All of these Apps are amazing, the issue I have is almost all of them have in-app purchases often leaning on subscriptions. I'm not one to shy away from buying an App that has value to me, even one that costs full pop at $70-$120 and supports the developer but subscription based are unacceptable. I'd rather pay full pop for an App and then 2 or 3 years later buy the next version of that same App at full pop again rather than spend a monthly amount. This way I have a choice on wether I want to upgrade to the next version. This way the developer needs to up their "game" on the next version they release and add features that will be worth my investment. Subscriptions in Apps are a sad state of affairs in modern day Apps, it's the equivalent of in-game purchases so many gamers have come to despise. I actually find it refreshing when a developer offers a "life-time" option for their App and I will 99% of the time pick that over a monthly or yearly option. Either way great video Chris, just a thought, maybe make one exactly the same as this one but for Apps that do not have hidden subscription fees?
None of these subscriptions are "hidden". And let's face it, when you're looking at the economics of developing an app, it's difficult to justify continuing development without having some kind of subscription or recurring fee. You as a consumer may not feel that way, but if you're in the trades, it'd be like buliding someone a deck and the client expecting you to maintain and update it for free for the rest of time because "well I paid for it up front". No, buddy - you didn't. Additionally, it's incredibly easy to turn off a subscription - so if you don't like it, don't continue to pay for it. You're an adult, it's your responsibility (and fault) if you continue to pay for things you don't need/want/use. Stop complaining like an entitled child.
@@mm345-0 I can appreciate that, but that's why I mention that the developer needs to make a new version in the software the offer. For example, I use Goodnotes, I paid and owned version 5 and LOVE the App, they then released version 6 and offered a bunch of new features. Because of their track record and some of the new features I bought he new version outright (at least they had that option) and I continue to use their App. They also have options to buy in-App things like layouts and pre-made notebooks for organization. This is great because it is leaves the freedom of choice in the end users court. When I buy a new App I do expect some continued support from the developer but once they release a new version it makes sense they would eventually drop support as the new software will be their focus going forward. What a subscription does is it removes this freedom of choice to the end user, the ability to decide if I want to buy a new version or continue to use the old version as it meets my needs and works perfectly fine. The only advantage I see is if you are paying a subscription for an App you use you should always be using the latest and greatest features that developer/App has to offer.
@@bryanbuff LOL - Let's see, pay "$X.XX/month" and you have hundreds of movies to choose from with no ads. Fast forward a decade, pay "$XX.XX/month" now you can watch from all the movies you like but with ads and only at 1080p. If you want 4K viewing then that's an $ARM, oh wait 4K without ads? That's a $LEG. I haven't done the math but I bet going back to Cable TV might actually make sense again.
@@mm345-0Mr man, I respect your opinion and I know he does too but whatever you are saying as a response is just your opinion at the end of the day. However, saying that someone is acting like an entitled child over the fact that he wants a life-time payment structure over a subscription base is outright offensive. I remember the saying from an old book that guild the trade that “Customers are always right” and that’s rightly so even in this day and age. It’s just the power of choice as both parties want something at the end. No one is doing anyone a favor except those who have “Free Service Systems” like Open-source apps. All he’s asking for is simple enough,….can we get apps that does lifetime service in this category or list? The in-app-purchase isn’t a deal breaker if it’s not interfering with the experience of that app as I know that some do come permanent payments. I understand the need to appreciate the app developers and support them where it’s needed but then market and users are the only defining factor in determining the success of your service…..at the end of the, it’s simply business but the power of choice prevail. Having said that, “I DAMN HATE SUBSCRIPTION BASE STRUCTURE”
Unless there is a backend for a service that requires upkeep a subscription service is absolutely unacceptable. If I am storing something in the cloud then subscription is understandable. If I am using a server that isn’t mine then a subscription is acceptable. Buying software is an absolutely sustainable way to run a company. Hell even adobe has been around since the 90s and they grew extremely large by just selling software. You can make an argument for subscriptions but your argument is absolute trash
Even if everything is local a developer has to spend time maintaining and updating the app. It would suck if you bought and app now, and come september the developer didn’t update it to support new iOS features or even the new iPhone. I get it can add up to be a lot. Sync isn’t the only cost, time is the biggest. As humans we only have a limited amount of it.
