Marvin pricing

[institute]

Just to clarify. If you purchase "Marvin for iPhone and iPad" you can install it on each. If you already have "Marvin for iPad" you get an update to version 2 but you cannot install the iPhone version unless you pay for "Marvin for iPhone and iPad." Is this correct?

[Faterson]

Nope, "Marvin for iPhone and iPad" does not exist.

They are 2 separate apps: "Marvin for iPad", and "Marvin for iPhone".

The iPad version is free, and the iPhone version is $5 (ridiculously low price, considering the app's quality and functionality).

[institute]

OK. I did pay for the theme pack for the iPad version to support Marvin's development. I'll have to decide how much actual reading will occur on my phone rather than my mini.

[Philantrop]

Originally Posted by Faterson

the iPhone version is $5 (ridiculously low price, considering the app's quality and functionality).

Actually, while I agree that Marvin's worth it, I think it's too expensive compared to the ebook reader "ecosystem":

Apabi Reader Free
Blio Free
Bluefire Reader Free
DL Reader Free
eBookMobi €1,79
i2Reader €4,49
iBooks Free
Kindle Free
Kobo eBooks Free
MegaReader €1,79
ShuBook Free (€2,69 for extra features)
Stanza Free
uBook s Free (€4,49 if you don't want ads)

The pricing will keep a fair amount of people away (someone already mentioned that on Facebook).
Personally, I'd have implemented the themes IAPs and kept the iPhone version free of charge, too.

For more details: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...02#post2516702

The argument, btw, that the iPad version is for testing is problematic - not everyone owns an iPad.

[Faterson]

Originally Posted by institute

OK. I did pay for the theme pack for the iPad version to support Marvin's development. I'll have to decide how much actual reading will occur on my phone rather than my mini.

Right. For me, it's like 95% iPad, and 5% iPhone, yet I still find Marvin for iPhone essential for me. It's very comforting to know that no matter where I may find myself, perhaps delayed by unforeseen circumstances, I can always pick up the phone and continue reading a book for a few available minutes, wherever I left off reading that book on the iPad (my main reading device).

[Faterson]

Originally Posted by Philantrop

Apabi Reader Free
Blio Free
Bluefire Reader Free
DL Reader Free
eBookMobi €1,79
i2Reader €4,49
iBooks Free
Kindle Free
Kobo eBooks Free
MegaReader €1,79
ShuBook Free (€2,69 for extra features)
Stanza Free
uBook s Free (€4,49 if you don't want ads)

But for practically all of those apps, Wulf, you get what you pay for. Meaning, you get little in terms of quality. (In the case of i2Reader, despite promising signs, you don't get real quality even after you pay for it.)

Also, I think it's unfair only to juxtapose the iPhone's $4.99 price tag to that listing... when Marvin for iPad is free as well. I for one would expect that a tablet, rather than a mobile phone, would be the main reading device for people. In that sense, Marvin for iPhone may be understood as an "extension" of the original (iPad) Marvin e-reader: if you want the "ultra-mobile" extension of Marvin for iPad, you pay the $4.99 to get that extra functionality. I'd see nothing wrong with that line of reasoning.

[institute]

I guess I feel that I have paid for Marvin already via the theme pack, which I would not have purchased if I did not appreciate the work put into a fine app. I felt that the developer did deserve some sort of payment, although themes were not really my thing. At the moment, paying for the iPhone version does seem like paying twice.

[Philantrop]

Alex, I don't really disagree that much - the problem with "you get what you pay for" is that people without an iPad will not know what they're getting before buying it, though.

I'd been reading on the iPhone for years before buying an iPad and I was really cautious about buying a pig in a poke if it was a pricey pig. :-)

[kguil]

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

[artbatista]

Originally Posted by Faterson

But for practically all of those apps, Wulf, you get what you pay for. Meaning, you get little in terms of quality. (In the case of i2Reader, despite promising signs, you don't get real quality even after you pay for it.)

Tell me about it. I purchased most of those listed (and several not listed) and got utter crap.

And send a query to the author, see how long until you get a response.

I waited 3 months for a reply from the author of Bluefire on a feature request.

Upgrades are non existent and some can't even display italics for the love of Mike!

Caveat Emptor

Art

[holymadness]

Shrug, it's $5. That's nothing. The cost of a crummy sandwich or two bus tickets. Even if it were a dud, it wouldn't be a tragedy. I wish people would put these things in perspective. They own a $650 phone but won't spend five bucks on an app they use every single day.

As for a preview, there are an insane number of screenshots, feature descriptions, and tutorials on the Marvin blog. More than I've ever seen for any number of comparatively-priced apps (Fantastical, Reeder, Twitterific, Articles, Dark Sky, etc.). It's pretty easy to inform yourself about what you're buying, and the developer has been very transparent about what he offers.

If you want good software, you have to support the devs who make it. Otherwise you end up with freemium crap, shovelware, or apps by massive corporations that ignore users and their requests.

[ParadiseLost]

Ever thought about just making a paypal or other such link in an about section in marvin that allows direct donation? Ask people for money they feel obligated and often wont bother. Let people know if they enjoy it they can offer a donation for your past and continuing efforts? Just a thought. Ive been reading up on marvin almost since the start... waiting to get it until the ipad mini with retina comes out. I was excited to hear about iphone version but i know i wont use it as often. Five for a product i haven't gotten to use and probably wont use as much as on ipad later seems wasteful at this time. That being said i look forward to using Marvin but just because i think (from reading about it) and others think its amazing doesn't make it so to everyone (who may not know anything about it). Just my view.

[kyteflyer]

Originally Posted by artbatista

Tell me about it. I purchased most of those listed (and several not listed) and got utter crap.

And send a query to the author, see how long until you get a response.

I waited 3 months for a reply from the author of Bluefire on a feature request.

Upgrades are non existent and some can't even display italics for the love of Mike!

Caveat Emptor

Art

Likewise, and with the same disappointments (though I dont mind ShubookSE, except even with an update its still crashing in iOS7)

I had absolutely zero hesitation in paying for Marvin for iPhone, because the iPhone is my main reading device, in spite of owning two e-ink devices, two iPads and two android phones!

Had not used the Marvin plugin for Calibre in the past because I rarely used the iPads for reading, but now I have, and my reading life is happy again I've yet to come to grips with sorting collections etc but everything else is hunky-dory

[Faterson]

Originally Posted by artbatista

I purchased most of those listed (and several not listed) and got utter crap.

And send a query to the author, see how long until you get a response.

It's a horizontal 8 in most cases.

[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