News, Opinion/Editorials

Voice Memos App Pulled from App Catalog Due to 2.0 Update Debacle

By: Ryan St. Andrie, 2/11/2011 9:23 pm | 64 comments

The whole community has been in a bit of an uproar lately. Ever since the big Think Beyond event people simply do not want to “Think Beyond”! With no idea when (or if) many of us will be able to get new hardware we are all bummed. The one glimmer of hope that the majority of the community had was the webOS 2.x. update. Well that ray of sunlight certainly got trashed now didn’t it?

So far there haven’t been any negative side effects as a result of the legacy device debacle…until now! Just moments ago Arthur Thornton of Appstuh has announced that he is pulling his new app Voice Memos from the Palm App Catalog. Instead of putting our own spin on why he did this it would be better that you hear this from the source. So here it is:

I am saddened to announce that Voice Memos will be temporarily pulled from the Palm App Catalog. The suspension request was submitted tonight (Friday, 11th February 2011), and it is expected that it will be pulled early next week.

The reason the app is being temporarily pulled is not due to a bug. It isn’t due to anything being wrong with the app. Due to the recent announcement that “legacy devices” (those that were released prior to the Palm Pre 2) not receiving webOS 2.x, I have received a couple emails from users with such “legacy devices” that now are unlikely to be able to ever use the app, unless they upgrade to a newer device. I know many of them will not be continuing with Palm and/or HP handsets, due to the miscommunication about webOS 2.x being available for all devices. Add to that the fact that the hardware did not stand up as well as they had hoped, and these users feel burned by Palm.

Now it isn’t due to the users feeling burned that I am pulling the app. I made the decision to pull the app because I do not want any more users purchasing it without ever being able to use it. I would not have published the app at the time I had, had I known that these “legacy devices,” in HP’s words, would not receive webOS 2.x. I made the decision at the time that I would put a warning making it obvious that it required webOS 2.0 for it to function. Many users understood that and did not purchase it. Some users, however, did purchase the app with the hope of using it as soon as they received webOS 2.0 over the air. I know there are still hundreds of thousands, if not over a million users who are currently unaware of the webOS 2.0 debacle, and of those, up to tens of thousands of potential customers that may purchase the app thinking they will be able to use it on their Sprint Palm Pre “in the coming months.” Unfortunately, that is not the case, and I do not want any additional users purchasing the app with false hope of using it on their device within a few months.

So for that reason, Voice Memos will be temporarily pulled from the Palm App Catalog. If you need assistance for any reason, please do not hesitate to email me through the help menu item in the app, or to leave a comment. I am terribly sorry if you are one of the users who purchased the app and now are unsure if you will be able to use it. While I am not bound by any agreements to provide a refund, I will be providing a limited number of personal refunds via PayPal to users who purchased the app on their Palm Pre or Palm Pre Plus, provided you can forward the receipt to me, along with some verification that you are using a non-Palm Pre 2 device.

We are saddened by this announcement and have to wonder if this is the first of many apps that will be pulled. Several apps that have been released recently require that you have 2.0 to run them. Let us all hope that HP figures out this whole nasty mess soon enough because in the end both developers and what little user base they still have are the ones paying the price.

[Source: Appstuh]

About Ryan St. Andrie

Ryan is a WOR News Hound and super geek who is always working to melt his phone with the latest experimental kernels. He is husband to lovely wife Keira and father to adorable baby girl Kyla, ASE certified mechanic and self proclaimed gearhead turned to railroad mechanic. Last but not least lover of all things tech.

View all posts by Ryan St. Andrie →

http://www.arthurthornton.net/ Arthur Thornton

Thanks for making this a bit more known Ryan. I hope to get it back out soon, but that will require that the HP engineering team get the dev portal set up for it.
medic 911

classy guy there to not take advantage of people like that!

Wkreed

How magnanimousof him!

Ryan

First of many..
Jimmy

Thanks to all of you webos roundup you got made this sad news over the past few days a bit less painful you guys rock !!
http://www.pamelahazelton.com Pamela Hazelton

But, c’mon. How many people purchase an app knowing it won’t work until months later. I can’t imagine very many. Who would buy a non-tangible item they can buy at any future time months in advance?

Phil

I agree. I certainly wouldn’t. It’s not like there was any benefit to buying it early!
Anonymous

Some people who want to support their friends. When we all thought that it was coming soon why not?

http://www.pamelahazelton.com Pamela Hazelton

Okay, but that’s a different scenario. IMO, you shouldn’t be able to purchase an app that won’t run on the OS you use.

Ryan St. Andrie

Oh I agree with you 100% on that.

