It looks like Apple released the iTunes version of eWallet 7.0 before we were expecting it. We submitted it, hoping the release would hit around when we planned to do the desktop and other platforms’ releases – Tuesday of next week – but Apple surprised us and got the iPhone version into the App Store a little earlier than we thought they would.
We will have a new version of eWallet that will sync with the new iPhone version out first thing next week. We planned to release it Tuesday, but we’ll probably bump it up to Monday. If we don’t, we will get anyone who needs it an early copy.
If you haven’t yet upgraded your iPhone version, I’d suggest waiting until we release the desktop version. If you have you’ll be able to get the new version from our site from our site first thing next week. I promise.
Sorry about the problem!! And Happy Thanksgiving!!
Before lots of us jump off the deep end remember the total cost of ownership.
How much extra work and time (all worth money) would it cost to move your information onto a different program?
Ilium has been around for 12 years and have supported their programs for this time. Is this support guaranteed with another company?
Version 6 and the previous iPhone app work fine and can be used if you do not wish to upgrade – it’s your choice.
If you want to go back to the old app then retrieve the ipa file from your wastebasket and use that one again.
The iPhone app costs money (£5.99 here) but the upgrade to ver 7 is included in this price. All new versions and programs cost money to develop – perhaps Ilium has decided to get some of this money by charging for the desktop app (this is an ‘optional extra’ for some – though very useful). They need to make their money somehow – from new customers and the existing user base. As long as the upgrade price for the desktop version is not too steep then I am ok with that (Ilium history suggests that they are not out to rip us off)
Isn’t it a sort of ‘oops’ when the iTunes app upgrade comes out before the desktop version is ready.
I am though, looking forward to Mon/Tues to find out what will be available to us
@Ian:
- Moving the information to another program is not much work at all if the other program has a import function for eWallet.
- Trust is the issue. Not just trust that the program will be supported in the future, but also trust that the developer does not willfully remove functionality under the guise of a semi-automatic maintenance update. Can you imagine what would happen if Microsoft removed, say, filesharing from Windows via Windows Update?
- No, I don’t really have a choice not to update the iPhone app unless I never want to use the “update all” function again, which is impractical with the amount of updates I get.
- I also cannot simply “retrieve the ipa file from my wastebasket” since my iTunes library is on a network volume that does not have a wastebasket. I’ll have to dig around and see whether I can find it in one of my backups. But regardless, I should not have to mess around with this at all.
- I have bought multiple upgrades of eWallet since, I believe, version 3 or 4, as well as versions for 4 different platforms, so please don’t tell me anything about Ilium having to make money. I have always paid my dues. I would have considered an upgrade to version 7, but I will not be forced to do so via underhanded tactics.
this is just plain wrong. being forced into an upgrade just to get back the capability to sync with my desktop is very frustrating. so what, I now have an expired useless piece of software on my desktop that i paid for? it’s like buying a car that stops running at 100,000 miles…
I agree with most of the comments above – the iPhone update should not be linked to the purchase of new software for the desktop.
I have used eWallet for over 8 years, paying regularly for updates (when I was ready) but am really put off by this tactic/mistake/oversight?
I hope that iLium will think again before the release next week for affected iPhone users – I would imagine we’re a pretty big group of users to disaffect.
Hi
I have tried many alternatives avaliable to store my passwords and other stuff, thou I always end up back with Ewallet. So If you want the best on the Market, an upgrade cost is the least of my worries compared to ease of use and functionality.
Thou I am also waiting for the mac version so I can ditch windows for good.
Keep up the quality and I’ll keep paying.
Carl
My experiences with Iliumsoft and thoughts on this upgrade are aligned with Mr. Hawkins, so let his words represent my dissatisfaction.
Bad customer service, Iliumsoft. Please correct this major blunder.
Kind regards,
Sam
“Chris Hawkins says:
November 27, 2009 at 8:15 am
I think a number of posters have misundertood the situation – or I have! I have been a loyal Ilium customer across several platforms for the best part of a decade.
