Will be a free update from 1.9 to 2.0?

[Eloy González]

Hi, i am interested in buying the new 1.7 version. As far as i understood what the forums say, i can update to 1.8, 1.9 for free but not to the 2.0. I am new, so I don't know if there are a limit of updates or there is a sequence or something. For example, if I start with the 1.9, i'll get the major release which is the 2.0 and up to 4 minor releases (2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4), 5 updates in total. So my questions are: How long does a minor update take to release? Is there any limit of how many updates I can receive? What will happen until 1.9 if I start with 1.7?

[StevenS]

Hi Eloy,

Welcome to the Affinity forum, I will try my best to simplify this.

There is no limit to the number of updates that anyone would receive.

Any purchase from our site prior to us releasing 2.0 will receive all future 1.x updates for free, so in essence the sooner someone gets one of our apps, the more updates they will receive.

If you bought at 1.9 then you would get any 1.9.x updates free, before 2.0 was launched.

In summary, get any 1.x version and get all 1.x updates that follow. Version 2 is a new purchase for everyone with all 2.x updates included.

[LisaM]

On 6/14/2019 at 8:57 AM, StevenS said:

In summary, get any 1.x version and get all 1.x updates that follow. Version 2 is a new purchase for everyone with all 2.x updates included.

I'm currently using 1.6.1, but can't seem to update to 1.7 without purchasing it. The software is so affordable, I don't mind buying updates every once in a while. But if this is a 1.x update, shouldn't it be a free update?

[LisaM]

Ignore my question. I just figured out the problem. I'm a relatively new Mac user and forgot that my updates are through the App Store and not through my affinity account.

[greenmoon]

@StevenS thanks for your reply. I don't fully understand your line

Quote

"Version 2 is a new purchase for everyone with all 2.x updates included."

Does this mean it will be a complete new purchase with maybe a new price or could there be special updating price for existing Affinity users? 

[Patrick Connor]

Greenmoon,

Welcome to the Serif Affinity forums

32 minutes ago, greenmoon said:

Does this mean it will be a complete new purchase with maybe a new price or could there be special updating price for existing Affinity users? 

Serif have not said much about the pricing of the next version (afaik), and nothing wrt upgrades, so an assumption there would not be special pricing would be safest.

To all readers,

In relation to the original question I would point out that we are not working to a decimal system in that 1.8 and 1.9 do not automatically lead to 2.0 next. There is nothing really to say if we will go from 1.8 straight to 2.0 or equally we could go (for example) from 1.7 to 1.8 to 1.9 to 1.10 to 1.11 before 2.0.

Only buy 1.7 if it does what you want (and you like the company), everything else is a bonus. Version 2 will not be free and will come when our team decides it is time and then 2.1 and 2.2 etc will be free updates to owners of 2.0.

[greenmoon]

Hi Patrick,

Thanks a mil for your prompt reply and sharing these helpful details.  

Edited August 14, 2019 by greenmoon

[AITCH]

On 8/14/2019 at 1:04 PM, Patrick Connor said:

Greenmoon,

Welcome to the Serif Affinity forums

Serif have not said much about the pricing of the next version (afaik), and nothing wrt upgrades, so an assumption there would not be special pricing would be safest.

To all readers,

In relation to the original question I would point out that we are not working to a decimal system in that 1.8 and 1.9 do not automatically lead to 2.0 next. There is nothing really to say if we will go from 1.8 straight to 2.0 or equally we could go (for example) from 1.7 to 1.8 to 1.9 to 1.10 to 1.11 before 2.0.

Only buy 1.7 if it does what you want (and you like the company), everything else is a bonus. Version 2 will not be free and will come when our team decides it is time and then 2.1 and 2.2 etc will be free updates to owners of 2.0.

'Version 2 will not be free' 
🤔

I'm up to version 1.8 right now. I've been under the impression that once customers bought the software then all future updates were free? Please correct me if I am mistaken by all means

[walt.farrell]

4 minutes ago, AITCH said:

I'm up to version 1.8 right now. I've been under the impression that once customers bought the software then all future updates were free? Please correct me if I am mistaken by all means

Sorry; you are mistaken. All updates in 1.x are free (1.4 to 1.5, 1.5 to 1.6, 1.6 to 1.7, 1.7 to 1.8, 1.8 to 1.9). If 1.10 follows 1.9 then 1.10 will also be a free update, as would 1.11, 1.12, etc if they happen. But 2.0 will be a new version and if you want it you'll have to pay again. Note that your 1.x version should keep running; you won't be forced to upgrade.

