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This is a silly developer-centric point-of-view. I will repeat as I have said before - people for the most part invest in an app for the service it provides. In

This is a silly developer-centric point-of-view. I will repeat as I have said before - people for the most part invest in an app for the service it provides. In Sparrow's case it was mostly Gmail. If sparrow won't provide it anymore, users will eventually switch to another shiny app. I have never ever come across a person who was hesitant to buy an app just for the fear that it would be shelved by aqui-hire some day.

1234the1234 14y ago
Well, this type of thing is exactly the reason I never trust indie apps to be around and only use open source apps. So although anecdotal and only me, these things have effected my purchasing.
callmeed 14y ago
I have, especially in B2B scenarios. "How do I know you'll be around in 3 years?" was a very common question when we started our business (niche web design and hosting). If you're software gets used daily (think POS) or touches important data (think CRM, help desk), people absolutely care if you'll be around some day.
blahedo 14y ago
> I have never ever come across a person who was hesitant to buy an app just for the fear that it would be shelved by aqui-hire some day. Give it time. The number of consumers burned by an acquihire is still relatively low, but it's growing. I've certainly heard people say things like, "sure that TV series sounds great but I don't want to get into it until I know they're not going to cancel it," having been burned by such in the past; if the current model of acquisition continues I think it's only a matter of time before it becomes a matter of common wisdom to avoid getting too hooked on a app, because if it's any good its developers will just get bought out and the app shelved. As for "never ever", I will say that this issue is currently fuelling my own reluctance to even bother getting a smartphone at all, because I'm working from the assumption that any app I find particularly useful (other than the browser itself) will just go away. So, that's one.
- sigkill 14y ago
  I think TV series is a bit too much. I mean, even I liked Firefly but "emotionally investing"? Come on. On a different note, I do have a smartphone. But I hesitate as hell to buy apps on my Android (no paid app here) for the very fear that if I suddenly jump to another platform I'll lose everything. Of course, I'm quite new to this "new" smartphone generation. My previous smartphone was a S60 Symbian over 6 years ago.
  - rogerchucker 14y ago
    You should be on the lookout for apps that have versions across different platforms or at least have a Web access.
  - rogerchucker 14y ago
    You should be on the lookout for apps that have versions across different platforms or at least have a Web access.
- dasil003 14y ago
  > Give it time. The number of consumers burned by an acquihire is still relatively low, but it's growing. Dwarfed by the numbers burned by pivots or outright failure though.
- durga 14y ago
  > As for "never ever", I will say that this issue is currently fuelling my own reluctance to even bother getting a smartphone at all, because I'm working from the assumption that any app I find particularly useful (other than the browser itself) will just go away. So, that's one. No the sky isn't falling :)

1234the1234 14y ago

Well, this type of thing is exactly the reason I never trust indie apps to be around and only use open source apps. So although anecdotal and only me, these things have effected my purchasing.

callmeed 14y ago

I have, especially in B2B scenarios. "How do I know you'll be around in 3 years?" was a very common question when we started our business (niche web design and hosting). If you're software gets used daily (think POS) or touches important data (think CRM, help desk), people absolutely care if you'll be around some day.

blahedo 14y ago

> I have never ever come across a person who was hesitant to buy an app just for the fear that it would be shelved by aqui-hire some day. Give it time. The number of consumers burned by an acquihire is still relatively low, but it's growing. I've certainly heard people say things like, "sure that TV series sounds great but I don't want to get into it until I know they're not going to cancel it," having been burned by such in the past; if the current model of acquisition continues I think it's only a matter of time before it becomes a matter of common wisdom to avoid getting too hooked on a app, because if it's any good its developers will just get bought out and the app shelved. As for "never ever", I will say that this issue is currently fuelling my own reluctance to even bother getting a smartphone at all, because I'm working from the assumption that any app I find particularly useful (other than the browser itself) will just go away. So, that's one.

sigkill 14y ago
I think TV series is a bit too much. I mean, even I liked Firefly but "emotionally investing"? Come on. On a different note, I do have a smartphone. But I hesitate as hell to buy apps on my Android (no paid app here) for the very fear that if I suddenly jump to another platform I'll lose everything. Of course, I'm quite new to this "new" smartphone generation. My previous smartphone was a S60 Symbian over 6 years ago.
- rogerchucker 14y ago
  You should be on the lookout for apps that have versions across different platforms or at least have a Web access.
- rogerchucker 14y ago
  You should be on the lookout for apps that have versions across different platforms or at least have a Web access.
dasil003 14y ago
> Give it time. The number of consumers burned by an acquihire is still relatively low, but it's growing. Dwarfed by the numbers burned by pivots or outright failure though.
durga 14y ago
> As for "never ever", I will say that this issue is currently fuelling my own reluctance to even bother getting a smartphone at all, because I'm working from the assumption that any app I find particularly useful (other than the browser itself) will just go away. So, that's one. No the sky isn't falling :)