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Locale beta expired
I was very disappointed this morning when I went to deactivate one of my Locale situations and was advised that the Locale beta has expired, and aside from clearing the message or choosing to upgrade, I was unable to interact with the app, forcing me to leave the situation enabled.
Over the past two weeks or so I have gotten a message when interacting with Locale, indicating that a new version was available, and suggesting that I upgrade. Knowing that the new version is a $10 paid app, my Google Apps account doesn't support Google Checkout, and that there have been some feature changes that I prefer to avoid, I kept canceling the notice. In all these notices, there was not one mention that the version I am using would expire.
While I understand that developers don't necessarily want beta version floating around forever, the fact that the expiration mechanism and date remain undisclosed until after the expiration has occurred leads to either a reluctant upgrade (due to cost or feature changes) or alienation of users.
I fall into the alienation category, and this sudden expiration of Locale is all the reason I need to look at alternatives. Even if I had been inclined to purchase Locale, this behavior on the developer's part would give me second thoughts.
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I haven't opened Locale in about a week, but I've also been ignoring those fake "update available" prompts it give you. I just tested it out myself and can verify what you said.
I have nothing against devs getting paid for their work, but this guy has been shady. First, trying to deceive people with the beta to upgrade to t $10 app (worth $3 max IMHO), and also the thing about collecting user info with flurry agent.
From looking in the market, doesn't look like a lot of people are pleased with the "upgrade" version over the beta either. I definitely won't be paying for it.
If someone else were to make a similar app, I would definitely be interested in paying for it, but sure as hell not $10, and as long as it worked, and didn't collect info.
Strange still working here. I'm also in a 'no paid apps' area so will be anoyed if it stops working. I did un-install Locale and re-installed it a few days ago. The version I installed is just called Locale (no Beta in title like it had before) the version number is 0.696 beta.
I am another who has been using the beta and just realized thanks to this thread that Locale has expired. I refuse to pay $10 for an app that is only worth $2-3 max. I paid $10 for Documents to Go which does FAR MORE than LOcale...
Check out an app called Timeriffic. I have heard good things about it and I am checking it out now as we speak. It doesn't have GPS functionality (however GPS doesn't work in my work building anyway). But if you do everything time based then you are in business...
I'll be that now that Locale is $10 and the beta is expired some one will create a similar app for less money and put Locale out of business...or at least lower its price
Same here. Wound up uninstalling last night. No way I'm paying $10 for this. Especially when the location based feature of the app never worked for me. It never automatically switched my profile based on my location. And I gave it far more than the "every 10 minutes" the help said it checks the GPS again.
I might be inclined to write an app that does something similar. That was my goal when I first got the phone, but the lack of being able to tie in all the 'core phone functionality' such as being able to get notifications for email and being able to differentiate between gmail, pop/imap email, and exchange email turned me off to the whole initiative.
If anyone ever used Phone Alarm on windows mobile, that is the kind of app I'd like to see on Android. That was the killer profile app on win mobile. Unfortunately, it's not 100% possible with the current SDK. Most of it is...wifi, bluetooth, radio, SMS. But there is some core/base phone events and functionality that you can't get to.
- Joe
Last edited by mihalich; February 1st, 2010 at 08:40 AM.
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LOCALE IS GONE!!! BUT, YOU CAN'T EVEN UNINSTALL THAT DARN THING SINCE IT WASN'T LISTED IN MY DOWNLOADS ANYMORE. HAD TO GO TO THE MANAGED APPLICATIONS TO GET RID OF IT!!! WHAT A SCAM!!!
I NEVER SAW THE LOCALE PROGRAMMERS EVER ADVISED US OF THIS END OF LIFE BETA APP CUS I DO NOT RECALL EVER SEEING ANY "IT'S GOING TO STOP WORKING AFTER..." DATE, EVER!!!
And, to charge $10 for something I can 'toggle' myself, well, I'm not that LAZY!
Last edited by DaWeav; February 1st, 2010 at 09:31 AM.
I found this out last night and must say that I am a little upset. I was cool with not getting the 'latest and greatest' features and wanted to stay with the beta as well. I still havent found anything that does what it does as well, so I will probably break down and buy it at some point in the future...but there are a few options out there that I will try first. Timeriffic and another beta called Tasker (if I can figure out where to get the install from) are two that come to mind.
