I bought Notability with a bunch of add ons. I can't believe they can change things this one-sidedly. It's unacceptable.
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Notability Users Frustrated By Switch to Subscription Model Claim Violation of App Store Guidelines
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This. Just because we are talking about a digital product doesn't mean it can be stolen back by the developer after x period. Would we let a roofer come and take back his shingles because he has a new and improved service a year later and wants you to buy his shiny new shingles? Apple should force them to leave the current app with existing functionality, and they can create a new app sub-only.
in the past, similar things were done by really good "Paste" app. There were only 2 options left: use old versions with no continuous support (which can be downloaded only on Mac from the site) or switch to Subscription for users who paid in the past.
I really loved Day One, and may other apps that went sub. And really aside from 1Password, I've left them behind. I'm not gonna pay forever to write a journal entry, or view a pretty calendar, or this or that. I like the way Things is priced. Create a good, high quality app, charge a fair price so the dev can eat, and be done. Apple should have better ways for devs to "upgrade" like we used to do with old software in a box. With a sub, I'm either paying monthly or annually, but often I'd go 2/3 years before I upgraded an app, depending. I want that luxury.. I don't want my choice taken from me. Price it right and if it's a decent app, you'll make money.
The devs should talk to Apple about how it should be easier for trial periods, upgrades, etc. That's a mess Apple is going to have to sort out. But while this mess is in place, developers need to abide by the rules. I don't care if I paid $1 for an app 10 years ago. If the app still works, I'll use it and I'm not worried about the dev. If I bought a license to own that app, that's mine forever. And if I paid $1 and used it for 10 years, I made out like a bandit. But the developer can create new versions, upgrades, and entice me to buy other versions. This has existed as long as software has been sold. If a developer can't add more value to his apps/offerings, why would they expect us to pay more? We might just like our current version, forever. The developer can stop updating a previous version, and maybe that pisses of customers, and if they pull that too much, customers leave... that's business. Lesson to devs: THIS IS A BUSINESS. If you do not know what you are doing, you will lose money, and may go broke! The customer shouldn't be their insurance plan for their failure to create a good biz model.
The problem Notability had was that you until now essentially paid once and got all new features for eternity. I'm not saying that they've done the right thing here, but I can see how they felt the need to change their model.
That's fine as long as the subscription pays for either regular new features, maintenance of existing features, or infrastructure costs, but from what I understand here Notability is taking away existing features already implemented and purchased by users, which then would end up to have to "pay twice" to have said features re-enabled under the subscription model.
Furthermore, if the original price was $8.99 one-time and the new price is $14.99 every year, that's a quite significant price increase in itself.
Probably unnecessary now that headlines have reached the mainstream Apple press, plus their Twitter. Apple's PR people will be aware already, particularly as it kind of ties in with their ongoing press around App Store policies.
I deleted the apps from all my devices. F 'em. There's enough out there with the same functionality. This ain't exactly rocket science.
The insulting "goes free" (after having paid $$$ for it) and by free they mean "pay us yearly more $$$" was what made me run away fast.
The insulting "goes free" (after having paid $$$ for it) and by free they mean "pay us yearly more $$$" was what made me run away fast.
I've had this happen twice now with pretty expensive apps. I think both 50 euros. It was the Tomtom navigation app. Buy once, map updates forever. And then they ended forever and went free and subscription. The other was the LogMeIn remote control app.
Tomtom offered a two year subscription for free, and I've been renewing every year because the new app is actually better. So bottom line they ended up giving me a better product, for which I pay more. Which is fine.
LogMeIn just ended my use case. I got nothing new or extra from them and they required me to pay a subscription. So I went for something else.
So the big question here is: Does a year subscription compensate for the initial purchase. And, do they offer anything new or extra in the subscription.
Tomtom offered a two year subscription for free, and I've been renewing every year because the new app is actually better. So bottom line they ended up giving me a better product, for which I pay more. Which is fine.
LogMeIn just ended my use case. I got nothing new or extra from them and they required me to pay a subscription. So I went for something else.
So the big question here is: Does a year subscription compensate for the initial purchase. And, do they offer anything new or extra in the subscription.
