Marvin pricing

[Faterson]

Just to clarify, there is no "iPad + iPhone version". There is only Marvin for iPad, and Marvin for iPhone. Two separate apps. One free, the other for $4.99.

Both can be embellished by purchasing the interface colours (separately one-by-one instead of the Theme Pack, if your intention is to send the maximum reward to Kris).

So, the current maximum reward for Marvin appears to be $20.83. (8 interface colours per $0.99, each purchased twice, plus the $4.99 for Marvin for iPhone.)

[Faterson]

Originally Posted by kguil

@Philantrop Theme IAPs didn't work (not even remotely).

I'm afraid it would take an intuitive genius to find out the Themes purchase option on the iPhone. Absolutely, totally buried in there. Even the first tap would not occur to me, let alone the "drag upwards" to disclose themes. Like I mentioned elsewhere, I never read software tutorials, and I'm convinced a crushing majority of users don't read tutorials, either. The option to buy interface colours should be advertised a lot more visibly. What about a Tip of the Day pop-up screen upon every Marvin launch? Seems to work fine in other apps. Could be instantly disabled by the user, of course.

[kguil]

I purposely made the theme store as unobtrusive and "out of the way" as possible. I've always meant for the themes to be a fun to have optional extra and don't want to create the impression that any of Marvin's features are hidden behind an in-app purchase.

Fun fact: Initially, Marvin for iPhone was rejected by Apple because the reviewer couldn't find the IAPs for testing (I don't blame him/her). We sorted it out in about 15 minutes.

[Philantrop]

Originally Posted by vikarti

I would have paid at least 29,99US$ for Marvin even in it's current state

Right now, only theme packs on both iPhone and iPad + iPhone version

Most of us (me included) would have paid more for Marvin because we KNOW how good Marvin really is. So we can all go on telling each other how much each of us would have paid but never get anywhere because:

Newcomers without an iPad won't know Marvin and quite a few of them will be put off by its price tag. Personally, I'd have chosen 2 to 3 Euro and that's it. BUT: I'd never even think about basing any kind of serious business upon an ebook reader because we, the devoted readers, are a shrinking minority.

That's all I ever wanted to say and this is the last I'm going to say about this in public. :-)

[kguil]

I would like to thank everyone for their opinions and insights into the matter. I will be taking them into consideration (really).

[Heitor]

Fortunately, Marvin has been getting some very positive reviews (some indeed quite enthusiastic), and this kind of advertisement may compensate for the lack of a trial version for iPhone-only users. Later, the developer can rethink his price strategy, if he deems it necessary.

[Apocalypto]

I'd been meaning to check Marvin out as an alternative to Stanza and this prompted me to finally buy. Free (or cheap) isn't worth much when you don't get any support and $5 is nothing considering the amount of work that probably went into this. It'll probably take a few thousand people buying before the return on investment even starts to look like minimum wage. The market being what it is though I'd also suggest a "lite" version of the app so people can try it out and see if it's worth buying.

That said it would have simplified everything if it had been a universal app that everyone paid for. I guess there was probably consideration given to the people who paid for the IAP on the iPad and not wanting to gouge them but there are a lot more users who haven't tried Marvin than have and an extra $5 isn't really all that much considering the alternative.

[kguil]

@Apocalypto - thanks for your ideas. Unfortunately, for the time being, Marvin cannot be a universal app because while the iPhone version is iOS 6+, I didn't want to drop iOS 5 support from the iPad version yet.

[STrek77]

In august I did hear the first time about Marvin; visited the website and directly wanted to use it. Si I did go to app store and then the first disappointment was there: only for Ipad and I only have a Ipod thouh and so ibook will stay my reader.

But then came the message that Marvin will come to iphone/Ipod thouh; so I waited till today when I firstly heard it was available on app store. Second time I was disappointed when entering the app store because I had to pay while ipad users have it for free. Why that difference. It may be a very good reader and even be worth much more then the price asked but I have no possibility to check that out for my self.

Gonna have to think I stay with ibook (and always asking my self if marvin would be beter for me) or pay for something I have not (yet) the feeling that I want marvin (even with all screenshots and descriptions ans good user reviews).

Hope to be surprised about this in the future...

[MeSue]

Originally Posted by kguil

Unfortunately, for the time being, Marvin cannot be a universal app because while the iPhone version is iOS 6+, I didn't want to drop iOS 5 support from the iPad version yet.

Could you do something like have an Marvin for iPad legacy version that supports iOS 5 and then a universal Marvin that is iOS 6+? Either way, you are still maintaining two separate apps. Although if you want to keep Marvin for iPhone a paid app and Marvin for iPad free, I guess that's out.

[kguil]

@MeSue, yes, because the iPad version is free, I can't do that for now.

[Faterson]

Originally Posted by MeSue

Although if you want to keep Marvin for iPhone a paid app and Marvin for iPad free, I guess that's out.

Originally Posted by kguil

@MeSue, yes, because the iPad version is free, I can't do that for now.

Well, another option would be to price both the iPad and the iPhone version at $2.50, instead of giving away one for free, and the other for the rather high price of $5. The bottom line -- at least in theory -- should be pretty much the same with both apps costing $2.50, while the price would get into the ballpark usual for iOS e-readers, as illustrated by the list posted by Wulf.

I feel the current arrangement is OK, but it has those unpleasant side effects just discussed by Sue & Kris above.

[JesseTheK]

Since no "Donation" button yet exists on Marvin's site, I'm letting all my ereading friends know how much I like Marvin's features.

[kguil]

@JesseTheK - Thanks! That's the greatest donation I can get.

[Dalwyn]

I am a Marvin fan and until reading this forum did not realize I could purchase the theme pack. The ability to connect to Calibre via OPDS is great!

One question I have - Do you think there will ever be a Kindle Fire version?

Regards
Dale