We had and finished the whole "updates are useless" thing days ago. Conclusion: Updates are absolute standard in today's software business and taken for granted by customers – if you don't like it, don't become a software engineer. Everyone, who claims it's different is just wrong – sorry.

Buddy, chill out!

Updates is something that has become so common that it's been taken for granted. Let me give you an example. If what you are saying is correct, then Apple should stop providing updates for 10.4 Tiger coz after all, it has launched two more OS's after that. But, that's not the case. It is assumed that updates will come. If your argument is right, then Tweetie should have stayed at version 1.0 and straight-away gone to version 2. But, it's now at 1.2.4. Now, I haven't read the fine-print for Tweetie, but if Loren hadn't updated it from 1.0 onwards, he would not only have lost current, but also prospective customers. Because, no one wants a product that cannot stay up-to-date.

I don't really read the fine-print that comes with products/softwares. But, I am sure if the developer doesn't update his/her software to keep up with current trends, he/she could soon be out of business. Now, it's up to economic issues (investment, return, market etc) to decide whether these are free updates or not.

So, to end with, there may/may not be contracts/oaths (I don't know coz I don't read the fine-print), but the customer usually assumes that the developer will support his software (coz that's the way it is).

Peace.

"Your argument about updates is so illogical that it doesn’t even deserve a reply. Sorry!"

And yet you just gave one. *rolls eyes* That's how I know you're talking out the side of your mouth. It may not be sound, it may not be valid, but damned by Satan if it's illogical. And if it is, then please do tell me what fallacy I have committed, or which premise is false. Or what actually makes it "illogical" in your eyes. Is it unsound, invalid, a weak argument? What exactly?

The fundamental basis of technology is to serve as a means to an end; nothing more. A shovel digs. Nothing more. People buy shovels to dig, nothing more. If a shovel didn't dig, or something came a long that dug better, shovels would be obsolete. It fulfils a need, nothing more.

Now if people want to wrap technology with social agreements, that's all well and dandy, but that is not the basis for their design. Tweetie wasn't developed to form a bond between Loren and its users. It was developed to access Twitter. It's a tool, like a shovel.

If that's an "illogical" argument, then I'll eat a floppy disk.

And to compare Loren to David is truly insulting. That's like comparing Ballmer to Hitler. Yes, he's a tool, but they are nowhere in the same league.

You misunderstood what Federico said!

To explain in words related to yours; if Federico does come across a magical Twitter client, he will not use it because he trusts that Loren can bring in a client that's more magical. It's this trust he's referring to. And with Tweetie 2 for the iPhone, I am sure many people have that trust in Loren, including me! Even Tweetie for Mac, in it's current form (agreed, it doesn't have some basic Twitter features which have now become standards), is still the most visually-appealing and easy-to-use client for Macs. Personal opinions many vary. So, yeah, many people do trust Loren to come up with something that's better than the rest.

Your argument about updates is so illogical that it doesn't even deserve a reply. Sorry!

As for Loren; I think he is either going to surprise us by launching Tweetie 2 for Mac one fine day, or, he's become arrogant and has taken his user-base for granted.

Either way, it would be nice for him to at least keep his eager user-base updated. It's not his duty, agreed! But, it would be nice. I hope Loren doesn't want to gain the reputation of David Watanabe. lol!

Really? Is that why? It's not that you haven't found anything better out there? So you're telling me you stumble on some magical Twitter client and you're not going to use it because you have faith in Loren? Because you trust him?

Puuulease… let's call horses horses and cats cats.

Upgrades are just a byproduct of design. If you bought the client because of future iterations, then you're a horribly misguided individual. There's no deal between user and developer. There's no loyalty. You buy the product that does what you want… No contracts. No oaths. It's the nature of technology. It's there to help you, not to procure some care bear moment between you and some developer… Wake up dude… get your head out of that rainbow and come back down to earth.

I get your argument Mike, I really do, but I think you're being a bit drastic! As a paying customer, I can't help but think that Tweetie for Mac is suffering from the same evil that affected Twitterific for Mac. The existence of a free, ad-supported version, which most users chose especially given the quality of the ads, hinders the motivation to develop and update it. Add to that the fact that he's probably using his latest build and doesn't feel the need for more yet it's not ready for shipping, and you get a cocktail that explains what's going on.

I think Loren is entitled to enjoy his life, but I think that at some point he needs to think that *paying* customers expect support. And if you're product rests on a third-party service and you're not keeping up with changes that that third-party implements, you're hindering your brand/name and, ultimately, your paying customers. I'd pay another $5 to upgrade, even though 1.2.4 has been outdated since July or so, which was just a few months after release.

