IBird subscription for existing purchasers

[Louise]

I am one unhappy customer.  I have purchased every product. IBird Pro.  IBird ultimate.  Photosleuth. Hawaii. Journal. And in app purchases.  (Even repurchasing when there was discontinuation of Ultimate version) And NOW you tell me I have to subscribe?????

Existing purchasers should have the option to stay at existing function and have a lifetime subscription. We were promised lifetime use and upgrades.  I have caused many people to buy this app.  Never again if you don’t give me what I paid for. 
 

I will be complaining to Apple. If you agree, please complain as well. 

[JP48]

@Louise I feel your pain.  I've always been a big-time proponent of iBird, and use it as my primary birding resource, and I don't much like subscriptions.  However, I understand the reasons for going to subscription, and for $10/year (I think that's the price), the many advantages (for me) of this product over paper (regular updates assuming they keep them up, easy carry in the field, many sort and search capabilities, sounds, drawings plus photos, similar birds, etc, etc) make it a reasonable deal.  I rather hope that enough people go for it that it remains a viable product.

[Louise]

I think it’s 8.99 a month. 

[ChadBad]

I completely understand the reasoning behind iBird going to subscription.  It is untenable to grow and support an app purchased years prior. However, users purchased the iBird Pro app rightfully assuming they own it, like a book. What iBird should have done is stop support for iBid Pro, and let owners use it until no longer compatible with phone OS. Then iBird could offer a new service, “iBird Pro Suite” (or whatever name) that would be subscription based. This is how Adobe transitioned to subscription based software; my 2005 Photoshop CS2 still runs great on my old iMac G4 Tiger. Adobe, unlike iBird, did not disable perpetual licenses when they transitioned to subscription system. 

[PattiW1]

I agree with what some people have commented on in this Forum.  We paid for the App originally and I think we should be able to keep what we have without paying $8.99 for it.  I was happy enough with the regular iBird App but purchased the iBird Ultimate when iBird was phased out.  I use iBird Ultimate to identify backyardbirds or   birds I have seen on walks - I am not a professional.  I think $8.99 or $10/$12 CAN is a bit much for us everyday types to pay for this new App.  Leave the existing ones in place for us to use and offer the new one for new users or for people who find it suits their needs. 
i will not be upgrading right now in case iBird decides to change - I dont want to lose what I have.

 

[RayV]

Audubon is still one price folks. I guess I’ll keep that and get rid of iBird. 

[Cany]

I am very angry. There I am in the middle of nowhere and I go to pull up my whatbird Pro app and it won't work. I purchased in 2014 and now they want me to pay a monthly subscription. I won't. I have moved to Audubon App (free). And while the sounds there aren't as good, I'll have to adjust cuz there is NO WAY I will be cheated like this. Shame on you, Mitch.