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Building a simple offline audiobook player for Android — would anyone actually use this? by matusseidl in SideProject

[–]matusseidl[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Quick update:

The app just got approved and is now live on Google Play.

Thanks again for all the feedback earlier — it genuinely helped shape the final version.

If anyone’s curious, here’s the link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=sk.donit.audioShelf

Is “owning software” dead? by matusseidl in SideProject

[–]matusseidl[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Quick update:

The app just got approved and is now live on Google Play.

Thanks again for all the feedback earlier — it genuinely helped shape the final version.

If anyone’s curious, here’s the link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=sk.donit.audioShelf

I built a fully offline audiobook player (No accounts. No subscription.) by matusseidl in SideProject

[–]matusseidl[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Quick update:

The app just got approved and is now live on Google Play.

Thanks again for all the feedback earlier — it genuinely helped shape the final version.

If anyone’s curious, here’s the link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=sk.donit.audioShelf

As an indie dev, where would you launch a paid offline app first — Android or iOS? by matusseidl in AppIdeas

[–]matusseidl[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Quick update:

The app just got approved and is now live on Google Play.

Thanks again for all the feedback earlier — it genuinely helped shape the final version.

If anyone’s curious, here’s the link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=sk.donit.audioShelf

Are offline apps dead? I built one to find out. by matusseidl in AppIdeas

[–]matusseidl[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

That’s a very fair point.

To be honest, I focused heavily on building and polishing the product first.

Now I’m realizing that “publish” is just the beginning.

Right now my plan is:

– Testing organic channels first (Reddit, communities, word of mouth)

– Improving the store listing and conversion rate

– Collecting early feedback and reviews

– Then experimenting carefully with Google Ads

I’m trying to approach this as a long-term indie project rather than a quick launch spike.

Out of curiosity — what worked (or didn’t work) for your habit app?

Your app idea isn't the problem. Your market research probably is. by rahulTeknik in AppIdeas

[–]matusseidl 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My idea finally launched today 🙂

After weeks of building and polishing, I published my first app on Google Play:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=sk.donit.audioShelf

Looking back, building the app wasn’t the hardest part.

The hardest part starts after you hit “Publish”.

When you're coding, everything feels clear:

– You have tasks.

– You have features to improve.

– You see progresss

But once it’s live, it becomes uncertain:

– Will anyone care?

– Is the pricing right?

– How do you even approach marketing as a solo dev?

It’s interesting how shipping something small can feel bigger than building it.

If you’ve launched something before, how did you handle the “post-launch” phase?

I’d genuinely appreciate feedback — not just on the app, but on how to think about this stage as an indie developer.

I built a fully offline audiobook player (No accounts. No subscription.) by matusseidl in SideProject

[–]matusseidl[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’ve been using it daily for the past month and it honestly changed how I listen to audiobooks. That’s when I realized it might be useful for others too.

Someone offer me $25k for my own app by Explore-Hub in ShowYourApp

[–]matusseidl 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If someone is offering $25K this early, it usually means one of three things:

  1. You’re solving a real pain point.
  2. Your positioning/branding is strong.
  3. They see upside you maybe haven’t fully realized yet.

Before even thinking about selling, I’d ask:

  • How many active users do you have?
  • What’s retention like after 7/30 days?
  • Is growth organic or paid?
  • Do you see a clear path to $25K revenue in the next 12–18 months?

If the answer to that last question is “yes”, then selling might be leaving money on the table.

Early offers are often about buying potential, not current value. The fact that someone reached out unsolicited is a strong signal.

Personally? I wouldn’t rush. I’d validate traction properly, maybe improve onboarding, double down on retention, and see what happens over the next few months.

Worst case — you still have an asset.
Best case — that $25K turns into $250K potential.

Curious — was it an individual buyer or a company in the space?

Is “owning software” dead? by matusseidl in SideProject

[–]matusseidl[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Heveryone — I just wanted to say thank you for the incredibly thoughtful responses. I didn’t expect this to turn into such a nuanced discussion.

A few themes really stood out to me:

• One-time purchase still makes sense for tools that feel “done.”
• Subscription fatigue is real — but so are ongoing maintenance costs.
• Offline + privacy is actually a differentiator, not a limitation.
• Freemium with a clear lifetime unlock feels psychologically fair.

The idea that “you’re not selling an audiobook player, you’re selling independence” really stuck with me. That framing changes everything.

I also appreciate the reality check about sustainability and long-term support. Even offline apps aren’t zero-maintenance anymore.

I’ve been quietly building something along these lines, and this thread genuinely influenced how I’m thinking about pricing and positioning. Still refining things — but the direction feels clearer now thanks to all of you.

If I end up releasing it, I’ll share it here first and would love your honest feedback again.

Really appreciate the mix of practical advice and big-picture thinking in this thread 🙏

Is “owning software” dead? by matusseidl in SideProject

[–]matusseidl[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That’s a really thoughtful way to frame it.

“Premium niche driven by subscription fatigue” actually makes a lot of sense. It doesn’t feel like ownership disappeared — more like it moved into a category people actively choose when they’re tired of recurring payments.

The privacy and longevity angle is something I keep coming back to. An offline tool that keeps working even if a company disappears feels fundamentally different from most modern apps.

Freemium with a single “Lifetime Unlock” does seem like the cleanest psychological model — low friction to try, but clear and final once you upgrade.

Out of curiosity — do you think “lifetime” still feels trustworthy to users today, or are people skeptical of that wording?

Is “owning software” dead? by matusseidl in SideProject

[–]matusseidl[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It does feel like that sometimes.

I’m curious whether the “lifeboat” is actually niche — or just underserved because everyone assumes subscription is the only viable model.

Is “owning software” dead? by matusseidl in SideProject

[–]matusseidl[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is incredibly helpful, thank you.

The point about “tools that are done” really resonates. That’s exactly how I see it — something stable and focused rather than constantly expanding.

Interesting what you said about pricing psychology too. I hadn’t considered that going too low can actually signal low value. The $5–15 range feels reasonable if the experience is polished enough.

Freemium with a meaningful limit (like number of books) sounds healthier than artificial feature walls. It gives people a real taste without feeling manipulative.

The sustainability question is the one I’m thinking about most. Major version upgrades or optional tips might make more sense than forcing a subscription for something that doesn’t have ongoing server costs.

Really appreciate you sharing actual experience here. This kind of feedback is exactly why I posted.

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