I'm reading many people complaining about the app being abandoned, not being updated for a long time.
Have you tried contacting the developer with your issues?
They last replied to a review on Google Play on 13th Jan 2025. Someone else also mentioned that they received a response via DM. So the developer is definitely still alive.
The app is free to use. It's great if you chose to support the developer by paying for the ad-removal or subscription. Unfortunately, I don't believe the user base is large enough to allow the developer to work on it full-time, or even part time.
Personally, I think Sync is a passion project, hence the original Reddit version was so good. The downside with passion projects is that you work on them when you have time and inspiration to work on them.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that all the negativity won't help inspire the developer to dedicate more time to the project.
It would be more helpful to compile a list of bugs and issues, and forward them to the developer.
I get that you want to be positive and whatnot and that's fine, but Sync has never been Laurence's fulltime job and it was never intended to be. LJ has a very successful family business which is his priority.
Now I can't talk about what issues he has or hasn't received. But I do know that plenty of people paid to support LJ and Sync and he disappeared on us. This isn't the same as Sync for Reddit where it was a negligible one and done payment, this was a subscription and for some a lifetime license that was paid in good faith and he bailed on everyone just as breaking changes got made to the platform. If you're going to go the subscription route, it's a two way street and the developer has to commit to it too. I'm not even talking about a constant stream of releases, at least keep your customers abreast of what's happening. One year without updates and an app that barely works. it's unacceptable by every metric.
I say all that and it sounds angry and disappointed, but ultimately I just hope he's happy and healthy. If he does ever come back, I hope he can commit to his customers the same way they commit to him.
Subscription - I totally agree that people who paid for an annual or lifetime subscription should expect at least some maintenance bug fix releases. Otherwise, it would be reasonable for them to get a refund.
Has anyone tried asking for a refund? He does have 2 million in the bank. I imagine the total money he has received from the Lemmy app would be no more than a few thousands.
I really doubt he has anywhere close to even a single million in the bank. Though I would be happy for him if he did.
As of 31st March 2024, The company has $1.49 mil of cash in the bank.
Where is this from?
https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/08807876