Last night I upgraded all the apps on my Ihone – as I always do when they are available. Speaking to friends and colleagues this is normal and reasonable behaviour!
I know understand that I need to pay for an upgrade to RE-enable PC synching – functionality that I already had, had already paid for and was content with.
If this is the case then it represents a historic turning point in Iliums enviable customer service reputation and one from which they will not recover. I can’t help but feel that it borders on the criminal.
Ilium, please tell me I have misunderstood.
Kind Regards
Chris”
Ughhhh, wish I had read the sync comments before I had spent the last 30 minutes trying to figure out why my new upgrade would not sync properly!!!!!!
Like others, I’m annoyed by the fact that I now have apps that are out of sync and i wll be forced to get an upgrade without any choice. I would suggest this needs some good customer service management–like a significant discount (or free) for some short period of time.
Also a long time ilium customer, e-wallet and other products, starting a long time ago with PocketPC apps. Have tried others, but always came back. Have a hard time believing this was intentional, but also see some real problems this highlights for you and the iTunes App store. I can see two options in the future. 1) create a new app entry if a desktop upgrade will be required to maintain compatibility, or 2) charge for the iPhone upgrade, including the desktop upgrade price, and license.
Of course neither help those of us who automatically apply any ‘free’ update iTunes offers. In my case that will be two desktop licenses I’ll need as my wife uses e-Wallet too, at my recommendation. So you see where I’m sitting right now.
Even if the desktop version were available at the same time, or ahead of the iPhone app, I don’t believe the current functionality within the App Store upgrade process will be sufficient to alert customers of the pending incompatibility, or prevent inadvertent upgrades causing incompatibility and subsequent impressions of ‘forced’ upgrades, on the desktop. Apple needs to share in the culpability, and solution to this sort of problem, not just for you, but for any vendor that supplies a desktop app with syncing capabilites.
Looking forward to Mon/Tues with anticipation. Wonder what the benefits of 7 are, even if I don’t have a choice.
I was lucky and read that you would be railroaded into purchasing an updated desktop version and chose not to update the iPhone app.
I’m happy with eWallet as it is, as far as I’m concerned it’s not broke and I’m not fixing it, especially if it’s going to cost me.
Crap. My iphone automatically updated my eWallet on my iPhone, so now I can’t sync with the desktop. I was unaware that there was going to be a new update. Is there any way I can revert to the 6.2.142 version?
I put the blame for this fiasco directly on Apple, although Ilium could have handled things better as well. Ilium could have sent us all a “warning” e-mail, a while ago, pointing out the fact that this could happen and to beware. Apple, however, has no business posting apps as a free upgrade knowing full well that most users will have to PAY for the other half of the free upgrade to maintain full functionality. As for me, I have not accepted Apple’s free upgrade offer and won’t accept it until I have a look at what’s new in 7.0. I just bought this program in July, Ilium has a free upgrade cutoff date of August (apparently), and I refuse to participate in what basically amounts to extortion.
Luckely I read the info about the plan to force my to buy an upgrade before I pressed “Update all apps”.
Why do you constraint me to buy an upgrade!
The app does what I need and therfor I bought it as it is.
So why sould I buy an unwanted update?
HELP. I upgraded my iPhone (as I do religiously) and now I can’t SYNC. Your blog post suggests now that I’m going to have to BUY a new upgrade just to do something that I could already do with the old version. Had I known that I would have to BUY something, I never would have done the iPhone upgrade right now (cash is tight!!!!). I need the sync capability, because my iPhone appears to be on its last legs, and now I might lose all my changes. HELP! I really like the product, but can’t imagine that, if everything is lost, that I will keep using it. I would hate to become a casualty of a mistake on your part.
Like many others, I did the auto update on my iPhone. I will not be forced into buying an upgrade to eWallet for the Windows version. If that’s the answer from Ilium, looks like I’ll switch to 1Password Pro.