And please: drop the free version Loren. It kills your motivation to do more work. Make it $5 with ads, $15 without. Plus, I paid for it and keep (and click on) the ads anyway…

I get your argument Mike, I really do, but I think you're being a bit drastic! As a paying customer, I can't help but think that Tweetie for Mac is suffering from the same evil that affected Twitterific for Mac. The existence of a free, ad-supported version, which most users chose especially given the quality of the ads, hinders the motivation to develop and update it. Add to that the fact that he's probably using his latest build and doesn't feel the need for more yet it's not ready for shipping, and you get a cocktail that explains what's going on.

I think Loren is entitled to enjoy his life, but I think that at some point he needs to think that *paying* customers expect support. And if you're product rests on a third-party service and you're not keeping up with changes that that third-party implements, you're hindering your brand/name and, ultimately, your paying customers. I'd pay another $5 to upgrade, even though 1.2.4 has been outdated since July or so, which was just a few months after release.

And please: drop the free version Loren. It kills your motivation to do more work. Make it $5 with ads, $15 without. Plus, I paid for it and keep (and click on) the ads anyway…

That said I guess theres been no updates to Tweetie 1 because he's working on Tweetie 2, although I wish we currently had the support for the features I mentioned above – I do understand the situation. The real crime here is the lack of communication with his customers regarding future updates.

This isn't an issue of money (I paid for the app, give me more), but rather one of a broken promise. The point of the article was that you risk losing the trust of your customers when not only fail to communicate what's happening with your projects, but why they aren't being updated when you said they would be. Loren is a great guy, no doubt about it, but you gotta stay in touch with the people who support you most.

As for why users continue to use Tweetie, quite frankly other Twitter applications don't deliver the sheer quality or robust options that Tweetie provides. While it's still the king of Twitter clients, Twitter continues to add features that makes Tweetie slighted dated. We use it because there is no other alternative that can handle DM's and Replys so well. I would use Twitteriffic if I could manage these things easily, but I can't.

I think this is an article should be considered for both concern and praise. I think a lot of us are wondering what Loren is up to in his spare time and why he isn't (or perhaps he is) working on the people's choice. This article and the comments show that a lot of people still care for him and his work – we're really excited to have him as a developer, and we're wondering what's happened to him in the meantime, or what surprises he has for us. Yet, we're somewhat confused (and worried) as to why we haven't seen any updates for his projects.

I've been echofon/twitterfon on iPhone for a long time now & they finally brought their A game to the desktop. Plus good comunication & regular updates.

The Tweetie update would have to be something pretty dam special for
me to move back. If/when it comes.

Cheers.

Following your argument customers are never allowed to ask for app updates they already paid for. "Sure, the app may have some bugs and missing features, but you knew that when you bought it and all in all you can use it the way it was intended – so stop complaining!" – is that what you want to tell us?

Creating/selling software can by no means be compared to your restaurant situation:
When going to a new restaurant for the first time I don't care about what happens aftewards. I hope and expect the food to be good, the service to be friendly and the chairs to be comfortable. If one of these criteria isn't met I won't go there anymore – I paid once, I wasn't satisfied once, they won't see me again.
When buying software, however, there are two types of criteria: the first ones have to be satisfied immediately, namely design/UI and function. You can compare those obvious ones to the restaurant situation. Beyond that there are criteria with future relevance – so instead of just buying the app for its actual features I already think about the time after the acquisition: Good customer support and constant improvements are definitely two criteria, which are as important for the buying decision as the actual features itself.

Updates are an as natural part of the software game as good food is part of a successful restaurant. I can and I do take both criteria for granted, of course only in their respective area.

If you consider it as unfair, that people make more demands on software than they do on restaurants, this is your right. If you choose not to let yourself be dictated by your customers and therefore not update your software, this is your right. You shouldn't, however, wonder, if customers start complaining about this behaviour (as they would if they get bad food in a restaurant).

Mike, I expect an analogy that makes more sense from you.

1) This update will/should implement the new features Twitter has incorporated into its site (lists, new retweets, etc…).

2) The man has created what was arguably the best Twitter client on the Mac – a client for a service dedicated to communication and we have not heard a word from him.

I, as well as many others, have asked him several times via Twitter and email for any semblance of news about Tweetie 2 on the Mac and we've gotten no responses. I understand people get busy, I understand (now) that he got engaged and moved across the country. Great – but how hard is it, when I'm sure he owns an iPhone, to send a simple tweet stating, "Great news – I'm engaged! Moving across the country soon – Tweetie 2 pushed back for a bit!"

Again, this is not simply about the update and it's even less about the money. When you build a tool for the ultimate communication service and you can't be bothered to use it, therein lies the issue.