@@ChrisLawleyyou’re right sync isn’t the only reason for a subscription but I don’t have time to write a whole book where subscription would be valid haha. The fact is that subscriptions for consumer products are a relatively new thing and they are getting abused. What ever happened to using iAP like they were intended to be used. Want new features? $2. Want the new levels? $2. Want the new features? $2. And so on. Also what if I don’t need or want those features why am I forced to pay for them. Davinci Resolve, affinity and so on do just fine and stay updated without subscriptions and they are large companies that pay developers. The entirety of the history of computers did fine without subscriptions. Subscriptions for apps that don’t cost the developer anything after the purchase is just a way to ensure they make money every month again and again on the same customer just because they can.
It’s interesting to see what other people find helpful. I check out stuff like this to see if I’m missing out on something helpful to me. Unfortunately, none of these peaked my interests. Nonetheless a good quick review on a handful of apps.
Love the video man. Quick clarification I just downloaded clean email and went to unsubscribe from an email and I got a screen that offered a free trial. So there does seem to be a trial but it looks like you have to try to do something in the app to get the trial screen. Appreciate the video.
EFF you on subscriptions are necessary. No some are necessary, like a highly advance photo editing app, or video editing app, or web design app or something like that. A calculator app though, come on. People are adding subscriptions to the dumbest apps and then not only that but making the subscription $10 a month. Seriously. Yeah lets pay $120 a year for a PDF markup app!! WTF! Also some people arent using apps all the time. For example a PDF markup app. A lot of people need it once a year if that. Then theres people that may use it 10 times a day. Why not make it so that the heavy users are the main source of income and charge them, or give the option to pay once. Im more then happy to over pay for something if it means I get full use forever. Or at least several years. I dont think a PDF app should be more then a couple bucks but I'd be happy to pay $10 once instead of being charged $5 a month or some crap like that. Im sick of being nickle and dimed to death. The app makers treat all customers like they are heavy users and want the most up to date features all the time. Not only that I've figure out how to do returns and use the free trial periods for most of these apps and never pay them anything at all. So how does that help them. Yes Im sure im the minority but as people get smarter and more irritated they will start doing the same. So that doesnt help the developers either. I have no problem paying subscriptions or for devs time and creativity but the subscriptions have to change.
It looks like you ended up going with the Nano Texture iPad after all? I’d love to hear your thoughts on that decision after using it for some time now in a video or something since most creators really giving it the time of day seem to be artists or designers. Sorry this isn’t about the actual content of the video here - I found great productivity on the iPad by minimizing extra apps and clutter so I’m not in the market for new apps. I use shortcuts, Apple’s own apps etc.. my favorite non Apple app is probably Things 3.
The concept of Clean Email for iPad seems absolutely essential. Terrible idea they don't provide "Try before you Buy". Probably a feature or design that Apple Mail should already have, given social engineering is a security problem apart from "cognitive load" also being a serious issue for people too. I have to agree with you concerning subs being the direction of the wind but it will mean I have to limit my apps I choose to download/use.
It’s probably a good thing that you didn’t show the before and after video that you put through Unsqueeze given that it doesn’t do anything 😂 smart move 👍
I did on the shot that showed the resolution in files. It was 8k. I film in 4k and the screen of the iPad isn’t close to 8k so you wouldn’t notice a difference at all anyways.
I tried the first two apps. The first requires a 23€ subscription, and the second one asks for 60€ for basic functionality... I know making software is expensive, but I don't support the idea of paying THAT amount of money for an app that I could with like 10 of lines of code (and I'm a terrible programmer). I could buy 2 copies a year of Stardew Valley, an indie game that obviously took much longer to develop, or I could pay for an app that is just fancy parental controls. Soulver is, as you said, a fancier version of Apple's Math Notes. Why would I pay 40€ for an app that I already have?! Chris, I love your videos, and I've been a fan for 3 years, but I heavily dislike that you promote a bunch of expensive software with sketchy pricing models, instead of showing actually nice and interesting apps that everybody can use. How much money are you spending on subscriptions of apps that don't do that much? Almost all of this is just a different version of stuff you've shown before (SaneBox, Ochi...) that was expensive then and is expensive now. Look, all of this is moderately interesting, but I don't have the $300 to buy a pack of apps that I know half of them can be done with the Shortcuts app. Why don't you just show us how to do it with Shortcuts? Aren't you the Shortcuts guy? I'm pretty sure with an hour or two I could make you a couple of Shortcuts that would save you at least $100.
