this post was submitted on 17 Sep 2023
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Almost all of Syncs business model is ads. The free version has ads and almost everyone who pays for it is doing so to remove ads. Which is just rewarding the implementation of ads. I also disagree with the concept of profiting from free user content with ads like Reddit does. Which was Reddits primary goal of preventing third party apps. They wanted the ad revenue themselves instead of third parties getting the ad revenue.
The only way this can be acceptable is to not have a free ad version and only have a paid version. That way you are paying for software and not paying to remove ads or profiting from free user content.
I paid to remove ads from Reddit Sync in 2014. 9 years went by where I continued to use the app every single day, as ljdawson continued regular improvements and updates (aside from the incident). By the time Reddit Sync went away, I felt I had vastly underpaid for what I got, and purchased lifetime Ultra as a way of supporting ljdawson.
I totally get what you're saying. But at the same time, Sync is so much more than just the content that it displays. The ads are not there to profit on free content, they're there to support the user experience that sync provides. They're also far, far less obtrusive than typical ads
The nice thing is, there's choices! Feel free to use other clients and find what works best
Same here. I used the paid version sync for reddit for years and got my money's worth out of it. When the incident happened I switched to infinity and, while annoyed, I definitely felt I got my worth out of it. When ljdawson released sync for lemmy and added the ad-free upgrade I happily purchased it and I have been very satisfied with the app and all the improvements he is continually making. This is all coming from a hardcore open source 20+ years of Linux on the desktop guy.
I'm a sync user and pretty tired of these pointless statements. Don't want it, don't use it! I pay for ultra to support the dev and that's my choice. Again, if you don't want it, don't use it. But can you please stop this sync bashing? It's not as if the torrent of anti-sync memes forgot to cover what you are saying.
Exactly, vote with your time and/or money. If you donβt like something, donβt use it. Theyβll be people that are fine with it and will use it.
Why do you care if someone doesn't like your client of choice? They have some value that is different than yours, they have every right to express why they think people using sync is harmful. You are free to disagree but don't complain because they express an opinion you don't like.
Does that refer to Izzy, or the people who complained because they expressed their opinion?
Because tribalism! If you don't think like me then you're the enemy and must be told that you are. Classic ~~reddit~~ lemmy.
WTF is wrong with supporting a developer (Either with cash or ad revenue)?
This is such a bad take. Imagine being mad that the user has a choice for a low/no cost ad supported version and a paid version. There are other benefits too, like being able to trial the software for as long as you want before buying in.
I'm using the free version of Sync for Lemmy now, I don't see any ads. Maybe because my phone has the adguard server as my DNS server and it's just blocking them all?
How atrocious are they when not using adguard?
Yeah it's from adguard DNS.
Ads just show up semi frequently. Definitely visible but not obtrusive. Just keep scrolling.
https://i.imgur.com/8w8mUkE.png
You should still see the frequency with adguard. It's just a blank area where normally there'd be an ad.
I still haven't paid to remove ads, and no Adguard, yet I've never had a single ad show up. I wonder if there's a bug.
I don't think so?
The frequency I see ads is very very low. And when they do it's just a single card
Yes, but what did Mary do?!
Hmm, glad mine looks like this
I don't have adguard on my phone and have never seen a single ad on Sync since day one.
Wait, how is earning revenue from having ads in your app "profiting off free user content," but charging someone directly to use the app isn't? They both do the same thing for the developer (generate revenue), the only difference is who is paying.
Synce is hilarious to me. "You know how Lemmy is completely free to use? What if it had ADs! And what if you had to pay money to remove those ADs!".
And people lined up around the block for it.
Yeah, developers shouldn't make money unless granted a benevolent donation.
There are plenty of other developers, new ones that were happy to work on integrations and apps for the fediverse. While sync is great, it's like a giant Walmart moving into the area, displacing other viable alternatives.
Developers should make money. Just not with ads.
You can pay one time to remove the ads, or sign up for Sync's Ultra subscription which provides additional features like OCR in images and text translation.
Once you do so, the ad library is not invoked at all.
Then you can buy the ad-free version.
I'm not trying to be rude here, but please read my post. Paying to remove ads is part of the ad business model. Anyone who pays to remove ads means the developer profited from ads.
So in your mind, what does the business model look like for the developer? If they can't charge for their app and they can't offer it for free with ads, then what is the expectation? 100% FOSS and assume that goodwill from users will give them enough in donations?
I saw in your comment you are in favor of charging for the app, but how is the ad free version not exactly that? It's a paid app for those who want that but it's a free app for those who don't mind ads. It just seems needlessly nitpicky for that to be the point of contention here.
You do know that there are a dozen other apps that don't charge anything, don't you? Sync is the only one that costs money. It's the only one that has ads.
Sure, and that's great! There are so many good no-cost, ad-free Lemmy apps out there. And I suppose that's what leaves me confused when people get upset because just one app happens to be monetized. With so many viable alternatives, why make this the hill to die on?
People who donate their time and expertise to provide something for free are admirable, but it's the nature of the beast called capitalism that makes that option not feasible for everyone. When people need to afford food and rent, and an app might be someone's primary income, there should never be an expectation that someone offer something for free, just an appreciation when they do.
It's also the best hands-down. If you want to use a worse free app, that's fine. I haven't paid for Sync for Lemmy, and I deal with 1 ad every 5 pages or so. I'm not that sensitive.
They won't listen to you. They're too wrapped up in defending it.
Then pay for the ad free version, and you're letting them make money without ads.
If you just want to steal people's labor, then nah.
If people line up around the block for it, maybe it does actually add value? You can hate ads, I do too. But if people willingly look at ads to visit a website (Lemmy) that does not have any in its original version, then for those people the app obviously adds enough value to make it worth it, don't you think?
The app is really nice.
Yes, because the lineup is worth it when the product trumps the competition.
Then shut up and make a better app. Because it's sweet.
FYI Izzy got permabanned for stating this opinion. That's really insane.
Iβm here from the thread where he let us know. I was expecting something a little more egregious than the above. Thatβs absolutely crazy.
It's not even mean. And this isn't some niche sub specifically about Sync. It's the most generic sub imaginable. Are they paid by Sync?
As re there any other Lemmy clients that are being worked on full time?
This is why I use Liftoff.
Or have a free version to lurk only. Want to participate? Buy the full version.
Non-starter for non-GMS devices unfortunately where in app purchases straight up do not work
That would be a good idea too.
Every time I see comments like this I imagine that Reese meme from Malcom in The Middle saying "Wah Wah, too bad!" Or whatever the English translation of that is.
Picture for reference.
I was considering trying sync. thanks for the info. never gonna touch it now. there are too many good free browsers now to even bother. I'm still trying narrow down between the last three out of five different iOS ones I downloaded. they are all so good and Apollo like
I get like, 1 ad per 5 pages or so. That commenter is kinda goofy.