Tapatalk ripoff

[Andrew H.]

Originally Posted by pidgeon92

I have to ask... Why should a major update to an app (I don't use this app, so won't speak to it specifically) be given to prior purchasers for free? I pay to upgrade the apps on my computer all the time. Why should mobile apps be different? If the prior purchased version would no longer be functional, I would understand being upset....

Most people don't pay to update their programs on the computer. They pay to buy new programs. In the computer world, the difference between an update to Office 2010 (which is free if you own Office 2010), and a new version of the same program (like Office 2013, which you have to purchase even if you own Office 2010) is obvious and transparent.

This distinction is too often not clear with mobile apps, where upgrades may make the program worse in an attempt to monetize you in some way. It would be like downloading an update to Office 2010 and discovering that you no longer have the ability to bold or italicize words, but you can regain that ability by buying Office 2013.

Or - to use an example that happened to me a couple of years ago - I updated weather.com's app (I think it was called "weather") and found out that the function of the upgrade was not to improve the app, but to add ads to it.

[Sweetpea]

I keep getting messages that I should update my tapatalk, but the new version isn't even compatible with my device... I wish they would turn off the spam I get...

[thomasn75]

Originally Posted by pidgeon92

I guess I am confused. Was your paid app Tapatalk 4? Or 3? Or 2? Were you "asked" to update to the free version, and replied in the affirmative, or did it just update on its own to a free version and remove functionality?

I have version 2(pro paid for version) and if i had said yes to update it would have "updated" me to free version 4. This is not made clear in blurb. Many people are pissed of as can be seen from reviews on Google play.

Also i agree with other comments you don't pay for updates ei to Windows but only pay if yoy decide to upgrade to a new version.

Update vs upgrade. This is actually a downgrade

[tubemonkey]

I just read some of the reviews. People are really ticked off!

I have a rule when it come to apps and programs - I don't buy them. I either use free versions or paid versions that are free. That way, I'm never locked into a specific OS and can freely change at will without suffering any monetary loss. Not being invested in a particular OS allows me to freely switch platforms to get the device I feel is best for my needs.

[Blossom]

I got that message last month. If you have a tablet/phone running Android 2.3 TapaTalk 4 wont work on it. So backup your TapaTalk 2 apk.

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by Blossom

I got that message last month. If you have a tablet/phone running Android 2.3 TapaTalk 4 wont work on it. So backup your TapaTalk 2 apk.

It won't run on my 3.2 either.

[Teknikal]

Just read the Google Play reviews myself I didn't realise they moved all the pro user who paid to an unstable basically useless free version and at the same time launched another pro version as well that's even worse than I first thought.

I'm pretty sure that's breaking the consumer protection act in the UK as the goods no longer fit for purpose, either way they deserve all the bad press they get and it's safe to say I'll never be buying any of their apps now.

[FanciFreez]

Yes, Tapatalk failed me on a couple of devices.. had troubles.. I originally purchased and upgraded... that was a mistake.. and now if a web pages says "Tapatalk has app" for this page or whatever, I always choose NO.. my Safari or Chrome etc browsers always work better.. I stay clear of Tapatalk period.. Just my two cents..

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by FanciFreez

Yes, Tapatalk failed me on a couple of devices.. had troubles.. I originally purchased and upgraded... that was a mistake.. and now if a web pages says "Tapatalk has app" for this page or whatever, I always choose NO.. my Safari or Chrome etc browsers always work better.. I stay clear of Tapatalk period.. Just my two cents..

Not me I couldn't live with the app! I will buy it again no problem there. It's too precious not to have. I am a MobileRead addict therefore I must be able to interact and keep up with MR at all times so they got me for as long at MR uses this feature. The notification feature is a must for PMs and specific threads.

[Asawi]

I've got both the paid Tapatalk 2 and the Tapatalk 4 on various devices. Both work very well. I bought the 4 when it was on sale for 99 cents. I rund the 2 veresion on pre-ICE-Android devices. Are you guys saying it's not possible to run version 2 on Android 4 devices without getting nagged to update, or isn't it possible to run it at all?
I do love the app, but they do charge their users quite a bit! IIRC they charge pretty mucg for alternativte themes, for example.

Edit: OMG! I went to Play Store and checked and got totally confused by all the different Tapatalks! None of wich was Tapatalk 2... I had better make sure to make backup of my Tapatalk 2!

[drofgnal]

I had tapatalk for a while and deleted it. My philosophy is I spend enough time in the early morning checking 3 forums. AVS, BMW, and Mobileread. That's enough, I don't need to check them on the go. Enough is enough.

[ProfCrash]

I can see where it would be useful on a phone but it really isn't all that useful on the iPad. I use it from time to time to check on topics that I have unsubscribed but that is about it. And to add pictures if I want to add a picture.

[At_Libitum]

Dunno if this is true for the Google version too, but in the version history for the iPhone it states that starting with 2.0 Tapatalk (regular) is now a free app... that likely was the .99 cent version indicated

And apparently since 2.0 there is now also a pro version for a 'hefty' €3.59 ;P

What the pro version has that ain't in the regular free one according to the blurp is a photo editor, unlimited image upload (tapatalk hosted), attachement saving to dropbox.

And the free version can end up costing you triple that if going with the in-app purchases...

[=X=]

Originally Posted by Teknikal

I didn't realise they moved all the pro user who paid to an unstable basically useless free version and at the same time launched another pro version as well that's even worse than I first thought.

That is not what they did Tapatalk had two basic paid versions one for phones and one for tablets. The one for tables required Android 4.0+.
The phone support an older api. A while back they updated their tablet version to work with phones also.

What tapatalk did is made the phone free, they then renamed their tablet version from "Tapatalk HD" to "Tapatalk Pro".

It's confusing yes but nobody got.ripped of or downgraded, but people don't understand they assume their getting ripped off.

I owned both paid versions and my HD now says pro.

Originally Posted by thomasn75

Update vs upgrade. This is actually a downgrade

In the computer world the developer decided what's an update and what's an upgrade. People pay a lot more for these apps too.

The problem with the the mobile markets is there is no distinctions between update and upgrade. People pay a buck to five and expect all future updates/upgrades to be free.

Tapatalk tried to make this distinction when they.developed their tapatalk hd product last year. They got a lot of heat for it. People who paid for the phone app felt they should get the hd for free.

[Canuck_in_Japan]

I wouldnt hold that against Tapatalk. I just uploaded a photo here and noticed that there was no longer a "tapatalk hosted" option. Have they stopped offering picture hosting as well?