Well, since I have a good daily backup tape system going. I checked back to the day before the big mistake and and found the v6.1xxx copy in older backups as expected. So I took a chance and deleted the offending v7 from my iPhone which also deleted the now useless data file. Then I moved the v7 .ipa from my iTunes folder to a safe location. Then a double-click on the saved 6.1xxx version, iTunes Applications screen poped up asking if I wanted to overwite a “newer” version and I said YES (PLEASE). After setting the sync back up, eWallet was back. After the sync was setup my good ole eWallet v6.1xxx was once again syncable with my data. I made a minor change on the PC and it showed up on the iPhone and then undid the change on the iPhone and it dissappeared from the PC. I also saved the v7 just in case I ever decide to take it on again with a free PC update to v7. Otherwise, I’m going to stay right were I am for a while.
I think that iliumsoft should send an e-mail to all of us users with a link to a post of the .ipa file for v6.1xxx to download and replace the v7 if you don’t want the forced update on the PC. Along with detailed instructions on how to rid your iPhone of the “new” software and data file as I did. Otherwise, a free v7 upgrade for screwing up the whole Apple iPhone thing. A simple email to all eWallet users would have alerted us to a change to take advantage of or not. This would have been an acceptable plan of rolling out a pay for update change.
I don’t know yet if I’ll upgrade to eWallet 7 because I don’t know what it will cost me (if anything) and I don’t know what changes are implemented in the new version. So for know I’ll wait.
Unfortunately, I had iTunes download the update. Fortunately (it turns out) I didn’t sync my Touch.
I figured out enough to be dangerous, and here’s what I did: I learned there are .ipa files and where they are on my laptop. I renamed eWallet 7.0.ipa to something else and copied eWallet 6.2.ipa from the recycle bin to the folder where all the .ipa files live. Then I sync’ed the Touch.
It seems like everything is like it was with eWallet 6.2. Did I do something dangerous or stupid?
Chances are I’ll end up upgrading to 7.0, but on my terms.
v7 has to be the pathway to the release of MAC desktop because we still cant rotate cards or zoom in on text! All basic iPhone functionality! I hope I’m missing something but I thought these features would be included in the next major release.
I don’t think the problem is Apple here. There are certainly problems with the AppStore but the free upgrades on software is a great feature – unfortunately not one that I know how to turn off selectively for an individual application (not sure that it can be done). I think that any developer knows the warts in Apple’s store and unpredictable release dates, and could have planned for this.
I agree that eWallet is a great iPhone application but I am not sure why the ‘improved’ iPhone app could not have been written to allow the option of keeping the old format of database if the user wishes, thus NOT forcing users to upgrade their desktop software if they don’t wish to.
As an aside, I would have MUCH preferred a MAC version of their desktop – THAT is something I would happily pay for, rather than an paid update that blindsided me.
@ Bob Taylor
“Apple, however, has no business posting apps as a free upgrade knowing full well that most users will have to PAY for the other half of the free upgrade to maintain full functionality.”
Why, pray tell, would Apple have the slightest idea that users would have to pay for the desktop upgrade. Surely you don’t think that Apple looks at each software company’s marketing, pricing and sales plans for their related products?
Apple (and its AppStore) certainly has its faults but this screw-up is squarely with Ilium, no one else. They gambled that Apple would be slow approving the updated app – lost that bet and stand to lose the confidence of their customers.
This is really a sad story. I hope that Illium will make us a good offer. Otherwise its up to us as users, to take apropriate steps … back to 6.1 oder to another solution.
Ridiculous, I say!! I agree with most of the comments, why should I have to pay for an upgrade to my desktop ewallet when I was completely satisfied with the older version. Like most, I also upgrade my iPhone apps and had no idea that this would require my having to pay to upgrade in order to sync. I have used Ilium software for over a decade now, starting with the PocketPC and have been very satisfied with their customer service – maybe they will consider offering the desktop upgrade at a discounted price or FREE.
Agree with all the previous posts. I’ve been an e-Wallet user for years – on PocketPC and now iPhone. I would no way have updated my iPhone version – which was perfectly functional – if I knew I’d be expected to pay for a desktop upgrade. That’s no way to treat longstanding customers.
