Android Development False Advertising (Fraud)

Solar2D Android
#1

I don’t like using the word Fraud, but basically that’s the case here.

Nearly 6 months ago I paid for the Corona SDK with the express intent of porting my iPhone apps to Android. I’ve patiently waited through the updates.

Six months later, the number of “still working on it” problems (like inability to resume) on Android are unacceptable to me.

I can’t expect to sell an app using an SDK that is “broken” out of the box if the user happens to use their phone normally (like hitting the home button and then going back to my app – currently broken!)

So either you put up a HUGE asterix next to your Android development claims, or expect more posts like this.

I’d like my money back, and you should seriously consider the implications of your false advertising. I have no interest to pursue such matters into legal territory, but others might.

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#2

I do understand your frustration and agree on it as well - so I’ve asked them whether they’d be willing to extend our license to reset the date once they get 1.0 out with all of the basic Android functionality working (they said their goal is to have equivalent functionality with iPhone).

They haven’t agreed (yet), but if they can do that, I’d be much happier.

Currently, until they get their Android side working more fully, I’m having to use Appcelerator Titanium (although I wouldn’t use that for games - Corona is much better for games).
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#3

Hi Andre, takabanana,

I’m sorry to hear about your frustration with Corona SDK and being a mostly developer company, we can understand how it is upsetting to not have full functionality on every level at launch. We want to get your feedback on what would be the best outcome for you, so you will be getting an email from our team shortly.

If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me at chia (at) anscamobile (dot) com, I’m happy to address your concerns.

Thank you for letting us know what is and isn’t working, and for giving us more of your feedback as we move forward.

Chia Hwu
Director of Marketing
Ansca Inc. [import]uid: 7451 topic_id: 1724 reply_id: 5077[/import]

#4

Well, I bought my license in May, because Corona used to say “2.0 will be out in 1H 2010” - so I figured, it would be within a month - with similar functionality/capabilities between iPhone and Android.

My understanding (from another thread) is that Corona 2.0 *release* will have equivalent-level iPhone/Android feature support.

It’s now almost September - way past the 1H 2010 originally announced - and we’re still in Beta.

I would truly hope that Ansca will consider extending our licenses 1 year from the date of the official 2.0 release that has similar features supported/functional between iPhone/Android.

I’ve been unimpressed with the differences, and hence have temporarily moved to using Appcelerator Titanium to develop one of my apps. I’m hoping that will change.

Thanks for listening. [import]uid: 6396 topic_id: 1724 reply_id: 5081[/import]

#5

We definitely are listening. May I humbly suggest you wait for beta 8 to pass judgement. It’ll be out very soon, it’s in QA now. [import]uid: 54 topic_id: 1724 reply_id: 5084[/import]

#6

Eric and Chia,

I am very glad that you guys have some intent to resolve this.

I can’t really wait any longer, so I have decided to do the ports of my iPhone apps by using the Android SDK.

I do see some future value of your SDK in the Game Edition, but I am now down to 6 months left on my existing subscription.

I like what the other poster has mentioned, I think a reset of the subscription would be acceptable, because I’m ok with having spent the $99 but I’m not ok with having lost 6 months of that subscription time in the process of waiting.

Obviously a refund is fine as well, as I will not be using the SDK in the near future. [import]uid: 5848 topic_id: 1724 reply_id: 5085[/import]

#7

I’ve been frustrated too since I’m really trying to get an Android game released, but I have faith in the Ansca team and I really trust what they’ve been saying that this coming beta will make Android support solid and fix the major issues.

As for calling it fraud, the reason I don’t think that’s fair is because this is labeled as a beta product. That’s the only reason I wouldn’t call it fraud. Betas are after all, betas.

But with that said, I think everyone can agree that the sooner Android support is stable the better it’ll be for everyone! [import]uid: 6678 topic_id: 1724 reply_id: 5106[/import]

#8

Call it what you like, but I can’t afford to wait on Ansca making the Android side stable any longer.

I have started the process of porting my iPhone apps using the Android SDK directly.

Ansca has yet to contact me directly as promised, so I will wait till Monday to email Chia.

Waiting seems to be the name of the game. [import]uid: 5848 topic_id: 1724 reply_id: 5117[/import]

#9

I have been contacted by the CEO of Ansca, and all is resolved.

I very much appreciate his contacting me, and this really proves that Ansca does care about keep it’s subscribers happy.