I get that. I will try and be more conscientious of that. For the recorded I do pay for all these apps myself and try them out before covering them. There are A LOT of apps that don’t make the cut because of pricing, bugs, lack of promised features, or just not very good. My goal with these videos isn’t to convince you to buy every one of these apps, but to show a range of apps and maybe one or two might jump out at you. People ask me all the time to make a video about free apps. The problem with that is truly free apps usually aren’t great, cause the developer is making no money from it to maintain it. OR they are collecting and selling data about you. Before the App Store software was expensive. Then a race to the bottom for pricing happened. It hurt a lot of developers business wise. Subscriptions were the solution for them on the business side because they could have reoccurring revenue while updating and maintaining their apps. Software pricing has always been weird I know.
@@ChrisLawley Thanks for your reply and for telling your side of the story. I guess the outcome is that the hobbyist iOS app developer doesn't really exist anymore. People don't do this just out of passion, but because they know they can make a couple of bucks. It may not be how I want it, but I also realise that I myself want to get paid out of my work eventually. I'm also a TH-camr and I know I wouldn't continue making videos if I couldn't ever get paid. I'm a bit bitter with this situation, but honestly it's been months since I haven't downloaded a new iPhone app I've never used before. So, I guess you're right, but I don't think this is the same situation with the Google Play Store at all.
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All of these Apps are amazing, the issue I have is almost all of them have in-app purchases often leaning on subscriptions. I'm not one to shy away from buying an App that has value to me, even one that costs full pop at $70-$120 and supports the developer but subscription based are unacceptable. I'd rather pay full pop for an App and then 2 or 3 years later buy the next version of that same App at full pop again rather than spend a monthly amount. This way I have a choice on wether I want to upgrade to the next version. This way the developer needs to up their "game" on the next version they release and add features that will be worth my investment. Subscriptions in Apps are a sad state of affairs in modern day Apps, it's the equivalent of in-game purchases so many gamers have come to despise. I actually find it refreshing when a developer offers a "life-time" option for their App and I will 99% of the time pick that over a monthly or yearly option. Either way great video Chris, just a thought, maybe make one exactly the same as this one but for Apps that do not have hidden subscription fees?
None of these subscriptions are "hidden". And let's face it, when you're looking at the economics of developing an app, it's difficult to justify continuing development without having some kind of subscription or recurring fee. You as a consumer may not feel that way, but if you're in the trades, it'd be like buliding someone a deck and the client expecting you to maintain and update it for free for the rest of time because "well I paid for it up front". No, buddy - you didn't.
Additionally, it's incredibly easy to turn off a subscription - so if you don't like it, don't continue to pay for it. You're an adult, it's your responsibility (and fault) if you continue to pay for things you don't need/want/use. Stop complaining like an entitled child.
Have you told Netflix this?
@@mm345-0 I can appreciate that, but that's why I mention that the developer needs to make a new version in the software the offer. For example, I use Goodnotes, I paid and owned version 5 and LOVE the App, they then released version 6 and offered a bunch of new features. Because of their track record and some of the new features I bought he new version outright (at least they had that option) and I continue to use their App. They also have options to buy in-App things like layouts and pre-made notebooks for organization. This is great because it is leaves the freedom of choice in the end users court. When I buy a new App I do expect some continued support from the developer but once they release a new version it makes sense they would eventually drop support as the new software will be their focus going forward. What a subscription does is it removes this freedom of choice to the end user, the ability to decide if I want to buy a new version or continue to use the old version as it meets my needs and works perfectly fine. The only advantage I see is if you are paying a subscription for an App you use you should always be using the latest and greatest features that developer/App has to offer.
@@bryanbuff LOL - Let's see, pay "$X.XX/month" and you have hundreds of movies to choose from with no ads. Fast forward a decade, pay "$XX.XX/month" now you can watch from all the movies you like but with ads and only at 1080p. If you want 4K viewing then that's an $ARM, oh wait 4K without ads? That's a $LEG. I haven't done the math but I bet going back to Cable TV might actually make sense again.