Wow, what an unfortunate misstep in customer relations. I’ve used eWallet for years, remaining loyal across multiple platforms. On several occasions I’ve paid to upgrade to newer and/or different versions. I have absolutely no problem with Iliumsoft charging for upgrades, but I have a big problem with the way they have gone about it here.
If upgrading the desktop client requires a fee, then the app update should not have been free. Release a new version of the app that works with the new desktop program. Let me choose whether I wish to jump to the newer 7.x version of both, and pay for it accordingly, or remain with the 6.x pairing. Don’t let me upgrade 6.x “for free” on my phone but then force me to pay for the desktop client to get back the functionality I already had under 6.x.
As it stands, I have a choice now of paying for software I already own and was happy with, to get back the functionality I previously had, or keeping things as-is on 6.x and dealing with the loss of my “Upgrade All” update option.
I have downloaded and paid for hundreds of apps in the time I’ve had my iPhone. I’ve never written a review for one, but that’s about to change – I’m off to write a one-star review and encourage others to do the same. If the developer changes their stance on this, then I’ll change my review.
To be clear: I am not suggesting that the 7.x desktop client should be free. I am suggesting that the app upgrade should not be “free” but then result in lost functionality. For shame, Iliumsoft. There were better ways to have handled this.
If nothing else, I’m certain Ilium is getting the message that this is a PR fiasco. I read through all of the postings here and what is clear is that there is a lot of polarized views on the handling of update/upgrade releases. That is never a good thing for a company.
In the end, this seems pretty straight forward problem. The use of auto updates in the iTunes store is meant as a maintenance system to allow minor updates to be pushed to users easily, keeping software functioning properly. Reviewing the features of the iPhone version of eWallet 7 seems to fit this bill. Oddly (and I picked up on this which is why I didn’t update… thankfully!), the versioning numbering for most maintenance updates are usually simple: 6.1.x –> 6.1.y.
However, syncing with the desktop is a PRIMARY functionality of this software. It is the probably the ONE reason I bought the iPhone version. To have my desktop info available to carry around and both always up to date. That a free maintenance UPDATE essentially disables this function IS the gripe that everyone seems to have.
It is possible that there is some important new functionality being offered in the v7 packages (don’t see it on the iPhone version, but I’ve not seen the feature list for the Windows version and of course there’s all the buzz about the Mac version). In that case, it is appropriate for Ilium to charge for this major UPGRADE of the desktop version and it is equally appropriate for users to be permitted to consider the feature list and decide whether that has a value commensurate with the UPGRADE charge. If, however, a customer does not believe the features warrant the charge, they should NOT be forced to UPGRADE in order to avoid breaking the syncing functionality based on a maintenance UPDATE of the partner mobile application.
So, dear Ilium, you’ve created a conundrum for yourselves (that has absolutely NOTHING to do with the way the iTunes stores evaluates or times software releases or uses the Update All button.. a huge annoyance to be sure and an important, though distractingly peripheral, issue to the way this has been handled). The fault is squarely on your shoulders… linking a free mobile UPDATE to a required desktop UPGRADE in order to prevent the loss of syncing functionality. There have been several suggestions on how you should fix this. Many of them have merit.
My suggestion: do the thing that makes your customers feel heard and satisfied. The long term economic benefit of a deeply satisfied customer base (especially in such a fickle market as software development) far outweighs the short term gain (or loss, as the case may be) of continuing on this ill-advised path.
Long time eWallet user. Jamie
Agree with the majority of posts. I just went through a full restore on my iphone on Sunday (unrelated issue) and i now have nothing at all in my ewallet, as it will not sync. Shame on you…. I have all the info on my desktop and CANNOT get it onto my iphone.
What a shocking situation for Ilium and a corporate PR disaster trying to get people to pay for a capability they already had and had previously been 100% entitled (as they already PAID for).
