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Some incredibly valid points in here, but I think there's a middle ground. While Matt is perfectly correct that when you pay for an app, you get the app you pa

Some incredibly valid points in here, but I think there's a middle ground. While Matt is perfectly correct that when you pay for an app, you get the app you paid for. But there's a very well known unwritten suggestion that you'll get updates for 1-2 years. At which point probably they'll release a new version, and you'll pay the upgrade fee. It's how most software seems to work. So, people technically don't have the right to complain - there is a lot of sense in why people are upset. And there's no real explanation from the developers that buying their software wasn't going to lead down that route. I think the biggest issue about the acquisition for me is the fact Sparrow bled the product dry a week ago by having a sale and then doing this. It seems underhanded. And for the record, I also find it a shame that they've been acquired. I'm happy for them to be given big wads of cash, but in a selfish way I would have wished to seen them tackle more problems in their way - producing quality results. I have a bad feeling as we've seen again and again, we won't be seeing anything from Google with the calibre that they did with Sparrow.

slantyyz 14y ago
When I pay more than $100 for an app, I might expect 1 year of support, but for a $10 or $3 app, I don't. Unless you live in the third world, $10 is disposable software. The contention about the sale last week is just overwrought angst, as it's still a pretty good app, and one that easily pays for itself after a couple of weeks of use, even at full price. From the messaging on the sparrow app store pages, they're still going to be providing bug fixes.
- CJefferson 14y ago
  If $10 is disposable software, then I intend to stop paying for any software except games. The problem isn't the amount of money I spend, it's the amount of time I spend mastering the software, and building it into my workflow.
  - slantyyz 14y ago
    I don't know whether you're trying to be serious or funny. If you're suggesting that it takes more than 5 minutes to master an app like Sparrow, then good luck mastering the software you don't plan on paying for.
  - icambron 14y ago
    If the Sparrow team thought they could have made a bunch more money by selling a support contract, then presumably they would have. That means that either they're unsavvy or you're in the minority. I'm guessing it's the latter.
andrewf 14y ago
Sparrow bled the product dry a week ago by having a sale and then doing this. It seems underhanded. This is implies that either (1) the profit made from selling the app a week ago was distributed to the old shareholders before the sale went through or (2) the profit made was a factor in Google deciding to acquire. Otherwise, how could this benefit the Sparrow guys in any way? Neither of those seems likely. I would guess the Sparrow guys did what everyone advises in this situation: Assume the sale will fall through, until they sign on the dotted line. In the meantime, do what you were going to do anyway.

slantyyz 14y ago

When I pay more than $100 for an app, I might expect 1 year of support, but for a $10 or $3 app, I don't. Unless you live in the third world, $10 is disposable software. The contention about the sale last week is just overwrought angst, as it's still a pretty good app, and one that easily pays for itself after a couple of weeks of use, even at full price. From the messaging on the sparrow app store pages, they're still going to be providing bug fixes.

CJefferson 14y ago
If $10 is disposable software, then I intend to stop paying for any software except games. The problem isn't the amount of money I spend, it's the amount of time I spend mastering the software, and building it into my workflow.
- slantyyz 14y ago
  I don't know whether you're trying to be serious or funny. If you're suggesting that it takes more than 5 minutes to master an app like Sparrow, then good luck mastering the software you don't plan on paying for.
- icambron 14y ago
  If the Sparrow team thought they could have made a bunch more money by selling a support contract, then presumably they would have. That means that either they're unsavvy or you're in the minority. I'm guessing it's the latter.

andrewf 14y ago

Sparrow bled the product dry a week ago by having a sale and then doing this. It seems underhanded. This is implies that either (1) the profit made from selling the app a week ago was distributed to the old shareholders before the sale went through or (2) the profit made was a factor in Google deciding to acquire. Otherwise, how could this benefit the Sparrow guys in any way? Neither of those seems likely. I would guess the Sparrow guys did what everyone advises in this situation: Assume the sale will fall through, until they sign on the dotted line. In the meantime, do what you were going to do anyway.