Disappointed About Android
Brad
via web
Add me to the list of those who would have liked to see an Android App.
Maybe it is just me, but I get tired of companies trying to decide for customers what mobile devices they should or should not use. While I can deal with Individual users who are either Mac or PC fans, it just bothers me when companies take the same fan boy approach to the development of one mobile app and not the other.
I could understand better if it were a matter of not having access to development tools, or if the i-Device to Android ratio was 50 to 1, or even if there was a Blackberry request that could not be fulfilled due to RIM issues, but none of these is the case, and I somehow feel slighted when I pay for the same product but am denied usability options because of apparent personal preferences of the developers.
It has been what, a year, and no further word on a Mobile
Android edition? This despite Scott's comment in March 2011 saying;
"Thanks for your interest. It's unlikely we'll have an Android app
anytime soon. We'd like to have an Android version of AccountEdge
Mobile at some point (probably not this year), but that's another
topic."
Sorry but almost a year, when is that "Another Topic" going to be
addressed
Is the "Another Topic" Todd's response back in November 2011 "We have no plans at this time for an Android version of AccountEdge Mobile...." Heck you guys can't even get your story straight it seems.
Or is it Michelle telling folks in the Pre-Sales section that "We're primarily Mac developers, so the iphone and ipad apps make sense for us." Well the fine folks at Acclivity may be "Mac" people, but I was also under the apparent misconception that they were in business to support and develop their product for the customer. Now you seem to be saying that for my company to have mobile functionality I have to buy i-Devices or forget it? ***Thank you Michelle for your honest response.
Well, that’s never going to happen, I will leave this software before I allow you to dictate what mobile devices I have to buy. If I recall correctly there wasn't even a Mac version available when I started using MYOB.
I have been running MYOB in its various versions since 1996. I guess 2012 will be the last renewal for me.
Support Staff 2 Posted by Scott on 07 Feb, 2012 02:42 PM
Hi Brad,
Thanks for your interest and I'm sorry that some of our decisions aren't syncing w/ your business needs. Obviously not our desired outcome, but an inevitability given the size of our customer base and diversity of needs. Let me address a couple of your points.
First, and maybe most importantly, we are not "primarily Mac developers". We have a sizable portion of our base using Windows and we work hard to serve all of our customers. In fact, the reality that the iOS platform (for iPads and iPhones) works for both Mac/Win customers plays an important role in our decision-making. There will undoubtedly be features we offer to one platform or the other, but we definitely strive for equality across platforms.
re: Android. I'm sorry if you feel we've been silent or, worse yet, misleading. To be clear, we have no intention to develop for the Android anytime soon. We have our hands full building out the mobile app for the iOS. Meaning, if you need an Android companion app in the next 12-18 months we, candidly, may not be the best choice for you. This is not because we don't want to have an Android app or because we don't think Android is a very viable mobile platform (it's market share numbers are enviable). Instead, it's because there are little-to-no synergies in developing for both platforms and we had to make a choice. We don't have the bandwidth to develop on both. Not an easy choice, but a choice we're comfortable with nonetheless.
All that said, we will continue to reevaluate. I don't say that to string you along, I say that to be honest that we'll reevaluate. Still doesn't mean I expect anything soon, but I can't see into the future enough to know what decisions we'll be making in (eg) 24 months.
As always, we appreciate your loyalty and, yet, understand that part of our relationship is that you need to do what's best for your particular business needs. Thanks for the consideration.
--Scott, Managing Partner
3 Posted by Bradley Sheldon on 07 Feb, 2012 07:40 PM
Hello Scott,
Well, since my reply in the forum apparently will not be posted, it has been over 2 hours now, I decided to try to reply to you via e-mail instead.
It is not my intent to argue this matter, but the comments from the staff in these forums have been contradictory regarding Android to yours and I was asking for a clear answer on if it will be developed, which you appear to have given above, even if some of it still does not make sense.
I thought when reading your reply that perhaps I failed to place the appropriate quote marks around your varied staff replies. I included your quote from last year, which was adding false hope to myself and maybe those of us interested in Android Mobile development. Point of fact is that you indicated that this was something you (Acclivity) would like to have yet allowed that LAST YEAR it was unlikely to happen. Since then it has been other staff commenting, as you now have, that there is no intention to do so anytime soon.
As far as the Mac development comment, I am sorry, but again quoted directly from staff. That comment however was further bolstered by the lack of any inclusion that I recall, of Android based devices back when you did your Mobile survey way back when. Have you ever assessed what your customer's desires actually are in this area?
Do you also mean to somehow imply that the Android Platform is not cross platform compatible? My Mac at home works / synchs just fine with my HTC EVO 4G ANDROID so I must be misunderstanding what you are referring to. And just to be clear, I also use it on our WINDOWS PCs. The number of Windows PCs in the workplace, last time I checked anyway, was higher than Macs. So if you are not primarily developing for Mac as you assert above, then I guess I don't understand the business logic? Maybe I would have a better idea if I knew what a "Sizable portion of our base using Windows" means in regards to percentages as well as what products you include in that base that are Windows or Mac only.
I don't care if people prefer Macs, as I have and use both depending on what I need to do. As I said though, when I started using this software there was no Mac version which is why I implemented a Windows based office environment.
As a developer of several Android Apps and a few iStore apps as well, I don't really understand your comment that developing for both platforms has little to no synergies. What exactly do you mean by that? Also you say you don't have the "bandwidth to develop both" are you referring to staff time, or actual data bandwidth? I only ask because the iOS devices I have used and worked with have always been less bandwidth friendly.
Your iOS product is using Dropbox as I understand it to allow the mobile device to access the company files remotely, is that correct? If so development of an Android app to access the same files would not be a problem and I find development of Android apps to be in some cases easier than their iOS counterparts. Alternately the iOS or Android app could use Google Cloud if desired instead of Dropbox which is how I synch my Android and Mac currently when I am travelling. For what it is worth I also run Android SDK on my Mac for some of my work, so that is not an issue either in the event you find yourselves short on Windows PCs.
If you have the time to clarify the items I mentioned I would like to see what it is that I am not grasping. If you don't have the time I understand, I would really like to know though as I think you are dropping the ball from business, customer satisfaction, and usability standpoints. Just my 2 cents.
Regards,
Brad