I’m fine with an ad version and then an upgrade to an ad-free version.
What’s insane here is this developer making a subscription service instead of an ad-free pro version
I mean, he’s competing against TOTALLY FREE, Ad-free lemmy apps RIGHT NOW, and every 3rd-party Reddit app developer is working on a lemmy version as we speak.
This was a total clown move. I was ready to drop like $10 on a pro version right now, if it had great UI. But a subscription … For access to a FREE service? The balls on this guy.
Lemmy instances are not a free service. Yet don’t have ads and instead rely on donations or are self funded. And then this app comes out with a subscription model to remove ads despite instances doing the heavy lifting of this space that has been contrary to the usual monetization model?
I’m not sure this type of defense you make really applies in this situation. If it was a reddit app sure, but in the space of the fediverse it stands out as rather unusual.
People are understandably reluctant to donate to the core Lemmy devs, but donating to an instance is a lot more reasonable to many folks so that’s why it’s unfolding that way.
Yes, lemmy isn’t a free service So the argument to defend lemmy and give them money makes more sense when it comes to instances than it does for an app that shows up with a subscription model to remove ads.
The subscription from sync is not one run directly by the lemmy instance that is not charging api calls, not showing ads to users, and not paywalling users yet taking on so much expense. Which is why I’m not really sure what role sync plays here from your comments, since sync app and the costs of hosting a lemmy instance seem like entirely different matters.
I believe in paying for the things I use - unless there’s no practical way for me to pay. See below - because if I don’t pay, whoever supplies the service I use is either an idealist and I’m a freeloader, or they’re milking my private data for money.
That’s why the Fediverse instances I use are hosted on SDF and I pay SDF for the privilege.
There are also cases where I would like to pay for the service but I can’t. For instance, Youtube: I would gladly pay for Youtube. I literally consume hundreds of gigabytes worth of video every month. $10 for that is very cheap.
But I can’t because paying Youtube means having a Youtube account, and there’s no way in hell I’m opening any account with Google and help them track me and monetize the shit out of my viewing habits even more than they do. So I don’t.
I wish I could, but Google is so invasive that it’s a better option to freeload off of them than pay them the money they legitimately deserve.
On sync for reddit there always was a one time purchase to remove ads. The subscription is for extra features which you honestly don’t need. I believe the one time purchase is coming back on this version as well.
Should update that subscription page in the app with the disclaimer. ‘App is in beta and there will be a one time payment option to remove ads once it gets out of beta’. Since right now the subscription only model to remove ads is leading to bad impressions that is drawing attention away from the actual app.
Especially on Android where not a lot of people encounter subscription models, and this is the first of its kind I’ve encountered on Android.
I wasn’t expecting an ideologically motivated project by any means, but his focus is on the diminishing parade of users he’s got from the previous app and not where he’s sending them.
I got kinda disappointed when I noticed that the author almost doesn’t visit Lemmy and everything is coordinated on Discord instead of the, you know, forum-thingy which you make an app for.
I’m fine with an ad version and then an upgrade to an ad-free version.
What’s insane here is this developer making a subscription service instead of an ad-free pro version
I mean, he’s competing against TOTALLY FREE, Ad-free lemmy apps RIGHT NOW, and every 3rd-party Reddit app developer is working on a lemmy version as we speak.
This was a total clown move. I was ready to drop like $10 on a pro version right now, if it had great UI. But a subscription … For access to a FREE service? The balls on this guy.
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Lemmy instances are not a free service. Yet don’t have ads and instead rely on donations or are self funded. And then this app comes out with a subscription model to remove ads despite instances doing the heavy lifting of this space that has been contrary to the usual monetization model?
I’m not sure this type of defense you make really applies in this situation. If it was a reddit app sure, but in the space of the fediverse it stands out as rather unusual.
Removed by mod
People are understandably reluctant to donate to the core Lemmy devs, but donating to an instance is a lot more reasonable to many folks so that’s why it’s unfolding that way.
Yes, lemmy isn’t a free service So the argument to defend lemmy and give them money makes more sense when it comes to instances than it does for an app that shows up with a subscription model to remove ads.
The subscription from sync is not one run directly by the lemmy instance that is not charging api calls, not showing ads to users, and not paywalling users yet taking on so much expense. Which is why I’m not really sure what role sync plays here from your comments, since sync app and the costs of hosting a lemmy instance seem like entirely different matters.
I have to agree with you, I feel Sync has gone against the Fediverse ethos.
Most of us understand fully the “why” of a subscription model, however, this is not the place, not on a free service.
You must not have read that first sentence.
Actually haven’t. Do you know what he meant by that?
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I believe in paying for the things I use - unless there’s no practical way for me to pay. See below - because if I don’t pay, whoever supplies the service I use is either an idealist and I’m a freeloader, or they’re milking my private data for money.
That’s why the Fediverse instances I use are hosted on SDF and I pay SDF for the privilege.
There are also cases where I would like to pay for the service but I can’t. For instance, Youtube: I would gladly pay for Youtube. I literally consume hundreds of gigabytes worth of video every month. $10 for that is very cheap.
But I can’t because paying Youtube means having a Youtube account, and there’s no way in hell I’m opening any account with Google and help them track me and monetize the shit out of my viewing habits even more than they do. So I don’t.
I wish I could, but Google is so invasive that it’s a better option to freeload off of them than pay them the money they legitimately deserve.
Makes sense. Thanks for explaining!
😂 nailed it. There are other amazing apps that are completely free
Yup what a let down. Luckily there are also open source apps.
On sync for reddit there always was a one time purchase to remove ads. The subscription is for extra features which you honestly don’t need. I believe the one time purchase is coming back on this version as well.
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Should update that subscription page in the app with the disclaimer. ‘App is in beta and there will be a one time payment option to remove ads once it gets out of beta’. Since right now the subscription only model to remove ads is leading to bad impressions that is drawing attention away from the actual app.
Especially on Android where not a lot of people encounter subscription models, and this is the first of its kind I’ve encountered on Android.
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It’s just evidence it’s a gold rush.
I wasn’t expecting an ideologically motivated project by any means, but his focus is on the diminishing parade of users he’s got from the previous app and not where he’s sending them.
I got kinda disappointed when I noticed that the author almost doesn’t visit Lemmy and everything is coordinated on Discord instead of the, you know, forum-thingy which you make an app for.
Beta update released within the last hour adds the option for lifetime ad removal.
Where?
After updating, it’s in the sidebar. $12.99 for me.
$20 for me.
Lol. I said I was ready to drop $10.
This Dev is really trying to milk this.
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