That's nothing compared to what EA did with Tetris a few years ago. I had purchased the game, then apparently EA's deal with the Tetris people expired. You'd think this would result in customers simply no longer being able to purchase Tetris from that point on. But no, my existing paid copy of Tetris on my iPhone CEASED WORKING, they disabled it.
I agree with you. But my understanding is also that the vital features in the original $8.99 app will be free from now on, no subscription required. The subscription is more related to upgrades that were previously IAPs, which people are understandably angry about.
Hmmm... that's a lot better than $70/year for Evernote.
Though Evernote keeps giving me offers for $40/year... which is still high.
I use the free version of Evernote, but I've switched most of my notes to OneNote since I have a Microsoft 365 account anyway.
I wonder what's gonna happen with all these apps going to subscriptions. When you have an app that costs as much as an entire streaming service... something's not right...
The rise of subscription based software licensing, particularly with professional software, has been VERY concerning and as a small business owner, it has forced my hand to switch software several times (photoshop to affinity for example). It has also prevented me from using software and apps that would help my business such as Shapr3D.
As others have said, moving to a subscription model pretty much guarantees continued income for the developers which helps to support further development but there has to be another way! Subscription licenses are problematic for the following reasons:
1. It enables the developers to not offer any real substantial updates while still requiring money from their users…
2. It locks users into continually paying for software that they may only use on rare occasions…
3. If the user stops paying for the software, their past projects are often blocked behind a paywall. In other words, the developers can now block you from your own work… Major issue, especially when you consider point #2 above.
4. It forces the user to pay for new features which they may never use…
These are major issues. There needs to be a way for customers to pay up front for a “perpetual” license (although subscription can still be an option) and get continued support for the features present in the version they paid for. When the developer releases new exciting features, the customer can choose to upgrade to unlock those new features if they choose.
For example, Procreate just launched a pretty major new update with 3D model painting. I would have gladly given that developer extra money to “unlock” that feature.
As others have said, moving to a subscription model pretty much guarantees continued income for the developers which helps to support further development but there has to be another way! Subscription licenses are problematic for the following reasons:
1. It enables the developers to not offer any real substantial updates while still requiring money from their users…
2. It locks users into continually paying for software that they may only use on rare occasions…
3. If the user stops paying for the software, their past projects are often blocked behind a paywall. In other words, the developers can now block you from your own work… Major issue, especially when you consider point #2 above.
4. It forces the user to pay for new features which they may never use…
These are major issues. There needs to be a way for customers to pay up front for a “perpetual” license (although subscription can still be an option) and get continued support for the features present in the version they paid for. When the developer releases new exciting features, the customer can choose to upgrade to unlock those new features if they choose.
For example, Procreate just launched a pretty major new update with 3D model painting. I would have gladly given that developer extra money to “unlock” that feature.
Never mind the moral side of it, but is this even legal? Are they legally allowed to turn off features that you've already paid for?
I just use Apple Notes and don't pay subs yeah I may miss out on features but I can make it work. Really the only way you are going to be able to make a change, hit them in the wallet, don't subscribe and see what happens.
Yes, you can't expect 6 years of updates. But you can expect that you can keep the exact software you paid for …
(The App Store doesn't support disabling automatic updates for a specific app.)
The proper way to do this is to stop releasing updates, remove it from sale and introduce 2.0 with a subscription model. Or to let people who paid for it keep using the features they paid for (e.g. like Fantastical did).
I'm actually very much pro subscription, but you can't pull a switcheroo after the sale. It's not the customer's job to consider whether a company has a sustainable business model. The developer should have considered that before selling lifetime licenses for 9 bucks.
There is 2 ways forward. Either we go back to the 90's and 2000's where Microsoft and Adobe created newer and newer versions of the software. Like Windows 95, 98, XP, Vista, etc. Newer software that we need to pay for and reinstall.
Or we go forward with one software that's regularly updated with new features, but with subscriptions. I remember buying paid apps in 2012-16. None of those app work anymore. Either they moved to subscriptions, or they came with newer paid versions and abandoned the older ones. Or they were just never updated because they never made enough money for the developers to keep them updated.
