There are two ways of purchasing My Movies 6 for iPhone & iPad; recommend is a subscription model, where you though the standard “My Movies 6” version can choose between a single-platform subscription option paid for either monthly or yearly, covering just the iPhone & iPad platform, or a cross-platform premium subscription option, paid for yearly, which covers all the platforms we support, which currently is iPhone/iPad, Android, Windows, Mac OS X and Web.
For users who prefers an app purchase, we have the non-autorenewable in-app purchase available, with 24 months of service operation, which covers just the iPhone & iPad platform, but includes service operation for 24 months, after which a new 24 months service operation can be purchased, or, the app can be used in read-only mode. Users who purchase this option during our December campaign, will be offered another half price 24 months operation period at the end of their current period.
The only difference between the versions is the purchase model – the feature set, and the support is exactly the same, allowing you to choose the model you prefer.
I am a big fan of My Movies app, or at least, I used to be. When I tried to upgrade to version 6 of the app, I discovered that they now lock you into a subscription model. At the moment, I absolutely cannot recommend this app.
Just a little history, my previous database, DVD Profiler was largely abandoned by the developer and it was no longer being supported by newer (larger) iPhones. So, I was looking for a modern database, and eventually settled on My Movies 4 Pro, priced at $15. For what it offered, I thought it was a fair price. Especially because there aren’t any advertisements, there’s no hidden fees. You pay once and you keep it forever… and I was happy to pay for good software.
I like using it so much, that when they ran a sale for My Movies 5 Pro, I jumped on the upgrade. In my review, I did confess that the new features weren’t that compelling… but I felt it was important to support the developer.
My Movies 6 Pro came out last December, after some delays. It came out during my hectic move to Jacksonville, so I hadn’t actually had much time to check out what’s new and if it was worth upgrading. When I saw their Easter sale, I finally got a chance to check out Version 6.
Words cannot describe how disappointed I am that this company has gone subscription-only. Don’t take my words for me, there are numerous unhappy users, who felt betrayed in this change. Here is a public review from “Chucking Charlie”, expressing how we feel:
Exactly everyone’s point! Out of your own mouth! THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE! So why change the wording? The model? The Plan? Why not just keep the same model you have?! It’s obviously worked for 15 years? It’s obviously confused enough long time customers! YOU changed the model and the wording, and then are yelling at people “there is no difference”. Then if there’s no difference, why change it? Your own logic falls in on itself and it sounds foolish, Svend.
I’ve paid for My Movies Pro upgrades for every version through 5. I’ve never expected free updates forever, and I don’t mind paying for quality software to be clear:
No one is asking for “external service.”
No one is saying “we want everything free forever.”
What long-time users are saying is simple:
We were happy paying a clear, one-time Pro upgrades price per version. With My Movies 6, that was replaced by a time-limited license, even when labeled a “one-time purchase,” and then repeatedly defended as if it’s the same thing.
After the 24-month period ends, the app becomes read-only unless you pay again. You can still view your collection locally, but online features stop – including database lookups, syncing, updates, and other server-based functionality. Functionally, that’s a subscription, whether it auto-renews or not.
As for the responses in reviews: if the dismissive tone is due to Danish-to-English translation or cultural directness, that might explain it – but it doesn’t excuse it. Telling frustrated long-time paying users that they’re asking for “external service” isn’t clarification; it’s deflection.
The app itself is good.
The licensing model is confusing.
The communication is unnecessarily rude.
Do better, Svend… and fire your marketing strategist. They have failed you.
The response from the developer, Binnerup Consult, still maintains that “the model has not changed”, when clearly it has. Let me reiterate what Charlie said – if you failed to pay every two years, the app becomes absolutely USELESS. You cannot add movies, you cannot edit the purchase date, you cannot remove movies from your collection, you cannot do anything if you don’t pay for another two years. Right now, every two years will cost $39.99, but you know they will raise that price. Where else are you going to go? They are holding your library hostage.
It really is confusing that they maintain this is not a subscription, but rather “a 24-month, non-renewable purchase option”. It is obvious to me that the developer was not happy or was losing money with the current “pay per upgrade” model. The problem is that older version of their app was just so good that users didn’t upgrade. Instead of creating compelling new features that would make users want to upgrade, they rather people just pay a month subscription (even if there are no updates). It’s just plain laziness and greediness.
So, unfortunately, as of My Movies 6, I will no longer be supporting this company. I can no longer recommend them.
If you previously purchased an older version and made the mistake of upgrading to Version 6, as the developer said, you can delete the latest version and go into your app purchase history and re-download an older version. Or you can try sending them a support ticket.
