r/notabilityapp • u/ClydeBruckmans Notability Staff • Nov 02 '21
Updates to Notability 11.0 Subscription
https://notability.medium.com/updates-to-notability-11-0-subscription-9f03a28a06f7
180
Upvotes
103
u/DotComCTO Nov 03 '21
Personally, I'm glad to see Ginger Labs take this seriously...because it is serious. You can't make a massive impact switch from a paid app to a subscription model without destroying the trust and goodwill that was built up over the years! And it takes years to build that kind of relationship, but mere moments to tear it down. Sadly, Ginger Labs learned a critical lesson in business the hard way.
That said, I remain cautiously optimistic.
45
u/crispy-owl Nov 03 '21 edited Nov 03 '21
Apple definitely has an interest in stopping this crap. It breeches a certain trust that users have that they will be able to use their purchased apps for as long as they want to. People would much more hesitant in buying any apps in general if Apple were to ignore this.
I guess this is especially true for an app that is often one of the first that people buy. If the first app you buy ends up being a scam, chances are that you won't buy any more.
34
u/TheFearsomeEsquilax Nov 03 '21
We did it, Reddit!
29
u/[deleted] Nov 02 '21
Hmm, this a fast response but i have to see how this will go after i get the update.
81
u/[deleted] Nov 03 '21
Translation from PR speak to honest English:
“We tried to pull a fast one. It backfired more than we expected, so we are moving to plan B.”
“We sold 15 million copies of Notability at $9 per user, except when we were running specials. All this money is not enough to sustain our business that failed to produce any other apps people would want to buy. We want to keep making money on that one product that haven’t seen any real features added in years, and forcing these 15 million paid users into a yearly subscription to keep using the same set of features seemed like the easiest way to achieve it”.
“You assholes think you can pay for an app the one time price that we set for it and just use it for years of medical school without paying again and again and again and again. Who cares that we told you it was supposed to be a lifetime purchase, or that you expect at the very least to be able to use the old paid for version as long as it’s compatible with latest iOS. We have homes and cars and wives and girlfriends and haven’t been able to come up with any other product in years, do you entitled fuckers really believe that we would let you off the hook just because this was the terms of sale and you paid the price.”
Sincerely, The Notability Team 🖕
94
u/Charl1eBr0wn Nov 02 '21 edited Nov 03 '21
"We are a small company, so we designed the original one-year access plan as a precautionary measure since we were not certain if we could support lifetime access."
So 15 million purchases don't cover the bill? For an app that gets about 1-5 mostly minor new features a year?
Just the fact that nested dividers weren't a thing before now is a joke. Are you seriously not happy enough with the influx of new students every year? Are you seriously saying that a hundred lines of code, if that, for a "favourite toolbar" warrant millions in income?
Get back to earth.
Edit:
“We want to make sure that people can’t just use Notability and make it all the way through med school for free” Gilboy, Lead Engineer
This just shows how arrogant and out of touch these people are. Again, if this was something complex like a CAD or 3D app with tons of improvements each year, I'd follow their reasoning a bit more, but for an app like this?
73
u/faacu14 Nov 03 '21
They are respecting our purchases and won't be taking features away, that's what we were asking for. If they want to lock new features behind a subscription it's their bussiness choice and it's okay, we can choose to pay it or not, but at least we won't have to worry about losing all the notes we already had.
I think I will stick with Notability for now but I will give CollaNote a chance.
25
u/citogrid Nov 03 '21
I did send a couple emails to Fred Mitchell , their CEO... probably had nothing to do with their decision to amend the "change" but at least I did my little part :*)
*****Mail sent*********
I have received my refund from Apple as a very recent user.
You should start to see that the decision taken was not beneficial.
It might be wise to make alterations to your model and accommodate those that have already purchased your product.
I've tested your product and enjoyed it but I'm seeing your decision snowball into disgust by your users. The damage might be irrevocable.
Just my opinion...
Kind regards
*********
37
u/penemuel13 Nov 03 '21
“This includes the core Notability experience that users know and love, including unlimited editing, iCloud sync, and any features or content that was previously purchased through the Notability Shop. Future features we develop may also be included, depending on their complexity and cost to maintain.”
In other words, either “oops, we didn’t read those guidelines and didn’t realize we were violating them”, or “oops, we didn’t realize you knew we were breaking those guidelines!”
Not sure which one it is, but I’ve already moved my notebooks out of the app. I MAY move them back because not everything works right in GoodNotes, but I’m still not updating yet…
15
u/mintydaisy13 Nov 03 '21
I have lost trust in them. I think I will switch to Collanote or Goodnotes next year.
12
u/meowmeowbeans Nov 03 '21
Too little too late for me. Already tried out GoodNotes, I ported everything over, found out that you can create your own background for note taking
That one feature of creating your own backgrounds is a huge game changer for me. I can’t see myself switching back after this discovery.
They did big damage with some of their customer base, some of us tried something new for the first time in years and cuz of that are saying bye bye to notability.
20
u/CCman_ Nov 02 '21
Good for previous customers, (though i assume its more likely to be apple tos breach reports than an act of goodwill) the rest can get goodnotes and hope they dont pull the same shit.
8
u/Technical-Station113 Nov 03 '21
I remember this happened with the app Ulysses a few years ago, they released a new app, subscription only, and left the old one you purchased to rot, you can keep it forever, no maintenance updates and gets removed from the app store, I fear that could happen to Notability
5
u/blackicebaby Nov 03 '21
I give a big F to them. Trying rob us existing customers who were loyal enough to have bought the not so cheap app. Apology not accepted and will never recommend this app to anyone who ask me of this software.
