One question for Richard, how he would describe this. Winston said at the launch of the Mac app that he had spent most of the time in last two years in building this app. Right after that he said that maintenance of the app takes too much time and he has hard time to keep up with that and that’s why all changes are needed.
Do I miss something or he clearly said that for two years he put very little effort in updating the iOS app and everything worked properly? There is still a blog post on that so everything can be checked. On Monday, July 10, 2023 at 11:17:57 PM UTC+2 Ivan Icin wrote: > To be precise the problem is in that narrative that one man business is > inherently unsustainable. > > It is like claiming that bigger boat is more sustainable. Out of context > that may sound true, but in shallow waters small boat is better. > > If the market is really big then you could say that big corp is better > than one man show. But if it isn’t the big corp won’t be able to handle its > weight. The corporation needs not just wages but also much more expensive > infrastructure and profits. P > > On Monday, July 10, 2023 at 9:24:32 PM UTC+2 Ivan Icin wrote: > >> Richard, >> >> I am not calling him a lier, I haven't said more than what I have said >> and that is your word, but let's say that it is a spin if you insist on >> qualifying that, or maybe even better a questionable conclusion process >> that may not come from the intention to "lie". >> >> You probably know that Voice Dream Reader was available for Android. It >> is sold to a company called Legere something like two years ago and I guess >> that their revenue is less than 5000$ (SensorTower doesn't show values >> below that), at some points I got some analytics report that it is around >> 1000$ a month. It is updated to support new versions of Android thus far >> and still costs 9.99$. >> >> No matter how hard I try I see Legere more sustainable than Applause >> Group. Applause Group may decide not to handle Voice Dream Reader at >> 40,000$/month and thus far they have hard time to go above that. >> Corporation can hardly have even one full time dedicated employee at that >> budget. >> On Monday, July 10, 2023 at 9:06:50 PM UTC+2 Richard Turner wrote: >> >>> Ivan, you are calling Winston a lier, which I would never do. If the >>> sustainablility is a fake narrative, that comes directly from Winston. >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> Richard, USA. >>> “What we think or what we know or what we believe is in the end of >>> little consequence. The only thing of consequence is what we do” ~ John >>> Ruskin >>> My web site: https://www.turner42.com >>> >>> >>> On Jul 10, 2023, at 11:20 AM, Ivan Icin <labsii...@gmail.com> wrote: >>> >>> Thus far you have two benefits that I know: >>> >>> >>> - Acapela voices are now part of the subscription >>> - You also get the Mac license >>> >>> Regarding the sustainability, that is a fake narrative. Winston was >>> giving interviews that his family is living well from Voice Dream, and >>> assuming that SensorTower doesn't lie, total sales were 40,000$/month. >>> >>> Just to be clear it isn't too much for the American developer (but >>> certainly not too little either). But it is also true that the app can be >>> sustainable in India for even less than 5000$ a month, so even the app that >>> costs 5$/lifetime could be sustainable in some circumstances. >>> >>> But for American products the most of the money goes into the >>> marketing. If you start to buy App Store ads, you need to pay 2$ per click >>> on the ad for the US consumer. And Winston did that and as such he paid at >>> least 10$ to get the users (assuming that he was a champion in conversion >>> so it could be more).If you go into such costs then your business can >>> quickly become unsustainable. >>> >>> Just to note that at the start those ads were priced reasonably so many >>> people jumped in, but as prices went up Apple started to squeeze out nearly >>> all their money and devs kept pushing the price increase to end consumers. >>> >>> At the moment I don't have access to those analytics products so I can't >>> say if Voice Dream is buying the ads now (unfortunately I price my app very >>> low to help people so I need to be careful about all expenses). But with >>> 80$/year subscription your conversion rates start to fall off >>> significantly, so at that price point it is likely that you need to pay at >>> least 50$ to get a paid customer through App Store ads. >>> >>> If that is their business model (and for almost all subscription apps it >>> is), those prices seem more reasonable. >>> >>> I made suggestions that people make a pressure on Apple to disable App >>> Store ads on disability search terms, but thus far no one supported me. I >>> don't think that Apple will do that by themselves as they clearly earn a >>> lot, but then if anyone showed how much they are pumping up prices for the >>> products that people need to support their lives, that would be a bigger >>> cost to their PR than the money they make from it. >>> On Monday, July 10, 2023 at 4:33:30 PM UTC+2 Sieghard Weitzel wrote: >>> >>>> You don't have to pay it if you feel you don't get value for it. >>>> >>>> -----Original Message----- >>>> From: vip...