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Subject:Another update... 

Stephen

18:40
Wednesday
5-Aug-2009

Location:
Surrey, UK

Phone Model:
BB 9800 Torch
BlackBerry 8900
SE W910i
Nokia 5800

Ok, so I figured I should explain whats happening with TMJ, and why there has been a delay in releasing the next version...

I've been working on TMJ for over 3 years now in my spare time. Towards the end of last year I came to the conclusion that I could no longer justify the long hours spent on the project, without it at least contributing to my electricity, server, website and other costs (cider in particular)! I therefore added the Donations button to the site, but whilst I am extremely grateful to everyone who has donated, it has become clear that this isn't really a viable way to support the project.

So I have now decided to introduce a charge for TMJ-Mobile. There will be two versions: a free 'Basic' version and a paid-for Full version, costing EUR12 or EUR18 for 6 or 12 month subscriptions respectively. Both versions maintain most of the existing functionality, but the Basic version has some limitations, in particular the maximum number of trackpoints and waypoints stored, and the vector maps (though it will now include a free trial of these).

I realise that it may be annoying that some previously-free functions will now require a subscription, however I hope you can understand my reasons for introducing the charge. (Incidentally, anyone who has previously donated will automatically be upgraded to the full version for an extended period).

I have recently set up TrackMyJourney as a UK Limited Company, which is the main reason for the delays, but I hope to release the new version very soon, followed by some updates to the website, after which I can hopefully get back to concentrating on the techie stuff and working on even more great functionality for the future!!

Many thanks,
Stephen
 

rolfovo

21:36
Thursday
6-Aug-2009

Location:
Prague

What I can do... I think that the TMJ is the best program for navigation, unfortunately the price is too high for me and free version is now unusable :-( There are similar free programs, really is the price final? For half the price I bought a license, but this probably will choose another free product, even if grudgingly. Still have a lot of satisfied users for the program and thank the author for the use in this period.
 

Stephen

10:10
Friday
7-Aug-2009

Location:
Surrey, UK

Phone Model:
BB 9800 Torch
BlackBerry 8900
SE W910i
Nokia 5800

Hi rolfovo,

I'm sorry if the price seems a bit much to you. I took a while to decide on the price level, but I will review this from time to time, so do check back occasionally. Maybe (even if you do use other programs instead), you'll still sometimes use the Basic version - there is a lot that is still free-to-use in it. In fact, for navigation its pretty much all available - raster maps, routing, live tracking, etc...

Regards,
Stephen
 

rolfovo

20:28
Friday
7-Aug-2009

Location:
Prague

I understand, of course. Just as other salaries for us :-( What about the sale of licenses for the month (vacation, holidays ...)?
 

Pieter001

12:07
Saturday
8-Aug-2009

In my opinion the price is very well paid for this software. I'm using the software for 2 months now and it's certainly useful. Nevertheless I think the price for a year license is to high. I will start looking to other applications that can do the same for me.

Thanks for the work you've done Stephen. I'm only wondering how you decided this is the right price for a license.
 

ChrisM

20:00
Saturday
8-Aug-2009

Location:
Bedfordshire, UK

Phone Model:
Sony Ericsson W770i, Blackberry Playbook(?)

Gosh, Do you guys really think 18 euros per year is so much to pay for an application you say you find useful?
Thats EUR 1.50 a month, or about the price of half a pint (250ml) of beer, or maybe a cheap sandwich.

Chris.
 

markpenders

20:50
Saturday
8-Aug-2009

Location:
Maastricht, The Netherlands

Phone Model:
BlackBerry Bold

Chris,

Couldn't agree more: the software is worth the money.

Mark.
 

rolfovo

21:10
Saturday
8-Aug-2009

Location:
Prague

I am not saying that the price is high, but it is high for me. Not everywhere in the world are the same salaries and every one of us earn 18 euro for a different time. You, for example, per hour, I in 8-hour shift. But this does not detract from the fact that the program is perfect and the price is.
 

Stephen

22:17
Saturday
8-Aug-2009

Location:
Surrey, UK

Phone Model:
BB 9800 Torch
BlackBerry 8900
SE W910i
Nokia 5800

Hi Guys,

Thanks for all the comments. I kind of suspected that the pricing 'model' would provoke different ideas, but I am listening to the feedback (good and bad). I think its probably impossible to hit a 'perfect' price but I will review this in the coming weeks. I'm also considering Rolfovo's suggestion of a shorter period option, but again, its only been two days, so will see how things go...