Anonymous

Well, I just bought it. Why? Because my German Pre+ is still promised to get WeboS 2.x (according to HPs Site) and I don’t know if he is going to release it ever again for Pre Pluses (as some still won’t get the Update I guess). And even if I won’t get it, I’am sold on that Pre 3 as soon it is out. In the coming months… come on HP, give us a pre-order possibility with early shipments!
http://www.arthurthornton.net/ Arthur Thornton

Voice Memos will be rereleased as soon as I can set the minimum required webOS version to 2.0.1. Until then, there is too much of a risk that users who may never be able to use it will purchase it unknowing that they cannot ever use it.

Also, thank you for your purchase.

semp

The number of people who buy apps without reading the blurb is unbelievable. The reviews of many apps reflect this.

Not only is Arthur doing right by the 1.4.5 stranded, he’s also preventing those people who buy first and ask questions later from wasting their time and money too.

http://www.stopallmonsters.blogspot.com DAinLA

If you’re stupid enough to buy an app before you have the correct OS version, you deserve to lose your money.

Count me in the “this guy’s an idiot” column.
http://twitter.com/screwdestiny screwdestiny

Oh how cute. Palm’s not releasing 2.0 updates to current phones, yet apparently has no way to mark apps that are 2.0 only as such to prevent them from showing in the 1.4.5 catalog. I believe the minimum version number for both Voice Memos and Koto is 1.4.5. Amazing job here Palm.

http://www.arthurthornton.net/ Arthur Thornton

Yes, that is indeed the case. I made the decision early on to release it because that was their recommendation. I would not have released had they informed us there was even just the possibility older (“legacy”) devices wouldn’t get 2.0.

And since I hadn’t had any chance to test on a Pixi, it was never released to the Pixi (and wouldn’t have been until the Pixi had 2.0)
Joseph Ziehm

This was Jon’s baby and he did to what he wanted. Instead of telling us the truth he had WebOS 3.0 being secertly worked on. The merchent is proclaiming his greatness as others truly see what his loans mean his immaturity extends.
Joseph Ziehm

This was Jon’s baby and he did to what he wanted. Instead of telling us the truth he had WebOS 3.0 being secertly worked on. The merchent is proclaiming his greatness as others truly see what his loans mean his immaturity extends.
Joseph Ziehm

This was Jon’s baby and he did to what he wanted. Instead of telling us the truth he had WebOS 3.0 being secertly worked on. The merchent is proclaiming his greatness as others truly see what his loans mean his immaturity extends.
Joseph Ziehm

This was Jon’s baby and he did to what he wanted. Instead of telling us the truth he had WebOS 3.0 being secertly worked on. The merchent is proclaiming his greatness as others truly see what his loans mean his immaturity extends.

NCaveSoft

The HP nonsense this week makes me want to pull my 3 apps from the catalog just so that I have no loose ends as I move development to Android/iOS. Sales are down so much right now I would hardly notice it.
Canucks Love Palm

Yep I’d say HP/Palm has opened a whole can of worms they didn’t think about. So HP/Palm will have people running Palm OS 1.45 – Web OS 2.X and Web OS 3.0 – I can see some developer issues. It would be more economical to dump 1.45 and upgrade everyone to 2.0.
Canucks Love Palm

Yep I’d say HP/Palm has opened a whole can of worms they didn’t think about. So HP/Palm will have people running Palm OS 1.45 – Web OS 2.X and Web OS 3.0 – I can see some developer issues. It would be more economical to dump 1.45 and upgrade everyone to 2.0.

Joseph Ziehm

Yeah but this is Jon at work and I think this being his baby this sounds the notes of his final career moves at HP/Palm. This was his baby from the day of inception so it really just seems like he’s milking it. Jon has got to go his last minute timing of dooming customers who bought new Pixi+ through advertising and his sales pitch needs to go. As a salesman I have never met a more desperate shark looking to end his career in such an egotistical fashion.

http://www.pamelahazelton.com Pamela Hazelton

Let’s not talk like this is an isolated issue – PLENTY of tech companies come out with new software/devices/whatever that require specific upgrades. The initial angst is about the initial promise. But, let’s be honest. The vast majority of users were unaware that 2.0 was even in the works. And, thus, they aren’t affected by the “promise”.

Joseph Ziehm

You know Pam this is rather isolated at this point in time. And, a lot of us were aware and had studied to keep WebOS 2.0 viable and some had even programmed for it. You can stop making excuses for them any time. It’s a pity many of us cannot cough up the cash for any types of vouchers but I guess that is the same continual parable as from Dave to blame the consumers. We had a lot of time to know about it and study it.

http://www.pamelahazelton.com Pamela Hazelton

This isn’t me making excuses, Joseph. The number of people who visit the sites, post about webOS, or even do any amount of research represents a small percentage of webOS device owners. Most of the users didn’t know what 2.0 was until this week… You can argue that point, but, the fact is, the majority of users of any tech device know little more than what they do with their device.
Joseph Ziehm

So then in your own words and mind consumers deserve to be taken advantage of?

