Context
There has been a lot of disquiet related to the Faithlife Connect situation. I think this happened because I’m not sure that people actually knew or understood they were renting. People who rent shouldn’t complain when prices go up - that has always been the case with rent and the risk you choose to take.
In the long term, renters always pay more than owners.
These 2 reasons are some of the reasons why, for me, renting is not wise stewardship of my limited financial resources.
What happened? What questions does/should it raise?
So the subscription experiment failed . I think that even subconsciously Logos knew that rental won’t work when they decided to include loss leading sweeteners to tempt people to do something they didn’t naturally want to do in the first place-rent! Those who weren’t blinded by the 'lie' (see below) predicted that.
The Logos Research and Development team need to be asking why it failed - why didn’t people rent?
The fact they thought that more people would rent, should now get them thinking that they had/have a wrong premise - it seems they actually are believing their own lie that a rental model is what users want. This is time for reflection and re-evaluation. It is time to ask those serious questions- is the premise flawed or faulty?
I believe (and it has been proved) that the majority (98.8%) of people (users) don’t want to rent. In fact, of those that did, a number even stated that the only reason they subscribed was to help Logos out.
I am concerned that they are not learning from their logos now experiment and and going to repeat exactly the same thing again (and therefore like out on profit).
You have heard it so often - the world is going towards subscription - look at the facts - it is not true. I will not be renting my food or even my car fuel anytime soon!
It is said that if you repeat a lie frequently enough then sooner or later everyone will believe it. Even the people that start it. It seems that Bob certainly believes it (although from his analogies I think he is perhaps confusing thin clients for desktop software?) Let’s not call it a lie, call it a misunderstanding- the desktop software market is NOT going to a rental model - even DropBox released statistics today show only 2.2% of their users pay to subscribe(only a handful of companies have done that and they are practical monopolies in their particular sector and forced it in to their users - not because users were clamouring for it) and it’s definitely not the case in the bible software sector.
By desktop software, I mean exactly that, software that has many functions and is not just a front end for an online data store. I have over 150 pieces of desktop software that I have purchased in the last few years on my home and work laptops and apart from office 365 at work, none is subscription. I have also purchased over 300 mobile apps (no games!) and none of them are subscription either.
Yes there are a handful of programs in the world today requiring rental but the majority do not.
In case you are confused, please note that Amazon video, Netflix etc etc are NOT desktop software. Logos is NOT amazon video or Netflix. So analogies to rental immediately break down. It maybe because many people rent entertainment services (and spend more time being entertained than using desktop software for work)that we *feel* this way - but let’s examine the facts. Look at what software is actually rented!
Let’s do some critical thinking here folks and not believe the lie that the desktop software industry is going rental based.
Indeed it is very interesting/ telling that even DropBox released statistics today that show only 2.2% of their users pay to subscribe (https://www.cnet.com/news/dropbox-files-for-ipo) I find it fascinating that that is almost exactly the same percentage as the Logos Now experiment showed. Is 2% the industry norm?
What next?
a. How should Logos restore vision?
In fact, it is far more likely, that desktop software is going to stop - decline in pc sales, then laptops as people transition more and more to tablets and phones. (Have you seen Apple’s “what’s a computer?” commercial?) Just witness the number of people on the forums who talk about tablets for both study and preaching. If I read correctly the number one requested feature on the logos 8 wish list thread was touch capability- why do you think that is?!!
Logos needs to see this and focussing their new development money on their apps for the mobile. During the time they have been ‘playing ‘ with other sectors (faithlife TV) and considering dating agencies , there was no significant development of the mobile app (only just now in 2018 has there been a change!!). Does this indicate that logos has not been visionary enough ? Have they lost direction? Maybe! In my fairly large church, I may be the only one using the logos app . The other members are getting pulled into other bible software ecosystems - even my 70 year old parents use Olivetree!!! Why is that? These are the questions that logos research and development team need to be asking.
But mobile is, in my opinion, the future and the way to tap into young people.
Regards going into different fields , I agree with other forum posters- focus on what you are good at (Bible software) - keep the main thing the main thing. Be a master of one trade rather than a jack of many.
b. Do some market research
Don’t theorise about and have meetings about why people didn’t do something or what people might want. Actually ask them, do an online survey, get researchers into churches etc etc. Ask people what they want and then don’t ignore it even if you don’t like it! People will pay for what they want! You talk about uservoice failing because of "hijacked by big many-features-in-one-request posts that remove clarity about actual priorities" - I know what you are referring to- but it wasn’t removing clarity - if you read between the lines it was many users saying one thing - -improve notes and make them useable (Something Bob for some reason was against and so didn’t happen). So what did you do - effectively remove the post- I think many people lost confidence in user voice (I haven’t used it since). Also you talk about uservoice having too many pet peeves - think about how many happy customers you would have if you addressed everyone’s pet peeve(yes I know that’s unrealistic but in an ideal world...). A key business maxim is “happy customers are your best salesmen”. Perhaps a mind shift is needed - they aren’t pet peeves they are happy customers and happy customers are salesmen and that brings in revenue! Work on the most ‘popular ‘ pet peeves!
About me (Why am I posting?)
Rant over. Just a bit of context. I am a huge supporter of logos and have been since the early floppy disk days. Logos is open and running on my computer 24-7. I have purchased over 28600 ebooks, I am fortunate enough to literally purchase some every month. I own the full and extended feature set including concordance. I will never rent. I have invested more in Logos than anything else I own (except perhaps my house). I want Logos to do well. I can’t bear to think of Logos loosing money.
I would pay regularly for them to do well (I think Logos should give away the basic software engine and charge on an ala Carte basis for additional features so people can buy what they want. Each new feature shoud be added when available eg every couple of months. Suggested new features should be created on a community pricing basis ONLY and well communicated. That way development will only go into those areas that customers want!).
I’m glad for experiments that fail - it helps us learn , so please learn the lessons from the Logos Now experiment and not repeat your mistakes.
An unrelated note...
While I’m here I think your website front-end needs addressing. There should be one front end for searching Logos , Vyrso (now ebooks) and noet. Further, the 1990s-style ‘show 60 books’ is laughable- in this day and age we need to have JavaScript continual flowing . Also easy filter options (to hide those books already owned and to hide fiction) without having to type obscure GET options in the url box. The website is the face of the company, little things matter - make yourself look modern not old and confusing!
Thanks for giving the opportunity to get this off my chest!
Thank-you
I appreciate all the hard work that has gone in over the years to make a superb, high quality product to help us study the Word of God better (what higher calling can there be?). Let's hope Logos Bible Software will remain the focus of the next 30 years as it has in the past - whether that be desktop or mobile. May it continue to improve, get faster and more efficient and provide innovative ways for us to better understand and apply His Word. May Logos not become distracted in that goal! A heartfelt thanks to Bob and the team!