Hopefully someone takes this guy to task and the price drops. At most, i want to spent $5 bucks for Locale. Its not worth $10.
Tasker actually looks promising. I'm going to have to try to find it in the market and try it out.
Joe
It is NOT in the Android Market.
Unfortunately its in 'public beta' right now but as of last night, the download is unavailable. My guess is that its because of Locale conking out and people flocking to Tasker.
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I already knew what would happen, but I decided to try anyway... un-installing Locale and then re-installing using backup created with Astro File Manager. It didn't work - and still reports that it is expired.
The sad part is that I would have actually paid a few dollars (3-4, not 10) for the beta app I was using. The "update", with notifications you can't disable, and a few other things I've read about, is something I would avoid, even if it were free.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by takuya
It is NOT in the Android Market.
Unfortunately its in 'public beta' right now but as of last night, the download is unavailable. My guess is that its because of Locale conking out and people flocking to Tasker.
Click the 'Forum Beta' link on the left and then the 'Latest Version' thread near the top. That seems to be where to get it once its available again.
It's unfortunate that the download link has been removed. I understand that they may be overloaded right now, but this sudden issue with Locale is the perfect opportunity for another developer to swoop in and gain a loyal following.
Last edited by UncleMike; February 1st, 2010 at 11:40 AM.
It's unfortunate that the download link has been removed. I understand that they may be overloaded right now, but this sudden issue with Locale is the perfect opportunity for another developer to swoop in and gain a loyal following.
It's unfortunate that the download link has been removed. I understand that they may be overloaded right now, but this sudden issue with Locale is the perfect opportunity for another developer to swoop in and gain a loyal following.
I have been participating in the Tasker Beta program for a few weeks now. It was removed because the author (not me) was being overwhelmed with new Beta users and because Tasker is about to undergo some siginificant changes. Beta feedback has led the author to significantly redesign the UI (but not the functionality). The current Beta 0.7b is set to expire in March (each of the released Beta versions have had an expiration).
When it comes out of Beta and is available on the Market it will be a paid App. The author has indicated it will "probably" be priced in the $3-$4 range - but we'll have to wait and see. For me I would pay that amount but probably not much more.
Tasker seems to be able to do everything Locale can do, plus more. It requires more work to setup, but it is very powerful.
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I'm now using Timeriffic and it seems to do most of what I used Locale for. One thing I did with Locale that Timeriffic doesn't do (as far as I can tell) is setup a profile that I would manually enable/disable to set my phone to vibrate only (when enabled) and return the Locale's default settings (when disabled). I'm looking at Quick Profiles to address this need.
I also found Toggle Settings, which appears to do a lot of what Locale does, but the comments don't leave me very enthusiastic. Has anyone tried it?
I'm thinking this will turn into an "alternatives to Locale" thread.
I don't understand why people say this guy was scamming. I had locale. The beta expired and I decided the app was not worth what he wanted, so I uninstalled. YOU DOWNLOADED A BETA. There are no guarantees. If you dont like the app or dont think its worth the money, then uninstall it like I did. I don't blame the guy for removing it. How can he make any money when everyone is going to just use the beta as their real version and never upgrade/pay him? Apparently, IN HIS MIND, he has worked out the kinks and no longer needs beta testers. You can debate whether that is true as much as you want. But for you people to get upset because he no longer wants to give away his intellectual property for free is ridiculous. There is an app market with over 20,000 apps. If you don't like him, his app, or the way he does business, then move on to something else. But to cry because you cant keep getting something for free, and then to call him a scammer for it is ludicrous. Yea, I thought it sucked that I had to uninstall it, and I might have even thrown him $2.99 for the app, but I am certainly not going to trash the guy because he is tired of people using the free version and never getting paid for his work. If you have a problem with it, go make the app yourself, and then maybe you'll understand why he wants to stop giving away his stuff for free!
Anyone find an alternative that'll detect if the phone is plugged in and change the notification settings? I read Toggle Settings does this, but not very reliably..
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I believe we've all made it clear what we think the product is worth, and have stopped using it. People who have paid for it also made themselves clear what they think about in the market.
