Some time ago, I made the decision to unpublish the free version of Lightning Launcher.
Because at that time I was worried about other personal stuff, I failed to give a full explanation. I am sorry about.
A few minutes ago someone asked on Facebook where the LL app was. I replied quickly, and since the answer might shed some more light on this decision, I am quoting the post here. Ok, maybe I should have done this earlier here, but hey such is life!
So here is an excerpt in case someone is interested:
I don’t want paid users, I want to be able to develop the app further, this is as simple as that. Please understand the gap between user expectations and the energy needed to fulfil them. On one hand building an app, even a small app, requires a lot of time, not only to make the software, but also maintain it, publish updates, answer users questions, and so on (I am sure you already know that). On the other hand the time spent on building an app is time that cannot be spent on other things. As a standard developer, I have the same activities as any other standard person: work, family and spare time. And as a standard developer I need to work to pay my bills. When I don’t work I don’t get money, so the equation is simple: if I want to do something other than the usual work (without losing too much time for my family and spare time…), then this thing need to bring some money to pay the bills. FYI when an app is priced $1, a french developer like me will receive $0.46, or 0.33€ (one liter of petrol is 1.5€). I am sure I speak for a lot of mobile apps developers, not only for myself. This is said with no animosity, but so that things are clear and can be understood. Regarding the freemium model, it does not work with LL, because the old version was already a full version.
Link to the FB post: https://www.facebook.com/LightningLauncher/posts/768270299884260
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Pierre Hébert its amazing that any dev even still developes apps with a income that low. if you also take into account the number of purchases the answer could make a dream come true or lead to a brutal disaster. you can make money yet still not have enough to fill the tank in a lawn mower. why? because not many people know about the app, or not many people bought it or asked for a refund. the opposite scenerio is that it gives better pay than a full-time job at hewlett packard, or dell. i cant say that i know the exact comparison but i can say that it either pays bills or it dont. it goes back to when i suggested that you work on one thing at a time. the conversation where you mentioned that you had the same idea just in different order. what im saying is that you have other priorities that you need to handle as well. you set your priorities, weighed the pros/cons and made the decision. what is more important? maybe right now it seems a bad idea to remove the freemium app but if we think about it thats more time gained that you can use for your daughters 16th birthday or a wedding renewal or just a family night out. maybe you feel you need a job because bills are lacking. or maybe you just want to make sure the bills are paid. bottom line is your choices are your own as well as the reasons. what happens in your head or in your house/apartment/boat/motorhome/trailor/cardboard box (whatever you live in) is your business. nobody can set your priorities for you. you set them and its your decision. 🙂
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You are absolutely wright unpublished the free version, I think 3 weeks of free trial would be enough to see the potential of your launcher.I’ve personally got the paid version only to support the developer the LL was absolutely enough for what I needed, LLE opened me a possibility to create the launcher according with what I aspect from my phone 🙂 keep it up ! GOOD JOB !
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That’s why I paid the $2.99 to support only if more people saw that this takes work. You should make a really basic free version i mean real basic like no free mode
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J Mis Deontre Harris I agree, a free version would be great, but you also have to see the dev’s side: even building a simple app or adding a trial check to LLX needs time, which can be used for other things.
Especially a save trial check, which can’t be fooled is not easy as one may think and requires (as far as I know) an internet connection. And Pierre Hébert said he doesn’t want this permission in the app, and I totally agree with that.
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I see it from his side totally the free version he pulled was way to full featured
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Pierre Hébert maybe you can make the community open and push more the publicity so other people can see what’s going on and what the LL is.( not a lot of people would buy the product without try it before) – OR add support developer button in next update in case someone wont to buy you a beer 🙂 or glass of vine 🙂
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J Mis that very remark was said at least 30x in the past …… 4 months? Pierre Hébert refused it all 30x times too.
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The community visibility cannot be changed. Once it has been created private, it stays private. Regarding the “support developer” button, I can confirm that almost nobody clicks on it, it was here in the Tiny Home era 😉
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I agree wholeheartedly with Pierre. I own a software testing company and people are completely unaware of how much time and effort you have to invest in developing software like this. I have friends and relatives who charge me for electric work and plumbing and yet they expect IT support for free.
Quality is always worth paying for. If anyone disagrees, I challenge them to write their own launcher….They will soon realise how much time it consumes in your life.. Nigel
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I agree wholeheartedly with Pierre. I own a software testing company and people are completely unaware of how much time and effort you have to invest in developing software like this. I have friends and relatives who charge me for electric work and plumbing and yet they expect IT support for free.
Quality is always worth paying for. If anyone disagrees, I challenge them to write their own launcher….They will soon realise how much time it consumes in your life.. Nigel
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I agree wholeheartedly with Pierre. I own a software testing company and people are completely unaware of how much time and effort you have to invest in developing software like this. I have friends and relatives who charge me for electric work and plumbing and yet they expect IT support for free.
Quality is always worth paying for. If anyone disagrees, I challenge them to write their own launcher….They will soon realise how much time it consumes in your life.. Nigel
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