I’ve been a customer since Dec. 2001 and have always been a fan of eWallet. However I too must say that I feel like my Update All button on my iPhone is BEING HELD HOSTAGE. I typically just Update All out of habit but now I have to avoid doing so because at this point I don’t see any need to upgrade my Windows desktop software. I am definitely NOT A HAPPY CUSTOMER. I do hope you can figure out a way to resolve this issue soon.
Well, I see I am not the only one who was surprised to find out my Desktop Software no longer syncs with my iPhone. If you have planned a release of it next Tuesday, it should be ready to go by now. Just post it.
The fact that you even gave Apple the new version is very poor business practice. Of course I am going to update the software, I get constant updates.
I think you owe your loyal long term customers a Substancial Discount (if not FREE) for this inconvience.
I am VERY Dissatisfied and until now, I was recommending your product, but not NOW!
I’ve been doing software development for over 30 years, and, in my professional opinion, y’all handled this upgrade very badly.
Let’s ignore the fact that Apple released the upgrade too early. I’ll concede that’s not Ilium’s fault, but it’s also beside the point.
You should not have released an “upgrade” that required a paid upgrade on the desktop. It should have been released as a separate product. I’ve seen other software developers do what you’ve done, but I call it incompetent at best and unethical at worst.
I’ve been very happy with your product up until this little debacle. I hope that Ilium finds a way to make this right with their customers.
In my very well-informed and not-so-humble opinion:
* Ilium needs to provide the desktop upgrade for free for iPhone customers. Take it as a painful but necessary learning experience.
You’ve seen the ire of your customers both here and on the iTunes reviews. I think a free desktop upgrade is the only way you’re going to salvage your reputation.
* In the future, releases that cause incompatibilities like this *must not* be released as upgrades on the iPhone. They should be released as a *separate product*. I know that’s non-trivial, so the alternative is to be *much* more careful about causing incompatibilities with older desktop versions.
* Provide other means for exporting the customer’s data from the desktop application. Your current “export” function is inadequate. I’d suggest csv and xml at a minimum. If you really want to impress your customers, provide export formats for other password safe products.
I agree. I’ve been using this software for 9 year on my WorkPad, Palm, iPAQ, Windows Mobile and iPhone. Therefore, my wallet was huge. Please give me better export function and wanna say goodbye to ewallet.
Whaaat? This is madness! I hit “update all programs” like I always do, and found out that 1) not only can’t I sync anymore, but 2) in order to sync again, I MUST buy an upgrade of eWallet!!!
The worst part is I recently reïnstalled my computer with Windows 7, and now do not have any backup of eWallet at all on my computer, since I assumed I could just sync it back and did not have a PC backup.
I am angry, and considering moving over to another product, after many many years of supporting eWallet since the early days of the PDA.
Fortunately I make a habit of reading release notes before upgrading my software packages so I didn’t get caught, but I’m still here for the same reason that everyone else is – if you’re going to bump your iphone version (which is a forced, free auto-upgrade), then make sure you also release a free client upgrade for those of us who purchased the desktop application.
If you’ve added significant new functionality, please find a way of syncing that ensures legacy support so we’re not forced to upgrade our windows clients and can remain running older versions with fewer features.
If your upgrade is truly significant, please release it as a new, separate app on the itunes store and give people the option to upgrade or not as they decide.
In the meantime, for the early adopters, I have a few suggestions:
-Backup your app folder within your itunes directory occasionally. That way you can always re-install old versions of software to your phone if necessary.
-Install apps directly onto your phone through WiFi or 3G. If an app does something bad, you can always delete and reinstall the app from the desktop itunes (assuming you haven’t synced it yet).
-If a new version of an application is installed, you can often find the old version in the trashcan to restore manually.
Well I got caught because it said you need the latest version of eWallet, and I checked the website, and I did, in fact I just downloaded it on my reïnstalled machine. So, this is a matter of principle… if Illium does not release the upgrade to exisiting iPod users for free, I shall turn to another product. Unfortunately there are none as good… but I flatly refuse to be held hostage like this.