1. It was a timebombed beta
2. It included a deceptive way to get people to dump the beta and move to the paid version
3. It collects user information and sends it to a third party without disclosing it.
If you noticed, this thread has turned into an alternative to locale thread. So please don't troll.
I don't understand why people say this guy was scamming. I had locale. The beta expired and I decided the app was not worth what he wanted, so I uninstalled. YOU DOWNLOADED A BETA. There are no guarantees. If you dont like the app or dont think its worth the money, then uninstall it like I did. I don't blame the guy for removing it. How can he make any money when everyone is going to just use the beta as their real version and never upgrade/pay him? Apparently, IN HIS MIND, he has worked out the kinks and no longer needs beta testers. You can debate whether that is true as much as you want. But for you people to get upset because he no longer wants to give away his intellectual property for free is ridiculous. There is an app market with over 20,000 apps. If you don't like him, his app, or the way he does business, then move on to something else. But to cry because you cant keep getting something for free, and then to call him a scammer for it is ludicrous. Yea, I thought it sucked that I had to uninstall it, and I might have even thrown him $2.99 for the app, but I am certainly not going to trash the guy because he is tired of people using the free version and never getting paid for his work. If you have a problem with it, go make the app yourself, and then maybe you'll understand why he wants to stop giving away his stuff for free!
Generally, when you have a beta, there is a specific end date. I don't remember there ever being a published end date at any point when I was testing the beta. I think the biggest beef is that it just ended suddenly, without notice or forewarning of when the beta expired. Had that been communicated, I think people wouldn't be as upset. I, for one, agree that he has a right to make money...I don't think anyone would contest that. I feel that 10 bucks is just too much for the app he has developed. I would have gladly paid $4.99, no more.
It just sucks that we had the app installed and all of a sudden, without warning, it doesn't work anymore. And the way I found out was pretty bunk too. I had to go into Locale to even get the message. There should have been an expiration date published on the beta, and I don't recall ever seeing one. There could have been so much more - an alert in my task bar for example....an email to the google account I downloaded the app under. All kinds of automated processes.
Just because the dude wins the ADC doesn't mean he knows how best to do business, or what his consumers value his product at. Dont come in here yelling at us because we are looking for an alternative to a great program that we happen to think is overpriced.
You are right. I was incorrect in saying it was like a scam. I guess I was just shocked by the price tag. With reviewers saying that the paid app was on par or worse than the beta, I was just caught off guard.
On the beta app, I don't recall ever seeing that it was a limited time beta. More than likely, I missed that somewhere in the EULA (who read those). It really wouldnt matter, but that should be discolsed. I was under the assumption that I could run the beta app ( as I have with other apps) indefinitely. WHen the new version comes out, I could upgrade if i felt it was worth it. A few windows apps I use are like that.
Anyway, I was out of line implying that the developer was scamming us. Thank you for keeping us in line.
You are right. I was incorrect in saying it was like a scam. I guess I was just shocked by the price tag. With reviewers saying that the paid app was on par or worse than the beta, I was just caught off guard.
On the beta app, I don't recall ever seeing that it was a limited time beta. More than likely, I missed that somewhere in the EULA (who read those). It really wouldnt matter, but that should be discolsed. I was under the assumption that I could run the beta app ( as I have with other apps) indefinitely. WHen the new version comes out, I could upgrade if i felt it was worth it. A few windows apps I use are like that.
Anyway, I was out of line implying that the developer was scamming us. Thank you for keeping us in line.
You are very nice!
I agree with the thought that we could run the beta indefinitely. There are plenty of other apps out there that allow you to use the beta for as long as you want, but offer some added functionality for those who upgrade when the paid version is released. There doesnt seem to be that here and a lot of the remarks on the non-beta paid version are not making me confident in dropping ten bucks on it.
very useful thread - I have an equivalent app on my current Nokia - BestProfiles - which I can' do without. Had the app on two different phones (for at least 3 years now), and I've never had the need to use the GPS/cell based functionality they shoehorned into the later version.
Yes, you can set your profile without an app, but it's so much easier when you can have one do it for you - happy other half when phone isn't binging away in the middle of the night is worth a couple of dollars
This Setting Profiles app looks pretty dang good. I think I am going to test it by setting up all the profiles I want and individually see if they work.
