The same app running different versions for different users is just not something developers want to deal with. Just imagine, in 4 years, there are 5 different versions including one original free version.
What's the app you used for this list?
All I can say is thank god I got Goodnotes.
Notability users have been left frustrated and annoyed after the developer of the popular Mac and iOS note-taking app revealed on Monday that it has switched to a subscription-based model, and that key features included in original app purchases will stop functioning after one year.
Previously available as a one-off $8.99 purchase, Notability for iPhone, iPad, and Mac is now free to download on the App Store, but not all the features are available in the "freemium" version, and those that are included have editing limitations.
To get "the full Notability experience" offered by version 11.0 of the app now requires an annual $14.99 subscription, which includes unlimited note taking and access to additional features that are otherwise available as in-app purchases.
As far as it affects current users who purchased the full app, key features will become non-functional after one year, after which they will have to subscribe to retain the feature set they originally paid for. In other words, no grandfathering scheme is currently being offered. Addressed to those users, a Medium post from the Notability Blog explains:
Thousands of Notability users have taken to Twitter and Reddit to express their frustration with the unexpected change.
As many users have pointed out, on the face of it, the change appears to violate Apple's App Store Review Guidelines, which state "if you are changing your existing app to a subscription-based business model, you should not take away the primary functionality existing users have already paid for." We've reached out to both Notability and Apple for comment.
Notability has garnered an Apple Editors' Choice spot and is regularly a top-ranked app worldwide on the App Store. The app has gained widespread popularity with students and teachers alike, as it includes a variety of note-taking, journaling, and drawing tools, and can be used to mark up imported documents.
The other popular note-taking app for iOS and Mac that Notability is often compared to is GoodNotes, which remains available as a one-off $7.99 purchase on the App Store.
Several popular apps have switched to subscription models in recent years as a way to stave off dwindling income after years of free updates, but some developers have taken a different and less divisive approach.
For example, just over a year ago the developers of popular paid-for camera app Halide released Halide Mark II as a whole new app, and gave it to all users of the original app for free, with all the new features and updates free for a year. After the year is up, the app continues to work, but to get additional features requires an optional subscription or a one-time purchase.
Article Link: Notability Users Frustrated By Switch to Subscription Model Claim Violation of App Store Guidelines
I don't think the price is the actual concern for most people. The concern is that we woke up one morning with a fully functional application that we paid for. The next morning, we wake up and learn that the application will be severely crippled unless we pay yearly for it. That's an extremely user hostile approach, which in turn makes users question whether or not they want to continue doing business with a company that's liable to flip the script on them again at any moment.
My sister knows the guy that created Notability. She got me to use it. She stopped using it a while ago and switched to Noteshelf. After trying Noteshelf on her setup I’ve made the switch to Noteshelf. Works great and has a better feel with the handwriting functionality.
No…no, they didn’t. After a year, functionality that was once available with the paid app is taken away. Editing Tools are no longer accessible. Auto-backups stop. Handwriting recognition and Math conversion (which we bought separately as IAP) stop working. iCloud syncing
Yes they did. I still use it, I don’t pay a subscription. I have encrypted journals and all. You’re talking about the orginal Day One app that have iCloud sync. They current Day One app did not ever have iCloud sync, it was always Day One sync.
My mistake, I missed the part where you guys were talking about Day One app
And it sucked, which I acknowledged. Just stating there’s worse examples IMO of companies transition from one time payment to subscription. June Cloud at least grandfather in some core functions unlike what’s happened in this articles case.
You sound like you're agreeing with me in a disagreeable way.
Maybe have a read of my comment again, and see that I wasn't defending Notability or the practice of disabling paid software.'Different users' 'running different versions' is simply a reality of software development. Any time a developer releases even a minor update, there's another 'version' that someone, somewhere might be running at any given time. (That's a lot more than 5 in most cases!)
I'm talking about losing the ability to work with and edit your files. This is exactly what happens if you stop subscribing to something like Adobe Creative Cloud. I liken that to a ransom, and it's the number one reason I dislike the monthly subscription model.
It’s called stop putting new features in your app and make it a whole new version that would require people like this cheapskate to have to upgrade and pay again. The way you describe it, the finance people at notability are idiots. Which may be true
It's really hard to decide between:
