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…