@@mm345-0Mr man, I respect your opinion and I know he does too but whatever you are saying as a response is just your opinion at the end of the day. However, saying that someone is acting like an entitled child over the fact that he wants a life-time payment structure over a subscription base is outright offensive. I remember the saying from an old book that guild the trade that “Customers are always right” and that’s rightly so even in this day and age. It’s just the power of choice as both parties want something at the end. No one is doing anyone a favor except those who have “Free Service Systems” like Open-source apps. All he’s asking for is simple enough,….can we get apps that does lifetime service in this category or list? The in-app-purchase isn’t a deal breaker if it’s not interfering with the experience of that app as I know that some do come permanent payments. I understand the need to appreciate the app developers and support them where it’s needed but then market and users are the only defining factor in determining the success of your service…..at the end of the, it’s simply business but the power of choice prevail. Having said that, “I DAMN HATE SUBSCRIPTION BASE STRUCTURE”
What happened with you almost yelling newsletter at 11:53 - I am laughing uncontrollably. Great video and thanks for the laugh!
Thanks for sharing. Blessings on your day.
Unless there is a backend for a service that requires upkeep a subscription service is absolutely unacceptable. If I am storing something in the cloud then subscription is understandable. If I am using a server that isn’t mine then a subscription is acceptable. Buying software is an absolutely sustainable way to run a company. Hell even adobe has been around since the 90s and they grew extremely large by just selling software. You can make an argument for subscriptions but your argument is absolute trash
Louder for people in the back! You’re charging me a monthly fee to use an app that relies on iCloud for sync?? Yeah no thanks.
Even if everything is local a developer has to spend time maintaining and updating the app. It would suck if you bought and app now, and come september the developer didn’t update it to support new iOS features or even the new iPhone. I get it can add up to be a lot. Sync isn’t the only cost, time is the biggest. As humans we only have a limited amount of it.
@@ChrisLawleyyou’re right sync isn’t the only reason for a subscription but I don’t have time to write a whole book where subscription would be valid haha. The fact is that subscriptions for consumer products are a relatively new thing and they are getting abused. What ever happened to using iAP like they were intended to be used. Want new features? $2. Want the new levels? $2. Want the new features? $2. And so on. Also what if I don’t need or want those features why am I forced to pay for them. Davinci Resolve, affinity and so on do just fine and stay updated without subscriptions and they are large companies that pay developers. The entirety of the history of computers did fine without subscriptions. Subscriptions for apps that don’t cost the developer anything after the purchase is just a way to ensure they make money every month again and again on the same customer just because they can.
I can always count on you to showcase the best apps! Thank you sir.
Thank you!
Can proudly say first for once. Gonna check a few of these out. Especially the FocusedOS
Knocked it out the park with this one! ☄
It’s interesting to see what other people find helpful. I check out stuff like this to see if I’m missing out on something helpful to me. Unfortunately, none of these peaked my interests. Nonetheless a good quick review on a handful of apps.
Love the video man. Quick clarification I just downloaded clean email and went to unsubscribe from an email and I got a screen that offered a free trial. So there does seem to be a trial but it looks like you have to try to do something in the app to get the trial screen. Appreciate the video.
That’s weird and a very bad way of doing that.
EFF you on subscriptions are necessary. No some are necessary, like a highly advance photo editing app, or video editing app, or web design app or something like that. A calculator app though, come on. People are adding subscriptions to the dumbest apps and then not only that but making the subscription $10 a month. Seriously. Yeah lets pay $120 a year for a PDF markup app!! WTF! Also some people arent using apps all the time. For example a PDF markup app. A lot of people need it once a year if that. Then theres people that may use it 10 times a day. Why not make it so that the heavy users are the main source of income and charge them, or give the option to pay once. Im more then happy to over pay for something if it means I get full use forever. Or at least several years. I dont think a PDF app should be more then a couple bucks but I'd be happy to pay $10 once instead of being charged $5 a month or some crap like that. Im sick of being nickle and dimed to death. The app makers treat all customers like they are heavy users and want the most up to date features all the time. Not only that I've figure out how to do returns and use the free trial periods for most of these apps and never pay them anything at all. So how does that help them. Yes Im sure im the minority but as people get smarter and more irritated they will start doing the same. So that doesnt help the developers either. I have no problem paying subscriptions or for devs time and creativity but the subscriptions have to change.
Something went wrong with the thumbnail? It’s underexposed
Thanks for the heads up. Something must have gone wrong on TH-cam side, the file looks good on my iPad, but I replaced it anyways.
One tap link is bad? Can’t seem to find the one you are using.