Davim00

Shoot, the vast majority of people with “legacy devices” don’t even know about the Feb. 9 announcement, or the plans for the Veer, Pre 3 and Touchpad. In fact, they may not even know about the Pre 2 unless they just happen to be looking at phones on Verizon’s website. Sometimes I think the regular visitors to WOR foget that they are the techie minority. Most cellular customers get their info from store promos and TV ads, and we have yet to see either one of those regarding new tech from HP.

Canucks Love Palm

Yep I’d say HP/Palm has opened a whole can of worms they didn’t think about. So HP/Palm will have people running Palm OS 1.45 – Web OS 2.X and Web OS 3.0 – I can see some developer issues. It would be more economical to dump 1.45 and upgrade everyone to 2.0.
Joseph Ziehm

I thought we would get Cave Story for the Pixi+ and a slew of others. But, we now know better with HP hiring professional designers and programmers to kill the small market here. I worked with men like these and I should have known better with the phone’s selling at 50-60
http://www.facebook.com/leviwallach Levi Wallach

From what I hear there is a flag in the app catalog that is going to become functional that sets the minimum OS version number to download an app. Obviously this wasn’t an issue before 2.0 came out, but should have become functional really as soon as 2.0 came out and HP realized that other carriers weren’t going to get it for weeks or months. Not sure when it will become functional, no one seems to have any timeframes (or precise ones anyway) at HP, so it who knows when, but at this point I’m wondering if it makes sense for all such 2.0 apps be temporarily removed until this functionality exists. That way people won’t download it by mistake (either because they don’t know they won’t be getting 2.X or because they simply aren’t savvy enough to know what all this version stuff is about).

Joseph Ziehm

They really dropped the ball on all of the practical aspects and have disrespected a growing consumer base.
Joseph Ziehm

They really dropped the ball on all of the practical aspects and have disrespected a growing consumer base.

Danar

Now that’s what I’m talkng about!!!

INTEGRITY
Danar

Now that’s what I’m talkng about!!!

INTEGRITY
Andrew

It seems to me that HP did honestly intend to release the OTA – I think it likely that in testing they found some significant failures – apparently due to partition size limits as webOSinternals reported partition resizinnecessary.
Andrew

It seems to me that HP did honestly intend to release the OTA – I think it likely that in testing they found some significant failures – apparently due to partition size limits as webOSinternals reported partition resizinnecessary.
Andrew

It seems to me that HP did honestly intend to release the OTA – I think it likely that in testing they found some significant failures – apparently due to partition size limits as webOSinternals reported partition resizinnecessary.
Andrew

It seems to me that HP did honestly intend to release the OTA – I think it likely that in testing they found some significant failures – apparently due to partition size limits as webOSinternals reported partition resizinnecessary.
ijusdontknow

Thank you Arthur. If I “ever” get a 2.0 capable device I’ll puchase your app just to support you. Thanks for being a man of principle !!

http://www.arthurthornton.net/ Arthur Thornton

Thank you for your support. I know this isn’t easy on any of us, and it is particularly tough for developers right now, because we’re seeing that we now need to support multiple webOS versions (never had the issue before, unlike Android devs), while also needing to rewrite apps for Enyo, but we have to figure out how to do an Enyo version and a Mojo version all-in-one because older (so-called “legacy devices”) probably will not get Enyo.

But I also know that as an end user, it is tough, because the promises have come and gone, and you’ve been waiting for so long now, that it is just disappointing, to say the least.

Chas

I was looking forward to updating my Pre+ to 2.0, now I am just looking forward to the end of my contract so I can change providers, never to be used by Verizon or HP/Palm again.
http://www.pamelahazelton.com Pamela Hazelton

It’s truly amazing how this OTA issue has totally “ruined” it for so many people. Geez, this upgrade requirement is nothing new. And, again, only the ones who want the new features need to upgrade anyway. It’s not like all the existing devices are going to stop working. I still have a Treo 650 sitting here – guess what? Still works…

Aaron Throckmorton

Why don’t you get on your 20 year old computer with dial up internet and tell everyone on Myspace about it! I have a Pre-(sixth one) and the only reason I kept getting it was in the hope that HPalm/Sprint would make it worth it in the long run but that didn’t pan out.

http://www.pamelahazelton.com Pamela Hazelton

Aaron, I could do so… happily…

I can’t imagine staying on board after going through six devices, but that’s just me.

