First, I need to address a comment that really angers me on the Android Market against SECuRET SpyCam DEMO. It reads as follows; "Malware Detected... Don't install....". Before I go on, SECuRET SpyCam does NOT contain any form of malware or virus. None of my applications do!! I have tried and tried to get Google to remove this comment from the Market, but they don't even bother to reply to me. After the late nights and hours of blood sweat & tears I have put into SECuRET SpyCam, and all the effort I exert to gain a reputation as a quality and reliable developer, this sort of comment really hurts me personally.
I have already noted a drop in sales since this comment was made, but alas, there is absolutely nothing I can do to counter this false and damaging comment. It's quite frankly appalling and Google need a way for developers to be able to take action against comments like these! I wouldn't be surprised if the comment was made by a rival developer, seeing as this is the only feedback I have seen like this after over 115,000 downloads of SECuRET SpyCam DEMO. If that is true, then it sickens me even more that I can't do anything about it.
Secondly, I need to air my feelings about a more general trend that unfortunately seems to be catching on more and more in recent times...
And that is, down-rating FREE demo/lite applications because they are NOT the full version. Yes, you did read that right! I don't, as lots of other independent/hobbyist developers, have a large budget to market my applications. I rely on the model of having a 'cut down' FREE version of a particular application to compliment the full PAID version. I'm sure everyone is familiar with this approach and it's something that generally works ... the user gets to try a limited version of the application for free and make a decision on whether they want to part with some cash for the full version. So why oh why oh why, do users rate FREE DEMO versions low for actually being FREE DEMO versions? Again, yes, you did read that right! "Demo version, 1 star", "Don't download, it's only a demo, 1 star", "It's basically just an advert, 1 star", "Doesn't do as much as the pro version, 1 star", "Can't use colour captures in demo, 1 star" ... these are just some of my favourites. Now surely, as the comments are accurately pointing out it's a DEMO, then it should be getting 5 star ratings across the board as it does a darn good job at being a demo ;)
Please don't get me wrong and think I am moaning about all bad comments and ratings; I am well aware that people are entitled to their opinions and that you can't please all of the people all of the time. In fact, some of the more constructive negative comments really help me to improve my applications. It's just the comments and ratings that whinge about FREE versions not being functional enough or just leaving comments like 'Crap' or 'Sucks' - it really helps no-one at all! I know people love free stuff and I'd love to give all my work away for free and for everyone to benefit from my coding skills without paying a penny, but sadly society and nature dictate that I have to pay for certain things called 'food & shelter', and so I humbly ask for small amounts of money in return for the work I do. I am confident that you can relate to this!
So finally, I ask for your help in 3 different ways:
- I'd like to ask that you kindly download the SECuRET SpyCam DEMO (and any of my other demos, which are all FREE) from the Android Market and give them a decent comment and rating to try and counter the idiotic ones on there (particularly my most popular application, SECuRET SpyCam DEMO, as this seems to be the worst effected). Hopefully we can readdress the balance and add some sense to the swathes of illogical nonsense that litter the comments sections of my free applications;
- Next time you comment and rate any application from any developer on the Android Market, just consider what effect that will have and whether that is the effect you truly want. My personal preference it to never give a low rating to an application - I'll just uninstall it and not use it ... job done;
- Give me some feedback. The user is always right, so if they consistently moan about a FREE DEMO not being functional enough, then maybe I need to take a different approach? How could I change my free offerings to be more appealing to users, but still provide enough of an enticement to upgrade to the paid version and therefore help pay my bills!
I feel it is a serious point though, and as I have no other way to combat the senseless comments myself, I am relying on the decent amongst you reading this now to help me get some balanced comments and ratings for my free applications. Thanks :)
Dude, the demo version is great. I'd it was more functional, I wouldn't have bought it. I would have stuck with the free version. Keep up the good work x! You make a quality product.
ReplyDeleteMan, the Interwebz and the kids just stink.
ReplyDeleteAlready seen many shitty comments on many apps.
