Update Google Play release

[d1nuc0m]

Hi, I noticed that the latest update of Time Cop on the Play Store has been released on 2021-01-15, while the latest version on F-Droid has been released on 2022-05-18. Is it possible to update the Play Store release? (Btw, why does it cost 0.99$ if it is also on F-Droid?)

[12people]

Hey @d1nuc0m

I'm helping maintain the project. I think @hamaluik , the original creator, tends to be relatively busy.

He's the only person with access to the developer accounts responsible for the Google Play and AppStore releases. I, on the other hand, am responsible for the F-Droid release and the Flathub release for Linux — which is why both releases are more recent. I'm also planning a new release soon, also just for those two platforms.

As for the cost, I'm personally glad that @hamaluik can be reimbursed at least a little for developing this project. In general, if free software is going to thrive, there need to be ways for people to make a living off of it. It's not quite there yet, but these micropayments are a step in the right direction. F-Droid does not allow payment processing, which is why there's no payment there. I would have added a donation link, but AFAIK, one doesn't exist for this project yet.

In any case, this project is intended to be free as in freedom rather than free as in beer.

[d1nuc0m]

I understand, thank you

As for the cost, I'm personally glad that @hamaluik can be reimbursed at least a little for developing this project. In general, if free software is going to thrive, there need to be ways for people to make a living off of it.

Maybe keeping it up-to-date could be helpful to use it as a kind of "donation"?

I would have added a donation link, but AFAIK, one doesn't exist for this project yet.

@hamaluik thought about creating one?

[hamaluik]

I have updated the Play Store release to 1.8.0. It is currently in review but it should roll out soon. I'm not sure if I'm still able to update the iOS build because unfortunately I no longer have access to a Mac. I'll see what I can do about this, but it may take a bit.

I have also made the app free on the Play Store. It was only earning a dollar or two a month anyway. I will likely make the App Store version free as well (whenever I am able to update that).

This was the first "real" app I wrote and published, so I was curious what would happen if I made it paid. It did way better than I expected, earning ~$500 the first month. Since then it barely takes in a couple dollars a month across both stores. This is fine, though to keep it on the App Store means paying $100 USD / year. I can fund this for now, but one day I may look at taking in donations or making it paid, or removing it from the App Store if it just doesn't become worth it to do so.

[12people]

@hamaluik Thanks for that, and also thanks for the release note write-up!

And you're completely right about AppStore fee — it's a pain to deal with, and it's the primary reason I don't have my own projects on the AppStore. There is a possibility to get a fee waiver, but it only applies to nonprofit organizations in select countries: https://developer.apple.com/support/membership-fee-waiver/ .

[12people]

@hamaluik
I just issued a new bugfix release. Could I ask you to release it on Google Play as well?

It's a bug related to desugaring and only affects Android 13 and the special tablet-based Android 12L release. Desugaring was added with the latest release of the flutter_local_notifications package, and while I tested that change on Android, I didn't test it with those Android versions.

Sorry about the added complications.