Thank You Carlos, I appreciate it. [import]uid: 5848 topic_id: 1724 reply_id: 5125[/import]

#10

So you got your subscription extended and others not? [import]uid: 5712 topic_id: 1724 reply_id: 5126[/import]

#11

I got a response from the CEO, I have not had anything extended as yet.

But I am glad that things are getting resolved. [import]uid: 5848 topic_id: 1724 reply_id: 5127[/import]

#12

I hope we are able to get some kind of extension or price break for helping to support the beta. [import]uid: 846 topic_id: 1724 reply_id: 5171[/import]

#13

We’ve announced that the price after the beta period ends will be $249. The current introductory price of $99 is a 60% discount. Right now, you can extend your subscription an extra year for the introductory price. We are also including Game Edition free at this time.
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#14

Where is the link to extend our current subscription for a year for $99?
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#15

Just click the subscribe button when you are already logged in - thats what I did. [import]uid: 846 topic_id: 1724 reply_id: 5190[/import]

#16

you do, which for the amount of effort that is already in this product its superb value at $99.

Sure the android part needs to play catch up but the clue is the title…BETA, cant believe people are bitching about 99 dollars, if you are a professional developer and you want to step over the learning curve of objc on iphone and java on android this product will save you a ton of time and money. [import]uid: 7334 topic_id: 1724 reply_id: 5194[/import]

#17

Quote @garyk1968:

_"you do, which for the amount of effort that is already in this product its superb value at $99.

Sure the android part needs to play catch up but the clue is the title…BETA, cant believe people are bitching about 99 dollars, if you are a professional developer and you want to step over the learning curve of objc on iphone and java on android this product will save you a ton of time and money."_

–

I agree with gary.
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#18

I don’t think anyone is complaining about 99 dollars. I don’t think anyone is denying Corona is great.

That’s not the issue. If someone bought Corona JUST to make Android apps, then as of right this minute, it’s pretty much useless to them. You can’t release a fully functional Android app. That’s all everyone is saying I think.

So sure, if you’re making an iPhone game, then Corona can’t be beat. But it’s not that Android is lacking features, it’s the fact that the Android side has fundamental bugs that don’t allow complete games to be released.

Again, that’s just as of this minute. I’m hoping/believing this will all change with beta 8. [import]uid: 6678 topic_id: 1724 reply_id: 5293[/import]

#19

Same here. I bought Corona too because of the Android part. It’s not about the 99$. I will not resubscribe if the situation doesn’t change. [import]uid: 5712 topic_id: 1724 reply_id: 5298[/import]

#20

OK - for me, when I signed up, I understood it was Beta. I saw that it was a great deal to get in at $99 - but they were also advertising (this was in May) that they expect to have the 2.0 Release out before the end of 1H 2010 (end of June). So I expected the equivalent functionality for Android as iPhone to be there by end-of-June - because that is what was advertised - and also to be able to use that within 2 months - and thought it was a GREAT deal at $99 to “get in” early and also get a discount.

Did I expect things to not work initially, with it being “beta”? Yes.
Did I expect things to be “on-par” and “fully supported/functional” on the Android side by end-of-June? Yes - because that is what was being said when I purchased the subscription in May.
Did I think $99/year to get in “early” and have a “fully supported/functional” Corona within 2 months sounded like a great deal? Yes. Did I jump at that opportunity? Yes.

How am I coping with it now? I’m using Appcelerator Titanium for a productivity app. I did start developing it under Corona (which is still awesome, by the way), but I realized that it would have taken longer - and some things weren’t working yet. Furthermore, I felt Corona was geared *more* towards fancy non-productivity apps - mostly whiz-bang fancy graphical games.

On a related note - they are offering a 1-year extension for $99 for a limited time. I think that is a great compromise - assuming that they get Corona 2.0 released out the door before end of 2010 (which they have stated they would now).

Originally: $99+$249 to get license to May 2012 with 23 months of 2.0 Release (assuming they did release 2.0 in July 2010)
Now: $99+$99 to get license to May 2012 with 17 months of 2.0 Release (assuming they do release 2.0 in Dec 2010)

Assuming Corona 2.0 gets released in Dec 2010, the people who are mainly affected negatively are those who relied on Corona 2.0 being released by July 2010 - so you’d lose planned development time.

Price-wise, it’s fair.
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