AudioBus 3 is now free?

NeuM

@wim said:

@NeuM said:

@Simon said:

@NeuM said:
I’m operating on the assumption that everyone here would rather see these developers become more successful rather than everyone root for their failure.

My guess is most people here now don't care what happens to them - success or fail.

They have wiped out any "good will' the apps had with Forum users.

I haven't gone quite that far yet. They're cleaning up areas which people have had problems and that's a net positive.

So let me get this "net positive" straight:

• Assure the seller that you won't do that kind of thing. That you only want to preserve the legacy of the app.
• Immediately after the acquisition, silently publish updates that add 3rd party tracking that can be used to sell usage data for targeted marketing.**
• Claim that the 3rd party trackers are only for internal use, but retain a privacy policy that says nothing of the sort.
• Finally remove the 3rd party trackers after the continued uproar.
• Take the apps subscription in another updated simply denoted as "Bug fixes and improvements". In violation of clear App Store guidelines, make the apps non functional for those who bought the app before the change.
• Gradually redress that issue after being called out on it, but in the meantime bungle the attempts several times, causing failure of the app to run without internet access.
• Gradually redress those issues (still in progress).
• Meanwhile, not one feature or identifiable bug fix, has been published.

Does that about sum it up?

I think I have a bit tighter definition of Net Positive than you do. They haven't even reached net - net yet the way I see it. I believe they may reach net-net, but they have a long way to go to put the bad feelings they've generated among existing customers behind them.

(** They added two types of trackers. One that fits the usage they described, but another on top of that which is specifically meant for providing data to 3rd party web sites and apps.)

Considering most of the apps owned by this developer were originally free to us, I can't really complain and I'm willing to give them a bit more leeway. Maybe you're right about everything, but it doesn't bother me that much.

I'm more interested in the work that Analog Matt is involved in. He's doing some cool stuff now.

wim

@NeuM said:
Considering most of the apps owned by this developer were originally free to us, I can't really complain and I'm willing to give them a bit more leeway. Maybe you're right about everything, but it doesn't bother me that much.

Doesn't bother me either, at least not as much as it seems to bother others. I more think it's just rather pitiful. I don't for one second think they're going to be successful with bringing these apps apps subscription. I wish them the best of luck though, provided they set things right for existing customers.

I'm more interested in the work that Analog Matt is involved in. He's doing some cool stuff now.

Me too. The part that really sets me off though is that some of this bad PR has stuck to him by incorrect association. That's why I've wasted so much verbiage on this thread and the other trying to set the record straight.

synthnomad

@NeuM said:
I haven't gone quite that far yet. They're cleaning up areas which people have had problems and that's a net positive.

Please stop, you’ve been defending what everyone else recognizes as plain wrong.

There is no net positive here, the apps are maybe getting closer to where they were in the first place (before these guys laid their hands on them), except that now Audiobus takes forever to load and it’s not so stable for me anymore. Still net negative in my book.

What’s worse, they continue to push out updates with the generic “Bug fixes and minor improvements”. How are people supposed to trust anything that they do going forward when they have zero transparency?

gusgranite

@synthnomad said:

@NeuM said:
I haven't gone quite that far yet. They're cleaning up areas which people have had problems and that's a net positive.

Please stop, you’ve been defending what everyone else recognizes as plain wrong.

There is no net positive here, the apps are maybe getting closer to where they were in the first place (before these guys laid their hands on them), except that now Audiobus takes forever to load and it’s not so stable for me anymore. Still net negative in my book.

What’s worse, they continue to push out updates with the generic “Bug fixes and minor improvements”. How are people supposed to trust anything that they do going forward when they have zero transparency?

I think he’s just trying to twist the interpretation to fit his own situational understandings… but it’s very far fetched in this case.

Simon

@NeuM said:
Considering most of the apps owned by this developer were originally free to us

Really?

They own 8 apps and I seem to remember paying for AudioBus, VHS Synth and AudioBus Remote. I think a few others were not free as well.

I wonder what the actual number is.

NoiseHorse

I wish Michael would update Audiobus 2, rename it or whatever to keep it different from AB3, and we’re good to go.

oldsynthguy

@NeuM said:
Considering most of the apps owned by this developer were originally free to us

From my previous reply to you:

“ Audiobus was a tenner, 808 Bass eight quid, VHS synth a fiver etc…. “

SevenSystems

@wim said:
Does that about sum it up?