As for the fanboy comments who sneer at the complaints saying you can CHOOSE not to update, and calling the ones that did dumb (basically), I highly advice you to tone down a notch or two. I have never complained about eWallet before and been a happy user of every single version since 2001, but for the first time, I feel they have made a serious mistake. The only way they can correct that, is by providing a free update. I feel very strongly about this… and I don’t need holy rollers to tell me what I “should have done”.
Bring it finally to MAC basta with Windows
I am a long-time user of eWallet and have transitioned from PocketPC to iPod Touch and upgraded my Windows version along the way. I am hoping that, all of us unfortunate enough to have unknowingly upgraded to a version that will not sync to our Windows version, will be offered a free or, at the very least, SIGNIFICANTLY reduced upgrade so we do not loose our ability to keep out data safe through synchronizing.
I really do like this product and I do not want to think about switching but if this does not get satisfactorily resolved I may consider it.
@Ken Dodd
I am not saying Illium didn’t screw up, I am saying that you can’t put all the blame on them. Performing an upgrade without reading the contents AND not knowing (or preparing) to be able to rollback to the previous version is the USER’s fault.
Maybe it is because I have been using PDA’s (PPC, Palm, even a Newton) for a long time that I realize that any new app installed has the ability to break and not work.
Illium admitted their blunder in putting this software up ahead of their Windows release. Problem is the ‘controlled’ way that Apple does things you NEVER know when (or even IF) an app will be released through the app store.
They seemed to have learned their lesson… maybe the rest of you should learn yours.
Very frustrating that I am forced to upgrade (Somebody post the IPA that runs with 6.1!) Reading the fine print is a valid point but it ruins the trust I had with eWallet and Apple.
I WANT MY “UPDATE ALL” BUTTON BACK!
I just went though 14 apps to update them manually today!
I shouldn’t have to pay to get this feature back.
iLium, This is wrong! Why “Automatically” upgrade the iPhone APP version (at no cost) and not the desktop..? This should be a ‘New Desktop release’… In this, you can then “buy” the new desktop version and get the ‘upgraded’ iPhone APP for free (if you choose..!). You then don’t lose functionality with the old desktop!!! I am now at the same point as others noted in this posting. I cannot Sync and as I only bought into the iPhone APP recently BUT have been using the desktop version for a long while (6.1.3.24746), WHY should I have to pay for this botched update! I bought the iPhone 3Gs recently and paid for the iPhone APP expecting the ability to keep my data available… This is plain wrong. Looks like a restore of the iPhone is going to happen unless you can offer a free desktop version for all the sufferers noting their grievance in this post at least! We do care, that is why we are here.
Please put out a solution that will not cost those of us who already owned both the Iphone and PC version. There was no warning, that I saw, telling us we would lose functionality by allowing iTunes to update ewallet. I am very disappointed.
Paul
Long time customer – upset like all the rest with ‘free’ iPhone update forcing $$ desktop update. I didn’t want to wait until Monday to see how much they choose to charge and hold my data hostage so I switched to Ascendo Data Vault. Imported data from eWallet in 3 seconds and sync between desktop and iPhone has been flawless. Others ought to think about it too…..
I have been a loyal customer since the Compaq Ipaq days – now I am seriously displeased. Step up, accept the blame (the best excuse is “No excuse, sir!”), and make this right.
Ilium should not release an update that will require purchasing new software to sync. They should have relabeled “ewallet pro or something” so people would have not have automatically updated. I updated to 7, but what do we gain?
I’ll withhold my itunes review until we see what iLium does about the desktop release. Looks like they don’t need anyone else piling on. The reviews have pulled the rating for the last release down to 2 1/2 stars, with the majority being 1 star ratings.
It’s pretty clear what the consensus is on this, despite a small minority making excuses for them.
Ball’s in your court iLium.
@EJ
The Ascendo Data Vault program looks pretty solid and between the glowing reviews (both users and media) and the value it provides for the complete (desktop and iPhone/iPod Touch) solution… they may wind up getting a bunch of new business if the folks at iLium don’t do the right thing by saving their dollar extracting tactics from their good customers for a time when an upgrade is justified and clearly understood/communicated.