Like "Its just a demo - 1 star" for apps that are named as DEMO. Or "i can't run it - 1 star" just because it's their own fault.
But that is the problem with the f*cking people on ther interwebz.
No matter where u are (Market, Forums, Game Networks) there is 70% of people that are just stupid and inmature.
I would want to kill all those people!!! like you do.
But sadly we can't.
So Google has to help us/you out, but yet I don't know how ;(
The bad thing is...that those ONE-TIMER-bad-comments get sooo much attention in the overview.
So what can we do?
But please, don't get bored by this stuff, your apps are just great, and I hope, that sometime...normale people will replace that 70% of Internet-Kids
It is extremely unfortunate that such comments, and attitudes in general, are trending ever downwards with each new generation who are increasingly prone to hide behind the anonymity currently provided them by the Internet.
ReplyDeleteThat said, I'll do my part to promote your apps and provide appropriate ratings so that others appreciate your work.
Otherwise, the only alternative I can offer you for DEMO options is to offer a time limited, fully functional version like some others currently do. If you go that route, I strongly suggest you include some type of splash screen indicating how many days the demo will remain active (2 weeks is plenty). If you want to set the bar higher, provide an option at the end of the demo period to either (a) purchase the full version, (b) convert it/downgrade to a Free app with limited functionality (in which case I would insure that fact appears on the opening screen every time the apps is fired up, as well as in the info screen), or (c) remove the app (in which case you should force open a browser window to a SIMPLE AND SHORT web survey page that asks why the client is removing the app. Some people just want to fire daggers so let them vent THERE instead of in the marketplace.
I tried the "Free Demo"and I liked it quite a lot! I purchased the "Paid" version, and it ROCKS! I agree with the developer. Quit crying about the "limited free demo" not being fully functional. DUH!
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with what you are saying. I have read that a common problem with the android market is that other developers are posting bad ratings for their competitors. I am experiencing the same thing with a game I just released, I am getting random 1 star ratings. People who leave comments are saying that the game is great.
ReplyDeleteI understand your feelings and agree. I have the same kind of comments and sometimes I feel like I explode.
ReplyDeleteAnd lots of star 1 with no comment. Competitors?
Often I feel that there is no point to develop apps.
Obviously you should just give away the fruits of your labor with no chance of monetary gain.... as long as doctors, dentists, lawyers, etc all do the same so you have no need for money in the first place. :P
ReplyDeleteI just don't get why people have no problem paying outrageous fees when they want the skills of a doctor or lawyer of therapist, but they're not willing to shell out $2.99 for an android app.
Can you perform open heart surgery? No.
Can you develop and android app? No.
Then stop bitching because the people who do have these skills want to charge for them.
PS: How about all the people that complain because they bought a GBA emulator and it doesn't come with games? If people knew the definition of "emulator" they wouldn't expect games to come with it.
ReplyDeletePSS: Oh and one thing that annoys me that actually SHOULDN'T annoy me... its called FORCE CLOSE, not FORECLOSE. Don't rate an app low because it foreclosed on you, rate your bank low for that....
Rofii that was hilarious.
ReplyDeleteDooblou,
This is always an inevitability when dealing with free items feedback.
It deals with an economic rule called Pricing Theory.
Basically when someone gets something for free they will be more critical of it then if they had paid for the item, regardless of what item.
Unconsciously, when someone gets something for free, a false sense of being owed something comes from the feeling that they in fact deserved this item for free, so they are always much quicker to criticize. As they have no vested/invested interest.
When someone makes a purchase, even if only one at a nominal cost, the purchaser now has skin in the game and takes a different outlook towards the purchased item.
More likely to be respectful and try to work with say the developer on suggestions to make the item even better.
Not the case when it is free.
It is another of man's unexplainable foibles.
Ignore the negative nancys is all I can advise.
And I will be downloading all your free versions and countering said comments.
I really like this enthusiastic job you are doing folks.
ReplyDeletesuper one click root