• accidentally leave random huge debug prints in that reveal internal information about your subscription tracking 😃

NeuM

@NoiseHorse said:
I wish Michael would update Audiobus 2, rename it or whatever to keep it different from AB3, and we’re good to go.

He sold it.

busaudio

@NeuM said:

@busaudio said:

@NeuM said:

@busaudio said:

@NeuM said:

@NoiseHorse said:
Bomb them with explanatory 1-star reviews. I’ve done several

Why?

Why not?
They deserve nothing less, or?

If you’re unhappy with some or all of their apps, send them your criticisms here first. They seem willing to work with users. Many things have already changed.

If your criticisms go unanswered after a while, then an unfavorable App Store review might be warranted.

I’m operating on the assumption that everyone here would rather see these developers become more successful rather than everyone root for their failure.

I'm done with them!

Such a behavior is unacceptable in my book.

Even the Apps that work again without Internet are waiting in some loop before they actually work.

I simply hate everything they did to AudioBus and the other Apps.

For me, they are not even interested in offering music App at all!

And the best way to shown this to them is by 1 star ratings and reviews.
That's the only working feedback.

You hate them? Wow. I see no real reason for that.

That's your wording.

I wrote that I hate what they did to the Apps!

busaudio

@wim said:

@NeuM said:

@Simon said:

@NeuM said:
I’m operating on the assumption that everyone here would rather see these developers become more successful rather than everyone root for their failure.

My guess is most people here now don't care what happens to them - success or fail.

They have wiped out any "good will' the apps had with Forum users.

I haven't gone quite that far yet. They're cleaning up areas which people have had problems and that's a net positive.

So let me get this "net positive" straight:

• Assure the seller that you won't do that kind of thing. That you only want to preserve the legacy of the app.
• Immediately after the acquisition, silently publish updates that add 3rd party tracking that can be used to sell usage data for targeted marketing.**
• Claim that the 3rd party trackers are only for internal use, but retain a privacy policy that says nothing of the sort.
• Finally remove the 3rd party trackers after the continued uproar.
• Take the apps subscription in another updated simply denoted as "Bug fixes and improvements". In violation of clear App Store guidelines, make the apps non functional for those who bought the app before the change.
• Gradually redress that issue after being called out on it, but in the meantime bungle the attempts several times, causing failure of the app to run without internet access.
• Gradually redress those issues (still in progress).
• Meanwhile, not one feature or identifiable bug fix, has been published.

Does that about sum it up?

I think I have a bit tighter definition of Net Positive than you do. They haven't even reached net - net yet the way I see it. I believe they may reach net-net, but they have a long way to go to put the bad feelings they've generated among existing customers behind them.

(** They added two types of trackers. One that fits the usage they described, but another on top of that which is specifically meant for providing data to 3rd party web sites and apps.)

I don't like full quotes, but this posting deserves it!

Perfect summary of this new developer's failures.

dermichl

@Audiobus_support said:

@dermichl said:

@Audiobus_support said:
Dear Audiobus Users,

First and foremost, we want to thank you for being a part of the Audiobus community and for sharing your feedback with us. Your passion and dedication to our app have been the driving force behind our commitment to continually improving your experience.

Recently, we introduced some changes to Audiobus that caused frustration and disappointment among many of you. We deeply regret the impact these changes had on your trust in us.

We have heard your concerns loud and clear, and we want to take this opportunity to outline the steps we've taken to address them in our latest release, version 3.7:

• Third-party trackers have been completely removed to prioritize your privacy
• A new one-time purchase option has been added, alongside the subscription options, giving you more flexibility in how you choose to access premium features
• Offline functionality has been restored, allowing you to use Audiobus without an internet connection

We are committed to making things right and to earning back your trust.
Your feedback is invaluable to us, and we encourage you to continue sharing your thoughts as we move forward.
We are dedicated to ensuring that Audiobus remains the powerful and reliable tool you've come to love.

Sincerely,
The Audiobus Team

Offline does not work over here. Deleted and one star review given. End of story.

Hello,

We’re sorry to hear you're experiencing problems. The offline feature should actually be working, so it’s not normal that it's not functioning. To help us investigate the issue further, could you please write us an email at [email protected]?

Thank you for your cooperation.

Why should I? You chose to disrupt a working solution. Now it‘s your turn to bring it back to life…
Btw I am still supposed to buy again or subscribe.

