I was reading some reviews on WHS Mobile in iTunes and saw the very low rating. I guess I can’t say I am surprised at this point. I’ve been horrible about support and the app has a buggy past. I’ve been thinking for a while about making WHS Mobile free but was afraid the existing customers would start a riot.
I figured I could at least make it free until it becomes more developed and stable.
What do you think?
I don't care as long as the app is still being developed.
I say make it free for jailbroken iPhones but paid for non-joilbroken. I don't know why but I just think they should have to pay to stay in Apple's walled garden. In either case, keep it free for WM :)
Also an android version would be great but not at the cost of not allowing you to keep iphone and WM updated.
As long as I get a refund :)
Make it free, Everyone loves free stuff.
I have no problem paying for the app. I have a WM device so it is currently free for me. However I think the main problem is getting the app to a stable and bug-free state and for that I think you need a good beta test program, especially with WM as there are so many custom roms that could be incompatible in some way. The iphone should be easier as there is just one OS.
Once you are confident you have a solid release you can release that for sale then move on to feature requests/any bug fixes (hopefully few) and program enhancements.
@theefman,
I do agree, I rushed into deployment and charging for it. I needed to test it more thoroughly and setup a branch of alpha/beta testers. At least I now know if/when I release a new iPhone application. Always learning from my mistakes...
Free is always better. I understand about the Apple yearly fee, but if your product is good enough, the donate button will be getting some use on the blog. I'd be happy to be a beta tester for the iPhone.
Hey Brent,
I paid for the App but for me it would be ok if you would make it free. But I want to be a beta tester at least ;)
Being a developer myself I do believe you should keep it as a paid app. But at the same time I haven't downloaded it because it isn't free and I don't really want to buy it until I've had a play with it!
Dammed if you do, dammed if you don't!!!
Being a developer myself I do believe you should keep it as a paid app. But at the same time I haven't downloaded it because it isn't free and I don't really want to buy it until I've had a play with it!
Dammed if you do, dammed if you don't!!!
It's such a cheap price for the effort and hopefully the few bucks give motivation to develop it further :) I recommend doing a free 'lite' version for people to test it.
Otherwise if going free I'd prefer to make it open source and maybe get outside help to make it the kiiller app. One could focus on media, another on RDP and so on...
I bought the app when it first came out however, I don't care if it is free or if you've got to pay for it.
My only suggestion would be that you open up some type of beta program so that you can get it tested before it is released. With previous versions it felt like you went ahead and released a product that wasn't completely tested (hence the bad reviews).
Honestly i would pay .99 for the app, only thing is....i use an android phone. I love my homeserver though, and would be more than happy to pay for an android adoption.
I'm also in the keep it a paid app. I don't have an iPhone anymore but I would be glad to pay for an Android version as well.
I'm also of the mind that a lite version to get people to try out the key functionality, and a full version for those that like it and and want to support you. $1.99 is a small price to pay to support a solid app.
It wasn't expensive to buy, but having it be free on other platforms and not on the iPhone sets up this impression that you have to pay extra for the 'privelege' of owning an iPhone and having access to your WHS. It's almost like discrimination ;) (if it's true, and I have a feeling it is, but I may be wrong here).
If you were to make it free, does that mean you'll be offering refunds for those that DID pay for it previously?
Also, as a previous poster suggested, perhaps a 'Donate' button would get you more out of it. After all, those that benefit from such an app also tend to be more loose with their wallets, as they'll see the obvious advantages they have from the app, and may net you more than the asking price in the App Store...
Just some thoughts!
Open-source it please. Collect donations.
Also check out the HP iStream app (you probably did...).
PC - for integrity sake you would of course donate the refund, right? ;-)
How about this, I blend the two together free and paid. Free iPhone apps have the ability to add features at a cost. What if I make the app free but limit the features until you pay a set price? It is called in-app purchases and will require a bit of modification to the application. However, I think it might be worth the time and effort. Like you said, people want to try it out before they buy. This blends the aspect of a "lite" app into one application and makes it easier distribution wise.
Thoughts?
On your last comment Brent, I think that system is too complicated. It should be simple: either a set price, or free. Personally I don't mind. I paid for it and don't care if you make it free. But, you know, it costs half a cup of coffee...it is very cheap, and I think that I have received great value for money!
Just in followup after thinking about it, the suggestion of making it free and accepting donations is probably the best.