Sorry about that. I updated it in the description and here it is as well. apps.apple.com/us/app/keyboard-shortcuts-onetap/id1639795583
@@ChrisLawleyawesome thanks!
It looks like you ended up going with the Nano Texture iPad after all? I’d love to hear your thoughts on that decision after using it for some time now in a video or something since most creators really giving it the time of day seem to be artists or designers.
Sorry this isn’t about the actual content of the video here - I found great productivity on the iPad by minimizing extra apps and clutter so I’m not in the market for new apps. I use shortcuts, Apple’s own apps etc.. my favorite non Apple app is probably Things 3.
I really like it! The biggest reason I am using it is because of my filming lights. It makes filming the iPad a lot easier.
The concept of Clean Email for iPad seems absolutely essential. Terrible idea they don't provide "Try before you Buy". Probably a feature or design that Apple Mail should already have, given social engineering is a security problem apart from "cognitive load" also being a serious issue for people too.
I have to agree with you concerning subs being the direction of the wind but it will mean I have to limit my apps I choose to download/use.
Apparently somebody found a trial but it was buried, kind of dumb to do it that way.
It’s probably a good thing that you didn’t show the before and after video that you put through Unsqueeze given that it doesn’t do anything 😂 smart move 👍
I did on the shot that showed the resolution in files. It was 8k. I film in 4k and the screen of the iPad isn’t close to 8k so you wouldn’t notice a difference at all anyways.
13:20 I hate not having a trial either. I was pretty interested in trying this for work not if there isn’t a trial. It’s just a red flag.
It’s not a bad app, and it works. Yeah not having a trial is, well, not great.
16:39 what’s the small size widget in the top left with the world map?
World Clock
Why does my Overlap widget of show the time? It’s just blank.
I figured it out you have to set up which cities you want to see at a glance.
I tried the first two apps. The first requires a 23€ subscription, and the second one asks for 60€ for basic functionality... I know making software is expensive, but I don't support the idea of paying THAT amount of money for an app that I could with like 10 of lines of code (and I'm a terrible programmer).
I could buy 2 copies a year of Stardew Valley, an indie game that obviously took much longer to develop, or I could pay for an app that is just fancy parental controls.
Soulver is, as you said, a fancier version of Apple's Math Notes. Why would I pay 40€ for an app that I already have?!
Chris, I love your videos, and I've been a fan for 3 years, but I heavily dislike that you promote a bunch of expensive software with sketchy pricing models, instead of showing actually nice and interesting apps that everybody can use. How much money are you spending on subscriptions of apps that don't do that much?
Almost all of this is just a different version of stuff you've shown before (SaneBox, Ochi...) that was expensive then and is expensive now.
Look, all of this is moderately interesting, but I don't have the $300 to buy a pack of apps that I know half of them can be done with the Shortcuts app. Why don't you just show us how to do it with Shortcuts? Aren't you the Shortcuts guy? I'm pretty sure with an hour or two I could make you a couple of Shortcuts that would save you at least $100.
I get that. I will try and be more conscientious of that. For the recorded I do pay for all these apps myself and try them out before covering them. There are A LOT of apps that don’t make the cut because of pricing, bugs, lack of promised features, or just not very good. My goal with these videos isn’t to convince you to buy every one of these apps, but to show a range of apps and maybe one or two might jump out at you.
People ask me all the time to make a video about free apps. The problem with that is truly free apps usually aren’t great, cause the developer is making no money from it to maintain it. OR they are collecting and selling data about you.
Before the App Store software was expensive. Then a race to the bottom for pricing happened. It hurt a lot of developers business wise. Subscriptions were the solution for them on the business side because they could have reoccurring revenue while updating and maintaining their apps. Software pricing has always been weird I know.
@@ChrisLawley Thanks for your reply and for telling your side of the story.
I guess the outcome is that the hobbyist iOS app developer doesn't really exist anymore. People don't do this just out of passion, but because they know they can make a couple of bucks.
It may not be how I want it, but I also realise that I myself want to get paid out of my work eventually. I'm also a TH-camr and I know I wouldn't continue making videos if I couldn't ever get paid.
I'm a bit bitter with this situation, but honestly it's been months since I haven't downloaded a new iPhone app I've never used before. So, I guess you're right, but I don't think this is the same situation with the Google Play Store at all.
What’s your favorite iPad app right now?
It’s not a new app but GDevelop. It’s a game development app for making 2D games
The App Store
Craft
Drafts