@googlegroups.com <vip...@googlegroups.com> On Behalf Of >>>> Kelby Carlson >>>> Sent: Monday, July 10, 2023 7:12 AM >>>> To: vip...@googlegroups.com >>>> Subject: Re: changes with voicedream apps >>>> >>>> And exactly what improvements to the app have they made since they >>>> acquired it? The only thing I can verify is an extremely minor bug fix. A >>>> price point of $100/year is insane. >>>> >>>> On 7/9/23, Ivan Icin <labsii...@gmail.com> wrote: >>>> > Let’s bring some facts together: >>>> > >>>> > The iOS app is subscription based since April 23th, so it is almost >>>> > three months now. >>>> > >>>> > It has started with 60$/year price. >>>> > >>>> > In the meantime they have tried many price points from 40$/year to >>>> > 100$/year, even selling at multiple different prices at the same >>>> time. >>>> > >>>> > At the moment they seem to have settled to the 80$/year price, though >>>> > at least to some extent 100$/year price was still active fairly >>>> recently. >>>> > Other price points were not active for quite a time. >>>> > >>>> > Those are facts. >>>> > On Sunday, July 9, 2023 at 4:29:25 PM UTC+2 Richard Turner wrote: >>>> > >>>> >> IN a few weeks, we should find out what the actual price will be. >>>> >> >>>> >> I guess we should give them time to sort out their pricing >>>> structure. >>>> >> I'm >>>> >> >>>> >> hopeful it will end up being lower than it is showing right now. >>>> >> >>>> >> >>>> >> >>>> >> >>>> >> >>>> >> >>>> >> >>>> >> >>>> >> >>>> >> Richard, USA. >>>> >> >>>> >> “Reality is the leading cause of stress for those who are in touch >>>> >> with it.” -- Jane Wagner from The Search for Intelligent Life in >>>> >> the Universe >>>> >> >>>> >> >>>> >> >>>> >> My web site: https://www.turner42.com >>>> >> >>>> >> >>>> >> >>>> >> *From:* vip...@googlegroups.com <vip...@googlegroups.com> *On >>>> Behalf >>>> >> Of *Sieghard Weitzel >>>> >> *Sent:* Saturday, July 8, 2023 9:48 AM >>>> >> *To:* vip...@googlegroups.com >>>> >> *Subject:* RE: changes with voicedream apps >>>> >> >>>> >> >>>> >> >>>> >> When I looked it up last night it was $79.99 not $59.99 and here in >>>> >> Canada >>>> >> >>>> >> it is $99.99 a year. >>>> >> >>>> >> >>>> >> >>>> >> >>>> >> >>>> >> *From:* vip...@googlegroups.com <vip...@googlegroups.com> *On >>>> Behalf >>>> >> Of *Mo Khan >>>> >> *Sent:* Saturday, July 8, 2023 3:27 AM >>>> >> *To:* vip...@googlegroups.com >>>> >> *Subject:* changes with voicedream apps >>>> >> >>>> >> >>>> >> >>>> >> Changes with Voice Dream apps >>>> >> >>>> >> Have you heard the news? Learn about the changes and new names for >>>> >> our beloved Voice Dream apps! >>>> >> >>>> >> Voice Dream Reader logo >>>> >> >>>> >> <img class="resource-featured-image-hero" src=" >>>> >> >>>> https://www.perkins.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/voice_dream_icon.jpeg"; >>>> >>>> >> >>>> >> alt="Voice Dream Reader logo"> >>>> >> >>>> >> Have you heard the news? The beloved Voice Dream apps are changing! >>>> >> The original developer, Winston Chen has turned Voice Dream Reader >>>> >> over to the >>>> >> >>>> >> Applause Group, a company able to sustain Voice Dream Reader. The >>>> >> name has >>>> >> >>>> >> been changed to Text to Speech TTS Voice Dream. TTS Voice Dream >>>> >> enables you to listen to PDFs, Web pages, and books using >>>> >> text-to-speech. >>>> >> >>>> >> Note: On April 25, 2023, Voice Dream Reader became a >>>> >> subscription-based app for $59.99 per year. A free trial was >>>> available. >>>> >> >>>> >> Voice Dream Scanner and Voice Dream Writer remain with Winston; >>>> >> although, >>>> >> >>>> >> he has formed a new company, Opus Noma and the app names have been >>>> >> changed >>>> >> >>>> >> to VDScan and VDWrite. VDScan is an OCR app used to scan >>>> inaccessible >>>> >> PDF >>>> >> >>>> >> or text image and converts the text to an accessible document that >>>> >> can be >>>> >> >>>> >> read by a screen reader. VDWrite is a text-to-speech writing app >>>> that >>>> >> reduces mistakes, helps you use the right words, and helps organize >>>> >> and improve the structure of your writing. >>>> >> >>>> >> Winston’s press release >>>> >> >>>> >> Dear Customers, Partners, and Friends, >>>> >> >>>> >> I am delighted to announce that Voice Dream Reader has joined >>>> >> Applause