Anyone remember Infinity Blade series, the paid games. They were never updated for long and now they are out of the App Store. Apps like Taasky, Peek Calendar, calcbot 1, Tweetbot versions 1 to 5, fantastical 1 and 2 that were chart toppers and got widely reviewed by the media. They don't exist anymore or they never get updated.
As much I hate subscriptions, I don't think investing time in apps that don't have a subscription is the way forward, because they don't seem to work financially for the developers.
Or we go forward with one software that's regularly updated with new features, but with subscriptions. I remember buying paid apps in 2012-16. None of those app work anymore. Either they moved to subscriptions, or they came with newer paid versions and abandoned the older ones. Or they were just never updated because they never made enough money for the developers to keep them updated.
Anyone remember Infinity Blade series, the paid games. They were never updated for long and now they are out of the App Store. Apps like Taasky, Peek Calendar, calcbot 1, Tweetbot versions 1 to 5, fantastical 1 and 2 that were chart toppers and got widely reviewed by the media. They don't exist anymore or they never get updated.
As much I hate subscriptions, I don't think investing time in apps that don't have a subscription is the way forward, because they don't seem to work financially for the developers.
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I always knew this day would come. I purchase this app when I got my first iPad in 2012, and since then, have been using it for work (as a teacher) every single day. $9-10, over a decade, that's barely a dollar a year. Crazy value, and it was also clear that this model would not be sustainable for the developer ultimately.
As with any paid app, the question at the back of your head ought to be - what happens if it every goes subscription-based some day. Do I stick around, or if not, what's my plan B with regards to not only alternatives but also any data residing in the app.
That said, whether this move contravenes any App Store rule or not, I literally couldn't care less. I am sticking around, I am happy to continue paying if it means the developer continues to support Notability for a good many years to come and well, I guess that makes 18? subscriptions for me right now?
As with any paid app, the question at the back of your head ought to be - what happens if it every goes subscription-based some day. Do I stick around, or if not, what's my plan B with regards to not only alternatives but also any data residing in the app.
That said, whether this move contravenes any App Store rule or not, I literally couldn't care less. I am sticking around, I am happy to continue paying if it means the developer continues to support Notability for a good many years to come and well, I guess that makes 18? subscriptions for me right now?
Exactly. Actively disabling an app that somebody has already paid for is not only despicable, but it should be illegal as well.
Yes, I agree they need to change their model. But they need to live with that they created. I would have no problem with them telling users you can use our "classic" version, but on X date, no further features/fixes will be added, and it will work with the next version of Mac OS.. until it doesn't. At that time, they can say "come and check out our new app, with all these new features, for a low monthly price of..." I would have no problems with that. But they chose an unsustainable business model way back when and they are making matters worse by alienating their customers. Are customers happy to pay once for something useful and have it for life? Hell yes!!! Who wants to pay more than they need to for anything? If you could walk into a SuperMarket and they wouldn't care if you paid or didn't pay... my guess is most people don't pay and then they go out of business. So you need another approach.
LOL I use Simplenote. For what I use it for.. well, it' simple. Mostly notes to myself, code snippets, etc. I've been burned by Realmac Software a few times. Bought apps, then they kindly discontinued the apps/services, etc.. I'll never again buy any apps from that dev.Hmmm... that's a lot better than $70/year for Evernote.
Though Evernote keeps giving me offers for $40/year... which is still high.
I use the free version of Evernote, but I've switched most of my notes to OneNote since I have a Microsoft 365 account anyway.
I wonder what's gonna happen with all these apps going to subscriptions. When you have an app that costs as much as an entire streaming service... something's not right...
I stopped using Notability a year ago because Goodnotes 5 is better for me. But I was disappointed by all the people reporting that Notability deleted all their notes. Also this news caused me to delete notability. Horrible.
They could have pulled a goodnotes move and made a “Notability 2” app. Or they could have grandfathered existing purchasers like GoodReader did.
The way they did it stinks.
They could have pulled a goodnotes move and made a “Notability 2” app. Or they could have grandfathered existing purchasers like GoodReader did.
The way they did it stinks.