Luckily my one star review finally made it to the app store!

busaudio

@dermichl said:

@Audiobus_support said:

@dermichl said:

@Audiobus_support said:
Dear Audiobus Users,

First and foremost, we want to thank you for being a part of the Audiobus community and for sharing your feedback with us. Your passion and dedication to our app have been the driving force behind our commitment to continually improving your experience.

Recently, we introduced some changes to Audiobus that caused frustration and disappointment among many of you. We deeply regret the impact these changes had on your trust in us.

We have heard your concerns loud and clear, and we want to take this opportunity to outline the steps we've taken to address them in our latest release, version 3.7:

• Third-party trackers have been completely removed to prioritize your privacy
• A new one-time purchase option has been added, alongside the subscription options, giving you more flexibility in how you choose to access premium features
• Offline functionality has been restored, allowing you to use Audiobus without an internet connection

We are committed to making things right and to earning back your trust.
Your feedback is invaluable to us, and we encourage you to continue sharing your thoughts as we move forward.
We are dedicated to ensuring that Audiobus remains the powerful and reliable tool you've come to love.

Sincerely,
The Audiobus Team

Offline does not work over here. Deleted and one star review given. End of story.

Hello,

We’re sorry to hear you're experiencing problems. The offline feature should actually be working, so it’s not normal that it's not functioning. To help us investigate the issue further, could you please write us an email at [email protected]?

Thank you for your cooperation.

Btw I am still supposed to buy again or subscribe.

That was not the case for me - but you may need to use the "About" button and then "Restore purchase" ...

wim

@dermichl said:
Btw I am still supposed to buy again or subscribe.

That was originally the case, but the outcry, and after a few botched attempts, they restored access for existing purchasers.

There was a bug that caused the Audiobus app to crash after a minute or two if there was no internet access. I haven't bothered to check if they fixed that yet.

busaudio

@wim said:

@dermichl said:
Btw I am still supposed to buy again or subscribe.

That was originally the case, but the outcry, and after a few botched attempts, they restored access for existing purchasers.

There was a bug that caused the Audiobus app to crash after a minute or two if there was no internet access. I haven't bothered to check if they fixed that yet.

My last try was OK ... seems to be fixed.

But I am still annoyed by the strange timeout at the beginning where all of their Apps do "something" while the wheel is spinning ... that remains the same with or without Internet.

NeuM

@busaudio said:

@wim said:

@dermichl said:
Btw I am still supposed to buy again or subscribe.

That was originally the case, but the outcry, and after a few botched attempts, they restored access for existing purchasers.

There was a bug that caused the Audiobus app to crash after a minute or two if there was no internet access. I haven't bothered to check if they fixed that yet.

My last try was OK ... seems to be fixed.

But I am still annoyed by the strange timeout at the beginning where all of their Apps do "something" while the wheel is spinning ... that remains the same with or without Internet.

So... still ready to burn everything to the ground over issues which seem to be getting fixed, albeit not instantly?

Simon

@NeuM said:
So... still ready to burn everything to the ground over issues which seem to be getting fixed, albeit not instantly?

Surely, in the dog-eat-dog world of Capitalism, they don't deserve to survive if they are not giving their customers what they want..?

Survival of the fittest, if you can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen, only the tough survive, I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts, etc....

wim

They're gonna fade away on their own. They clearly do not understand their market. I mean, what in the heck do they think they're going to add to something like Retro Piano to keep users paying $2.99 a week subscription, or $10.00 a year? They're doing a fine job digging their own grave. They don't need help from anyone here to do that.

[edit] I see now that there's a $14.99 one-time purchase option for Audiobus. That seems like a step in the right direction.

busaudio

@NeuM said:

@busaudio said:

@wim said:

@dermichl said:
Btw I am still supposed to buy again or subscribe.

That was originally the case, but the outcry, and after a few botched attempts, they restored access for existing purchasers.

There was a bug that caused the Audiobus app to crash after a minute or two if there was no internet access. I haven't bothered to check if they fixed that yet.

My last try was OK ... seems to be fixed.

But I am still annoyed by the strange timeout at the beginning where all of their Apps do "something" while the wheel is spinning ... that remains the same with or without Internet.

So... still ready to burn everything to the ground over issues which seem to be getting fixed, albeit not instantly?

Sure.

As written, they partially fix they broke to begin with.

Zero trust left.

Simon

@wim said:
I mean, what in the heck do they think they're going to add to something like Retro Piano to keep users paying $2.99 a week subscription, or $10.00 a year?

