Free functionality removed?

[longwa]

Tried out the app and loved it, so I subscribed on my phone. Not really something you can help, but it really bugs me that Family Sharing doesn't work for subscriptions so my wife and kids (who both used Haiku and then Space) can't share my subscription. I'm sure not paying $5 per month x 4 for this app.

So I grab the Free version for my wife and kids. She's happy b/c all she really wants to is arm and disarm security and adjust the thermostat without my permission .

Fast forward to a few days ago, she doesn't seem to have any climate controls now.

Am I crazy or did the free version originally have climate controls and now it doesn't?

[Myro Control]

Hi! Thanks for the support -- free version provides security only.  The thermostats (Climate) are only available in the paid version.   For the first 14-days of release, I had thermostats and aux sensors in the Status screen so I could test out with a wider group -- particularly because I didn't have any Celsius beta testers.  The "Climate" tab was never in the free version... hope that makes sense.

I'm hoping Apple provides/enabled "family" subscription support this year because you're right, it makes sense for other subscription apps, but maybe not Myro:Home -- I heard of some folks with a workaround -- you can probably google it to see if it works.

Unfortunately, I need a sustainable monetization model to keep development going and subscription seems to be the only way possible.  If you have suggestions, I'd love to hear a better way business/monetization model.

Thanks!

[longwa]

I could work around the subscription by logging them into my iTunes Store account but I’d rather not.

As a developer, I tend to lean more towards building apps that I want or need and then just giving them back as open source. You seem like you might be an Omni Pro user and probably wanted a replacement for Haiku anyway. I’ve actually been tinkering on a better client for OpenHAB for my personal needs and will likely just give it back to the openHAB community if it’s any good.

You made a nice product and certainly have a right to monetize but given the small community and the need to charge a fair amount, I think the door is wide open for someone to just make a free app that does most of what’s needed and gobble up a lot of the base.

In fact, it might be worth considering building or porting Myro Home to the openHAB API since it probably has a larger potential user base.

[Myro Control]

Thanks and you are correct, I'm a user of this app as well.   I thought about open sourcing but that doesn't really work for an iOS app as it requires yearly developer account.   Unfortunately, I have other personal and business related projects/commitments, I don't have any interest in participating in other projects at this time (e.g. OpenHAB).  Plus, I've seen lots of HAI/OmniLink projects that have become abandoned over the years so there is no guarantee of a better product.    Over the years (since 2009), I've never had a single developer (user of HAI/OmniPro) reach out and commit to helping with the project, but I've had many ask just for the code and libraries...

I'm committed to keeping this project going and I hope we can create a vibrant community.  I'd love for users to provide feedback that will make it worth them paying for the app.

Others are free to disrupt and create a better app... my value add is 10+ yrs of being a HAI connected partner (means nothing now since Leviton bought them), I fully understand their protocol (have ported it many times in many languages and OSes) and I am also a user.

Thanks for the support and I really encourage this type of feedback.

[longwa]

No worries, didn't mean to sound like I was threatening to make a competing app or anything like that. I certainly appreciate what you've done and I think the app is great. As someone who has dabbled in the OmniLink protocol, I can appreciate the effort that goes into using it. It's not exactly a nice REST API or anything. I offered to help lumpinglade with Haiku and then Space several times and never received any interest from him. The HAI group that cares about this side of things is almost more of a hobbyist group IMO so I'm all about trying to give back to that group.

My bigger worry at the moment is that Leviton seems to have no direction or vision for the Omni product line after buying HAI. Tools like OpenHAB or Homeseer seem to be the only hope for integration with "modern" home automation products like Alexa, HomeKit, etc. I half expect Leviton to just drop the Omni products completely one day without any fanfare or replacement.

[Myro Control]

The way I look at it, the OmniPro is still a top performer and I never really saw HAI as a consumer facing product, even back in 2004 when I installed my system. The system I installed is still as relevant today as it was back then and because they provided access to the protocol we’ve been able to extend support and capabilities over the years.

I’d still spec a home with an HAI system.

I’ve been thinking how I’d improve the platform if say an OmniPro iii was to be released... i’d have some recommendations as to the api,etc but concerns would be around stability.   They really nailed it with the platform... I have NEVER had a system crash and i’d just hate to have the platform turn into today’s disposable systems.