[AITCH]

9 hours ago, walt.farrell said:

Sorry; you are mistaken. All updates in 1.x are free (1.4 to 1.5, 1.5 to 1.6, 1.6 to 1.7, 1.7 to 1.8, 1.8 to 1.9). If 1.10 follows 1.9 then 1.10 will also be a free update, as would 1.11, 1.12, etc if they happen. But 2.0 will be a new version and if you want it you'll have to pay again. Note that your 1.x version should keep running; you won't be forced to upgrade.

If I'd known this I'd never have bought the suite. New versions are updates of older one's or am I missing something here?
Can't say I'm impressed with Serif and the prospect at having to pay again, it's not going to go down well with many users in the current climate.

I keep saying this too but there's not even a trace action in Affinity Designer which is bog standard in Illustrator and Corel Draw.

 

For me personally 'Another pay, I'm away' 😔

 

[Joachim_L]

5 minutes ago, AITCH said:

For me personally 'Another pay, I'm away' 😔

Honestly? I maybe wrong, but upgrading CS1 >> CS2 >> CS3 >> CS4 >> CS5 >> CS6 >> CC whateverversion was never free of charge.

[Move Along People]

-

[AITCH]

1 hour ago, Joachim_L said:

1 hour ago, haakoo said:

And who's gonna pay for development and the developers income?

Honestly? I maybe wrong, but upgrading CS1 >> CS2 >> CS3 >> CS4 >> CS5 >> CS6 >> CC whateverversion was never free of charge.

What attracted me to the Affinity products in the first place was the one off payment with no subscription fee with free updates...….this really isn't rocket science. It was the company's decision to come up this fantastic concept not mine.
What they should have said in their original advertising campaign is 'All the updates will be free up until we reach version 2 where customers will have to pay again for the same software that will be tweaked in places'.....you get my drift?

[AITCH]

1 hour ago, haakoo said:

And who's gonna pay for development and the developers income?

Not me 

[Joachim_L]

I am curious about the calculations Serif is doing to finance all their expenses. At some point there is naturally no increase or lower increase of sales. What then? Developing for free, lurking around in dark places at the train station to get some extra income?

In the end you are free to decide: Work with the 1.x branch (which will function even after 2.x) or to pay for 2.x.

[Alfred]

41 minutes ago, AITCH said:

What attracted me to the Affinity products in the first place was the one off payment with no subscription fee with free updates...….this really isn't rocket science. It was the company's decision to come up this fantastic concept not mine.
What they should have said in their original advertising campaign is 'All the updates will be free up until we reach version 2 where customers will have to pay again for the same software that will be tweaked in places'.....you get my drift?

It seems that you’ve failed to appreciate the difference between an update and an upgrade. An update is a point release (e.g. from version 1.8 to version 1.9) which is free to all owners of a licence for version 1 of the app in question; an upgrade is a new major version (e.g. progressing from 1.x to 2.0) which those of us who want it will have to pay for.

[AITCH]

Clarity in terms of language used has 'failed' not me, I stand by what I say Alfred. I do of course know the difference between updates and upgrades, been using pc's too long mate to not know 😄

[carl123]

14 minutes ago, AITCH said:

I do of course know the difference between updates and upgrades, been using pc's too long mate to not know

 

1 hour ago, AITCH said:

What attracted me to the Affinity products in the first place was the one off payment with no subscription fee with free updates

 

 

You are confusing me now

[AITCH]

Upgrade = requires you to pay again 
Update = doesn't require you to pay 
Not confusing. not rocket science

😂😂

 

[carl123]

Upgrade = requires you to pay again 
Update = doesn't require you to pay - for point updates to the existing Version
You've been using pc's too long mate to not know that

Not confusing. not rocket science

Well, for most of us

[AITCH]

1 hour ago, carl123 said:

Upgrade = requires you to pay again 
Update = doesn't require you to pay - for point updates to the existing Version
You've been using pc's too long mate to not know that

But I already know this, Jesus H Christ this is hilarious

Not confusing. not rocket science

Well, for most of us

Indeed

[Patrick Connor]

6 hours ago, AITCH said:

What attracted me to the Affinity products in the first place was the one off payment with no subscription fee with free updates

and 

4 hours ago, AITCH said:

Upgrade = requires you to pay again 
Update = doesn't require you to pay

This shows you do understand and agree when you bought you understood it was updates only. So far you have had the free updates you say you expected. Now you have found we will also do Upgrades, which others always understood and now you do too. Your remaining updates will still be free, all of 1.x updates adding new features and fixing bugs. Furthermore, as everyone has said, you are only "required" to pay if you want the new version. The Upgrade to 2.0 will be optional.