@ Brian O’Nolan
I would be considered one of the small minority that defends ilium based on past experience and their track record for customer service, however, I cant help being disappointed that they have not come back over the weekend and posted an update! This blog was created on Thanksgiving Day so they could have dealt with this on Friday, Saturday or Today (Sunday).
They should have been here doing damage control!
The more I think about it, the more disappointed I am. Illium, if you want me to pay for an upgrade (something I’m not fundamentally averse to doing), there has to be a damn good reason to justify taking money out of my real wallet.
The Mac desktop version would be an example of something worth paying for. I’m still stuck using the Windows desktop via VMware (one of only two remaining must-have apps that have failed to offer a decent Mac version).
Until this is resolved, I’ll just keep on using the old iPhone app / old Windows desktop combo. It’s sad, but at least it works…
I have to agree with the majority of posters here. The upgrade process is broken and unethical. Forcing users to upgrade to a newer desktop verison with very little benefit. It would seem ilium simply decided they wanted to charge all of their existing users for an upgrade so released an iPhone upgrade that provides little to no new functionality, but simply breaks the desktop sync. Nice move, NOT. I, like many, many other iPhone users prefer to click the “upgrade all free apps” button on occasion. Now ilium has decided that we no longer have that option without paying a ransom.
Bad company, bad!
PLEASE tell what new functionality you are providing in the iPhone upgrade that REQUIRES you to break existing sync functionality? I’m guessing it’s probably just a couple lines of code that check the desktop version. Like many others, I’ve used eWallet accross mulitple platforms for years. And like many others, if endeed iLium refuses to fix this issue, ilium will NOT get my upgrade dollars now or ever. I will change platforms to a more ethical company. Not without some disappointment, as iLium, to this point has always done a good job of connecting with customers and provide a a high level of service. I purchased eWallet for the iPhone, knowing it was more expensive than some of the competition, but thought the extra money was worth it because of the level of support and service provided here. Perhaps I was wrong.
Oh for the love of Mike – give Ilium a break!
They write fantastic software you depend on every day. They write on multiple platforms, and their applications sync between these platforms; quickly and reliably.
They have a great iPhone version up-and-running, which syncs beautifully with the Windows version – and wirelessly at that.
They do all of this, while hobbled by Apple, not least being subjected to its initial App Store, $0.99 pricing policies, plus an app approval-process that sounds like it runs the gamut from obfuscation to downright Kafkaesque.
Ilium puts up with treatment because we asked them to. We wanted an iPhone version – and many of us didn’t want to pay fair market price for it.
I can’t imagine how much money Ilium invested into R&D for this program, or if they’ve even managed to recoup it yet – let alone cover the ongoing maintenance costs – and it’s working just as well as the long-developed Windows Mobile one, so do you really begrudge them the price of a new desktop version?
It’s fair enough if you’ve got a problem with the opaque vagaries of the App Store approval system, but please, take it up with Apple: http://www.apple.com/feedback/iphone.html. – Don’t blame Ilium for trying to work around Apple’s timetable; they’re making a great program for the iPhone under very difficult circumstances.
- And hey, if you think you can write a better application, go for it. I know I can’t, and since I use eWallet every day, I figure the least I can do is pay the people who can write it, provide terrific aftercare, and make my life easier – every day.
Just pay them the money, already – and say thank you while you’re at it, ok?
(And no, I don’t work for Ilium (I wish I had those skills). I’m just another customer who’s long relied on their products – and is happy to pay for them.)
// end rant
Ok, bring on the flamers!
I just read through these posts to find out what is going on with the sync issue…and what a surprise!!
This better be a very late April fools joke because if you really force me to upgrade the desktop version AND PAY for it then you have just lost another customer!
I thought I did something good when I switched from Codewallet, even took the time to convert the entire database – guess I will be switching back to where I was happy the past few years.