BigStory

Well Pam, I have been following and using Palms for years. I got my Palm Pre in October, expecting the upgrade to improve both speed and battery life. If I had known it wasn’t coming, there’s very good chance I wouldn’t have locked into a THREE YEAR CONTRACT and bought a backup device. I was bitter for awhile, but now that I have some perspective, I still want it fixed.

http://www.pamelahazelton.com Pamela Hazelton

BigStory – KUDOS to you – as you’re one of the few who’s made an immensely valid argument…

You feel duped because you entered a three-year contract as a result. This is NOT the story of many others. So, yes, I can totally see why you’re upset and if I were you, I’d contact HP and ask them what they can do for you as a result.

BTW, which carrier has a 3-year contract?

http://www.arthurthornton.net/ Arthur Thornton

Many Canadian carriers use 3-year contracts to give the “best” discount.
Anonymous

I got the pre under a 3 contract for 200 back in august. If I got a 2 year contract it would of cost me either 450, or 500. One year 550, no term 600. As a student I could not afford the 500 dollars (even if it was 450 when you include tax…), the data plan, and 200 was already a lot of money.

Mannyman

@ArthurThornton never ceases to amaze me. To have such smarts and integrity too at his young age. I wish he were old enough to but a beer for. Let me know when you come back to SoCal so I can at least buy you a doubledouble from In-N-Out…

http://www.arthurthornton.net/ Arthur Thornton

Thank you for your kind words Manny.

I will absolutely let you know when I’m heading out to SoCal, not sure if I’ll let you buy me anything, but I am definitely looking forward to getting together and hanging out a bit while I’m there in August!

George

The thing is I just want flash, pdf reader, and a few tweaks. This was promised and was the reason I went with palm. I still have like 2 years on my contract. As much as I like webos, I should have gone android. I don’t like being bullshitted by a company.
JMO

First of all, what a class act! Arthur 4 President!!!

on a side note, my friend was buying a new phone at Sprint yesterday. He asked about the pixie and the sales rep said “i wouldn’t recommend that phone, the company went out of business.”
JMO

First of all, what a class act! Arthur 4 President!!!

on a side note, my friend was buying a new phone at Sprint yesterday. He asked about the pixie and the sales rep said “i wouldn’t recommend that phone, the company went out of business.”
BadBoyBri

Arthur, I’m glad to hear about your decision, for many reasons. We are ALL Very Angry at HP, and pulling your app is the Right Thing to do, and the Best Way to get your point across.

I’m tired of being deceived, and I’m tired of waiting! No other company puts you on Hold, more than HP! It’s time to Hit HP where it hurts the most, in their wallets! I’m not waiting for my contract to end! I Want Out Now!! If a new Android phone costs me alittle more, than that’s the price you have to pay, to get things done NOW!! But I know Samsung won’t lie to me, and my phone will be available NOW, with ALL the apps I want, NOW! And once I leave, I won’t be looking back!

I suggest all my fellow webOS customers do the same thing! Stop complaining, and go buy what you want NOW, cause HP just showed us that They Don’t Care About Us!!

Joseph Ziehm

Well with the consumer who credited the recent wholesaler as running “hot” prices what I used to do comes to light. HP knew the phones would bomb and offered them at 50-60 the writing was on the wall. My old training makes it plausible that HP did that to recover from subsequent and off-setting or up-setting losses in the market place. The phones that we knew were going nowhere were stolen and sold off the back of a truck or on websites to offset losses. I wish to God I had told all of you sooner never thought HP would do it.

Richard

I hope I can keep useing it on my Pre2……

http://www.arthurthornton.net/ Arthur Thornton

You can continue to use Voice Memos on your device. If you must reinstall it at any time while the app is unavailable from the App Catalog, please email for support (help –at– appstuh.com) and we can work something out to get it to you.

Also, the app will be rereleased as soon as HP allows me to resubmit the app with the minimum webOS version set to 2.0.0

http://www.crazzilla.com Randholio

I still have a year to go or better on my contract, and as well an upgrade. Sprint hiked up their prices three times dramatically, and I was looking forward to this OS upgrade to keep me content. Hp and sprint can kiss my grits. I’m breaking contract when iphone releases five.
JMWPainter

I thought that apps were separated by version and device model. It is his fault for selling it before it was available to use on the devices. Where is the 2.0 app catalog at?

http://www.arthurthornton.net/ Arthur Thornton

Not really my fault when Palm told us all “RELEASE IT AND JUST WARN THE USERS”

They acknowledged that they didn’t have 2.0 as a minimum version, and their recommendation to us was that we set it as 1.4.5 and place a warning in the description.

Joseph Ziehm

Just saw it with the app voices as well. HP is doing a blunderful job in showing us commoners what we will not have.

http://www.arthurthornton.net/ Arthur Thornton

Not really my fault when Palm told us all “RELEASE IT AND JUST WARN THE USERS”

They acknowledged that they didn’t have 2.0 as a minimum version, and their recommendation to us was that we set it as 1.4.5 and place a warning in the description.

Voice Memos App Pulled from App Catalog Due to 2.0 Update Debacle

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