Smiling Frog Software

This week there has been a bunch of positive and negative discussion around the news that Tweetie 2.0 for the iPhone is nearly complete, and that it will be a new application, not a free upgrade. You can read the announcement here at the Atebits blog.  I’m a user of the Tweetie 1.0 on the iPhone and of the desktop app.  I  personally think that Tweetie is one of the best designed apps on the App store. Apple didn’t give Loren Brichter an Apple Design Award for nothing.

A couple of days later Mr. Brichter did an interview about the new version at Just Another iPhone Blog.  The reason for so much discussion is that many users are upset that they will have to spend an additional $2.99 to get the new application, instead of getting it as a free update to Tweetie 1.0.  As an iPhone developer I have been following this with great interest, because to be honest I have been pretty disappointed so far with the performance of the App store.  I don’t have any applications in the App store yet that are even remotely as popular as Tweetie, I’m still trying to find the right idea.  My primary App in the store ‘Simply Lists‘ was originally priced the same as Tweetie $2.99  I viewed this as a fair price, but in a crowded market for these types of apps I quickly found the only way to keep selling was to move to $0.99.

In the above interview with Mr. Brichter he states:

“Without the option for paid upgrades, developers (who work on anything more substantial than ringtone apps) have two options: 
1. Support the app forever and release free updates forever. 
2. Abandon the app.

No developer can afford to do (1), so the app will die.  Users can be scary to developers, even if the angry ones are just a vocal minority.  Changing the perception that iPhone apps will get free upgrades forever is going to be an uphill battle, and I think other developers are thankful I’ve taken a step in that direction.”

He is absolutely correct here. There is a balance to be found between bug fixes, minor improvements, new functionality, and major new versions of an Application.  On the desktop this is an established system.  Bug fixes and minor changes are often provided as free updates, but Major new versions are almost always paid for. If you want quality software on the iPhone then this same system must be accepted.

As for me, well I’m currently looking for a full time job again, I haven’t even been able to cover the costs of setting up my business so far.  I have done some contracting work as well to help, and I hope to continue doing so.  I will keep Smiling Frog Software going, and I’m going to keep working on new software for the iPhone in my spare time, but unless I get lucky with a new App there is no way I can currently make this a full time job.  You have no idea how disappointing it is to say that.

Simply Lists 2.0 will be submitted to the App store shortly, it contains many new features, and bug fixes.  It will be a free upgrade for existing users.