Astrid Tasks 3.0 Warning

[Bob Denny]

WARNING: Back up your Astrid 2 before doing the Astrid 3 upgrade!

I just updated to Astrid 3.0 ("Update Available"). Silly me, I didn't read the notes other than to see that Astrid 3 was "all new".

My tasks vaporized! The I tried to "restore" and it said I had to buy an add-on pack to do that. No indication of whether the restore in V3 is compatible with saved tasklists from V2.

The experience left me cold. I uninstalled Astrid 3 and reverted to V2 via the link http://bit.ly/oldastrid. Then I restored from the saved list on my SD card from the scheduled backup that Astrid did last night. I still lost some tasks I entered today.

 

[UncleMike]

I too was caught short. While I did see that it was "all new" and "v3", and that there were now add-on packs, what I didn't find out until after I updated is that the Locale plug-in that used to be included in the base install is now a PAID add-on.

Astrid is a great app, and I have no problem with any developer trying to make money, but to remove functionality only to offer it as a PAID add-on doesn't seem right. I'm willing to give the developer the benfit of the doubt, since the length of app descriptions in the market is limited, and assume there wasn't sufficient space to include this info in the description.

 

[Stub14]

I was also caught off guard with this update. Lesson learned read reviews before updates. Thanks Bob for the retro fix. I love the old version works great for me.

 

[midge37]

Bugger, didn't check and just upgraded. So, the new version will no longer talk to Pure Calendar unless I stomp up some cash?......or downgrade?

 

[Szadzik]

I downgraded very quickly. The link to the old version is in the Market.

 

[thirtyfour41]

I upgraded, and it did kinda mess with stuff, but I didn't lose my tasks. That's kind of odd...

 

[thirtyfour41]

Bugger, didn't check and just upgraded. So, the new version will no longer talk to Pure Calendar unless I stomp up some cash?......or downgrade?

No. Mine still talks to Pure Calendar without having to upgrade. Although who knows how long that'll last.

 

[UncleMike]

I've been reading about this update (I hesitate to call it an upgrade) elsewhere, and have realized that deadlines no longer include a time, and goal deadlines are no longer supported.

Interestingly enough, the last pre-update post on the developers blog is titled Astrid takes a huge leap forward. I think it's taken a few steps back.

I only have a handful of tasks in Astrid, so it wouldn't take me long to recreate everything should I decide to go back to the old version, but if I have to do that I may as well consider other apps also.

I'll stick it out for a little bit and see what features might be returning (paid or free) before doing anything though.

 

[Maris]

I tried to update it yesterday but it failed (3x) so I gave up. Good thing it did or I would have been very unhappy. I like it just the way it is.

 

[Asterdroid]

Officially switched to Jorte. Sigh.

 

[UncleMike]

This whole thing is somewhat reminiscent of when Locale went from free to paid. It's bad enough they removed features, but some of them don't even appear to be available as a paid add-on.

When faced with the inevitable user backlash that comes with adding a revenue stream (be it ads, paid add-ons, or making it a paid app), I can't imagine why a developer would think "hey, now is the perfect time to REMOVE features".

 

[Asterdroid]

Exactly! I understanding switching to a paid version, but the way to do it is to develop features behind the scenes, and release them bundled together as a pro version addon.

You don't remove features from the existing user base, and you don't disable existing features in the free version unless you were very clear up to that point that it's a trial.

The way Fede has handled the LauncherPro Plus paid addon is a perfect example of how to do it.

 

[UncleMike]

I hate that I put myself in this position, but I have to eat (some of) my words. Astrid still supports a time-of-day for a deadline; it's just not as up front about it as it used to be.

When creating/editing a task, and choosing a deadline, if you select "Specific Day/Time" you get the option to specify a time of day that the task is due.

What I don't understand is the omission of the Goal Deadline (maybe I'm just overlooking that too?). I may have been using it in an unintended way, but I used it to basically tell Astrid when to start nagging me to get the task done.

In version 3, the only reminder options I see besides "random" are "...when task is due" and "...when task is overdue". The difference between these two may become clear if I stick with this version long enough, but if a task is due at 5:00pm, it's overdue at 5:00:01pm. I don't see an appreciable difference there.

I'm sure there are a lot of threads like this in Android-related forums across the Internet (I've heard there are other forums out there ), but I think some clarification beyond what's currently posted on the developer's web site would go a long way toward smoothing things over.

 

[zafonic]

so guys if I want to get back the previous version of astrid, do I uninstall the new version I updated earlier today, and click on the link Bob has included in his original post from my mobile??

thanks

 

[Szadzik]

so guys if I want to get back the previous version of astrid, do I uninstall the new version I updated earlier today, and click on the link Bob has included in his original post from my mobile??

thanks

Just install the old one over the new one, no problem with that. I switched to Jorte however and am not going back to Astrid.

 

[0sync0]

Don't any of you guys sync with RTM or does that also require a paid add-on?

 

[Szadzik]

Don't any of you guys sync with RTM or does that also require a paid add-on?

Whether it does or not making me pay for an addon to back up my tasks and restore them is not right. I would be fine paying for the app itself, but hiding the charges in an addon is wrong.

 

[UncleMike]

Astrid v3.0.6 now includes both add-on packs for the remainder of August, according to the developer's blog. I have it installed now and both the power pack and Locale plugin are there. The developer also appears to be willing to refund for anyone who purchased any add-ons, but I don't know how they plan to do this if you're beyond the 24-hour Market return period.

What happens starting in September? I don't think they know yet.

 

[Roze]

I guess I'll never update my Astrid until the dev has things finalized...doesn't seem they do tbh if it's like this.

 

[WozzaTT]

What a joke - now if I mark a task as completed it duplicates one of my other active tasks. Will uninstall.

 

[sharon.walters@cox.net]

I just add 'jorte' and have an issue....the 'reminder' shows on my desktop but not audible sound. Does jorte have the capability? If not, do you know of an app that does?

 

[Turbo Brian]

I hate that I put myself in this position, but I have to eat (some of) my words. Astrid still supports a time-of-day for a deadline; it's just not as up front about it as it used to be.

When creating/editing a task, and choosing a deadline, if you select "Specific Day/Time" you get the option to specify a time of day that the task is due.

What I don't understand is the omission of the Goal Deadline (maybe I'm just overlooking that too?). I may have been using it in an unintended way, but I used it to basically tell Astrid when to start nagging me to get the task done.

In version 3, the only reminder options I see besides "random" are "...when task is due" and "...when task is overdue". The difference between these two may become clear if I stick with this version long enough, but if a task is due at 5:00pm, it's overdue at 5:00:01pm. I don't see an appreciable difference there.

I'm sure there are a lot of threads like this in Android-related forums across the Internet (I've heard there are other forums out there ), but I think some clarification beyond what's currently posted on the developer's web site would go a long way toward smoothing things over.

I used the goal deadlines much like you. I keeptabs on my bills so absolute deadline is the due date and the goal is when I need to pay it so its not late. Anyways glad the old version is back because without the goal deadline reminder the app is useless to me

 

[thomasanderson]

Just noticed in the new version that when I delete a task, it doesnt delete from the widget, unless I uninstall and reinstall the widget. Also the widget keeps the word Loading in the list if I have no task. Wonder if this is draining the battery. Really annoying. Does anyone else have this issue?