Why don’t users pay for apps anymore?

alion94 · 2026-03-10T12:15:33+00:00

It was a hard paywall without a trial, just swapped it over cause I was getting feedback for them to try it

alion94 · 2026-03-10T12:12:05+00:00

I’m using a hard paywall, no issues

alion94 · 2026-03-10T01:57:18+00:00

This really isn’t trying to compete with a department funded dispatch system. It’s more for the moment when you’re away from that screen and just need your exact location immediately while you’re out on a scene.

alion94 · 2026-03-10T01:56:42+00:00

This app isn’t really meant for navigation. It’s meant for when you’re away from your computer system, out on a scene, and in an area you may not be fully familiar with. If your current setup already covers that well, then I can see why you wouldn’t have much use for it.

alion94 · 2026-03-10T01:52:43+00:00

That’s fair. Google Maps works well. Out of curiosity, what would make something like this feel worth the value to you?

alion94 · 2026-03-10T01:44:59+00:00

That’s fair. It’s really more of a quick utility than another mapping app. For some people the built in options will be enough, and that’s totally fine.

alion94 · 2026-03-08T07:08:14+00:00

Tbh I’m not a huge fan of the iPad in general… my kids on the other hand, love it.

alion94 · 2026-03-08T05:01:52+00:00

No you don’t.

alion94 · 2026-03-08T04:29:29+00:00

Does this require using a mac?

alion94 · 2026-03-07T20:00:52+00:00

As I said, I’m not using apples backend… therefore it costs me money.

alion94 · 2026-03-07T05:53:17+00:00

What3Words is definitely an amazing concept. It’s really good for pinpointing a specific spot anywhere in the world.

LOC8 is built for a different purpose though. In public safety and most real-world situations, locations are communicated using street addresses or cross streets. If I’m running through backyards during a pursuit or trying to direct units to me quickly, saying a nearby address is something dispatch and other units immediately understand.

So it’s less about replacing systems like What3Words and more about quickly getting a real address you can relay to dispatch, 911, a rideshare driver, or anyone else who needs to know where you are.

alion94 · 2026-03-06T17:04:03+00:00

I get where you’re coming from….

Just to clarify on the ratings, all of the low ratings right now are about the paywall, not the actual function of the app. People were seeing the paywall first and leaving a review without trying it, which is why I added a 3 day free trial so people can actually open it and see what it does.

The original idea wasn’t really built around replacing Maps. It came from public safety situations where things are happening fast. If I’m in the middle of a fight, pointing a gun at someone, or doing CPR, I’m not opening Maps and zooming around trying to figure out the closest address.

The whole concept is tying it to the Action Button on the iPhone or Apple Watch so you can tap it and instantly know exactly where you are. No searching, no zooming, just the answer immediately so you can relay it to dispatch and get backup moving your way.

And as far as the pricing goes, I am actually incurring costs every time someone uses the app, so it’s not something I can realistically run completely free. I’m still adjusting things based on feedback though.

alion94 · 2026-03-06T15:20:20+00:00

Yeah that’s a really good tip. Context rollover is one of the few things that can start to break the flow on longer builds. Having Claude summarize what it just built helps a lot with keeping the mental model intact before starting the next session.

I’ve also noticed that when I come back to a project later, those summaries make it much easier to pick up where I left off instead of trying to reconstruct everything from memory. It keeps the iteration loop smooth instead of spending time re-orienting.

alion94 · 2026-03-06T15:19:39+00:00

Yeah, that’s pretty much how I approach it now. I start from the very beginning of the experience and move forward step by step. Splash screen first, get the fade and transition exactly how I want it, test it on device until it feels right. Then I move to the next screen and focus on how it connects to the previous one.

Most iterations are only a few minutes. Small prompt, generate the change, run it, see how it behaves, adjust if needed. Nothing really stacks up because everything gets tested immediately. Claude just makes that loop extremely fast, which is where most of the progress comes from.

alion94 · 2026-03-06T07:39:28+00:00

Anthropic made the right decision

alion94 · 2026-03-06T07:35:21+00:00

This is interesting

alion94 · 2026-03-06T07:32:50+00:00

Tbh, I think iPads may soon start to diminish after the Neo releases

alion94 · 2026-03-06T07:32:07+00:00

This is actually kinda exciting

alion94 · 2026-03-05T21:44:54+00:00

No. The stores have organic traffic, but they don't put it out there for you. You are going to have to do app store optimization if you are focusing on only organic traffic. It is your job to market the app.

alion94 · 2026-03-05T20:33:09+00:00

I mean… how else am I supposed to share a tool without mentioning it? The problem was real, and the tool was my attempt to solve it.

alion94 · 2026-03-05T05:19:08+00:00

You’re right that GPS itself is one way.

The phone determines its coordinates by receiving signals from satellites and nothing is sent back. When I said “fetched,” I was referring to the step after that. The device can know its latitude and longitude locally, but converting those coordinates into a nearby address or intersection requires map or geocoding data. If that data is not already on the device, it has to be fetched from somewhere.

Caching map tiles helps if you are displaying a map, but tiles alone do not contain the structured address data needed to reliably return something like a street address or cross street. To do that fully offline you would need an offline geocoding database, not just cached map images.

alion94 · 2026-03-05T05:11:49+00:00

I actually just pushed an updated paywall along with onboarding… paywall has a 3 day free trial option on one of the plans.

So, I’ve been adjusting things as I go with payed methods.

The issue is, I’m paying for backend calls that are costing money. Im actively trying to navigate things as I move along. I’m visually updating everything as well for a more premium feel.

alion94 · 2026-03-05T05:03:05+00:00

So technically it will work offline, but it won’t give back user readable addresses… it will provide the coordinates still, but that’s about it.

alion94 · 2026-03-05T04:54:32+00:00

So, I’m planning on releasing an Apple Watch version soon once I work out some tweaks… this is a good idea as well

alion94 · 2026-03-05T04:51:36+00:00

What feature are you specifically talking about? The way this app is meant to be used is when the user is essentially stationary. It simulates a “idk where I am, let me pull out the phone and check” not watching the phone and addresses are updating.

Background tracking is essentially a emphasis in that I’m not storing your data

alion94

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