It doesn't appear to have as nice a calendar integration as Locale. Locale's is very simple where you just check off the meetings you want the profile to apply to. This app requires the entry of keywords, that I assume it looks for in your calendar entries....I say 'assume' because every time I try to add a keyword, it crashes on me....more details as I test it out.
I was tired of Locale after they changed from beta to paid. It also seemed to randomly kill my battery.
I'm using Manners (it is 1/10 the cost too) instead. It does not have all the features of Locale, well actually it only has one. But, it is the single feature I used Locale for anyway. It places the phone in vibrate mode based on location.
Last edited by djharrison; February 1st, 2010 at 05:49 PM.
Does timerrific or Setting Profiles (or tasker once its available) support having different ring volume/vibrate settings for calls and notifications? One thing I really used a lot in locale was this feature, when I'm at work I like to keep the call ringer volume on vibrate only, but I need to keep notification volume at a normal level so I know when emails and calendar reminders come through.
Last edited by mattbooty; February 1st, 2010 at 06:38 PM.
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I was also POd about the surprise this morning. I have already heard people suggesting Timeriffic to take care of time-management of ringers and wifi and stuff. But, just in case anyone else was also into the Astrid+Locale combo, there used to be a free app on the market called Openloopz. I still have it on my phone, though I can't seem to find it in the market right now. Anyways, Openloopz allows you to create task lists, and reminder notifications are triggered by time or location.
On a side note, I went ahead and purchased the new Locale this morning as a test run (with every intention of getting a refund if it sucked). And I gotta say, I'm not disappointed. I mean, I hate that I can't disable the damn taskbar icon, but the network location (with GPS disabled) feature now nails my position perfectly (within 20ft). Whereas the beta version always placed me about 1/2 mile north east of my correct location.
The scheduled ringer setting was buggy when I first ran it, but now it seems to be working just fine. I would say that, once you utilize the multi-apt easteregg, it functions just as well as Timeriffic... except it costs $10.
Overall, I think I'm going to keep the new program. Sure the dev was underhanded. And when I e-mailed them a question about a plugin, their response was short and rude. But I have gotten accustomed to the Beta's the functionality. Looks like they got me
Settings Profiles seems to be a really good alternative to Locale. The only thing it doesn't have is the ability to turn vibration on and off for notifications. it can only turn vibrate on/off for the ringer.
This is acceptable to me, since I used Missed call for phone/sms notifications.
This is the problem with these applications. Nobody has yet provided a complete implementation. Settings Profiles is close. All it needs to add to be complete for me is this:
1) Vibration support for notifications.
2) Repeatable alarm notifications (allowing you to set the LED, and repeat patterns.
You need both of those. Then I can remove Missed Call.
Settings Profiles allows you to turn on/off wifi, bluetooth, phone; set volume for ringer & notifications; turn vibrate on/off for phone; set LCD brightness; and set the screen timeout for turning off. These are just the features I used. There's a couple of other things in there too.
You can setup rules based on time, location, calendar, incoming calls, missed calls, etc.
Location based stuff seems to be available only in the full version. Everything I've said other than location is in the free version.
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I managed to get a copy of Tasker (directly from the developer's site) and installed it. I really like it so far. It's extremely flexible, and consequently takes more effort to setup, but I now have a widget on my Home screen setup to toggle between vibrate and ring. I'll definitely be snapping up the next version once the download links are restored.
For the record, I don't begrudge the developer of Locale making money, but pulling the rug out from under users certainly won't do much for their reputation.
-Beta was promising but not perfect.
-The beta was terminated without warning.
-The app costs 10x the price of almost any other paid app.
-New reviews in the market state the new version is drastically different in a negative way than the beta was and are openly asking for the beta back.
-It was deceptive to allow us to install something that does something as important as scheduling OFF times for ringers and then killing the app.
I'm all for people trying to make a living, but I don't like being given free candy in the way of something to make my life easier and then having the rug suddenly pulled from under me to try to shock me into paying for the most expensive app I've ever seen on the store.
I'm never buying Locale and I'll go back to keeping my phone on vibrate 24/7 to avoid school mishaps until I can find a reliable alternative to Locale.