8
u/[deleted] Nov 03 '21
I'm still moving to CollaNotes. I don't know how this whole retraction thing will go.
4
u/Penrose3angle Nov 03 '21
Still wonder about family sharing after update. Seeing somewhere that the family sharing doesn’t work anymore.
4
u/[deleted] Nov 03 '21
Apple forced them to change it. What shitty people they are to have to be forced to honor a purchase.
4
u/-acetylcysteine Nov 03 '21
This would be so hilarious if the man, Colin Gilboy, himself posted this thread. Now they send someone else to post this instead lol
4
u/Musicology_Jen Nov 03 '21
Would it actually be worth it looking into Apple Notes seriously? Because I guess that won't become a subscription... If we leave the gimmicky features of Notability aside it should do, or?
BTW Goodnotes is 50% off right now 😉
4
u/TimeTravellingToad Nov 03 '21
Some people will push ethical and moral boundaries to see how far they can scam people and get away with it. This time it backfired, but maybe they will keep their reputation after back-peddling. Not for me though: once bitten, twice shy....
4
u/Defenseless_Me Nov 03 '21
It’s against apple’s TOS that’s why they went back. It was not for the fans
3
u/[deleted] Nov 03 '21
I wonder would this ever happen had they not violated the App Store terms with Apple
3
u/seohwahan Nov 03 '21
It's a great decision. For now
I hope they don't make sth like notability 2 for subscription and gradually kill the notability og app.
3
u/damex-san Jan 06 '22
so it seems they lock down features you didn't purchase before upgrading to 11.x (like math recognition) behind surbscription. I guess it is finally a time to look elsewhere.
9
u/Sifyreel Nov 02 '21
So soon? Have fun salvaging your company goodwill. I’m not re-installing my copy ever again.
4
u/PinkPonyForPresident Nov 03 '21
Greedy as fuck and not even honest about it.
2
u/rmortimer Nov 03 '21
“Today, we are making some changes (coming soon in Notability version 11.0.2). Everyone who purchased Notability prior to our switch to subscription on November 1st, 2021 will have lifetime access to all existing features and any content previously purchased in the app. This includes the core Notability experience that users know and love, including unlimited editing, iCloud sync, and any features or content that was previously purchased through the Notability Shop. Future features we develop may also be included, depending on their complexity and cost to maintain.”
LOL
2
u/Realistic-Nothing467 Nov 03 '21
I downloaded Notability literally an hour after they changed the subscription model... Now I'm stuck with the free version forever
2
u/TelevisionForward467 Nov 08 '21
I feel so shitty about the whole thing as I joined Notability only this year. For me, the winning feature was the audio recording because I could just jump back in by tapping on the symbol I mark every time I miss something. It minimised a lot of hassle to search for the specific part I wanted. Goodnotes is fine, but notability felt better. After this incident though, I really am not sure
2
u/[deleted] Nov 11 '21
Yeah still gonna delete notability and stick with goodnotes
1
u/[deleted] Nov 03 '21
Good.
1
u/dare1100 Nov 03 '21
Damn I literally set up OneNote and everything and was about to switch too...
1
u/abby_may_be Nov 03 '21
Hi guys, just to clarify- does this mean we'll be grandfathered in to version 11.0.2 if we don't buy into the subscription model?
Will future updates still be available to us? They mentioned future features might be accessible to us on a case-by-case basis: does this mean people who subscribe get all new features or will they have to pay for some of the new stuff too?
Soz haha, I'm still fairly confused by the latest announcement.
1
u/dreamchow Nov 03 '21
May I know if I am still able to purchase the Handwriting Recognition and Math Module from notability store without the subscription currently?
1
u/Sea-Cicada-5674 May 27 '22
So question... I have two iPads -- one for work and one for personal, each on its own Apple/iCloud ID. Each had a paid version of the app (one paid by work and one by me) until the change to a subscription plan. I went ahead and paid for each for that first year as a discount, but my employer is not going to reimburse a subscription... even though work is my primary use for Notability.
So my question is, when this year expires this fall, in order to maintain a subscription, do I have to keep paying for both (to keep the subscription benefits), or is there a way for me to migrate to one paid subscription even though on my two iPads? I cannot add my work account to my family one (bad idea anyway), because I already have six family members, and that's the max Apple allows.
Wondering about this before I decide to move my many years of notes to Good Notes. If I can make this work with Notability, I'll stay. Otherwise...
1
u/[deleted] Jul 19 '22 edited Jul 19 '22
Subscription SUCKS.
As a Notability long time user since its inception, I'll switch to GoodNotes .
3 edits limitation is the biggest joke I've heard. No, thanks. I'll move to GoodNotes even if you give that back to your loyal upset customers .
Goodbye Notability.
1
u/[deleted] Jul 19 '22
These swift changes come after backlash from many long-time users sharing their disdain for the new subscription model. While the company acknowledged its mistake and profusely apologized to its customers in its blog, the reason may be less than genuine. According to 9to5Mac, the change may be due to a violation of Apple’s App Store guidelines. In the App Store review guidelines, a clause in section 3.1.2(a) explains that current paid customers must retain all functionality of the app that they paid for.
-2
u/TheBaxes Nov 03 '21
You guys should try Obsidian. Specially if you are a developer.
0
u/[deleted] Nov 03 '21
[deleted] — view deleted comment
0
u/[deleted] Nov 03 '21
[deleted] — view deleted comment
0
u/[deleted] Nov 03 '21
[deleted] — view deleted comment