Regards,
Stephen
 

markpenders

7:21
Sunday
9-Aug-2009

Location:
Maastricht, The Netherlands

Phone Model:
BlackBerry Bold

@rolfvovo

I respect that not everybody makes the same amount of money. However, the costs for Stephen are definitely up to UK standards, hence the pricing level I guess.

Cheers, Mark
 

shchenka

12:22
Sunday
9-Aug-2009

I think that the price is fair. At the same time I can understand that it might seem high for some, particularly in Eastern Europe but what can we do.

At the same time, I'm *very* disappointed that the voluntary donations model did not work out. Why do not people support free software development ? If we agree that 18EU a year is fair, why didn't we donate a similar amount when we were asked for, so that the software could stay free ? Really disappointing :(
 

shchenka

12:32
Sunday
9-Aug-2009

Oops, sorry, the last message was mine, I forgot to log in. schenka.
 

ChrisM

8:16
Monday
10-Aug-2009

Location:
Bedfordshire, UK

Phone Model:
Sony Ericsson W770i, Blackberry Playbook(?)

I have been reading this thread, and I feel that I owe rolfovo something of an apology. I have to confess that at the time of writing my post, I didn't consider people in countries where average salaries were considerably lower than here. From what you said, I appreciate that the price to you is equal to me paying several times that amount.
That said, as someone else in this thread pointed out, Stephen lives in the UK, so he really has no choice but to charge UK prices...

Best regards, and hope no real offence was taken by my comment, as certainly, non was intended.

Chris.
 

gpsnone

21:44
Wednesday
7-Oct-2009

Hi Stephen,

your program has really matured and is worth some money for your time and support spent. nonetheless i do not like your payment model of time limited use. if i buy a program, i want to use it as long as i want to - at least the version number i got.

this said, i would guess i would pay you even 18 to 24 dollar - one-time-fee - for your program i only use now and then.

best regards,

Alexander
 

macpanda

20:02
Wednesday
14-Oct-2009

Location:
Nailsea, North Somerset, UK

Phone Model:
Nokia N95
Sony Ericsson C905

Lets not lose sight of the fact that the price does not include just the software. I haven't used TMJ-Mobile since August, but I did use it almost every day in August, and about 3 times per week in the months before. I will use it again when I finally get the bike out again. It guided me the length of the country (UK) which in itself was worth the money but more importantly, the tracks I recorded during the trip are available to me wherever I am - They're not just stored on my PC, but on Stephen's server too. I did look at other software (like MapMyRide) and they keep emailing me to suggest that I ought to be using their software. This is something you don't get from this site.

I don't have a problem with the pricing model. I was pleasantly surprised when Stephen announced the cost and suspect that he is undervaluing the software (though I'm not complaining of course). Your $18 - $24 wouldn't get you very far with MapMyRide, which costs $11.99 or $19.99 per month to include (for example) the Blackberry app and $5.99 without that.

Can't we just accept the fact that we've had free software and services in Beta for quite some time now, and the time has come to pay if we want to continue using it.
 

shchenka

6:27
Sunday
25-Oct-2009

Sure. I'm only sooooooooo disappointed that the voluntary donations model did not work out :( sigh
 

jose1711

11:39
Saturday
7-Apr-2012

Location:
slovakia

Phone Model:
bb, e51

> if i buy a program, i want to use it as long as i want to - at least the version number i got.

this does not work for many mobile apps though as they are usually restricted to your IMEI. this is based on my experience with blackberry market and symbian apps. on the other hand you can use TMJ on any number of device as you're paying more like for a subscription to use stephen's server.

what i'd personally like to see is better granularity in "subscription program". example:

- base version: no limits on number of waypoints, points in tracks - x EUR
- vector maps: +x EUR
- live tracking (less than minutely interval) - +x EUR
etc.

 

rolfovo

22:06
Thursday
5-Jul-2012

Location:
Prague

Or pay only when an application is running.
For example, 1 cent per hour.
This could be deducted from any credit...
 

rolfovo

13:19
Monday
6-Aug-2012

Location:
Prague

Hi all, any news???
 
 

Stephen

20:11
Monday
6-Aug-2012

Location:
Surrey, UK

Phone Model:
BB 9800 Torch
BlackBerry 8900
SE W910i
Nokia 5800

Hi Rolfovo,

No news I'm afraid - I'm keeping to the current pricing for the foreseeable future, but am sorry if it seems too much...

Regards,
Stephen
 

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