That pricing tells me that the real price they want and expect is $10 a year, so they add the crazy $2.99 a week to make the yearly sub look like a bargain.

wim

@Simon said:

@wim said:
I mean, what in the heck do they think they're going to add to something like Retro Piano to keep users paying $2.99 a week subscription, or $10.00 a year?

That pricing tells me that the real price they want and expect is $10 a year, so they add the crazy $2.99 a week to make the yearly sub look like a bargain.

Goin' for the dumb 'n dumber market segment perhaps. Maybe they do know their target market better than I think.

Simon

@wim said:
Goin' for the dumb 'n dumber market segment perhaps. Maybe they do know their target market better than I think.

I wonder if their real business is making money selling apps to us or if it is actually making money selling data to others?

wim

@Simon said:

@wim said:
Goin' for the dumb 'n dumber market segment perhaps. Maybe they do know their target market better than I think.

I wonder if their real business is making money selling apps to us or if it is actually making money selling data to others?

They took out the 3rd party trackers (after getting outed here after sneaking them in). Quickly followed by taking the apps subscription.

Simon

@wim said:

@Simon said:

@wim said:
Goin' for the dumb 'n dumber market segment perhaps. Maybe they do know their target market better than I think.

I wonder if their real business is making money selling apps to us or if it is actually making money selling data to others?

They took out the 3rd party trackers (after getting busted sneaking them in here).

Or did they...?

Only The Shadow knows.

wim

@Simon said:

@wim said:

@Simon said:

@wim said:
Goin' for the dumb 'n dumber market segment perhaps. Maybe they do know their target market better than I think.

I wonder if their real business is making money selling apps to us or if it is actually making money selling data to others?

They took out the 3rd party trackers (after getting busted sneaking them in here).

Or did they...?

You can't get away with that with Apple, fortunately.

Simon

@wim said:

@Simon said:

@wim said:

@Simon said:

@wim said:
Goin' for the dumb 'n dumber market segment perhaps. Maybe they do know their target market better than I think.

I wonder if their real business is making money selling apps to us or if it is actually making money selling data to others?

They took out the 3rd party trackers (after getting busted sneaking them in here).

Or did they...?

You can't get away with that with Apple, fortunately.

Yeah - I'm kidding.

wim

@Simon said:
Yeah - I'm kidding.

Or are you...? 😉

0tolerance4silence

Who knows, maybe the next owner will be worse

dermichl

@busaudio said:

@dermichl said:

@Audiobus_support said:

@dermichl said:

@Audiobus_support said:
Dear Audiobus Users,

First and foremost, we want to thank you for being a part of the Audiobus community and for sharing your feedback with us. Your passion and dedication to our app have been the driving force behind our commitment to continually improving your experience.

Recently, we introduced some changes to Audiobus that caused frustration and disappointment among many of you. We deeply regret the impact these changes had on your trust in us.

We have heard your concerns loud and clear, and we want to take this opportunity to outline the steps we've taken to address them in our latest release, version 3.7:

• Third-party trackers have been completely removed to prioritize your privacy
• A new one-time purchase option has been added, alongside the subscription options, giving you more flexibility in how you choose to access premium features
• Offline functionality has been restored, allowing you to use Audiobus without an internet connection

We are committed to making things right and to earning back your trust.
Your feedback is invaluable to us, and we encourage you to continue sharing your thoughts as we move forward.
We are dedicated to ensuring that Audiobus remains the powerful and reliable tool you've come to love.

Sincerely,
The Audiobus Team

Offline does not work over here. Deleted and one star review given. End of story.

Hello,

We’re sorry to hear you're experiencing problems. The offline feature should actually be working, so it’s not normal that it's not functioning. To help us investigate the issue further, could you please write us an email at [email protected]?

Thank you for your cooperation.

Btw I am still supposed to buy again or subscribe.

That was not the case for me - but you may need to use the "About" button and then "Restore purchase" ...

O

@busaudio said:

@dermichl said:

@Audiobus_support said:

@dermichl said:

@Audiobus_support said:
Dear Audiobus Users,

First and foremost, we want to thank you for being a part of the Audiobus community and for sharing your feedback with us. Your passion and dedication to our app have been the driving force behind our commitment to continually improving your experience.

Recently, we introduced some changes to Audiobus that caused frustration and disappointment among many of you. We deeply regret the impact these changes had on your trust in us.

