to see ANY updates or bug fixed -- and believe me, there are still bugs -- to these until I start paying every month, forever.
You want to make a piece of software with that model? It better be absolutely indispensible, because I'm not handing you $60/year to tweak and bug fix and try out new features to justify your budget.
The developer came out with some statement about doing more frequent releases, more new features. Here's a ****ing thought: create a version with a good set of features and make sure it works smoothly. When you come up with another set of good, useful new features, make a major release and I'll be happy to pay for it if they're features I need.
Again, thank you Cultured Code, Pixelmator, Omni Group, Fantastical...etc.
1Password was/is the other one very close to get kicked off all my devices, but somehow they got the curve "for now".
So wait, you're annoyed that the next version will be subscription only, so you're going to stop using a still perfectly functional app? That would be like if I'd burned my CS6 discs when Adobe announced Creative Cloud. I uh, didn't, and still use those programs to this day. If the current Ulysses apps are working for you, keep using them till they stop. You've probably got at least a year or two.
I am happy to support developers for their hard work. In fact I feel good supporting well-written apps that make me more productive and are a pleasure to use.
However since apps are moving to the subscription model (TextExpander, 1Password, Evernote, ToDoist, Ulysses) as well as services (Dropbox, additional iCloud storage) and media subscriptions (Amazon Prime, Netflix, Hulu, HBO Now, Apple Music), I am starting to suffer from Subscription Fatigue.
Too many subscriptions means that a breaking point is fast approaching for my budget. In the near future I will have to begin picking and choosing which apps to support and, unfortunately, some developers are going to lose me as a customer/subscriber.
However since apps are moving to the subscription model (TextExpander, 1Password, Evernote, ToDoist, Ulysses) as well as services (Dropbox, additional iCloud storage) and media subscriptions (Amazon Prime, Netflix, Hulu, HBO Now, Apple Music), I am starting to suffer from Subscription Fatigue.
Too many subscriptions means that a breaking point is fast approaching for my budget. In the near future I will have to begin picking and choosing which apps to support and, unfortunately, some developers are going to lose me as a customer/subscriber.
In theory yes, in reality no, unless you keep a collection of old hardware running old operating systems in your basement.
I have a plenty of old software licenses of discontinued products for computers and operating systems that don't work or exist any longer. Most expensive were those from Adobe. With a lot of effort I might be able to get an old system up and running again to open old files stored on ancient storage systems (floppy, zip disk, ...) and let's hope the software then doesn't depend on some licensing server that was turned off 10 years ago. The lock-in is more or less the same, either pay for subscription or pay for upgrades so that you can still access your files.
What we should demand are open non-proprietary file standards but of course software companies have no interest in that.
Why should he continue using something that has no future anyway.
The day it stops working right, and you still depend of it, its already too late.
Better proactively move to something else.
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So far there is no evidence: http://www.literatureandlatte.com/blog/
Speaking as a small developer, I don't think subscriptions are the answer. If you have the volume I'm sure it's better for the developer in the short run. But long term with an app like this it will be nearly impossible for the developers to generate enough value to make it worth it. And when that happens, users will leave and the app will wither and die. Even Adobe has this problem.
I feel like developers need to really work to understand their markets and their own development skills better. Price software that reflects your ability, what you are going to put into the product time wise, and what value your users can get from the app. Don't price software based on "I would like more money".
I feel like developers need to really work to understand their markets and their own development skills better. Price software that reflects your ability, what you are going to put into the product time wise, and what value your users can get from the app. Don't price software based on "I would like more money".
Apple Notes app is getting better and better every update and support Apple Pencil for handwritten notes and folders to categorize them
Well said.
I think all devs who are (as I see it) taking the high road and choosing not to go this route need to say it loud and proud, as a selling point. I am certainly more likely to use/give money for apps from companies making the point that they philosophically disagree with the rental/lock-in model and are happy to tell the world they don't plan on turning to the dark side...
Like the old green dude with the long ears once said: "Once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny!"