Last edited by Mipmap; February 2nd, 2010 at 05:54 AM.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mipmap
...I'm never buying Locale and I'll go back to keeping my phone on vibrate 24/7 to avoid school mishaps until I can find a reliable alternative to Locale.
For a quick fix I would recommend Timeriffic (based on my brief use of it yesterday). If you want to duplicate Locale's time-based functionality with Timeriffic, you need to create two profiles - one to change the settings, and another to change them back - but that's the only real learning curve there is.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by UncleMike
For a quick fix I would recommend Timeriffic (based on my brief use of it yesterday). If you want to duplicate Locale's time-based functionality with Timeriffic, you need to create two profiles - one to change the settings, and another to change them back - but that's the only real learning curve there is.
No, one profile with two different actions. I like Timeriffic, but I'd like for there to be a quick way to toggle back to the default settings and back (for those times you're not actually following your schedule). But there isn't.
I downloaded Toggle Settings last night after reading about it in this thread. I like it, it's like the perfect blend of Quick Settings and Timeriffic.
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Last edited by InstantKarma; February 2nd, 2010 at 07:35 AM.
I installed this morning and so far so good. Although like another poster mentioned can't set the vibrate for notifications, which was nice but not a deal-breaker.
The interface is definitely not as slick as locale was, and locale had a lot more options than this does, but fortunately I didn't use them yet so I don't miss them.
when does locale beta stop working then? is it a specific date? ive been ignoring the upgrade notifications and im sure it was working fine last night (I have it put my phone on silent when im in bed).
when does locale beta stop working then? is it a specific date? ive been ignoring the upgrade notifications and im sure it was working fine last night (I have it put my phone on silent when im in bed).
Yesterday I went in to edit a rule, and it said it had expired and i couldn't use it anymore and booted me out, then last night my rules didn't run anymore. Previously like you it was only a warning that I should upgrade.
Maybe if you don't go into locale to edit a rule it won't actually disable it from running?
Too late. I just went in and it kicked me out. Is that it then - no more Locale? I'll confirm tomorrow.
It was for me. I was hoping that it would continue to work with the rules I'd already created, but last night I started getting audible notifications after 10:00 PM, a time that I had a locale rule set up to be silent and had always worked in the past.
So far I've only ever done time based rules, and Setting Profiles so far does most everything I did previously in locale (only exception is vibrate setting for notifications). I looked over tasker though and it looks slick, I like the idea of application specific settings as well (when in app x set screen timeout to x minutes sort of thing). I'm torn, if setting profiles continues to work I don't know if I should buy it or wait to see what tasker is all about. I wish we had a better idea of when his public beta would be available again.
So far I've only ever done time based rules, and Setting Profiles so far does most everything I did previously in locale (only exception is vibrate setting for notifications).
Setting Profiles also has a weird calendar integration that I am not too fond of. I liked Locale where you just selected what calendar entries that you wanted the setting to affect. With Setting Profiles I need to have it look for specific words in my calendar entries...Its ok, but not nearly as slick and intuitive as Locale.
I wish I could get ahold of Tasker because I really want to move to another program soon, but don't want to do so until I have explored all the available options.
Even for $10 I think I would have bought locale if it wasn't for all the review saying that the paid version is worse than the beta. That just scared me off. Ironically, I would possibly end up buying if he had a free trial of the CURRENT functionality to see how much is different.
Even for $10 I think I would have bought locale if it wasn't for all the review saying that the paid version is worse than the beta. That just scared me off. Ironically, I would possibly end up buying if he had a free trial of the CURRENT functionality to see how much is different.
all apps essentially have a free 24 hour trial. if you choose to uninstall within the first 24 hours, you won't be charged.
i'm saying eff locale. the beta was nice...but there are very few apps worth $10, and this certainly isn't one of them.
all apps essentially have a free 24 hour trial. if you choose to uninstall within the first 24 hours, you won't be charged.
i'm saying eff locale. the beta was nice...but there are very few apps worth $10, and this certainly isn't one of them.
True. I LOVE this about the Android Market as opposed to the iPhone App Store. Apple would never give us our money back. Please note: You can only return the app one time. For any future purchases of the app, after you have returned it once before, the 24hour evaluation period is not available.
Locale beta expired
I'll confirm tomorrow.