7 hours ago, haakoo said:

And who's gonna pay for development and the developers income?

6 hours ago, AITCH said:

Not me 

That's honestly fine for you and many others who are happy with the current feature set.

Regarding your expectations, I think we have been consistent whenever anyone has asked. I suppose our marketing could have initially said that Upgrades would be paid for, but show me any technology company who have ever launched a product that says "Here is Version 1, here are it's current features, we will even add more to it for free, but then you may be interested in Version 2 and Version 3, but we don't know what it's features are yet or when it will be released or how much we will charge, but trust us when we say we will charge for it". What tech company ever talks about a future version when selling the latest current one? When we started selling Affinity we were risking everything on new unproven software and so how much sense would it be to launch or sell it talking about version 2 which was more than 4 years away?

I really hope you did not buy the software because of something that you hope or expect it will do some day. It seems from your replies that you may have. I do not think that we are responsible for that, as to my way of thinking that would make for a very strange business model. Perhaps it would work and word of mouth from satisfied early adopters would convince others to pay for ongoing development, but that is not the approach we have taken at Serif. I do not think you will be alone in this misunderstanding, but I do not think you can point to any other company of our size who does this so I do not think that you can expect us to have seen that it would be common to be so misconstrued, I hope it is not, and sorry if we were not clear enough for you.

[Dazmondo77]

4 hours ago, AITCH said:

5 hours ago, haakoo said:

And who's gonna pay for development and the developers income?

Not me 

If you're not happy you could always start an Adobe subscription?

Paying for upgrades was made clear from the start, even though I have a moan here and there about a few things, we've  still had nine FREE updates (so far) featuring speed, stability improvements, missing / new features and bug fixes - that's amazing value for money

[AITCH]

8 hours ago, Patrick Connor said:

and 

This shows you do understand and agree when you bought you understood it was updates only. So far you have had the free updates you say you expected. Now you have found we will also do Upgrades, which others always understood and now you do too. Your remaining updates will still be free, all of 1.x updates adding new features and fixing bugs. Furthermore, as everyone has said, you are only "required" to pay if you want the new version. The Upgrade to 2.0 will be optional.

That's honestly fine for you and many others who are happy with the current feature set.

Regarding your expectations, I think we have been consistent whenever anyone has asked. I suppose our marketing could have initially said that Upgrades would be paid for, but show me any technology company who have ever launched a product that says "Here is Version 1, here are it's current features, we will even add more to it for free, but then you may be interested in Version 2 and Version 3, but we don't know what it's features are yet or when it will be released or how much we will charge, but trust us when we say we will charge for it". What tech company ever talks about a future version when selling the latest current one? When we started selling Affinity we were risking everything on new unproven software and so how much sense would it be to launch or sell it talking about version 2 which was more than 4 years away?

I really hope you did not buy the software because of something that you hope or expect it will do some day. It seems from your replies that you may have. I do not think that we are responsible for that, as to my way of thinking that would make for a very strange business model. Perhaps it would work and word of mouth from satisfied early adopters would convince others to pay for ongoing development, but that is not the approach we have taken at Serif. I do not think you will be alone in this misunderstanding, but I do not think you can point to any other company of our size who does this so I do not think that you can expect us to have seen that it would be common to be so misconstrued, I hope it is not, and sorry if we were not clear enough for you.

' I suppose our marketing could have initially said that Upgrades would be paid for'
Correct

 

'I really hope you did not buy the software because of something that you hope or expect it will do some day.'
Clearly this has been the case in an area of Affinity Designer

I'm not an Affinity hater as stated before, I use AP  regularly for recolouring photos and am happy enough with  it.

 

Will there be a trace action in the UPGRADE in Affinity Designer?

 

[AITCH]

7 hours ago, Dazmondo77 said:

If you're not happy you could always start an Adobe subscription?

Paying for upgrades was made clear from the start, even though I have a moan here and there about a few things, we've  still had nine FREE updates (so far) featuring speed, stability improvements, missing / new features and bug fixes - that's amazing value for money

Or I could  just stick my CS6 Extended versions back in fella