Stephen,
I just decided against the in-app purchase idea only because it can't differentiate between people who already bought the application. I don't want people pay twice so I am not going to do it.
I am adding push notifications for WHS alerts though. Doing it right now actually.
I paid for the app on the basis of reviews and have found it very useful and stable - no complaints here! If it had been free, I'd happily have paid the asking price as a donation, after I'd tested it for myself. The price is small enough that anyone in the market for the functionality aught to be able to afford the price.
At this point until it becomes less buggy and adds more features it should be free. Then you can roll out a big version later and charge for it, and have a lite free version. Don't get me wrong, it's a great product and I would pay a LOT more then $1.99 but it needs WAY more.
Try making it free for two weeks or so and see what happens.
At least it would get a lot more people in the door to provide feedback, testing, suggestions, and spread the word.
I bought the app - happily! I don't mind if you make it free.
However, I think you deserve to be paid for your effort.
As far as I know, yours is the only WHS app available for iPhone. I think its unlikely that more people would use it if it was free; you're the only solution in town, its only $2 and anyone who bought a WHS server (My HP EX470 cost $600 in 2008, if I remember correctly) is NOT going to consider $2 a barrier to the functionality you provide in WHS Mobile.
Many thanks for a great app!
People switch apps to free all the time in the app store. You would in no way be obligated to refund money to anyone, and could make it pay at anytime.
Think of it as a promotion to get the word out, although personally I don't see a problem with paying for it. Could always just drop price to .99 as well.
Keep up the good work.
Adam,
I was thinking about doing something like that. Maybe lowering the price for a week or two when the new version is approved.
Might start doing promotions too where you can win a free copy of WHS Mobile (US residents only due to Apple limiting the codes to the US store).
I've been trying to find the app for a long time to try it. I have Windows Mobile but I've yet to find the app anywhere!
@All,
Here is a preview of the next version: blog.compugeeksoftware.com/.../whs-mobile-v1-5
It will be available as soon as Apple approves it.
I would say make it free, but allow those that had already paid the option to beta new releases before the general public.
Also, any word on an android version? I am sure if you were able to have a version for WinMo, iPhone, Android, and possibly BB/Palm, and charged a little for 'beta access' or 'preferred customer support' you would get enough from the various versions to stay afloat, along with other random donations.
You never know what that PayPal button on your homepage will bring you...;-)
As previous people have said... I think either the donation option, or free until it's a bit more robust is prob your best bet. Alot of the bad reviews seem to be people ticked off that they paid $2 for something thats really still in development....
Free while in development phase makes sense. It will also boost your rating on the app. It's a lot easier to mark an app really low when you have paid money for it. Once it is stable, and has the features people like, you can charge for it. People will pay so they don't have to use mobile me. in fact, That should be your main marketing message. I should get a free copy for that!
i would like to try it out for free. the app store sucks since it lacks the concept of trials. there are probably a lot of apps i would buy if i knew i would be happy with them.
but until then, i would vote for a free app + donation options
Make it FREE! Thank you!
People should not be afraid to pay for apps that work well...
Do paid users get free updates as they come out??
@EvilHomerClone,
Yes, they do get free updates.
Just lower the price, as I have already paid for the App, I will get updates for free, but for new people to buy it, it will be less of a disapointment if they dont like it.
At the same time, bring the money in to continue the development.
Just lower the price, as I have already paid for the App, I will get updates for free, but for new people to buy it, it will be less of a disapointment if they dont like it.
At the same time, bring the money in to continue the development.
I've paid for it as well... and actually did just get a new update... However.... once upgraded I can no longer log in... I get the message "Either the WHS Mobile domain is incorreect, or the domain cannot be contacted". It worked fine before the update, and I checked - all my login info is still in the settings and looks correct. If I use Safari, my phone finds my WHS Server just fine...
Help...!?
Ajar,
Always update the add-in after you update the app. Here is info on the update: blog.compugeeksoftware.com/.../whs-mobile-v1-5
Here is where you can find the new add-in: http://www.whsmobile.com
Whoops! Your right... I had not updated the WHS plugin.... Now I have though, and I'm still getting the same error message. Any ideas?
I've verified the domain is accessible from my iPhone Safari, checked the WHS iPhone settings and even checked the router... everything looks fine.
I'm also still getting the push messages...
Thanks...