Group as a leading product in their portfolio of apps. >>>> >> >>>> >> Voice Dream Reader started 12 years ago as a side project during my >>>> >> sabbatical in Arctic Norway. Since then, it has evolved into the >>>> best >>>> >> text-to-speech reader, helping hundreds of thousands of people >>>> >> worldwide read for learning and fun. Winning Apple Design Award in >>>> >> 2021 was the crowning achievement of my professional life. >>>> >> >>>> >> But I could not have done it without the users. You constantly >>>> >> provided me >>>> >> >>>> >> with ideas for improvements and inspired me with your personal >>>> >> stories of >>>> >> >>>> >> how Reader changed your lives. And I could not have done it without >>>> >> my partners and friends who supported me at every step. For that, I >>>> >> will be forever grateful. >>>> >> >>>> >> While I look at the past with nostalgia, I also look to the future >>>> >> with excitement. Applause Group is committed to investing in Reader >>>> >> and turning >>>> >> >>>> >> it into a household name. It will be stewarded by a sustainable >>>> >> company instead of being completely dependent on me. And that is >>>> good >>>> >> news for everyone who relies on Reader every day. >>>> >> >>>> >> With Reader going to a new home, Voice Dream Scanner and Writer will >>>> >> remain with me under a different company, Opus Noma. (Noma stands >>>> for >>>> >> my children Nora and Marcus.) And they will be renamed to VDScan and >>>> VDWrite. >>>> >> >>>> >> My new email address is winsto...@opusnoma.com. >>>> >> >>>> >> Happy reading, as we all look forward to a bright future. >>>> >> >>>> >> Winston >>>> >> >>>> >> -- >>>> >> The following information is important for all members of the V >>>> >> iPhone list. >>>> >> >>>> >> If you have any questions or concerns about the running of this >>>> list, >>>> >> or if you feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please contact >>>> >> the owners or moderators directly rather than posting on the list >>>> itself. >>>> >> >>>> >> Your V iPhone list moderator is Mark Taylor. Mark can be reached at: >>>> >> mk...@ucla.edu. Your list owner is Cara Quinn - you can reach Cara >>>> at >>>> >> cara...@caraquinn.com >>>> >> >>>> >> The archives for this list can be searched at: >>>> >> http://www.mail-archive.com/vip...@googlegroups.com/ >>>> >> <http://www.mail-archive.com/vip...@googlegroups.com/ >>>> <http://www.mail-archive.com/viphone@googlegroups.com/>> >>>> >> --- >>>> >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>> >> Groups >>>> >> >>>> >> "VIPhone" group. >>>> >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, >>>> >> send an >>>> >> >>>> >> email to viphone+u...@googlegroups.com. >>>> >> To view this discussion on the web visit >>>> >> >>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/viphone/CAAzRJFCR4eXA0N-Ha37_T8Xc6B >>>> >> hsA83Q6OV6K2i0kfKObiw34A%40mail.gmail.com >>>> >> >>>> >> < >>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/viphone/CAAzRJFCR4eXA0N-Ha37_T8Xc6 >>>> >> BhsA83Q6OV6K2i0kfKObiw34A% >>>> 40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_sourc >>>> >> e=footer> >>>> >> . >>>> >> >>>> >> -- >>>> >> The following information is important for all members of the V >>>> >> iPhone list. >>>> >> >>>> >> If you have any questions or concerns about the running of this >>>> list, >>>> >> or if you feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please contact >>>> >> the owners or moderators directly rather than posting on the list >>>> itself. >>>> >> >>>> >> Your V iPhone list moderator is Mark Taylor. 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Your list owner is Cara Quinn - you can reach Cara >>>> at >>>> > cara...@caraquinn.com >>>> > >>>> > The archives for this list can be searched at: >>>> > http://www.mail-archive.com/vip...@googlegroups.com/ >>>> <http://www.mail-archive.com/viphone@googlegroups.com/> >>>> > --- >>>> > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>> > Groups "VIPhone" group. >>>> > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, >>>> send >>>> > an email to viphone+u...@googlegroups.com. >>>> > To view this discussion on the web visit >>>> > >>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/viphone/1d19f3ca-c943-4b0d-8b9e-2d7077540698n%40googlegroups.com. >>>> >>>> >>>> > >>>> >>>> -- >>>> The following information is important for all members of the V iPhone >>>> list. >>>> >>>> If you have any questions or concerns about the running of this list, >>>> or if you feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please contact the >>>> owners or moderators directly rather than posting on the list itself. >>>> >>>> Your V iPhone list moderator is Mark Taylor. 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