09-27-2014, 01:53 AM
Mike, I myself am also willing to pay for a parallel option, and also am inclined towards some approach that gives you compensation for your hard work.
A suggestion which MIGHT be a way to offer the customer the choice of "pure replacement update" or "run in parallel" --- and I offer this withOUT knowing if this works with either MS architecture or Play Store + others' architecture.
Is it possible to put 2 separate "products" up on Play Store, containing the same (similar) v5 app code:
a) a free-to-current-customers "v5 Update" product: this installs by overwriting v4 on the customer's tablet, hence eliminating the parallel or rollback options.
b) a buy/paid "v5 Parallel+Separate" product, set up under a slightly different product name: this is coded to install separately from v4, allowing parallel/rollback operation.
The app code for "v5-Parallel" could be exactly the same as "v5-Update," or could be different in some way. Or maybe at some point you could limit the update path on v5-Update ... like maybe v5-Up only goes thru v7, v8, or future updates thru, say, 2016 ... or something that keeps with the "spirit of the deal," the reasonable expecations of your current customer base.
And just speaking for myself, I intensely dislike subscription products- so far I have always found an alternative to Adobe and MSFT products that are going that way. I buy my (old) cars, I don't like leasing them. I want to own what I buy. I work hard to avoid any situation where I'm going to be forced into a change, like when you turn in a leased car, or an app or operating system I use FORCES an update or expires. It's about the UI, and stability, in addition to + as much as the cost. Continuity in user interface is very valuable to me, and I want contol over my own decision + timing of when I change.
If something I buy has a limited update horizon, or if (when) there is a MAJOR product generational step up (and v4 to v5 here is major) -- I'm happy to see the choice between hanging with my current version, and paying for the major step up (and learning the UI changes). Just tell me up front when I buy it, how that's gonna work- what I'm buying. I can't do that under subscription. MSFT 365 is a NON-STARTER for me, for these UI reasons, among others. That's even MORE true if the app is in some way integrated with my income.
And can't leave without commenting - this is a great product, and I sincerely hope you're able to create a decent and sustainable business model around it.
A suggestion which MIGHT be a way to offer the customer the choice of "pure replacement update" or "run in parallel" --- and I offer this withOUT knowing if this works with either MS architecture or Play Store + others' architecture.
Is it possible to put 2 separate "products" up on Play Store, containing the same (similar) v5 app code:
a) a free-to-current-customers "v5 Update" product: this installs by overwriting v4 on the customer's tablet, hence eliminating the parallel or rollback options.
b) a buy/paid "v5 Parallel+Separate" product, set up under a slightly different product name: this is coded to install separately from v4, allowing parallel/rollback operation.
The app code for "v5-Parallel" could be exactly the same as "v5-Update," or could be different in some way. Or maybe at some point you could limit the update path on v5-Update ... like maybe v5-Up only goes thru v7, v8, or future updates thru, say, 2016 ... or something that keeps with the "spirit of the deal," the reasonable expecations of your current customer base.
And just speaking for myself, I intensely dislike subscription products- so far I have always found an alternative to Adobe and MSFT products that are going that way. I buy my (old) cars, I don't like leasing them. I want to own what I buy. I work hard to avoid any situation where I'm going to be forced into a change, like when you turn in a leased car, or an app or operating system I use FORCES an update or expires. It's about the UI, and stability, in addition to + as much as the cost. Continuity in user interface is very valuable to me, and I want contol over my own decision + timing of when I change.
If something I buy has a limited update horizon, or if (when) there is a MAJOR product generational step up (and v4 to v5 here is major) -- I'm happy to see the choice between hanging with my current version, and paying for the major step up (and learning the UI changes). Just tell me up front when I buy it, how that's gonna work- what I'm buying. I can't do that under subscription. MSFT 365 is a NON-STARTER for me, for these UI reasons, among others. That's even MORE true if the app is in some way integrated with my income.
And can't leave without commenting - this is a great product, and I sincerely hope you're able to create a decent and sustainable business model around it.