[1]Apple is secretly encouraging paid app developers to switch to
subscription - ldstephens
I'm disappointed to hear that Apple is encouraging developers to
move to a subscription model. As I've written before, I think this
will be the demise of many small developers.
Many users dislike subscriptions. If you don't believe me just read
the App Store reviews for some of the developers that have switched
their app to a subscription. A good place to start would be Ulysses
or Drafts 5.
Personally, I'm experiencing subscription fatigue. My subscriptions
add up to around $1500 per year. Yes, this includes my Netflix, Hulu
and Sling subscriptions. It also includes my internet subscription,
the subscription for all that's needed to operate this website, my
email subscription at Fastmail, and the subscription to a few apps.
I'm not interested in adding more subscriptions.
I love trying new apps. If all apps went to a subscription I would
no longer be able to continue trying and writing about them.
For example, I have several writing apps. If they all went
subscription I would have to select one and abandon the others. In
this scenario, there will be one winner and several losers.
(Via ldstephens.net)
I already try to avoid any app that uses a subscription model. An app
that solves specific problems in a way that works well for me and where
I maintain control of my data is one for possible exception - but they
are rare.
As mentioned I am pruning my subscriptions of all types. Drafts 5 will
soon be another as I don't use it enough to justify the expense. Google
Drive, 1Password, The Atlantic (sadly, but I'm reconsidering), Audible
(for DRM reasons), and Netflix (for timesuck reasons) all went on my
financial chopping block. The two (!) Amazon Primes (Japan & US), Apple
Music, LastPass, and the Guardian and Washington Post newspapers are up
for review.
I don't think I'll ever want to get to a zero subscription point, but I
will definitely keep them in check. As Google, Amazon, and Microsoft
(among others, and to a lesser extent Apple) continue to push hard on
the "digital assistant" front - something that interests me very little
- jumping back into a F/OSS lifestyle seems not only wise but prudent.
To be clear, I want developers to be paid for their work. Even F/OSS
developers will ask for donations of one kind or another. [2]As I wrote
I think commercial developers, independent or in the Small to Medium
Enterprise (SME) space, can work well without embracing the
subscription model.
I'm no Luddite or neophyte, mind you. I simply value my freedom more
than the ability to dim the house lights when I fire up a streamed
movie from my couch.
On another tack, the rise of subscriptions should trigger more thought
about data portability. Locking one's data in a proprietary app
requiring a subscription to access said data lacks foresight. However,
application developers don't often list how the data is stored or how
one can get their data out if they chose to move.
Also on:
[3]Twitter
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My original entry is here: [4]Beware the Subscription Model. It posted
Sun, 19 Aug 2018 09:52:24 +0000.
Filed under: personal, privacy, tech,
References
1.
https://ldstephens.net/2018/08/18/apple-is-secretly-encouraging-paid-app-developers-to-switch-to-subscription/
2.
https://www.prjorgensen.com/2018/06/03/your-subscription-model-does-not-match-your-value/
3.
https://twitter.com/TokyoGringo/status/1031117430523944960
4.
https://www.prjorgensen.com/?p=1491