We have heard your concerns loud and clear, and we want to take this opportunity to outline the steps we've taken to address them in our latest release, version 3.7:

• Third-party trackers have been completely removed to prioritize your privacy
• A new one-time purchase option has been added, alongside the subscription options, giving you more flexibility in how you choose to access premium features
• Offline functionality has been restored, allowing you to use Audiobus without an internet connection

We are committed to making things right and to earning back your trust.
Your feedback is invaluable to us, and we encourage you to continue sharing your thoughts as we move forward.
We are dedicated to ensuring that Audiobus remains the powerful and reliable tool you've come to love.

Sincerely,
The Audiobus Team

Offline does not work over here. Deleted and one star review given. End of story.

Hello,

We’re sorry to hear you're experiencing problems. The offline feature should actually be working, so it’s not normal that it's not functioning. To help us investigate the issue further, could you please write us an email at [email protected]?

Thank you for your cooperation.

Btw I am still supposed to buy again or subscribe.

That was not the case for me - but you may need to use the "About" button and then "Restore purchase" ...

Obviously it still does not work over here - hence my initial statement. Restore button is worn out already…

Audiobus_support

@dermichl said:

@busaudio said:

@dermichl said:

@Audiobus_support said:

@dermichl said:

@Audiobus_support said:
Dear Audiobus Users,

First and foremost, we want to thank you for being a part of the Audiobus community and for sharing your feedback with us. Your passion and dedication to our app have been the driving force behind our commitment to continually improving your experience.

Recently, we introduced some changes to Audiobus that caused frustration and disappointment among many of you. We deeply regret the impact these changes had on your trust in us.

We have heard your concerns loud and clear, and we want to take this opportunity to outline the steps we've taken to address them in our latest release, version 3.7:

• Third-party trackers have been completely removed to prioritize your privacy
• A new one-time purchase option has been added, alongside the subscription options, giving you more flexibility in how you choose to access premium features
• Offline functionality has been restored, allowing you to use Audiobus without an internet connection

We are committed to making things right and to earning back your trust.
Your feedback is invaluable to us, and we encourage you to continue sharing your thoughts as we move forward.
We are dedicated to ensuring that Audiobus remains the powerful and reliable tool you've come to love.

Sincerely,
The Audiobus Team

Offline does not work over here. Deleted and one star review given. End of story.

Hello,

We’re sorry to hear you're experiencing problems. The offline feature should actually be working, so it’s not normal that it's not functioning. To help us investigate the issue further, could you please write us an email at [email protected]?

Thank you for your cooperation.

Btw I am still supposed to buy again or subscribe.

That was not the case for me - but you may need to use the "About" button and then "Restore purchase" ...

O

@busaudio said:

@dermichl said:

@Audiobus_support said:

@dermichl said:

@Audiobus_support said:
Dear Audiobus Users,

First and foremost, we want to thank you for being a part of the Audiobus community and for sharing your feedback with us. Your passion and dedication to our app have been the driving force behind our commitment to continually improving your experience.

Recently, we introduced some changes to Audiobus that caused frustration and disappointment among many of you. We deeply regret the impact these changes had on your trust in us.

We have heard your concerns loud and clear, and we want to take this opportunity to outline the steps we've taken to address them in our latest release, version 3.7:

• Third-party trackers have been completely removed to prioritize your privacy
• A new one-time purchase option has been added, alongside the subscription options, giving you more flexibility in how you choose to access premium features
• Offline functionality has been restored, allowing you to use Audiobus without an internet connection

We are committed to making things right and to earning back your trust.
Your feedback is invaluable to us, and we encourage you to continue sharing your thoughts as we move forward.
We are dedicated to ensuring that Audiobus remains the powerful and reliable tool you've come to love.

Sincerely,
The Audiobus Team

Offline does not work over here. Deleted and one star review given. End of story.

Hello,

We’re sorry to hear you're experiencing problems. The offline feature should actually be working, so it’s not normal that it's not functioning. To help us investigate the issue further, could you please write us an email at [email protected]?

Thank you for your cooperation.

Btw I am still supposed to buy again or subscribe.

That was not the case for me - but you may need to use the "About" button and then "Restore purchase" ...

Obviously it still does not work over here - hence my initial statement. Restore button is worn out already…

Hi, we're really sorry you're facing this issue. We deeply value our community and are continuously working to fix what we can to earn back your trust. Your feedback means the world to us, and we're committed to improving the app for everyone.
Fixing this is our number one priority, and we want to get it right. So we ask you again if you could kindly reach out to us at [email protected], it would really help us investigate the issue more in depth so we can find the best solution for the whole community.
We’d be so grateful for your help and cooperation as we work through this. Thank you again for being a part of our community.