Sync for Lemmy

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Request to create a 2nd paid only version of the app (self.syncforlemmy)

submitted 1 year ago by dialecticcake to c/syncforlemmy

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I don't like the lack of transparency with how the Google Play Store doesn't list the permissions if one pays for the app and instead only shows the permissions if one doesn't pay.

I generally prefer it when devs release two apps -- a free version and a paid version. This way it's very clear on the Google Play Store what is being tracked in the paid app.

This won't affect me personally, but I am curious if others would be more likely to use and pay for Sync if the permissions were more clear for the paid usage case.

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[–] kenbw2 3 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Yep, losing a sale from me for this

I can live with it being closed source, but I want an app without trackers built in (even if they're not used)

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Google doesn't allow it, nothing the dev can do

[–] dialecticcake 1 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I didn't find anything against having both a paid app and a free app in the Google's Policy Center.

While you can't have two apps called the same thing, e.g., both apps called 'your app name', you can have one app called 'your app name' and another app called 'your app name pro'.

I found advice going back years saying one just needs to create a separate project like this. And here is the most recent source I found saying the same thing and it goes further and lists apps that are on the store with both paid and free versions. I also did my own search and found this example: My Lightning Tracker & Alerts is free and My Lightning Tracker Pro is a paid app.

And regardless the dev saying they won't use the data from paid users -- that doesn't matter to me when legally by using the app I signed away permission for that data to be collected.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

https://lemmy.world/comment/2000775

[+] dialecticcake -10 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Linking a message saying that someone was temporarily suspended doesn't sway me especially when I see apps on the store that have both paid and free versions of their apps like the app I linked earlier. If they and others can do it, why can't the dev for Sync?

Now if someone could share a link to a policy document by Google saying "You cannot have both a paid version and an unpaid version of an app on the play store" then I would be very happy to be corrected here and I will happily adapt my stance to support that. (Seriously, I don't mind being corrected -- I'd just prefer something official from Google.)

And so it's a deal breaker for me. And while I never used Sync for Reddit, I am thankful to all the app creators for helping the community often out of pocket and/or while being severely underpaid for years. And I hope this dev will do well financially with other users who have loyalty or different priorities than I concerning privacy and transparency.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 year ago

The "someone" is the developer of Sync though.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 year ago (1 children)

You're asking me why Google has inconsistent or opaque policies? God knows, it's just one of those things I expect from big tech companies at this point. I'm just pointing out why the dev isn't doing it, because he got suspended for it previously.

[–] dialecticcake 1 points 1 year ago

Yeah I agree re opaque policies as if someone can get suspended for this, it would be nice if it was easy to find a policy regarding it. Thanks for your response.

[–] Leuthil 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

This goes way back to when Google first introduced IAP. They were pushing to remove dupes from the store because it caused separate reviews and ratings. It could be that they just temporarily enforced it and now it's not a concern for them anymore.

I remember when this happened to Sync for Reddit. Unfortunately Google Play Store, like most of these app stores, can enforce almost anything they want even if it's outside of their policy because some stuff is so vague. And it's usually hard to get clear information from anyone when your app gets pulled or whatever.

[–] kenbw2 1 points 1 year ago

I'm afraid it's a no deal from me.

I think it's safe to say the Lemmy community is much more mindful of trackers in apps

[–] dialecticcake 3 points 1 year ago

Yeah I was going to try the app based on all they hype but I noped out based on the trackers and that you have to accept all those permissions regardless if you pay. A dev saying they won't use the data of paid users -- that isn't the kind of thing I would expect to be enforceable when legally you've already signed permissions for the data to be collected/used.