Wednesday, September 11, 2013

The Upgrade Conundrum

OnSong 2.0 is an exciting upgrade filled with new features.
Our goal is to get OnSong available to all of our current users for free.
Yes, that's right. Free.

However, we've realized something over the past few months as we work on the new version. It's different. Really different. Okay, maybe it's not apples and oranges different. It's still the best chord chart management app on the planet. But when we got really honest with ourselves, it's a completely new app and we humans don't take change too well. Given what we know about OnSong 1.96, one small change can have huge implications for musicians.

Herein lies our conundrum. We've been trapped by our own success. Hundreds of thousands of users around the world depend on OnSong everyday, or at least every week. It's the lifeblood of studio artists, on-stage performers and teachers in the classroom. For us to upgrade you to a completely new app would be like pulling the rug out from under you. We don't think that's right and we haven't found a way to avoid that. To be honest, we don't want to make promotional tissue boxes.

Today we are announcing that OnSong 2.0 will be made available as a brand new app. That means you will be able to run OnSong 1.96 for as long as you need in order to transition to the new version. OnSong 2.0 will be the same low price of $9.99 and have all the same great features, and then some, only different. It's going to have a brand new design to make it more powerful and yet, simpler to use.

Remember that promise of a free upgrade? Oh, it's still on. Here's where you come in. We need your help to make OnSong 2.0 the very best it can be. We will have a limited release of OnSong 2.0 to our biggest fans - our customers - for free. We will announce when it will become available. Over the course of a week, you'll be able to get OnSong 2.0 for the price of a breath of air. Kick the tires and take it for a test drive. Tell us everything we've done wrong. Tell us everything we've done right (we like that). All this while having the piece of mind that comes with OnSong 1.96. Our plan is to continue our free, limited release schedule until OnSong 2.0 is as awesome as we can make it. We appreciate each and every one of our customers who have helped us get OnSong where it is today.

Be sure to register with us so we can let you know when OnSong 2.0 will be available for free. We do not yet have a timeline on the OnSong 2.0. We are working hard to make it awesome right now.

Please comment on this below. Our DNA is to listen and come up with the best solution to meet the needs to our customers. Let us know if you feel there isa better way and let's discuss this. You know, as civil as possible.

14 comments:

Unknown said...

Can't wait. Depend on it now. Have turned a number of others onto it.

Bobby Hardwick said...

Will we be able to run both versions on the same device as we test drive 2.0?

NB said...

Sounds good, thanks! Can't wait,

Unknown said...

Looking forward to the new version, thanks for your hard work!

Unknown said...

A good friend of mine has a copy of your Onsong on his iPad and I just love it. when can I get a copy for my Android tablet? Please let me know when it comes available because there is 20 of my friends also that want a copy. my email is freddyclowdus1@gmail.com .Thanks

Mike Westwood said...

It would be really great to get at least an IDEA of when 2.0 will be ready :-)

Also, another reminder to make this the best app for keyboard players by allowing multiple midi changes to be sent from onsong in the middle of a sing by givin us the ability to add MIDI changes buttons in line with the lyrics and chords.

Patrick Iaconis said...

I'm with Mike above. I have some major events coming up in December, and would love to start planning them in the new release.

Unknown said...

Bring it on. I've used OnSong for over a year now and I can't get by without it. I'm excited about 2.0. When it was time to update my tablet, this app was one of the major factors in staying with iPad. Great work guys.

Justin said...

Excited about this... Really good idea to make both available concurrently.

Unknown said...

Would love to be able to "mark-up" pdf's by writing on them in 2.0

I've had onsong for 2+ years now- I use it every Sunday and always turning new people on to it

Shane Rosty said...

I'm loving onsong but I think the potential of an app like this is even more exciting. Can't wait to see the new features and hope the Slide show ability gets a little smoother!

Unknown said...

I agree with Jeff. Would like to be able to mark up PDFs, even when my pedal is attached via Bluetooth. Even better... a way to convert all those old PDFs to OnSong format quickly

Unknown said...

Any chance in 2.0 there will be an app for BlackBerry 10 platform?

Rick said...

I love OnSong, and many of my ForScore friends are converting over, but really would love the following features:

-Ability to mark up (write on) a chart, in multiple colours, and then have test mark-up saved with the file, ability to share the mark-up with my band, and turn the mark-up on or off.
-Convert Word or PDF easily to OnSong format.
-If possible, have an Android version (I wish all my friends had iPads, but Akashi, they do not).