I don’t like the lack of transparency with how the Google Play Store doesn’t list the permissions if one pays for the app and instead only shows the permissions if one doesn’t pay.

I generally prefer it when devs release two apps – a free version and a paid version. This way it’s very clear on the Google Play Store what is being tracked in the paid app.

This won’t affect me personally, but I am curious if others would be more likely to use and pay for Sync if the permissions were more clear for the paid usage case.

  • MothBookkeeper@lemmy.worldEnglish
    102·
    11 months ago

    I’d settle for more transparency from the dev about what happens with your data when you pay. Is it still collected?

    • SmoothIsFast@citizensgaming.comEnglish
      18·
      11 months ago

      LJ has stated nothing is collected once you pay as the ad library is no longer initialized. Other users were able to confirm that no more tracking requests were made after ad free/ultra were purchased.

      • charles@lemmy.caEnglish
        2·
        11 months ago

        My question at this point is more what happens when the Google services have issues like it would with Sync for Reddit. When that used to happen, IAP pro users lost their benefits until it was rectified whereas Sync Pro would keep working perfectly.

        I’d pay for Ultra monthly regardless since I use the app daily and I’m more than happy to give ~3/mo for continuous development but I don’t like that I have no way of preventing data collection/tracking when IAP have issues.

      • Dialectic Cake@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
        24·
        11 months ago

        Sure and if the dev goes back on that we have no recourse to get a refund from Google or for Google to take any action towards the dev since the dev can just show we agreed to our data being collected/used regardless of whether we paid or not.

      • Dialectic Cake@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
        21·
        11 months ago

        Cool. It’s great that you did this.

        However, my concern is there are no guarantees it wouldn’t change and there would be no recourse for Google to give us a refund since from Google’s standpoint we gave permission for the app to track our data regardless of whether we paid or not.

        • bluejay@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
          31·
          11 months ago

          That’s fair. It definitely comes down to your own trust, but for me I’ve been using Sync for Reddit for roughly a decade and I’ve never seen anything sketchy from ljdawson.

          I also don’t rely on just their word, I block this stuff on my own network anyway.

          As for a refund, the 1-time payment to remove ads isn’t expensive (to me anyway) and depending on how much time you spend on the app it may have already been worth it.

          But again it’s all your preference anyway. Nothing wrong with using a different app.

    • Altima NEO@lemmy.zipEnglish
      83·
      11 months ago

      I saw a post somewhere saying he personally doesnt track anything. Im guessing all the tracking is likely being done by whomever his ad provider is.

      • sabreW4K3@lemmy.tfEnglish
        61·
        11 months ago

        Google. It’s the same privacy policy that was in Sync for Reddit and is in the Play Store

      • Dialectic Cake@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
        1·
        11 months ago

        A post doesn’t matter to me if I legally agree for that data to be collected as a requirement for installing the app.