this post was submitted on 02 Aug 2023
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I'm checking out the sync app today, posting from it now. It seems to work.
One thing I notice about apps is that almost none of them have the option to show comments instead of posts (e.g. listing new comments on lemmy.nz). I can easily do that from the website.
I installed it this morning too and this is my first post using it. I had Relay on reddit so I don't have the familiarity that everyone else is raving about but it seems like a good solid start to a polished app.
I used Relay as well!
One of the criticisms is that it's an ad supported, closed-source app. Lemmy is open source, and runs on a model that doesn't need ads or related privacy invasion.
So I feel like apps like Sync probably won't be sustainable in the longer term, because the only selling point is that people used to use it on reddit.
Everyone seems pretty keen to support the dev and I'm prone to impulse buys so I've already paid to remove ads. I don't like subscription models though so probably won't be shelling out for the extra features, whatever they are.
I am in two minds about subscription models. Would I buy a car that needes a subscription to use the heated seats? Hell no.
But would I pay for something that has ongoing costs (say, a subscription to Netflix)? Yes, I would, because of convenience and they need to cover server and licensing costs over time.
Would I subscribe to an app? Well, this is in the middle for me. I feel like I should be able to buy software as a one off cost, but I also think that would not entitle me to ongoing development of new features. Rather than charging for every update (which Google Play would make pretty impossible anyway), a subscription probably makes sense. However, if you have a user base that is constantly growing, you may be able to get away with just getting payments from new users (like Relay Pro one off cost).
Yeah I agree with that. I had paid for Relay Pro so paying to remove ads from Sync didn't seem like a big deal, although it's probably the most money I've ever dropped on an app.
With Sync on reddit there was a Pro version which was a one time payment to remove ads. I've seen some grumbling in the Sync community asking if there's going to be the same for the Lemmy version. It sounds like the dev is going to make a one-time IAP for ad free available soon in addition to the subscription.
I'm also not keen on a subscription model especially now that there are a number of apps being developed for Lemmy.
The option is there in the latest version, but it's on a different screen. You tap on your profile picture at the top left then the option to remove ads is there.
However, it's almost $40USD, which many are complaining about.
Hmm pretty steep. I'll just use it with ads for a while and see how development goes
Yeah, it's a bit chicken and egg isn't it. If they don't get the funding they won't be motivated to continue development. But without the development people won't want to pay.
Yeah I guess he has to make up for the much smaller user base of lemmy than reddit. I think the pricing might be localised already, seeing a lot of people listing different prices. It's showing $37.99 for just remove ads for me, but $189.99 for lifetime Sync ultra, which is a bit much!!
It will just be normal Google Pay price localisation. It's been a while since I did app store stuff but if I recall correctly you pick a price level say level 20, and this has it as 25USD, 25Euro, 30 pounds, 35CAD, etc. It would automatically do a rough exchange rate to NZD plus GST and this happens automatically without the developer having to pick a price in all 200+ countries/regions.
But yeah, the prices are high and it may just be cashing in on goodwill early on.
Thanks that explains it!
Ah I downloaded it this morning but haven't had a chance to use it yet. Hoping it's as good as the reddit one was,
Seems pretty decent. Lots of app options now though and they all seem decent.
Yeah, I guess when you increase the active user base 60x you also get 60x more developers willing to contribute in various ways.
Memmy doesn’t give access to PMs
Another useful thing would be to have timed automated repeat posting for the Daily. I think that automation can be limited to Mods only access to prevent spamming.
I think there's a question here on bot labelling.
Currently the tools exist (separate to Lemmy) to automatically create posts in this manner with a bot. But if it's a bot then I think it should be labelled as one, and if it's labelled as a bot then people who have turned on the setting to hide bot posts wouldn't see if even though the post is about interaction between users.
If you had automatic posting of repeat posts, how is it different to a bot? Should those posts be labelled as bot posts?
I feel that, at the moment, having a person posting the daily post helps drive engagement because you know at least one person will see your comment, and you know one person is seeking conversations (otherwise why would they post the post?).
Understand your engagement comment. I see the Daily as a collection of various topics all encased in a single post, but yes, if someone has bots blocked, it’s not an ideal solution.
Yeah, I feel that people blocking bots aren't trying to block a daily post like that.
I think your suggestion of timed posts (even without repetition) would be ok. Set up posts in advance, just make sure you line up some new ones every few days to stay ahead of it, then have them post at the time specified. Like a delayed post option.
If timed repeated posts were made from a mod’s account like yours ha, ha, would that be detected as a bot posting? I know a bot will be creating the post, but what would make it look like a bot posting rather than a manual post?
There is a flag on accounts to mark them as a bot. If you created a bot to make the posts, you don't necessary need to mark it as a bot... But that seems wrong.
Click on a person, then click Send Message on their profile page.
iOS right? I'm on Android. There are loads of apps, I probably just haven't found the setting.