Kifu-Snap: automatic go-board image recognition for Android

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Re: Kifu-Snap: automatic go-board image recognition for Andr

Post by Rémi »

fireproof wrote:Do you expect to release another beta any time soon - I have an android using friend interested in trying your app!


Thanks for your interest.

We are in the final steps of submitting the app to Google Play. The app was improved a lot:
  • Image recognition is more accurate.
  • Crazy Stone is incorporated into the app to determine dead stones and analyze unfinished games (win rate, score histogram, suggested move).
  • Many small features and interface improvements, such as a zoom, and board rotation.

I'll send a message here when it is released.

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Re: Kifu-Snap: automatic go-board image recognition for Andr

Post by Rémi »

fireproof wrote:Do you expect to release another beta any time soon - I have an android using friend interested in trying your app!


It is now on Google Play:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/deta ... d.kifusnap

Image Image Image

Google Play wrote:'Kifu Snap' enables you to score and analyze positions of a Go board simply by taking a photo with your device.

--Free trial period (10 days)--
We have provided a free trial period of 10days. Why don't you try it and test the unique features of the app!

This app enables you to store the data of a Go board just by taking a photo with your device.
You can save it in SGF files and send it to your other PCs etc. via email.
Also there are more unique features since we have integrated the thinking engine 'Crazy Stone into this app.

'Crazy Stone' can judge life and death of the stones at the end of the game, and calculate the score.
And more, 'Crazy Stone' will analyze the situation of a game you want, shows you the 'winrate' for both players
of the situation and the hint of your next move.

This app will help your Go games in every way, useful for not only beginners but also for advanced players !

--Features--
*Saves the Go board situation in SGF files
*Send SGF files via email
*Score calculation
*Analysis of the situation by Crazy Stone
*Hint of your next move
*Japanese/Chinese rule is selectable
*Board size is selectable


--Details on Subscription--
We have provided a 10 days free trial period.
You will not be charged immediately after you have subscribed.
If you do not cancel the subscription before the end of the 10 days free trial period,
you will be automatically charged the monthly fee ($1.99 per month).


--Notes--
Please confirm that the app works normally on your device during the free trial period.
The Subscription will be renewed automatically unless cancelled more than 24 hours
before the end of its current period.
To turn-off the auto renewal of subscription, please touch the 'Cancel Auto-renewal'
button below and change your Google Play Account settings.
You will not be able to cancel the current subscription during its active period.
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Re: Kifu-Snap: automatic go-board image recognition for Andr

Post by Phelan »

While I like that the app is there, that auto-renewal subscription revenue model is kinda shady. :scratch:
What made you go with a subscription model at all?

And why not have people have to choose to renew the subscription instead of being charged automatically?
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Re: Kifu-Snap: automatic go-board image recognition for Andr

Post by Rémi »

Phelan wrote:While I like that the app is there, that auto-renewal subscription revenue model is kinda shady. :scratch:
What made you go with a subscription model at all?

And why not have people have to choose to renew the subscription instead of being charged automatically?


I am sorry you don't like the subscription system. The subscription is the choice of Unbalance. Maybe they'll change their billing scheme in the future if this one is not successful.

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Re: Kifu-Snap: automatic go-board image recognition for Andr

Post by fireproof »

Rémi wrote:I am sorry you don't like the subscription system. The subscription is the choice of Unbalance. Maybe they'll change their billing scheme in the future if this one is not successful.

Rémi


Well, you can pass along this user's disinterest in trying the app with this subscription model in place, particularly the auto-renewal set up.
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Re: Kifu-Snap: automatic go-board image recognition for Andr

Post by quantumf »

Rémi, any update on the success of this app? It only has "100+" downloads, one +1, and one 1* review. So superficially it seems people are pretty unimpressed with your and the publisher's pricing model. At least, that is what I am blaming, as the feature set of the application is great, and as someone who tried the beta version, I know it will work well. Have the few downloaders been cancelling their subscription? Is it too soon to consider an alternative payment method?

The thing I find the most puzzling about this is that the subscription price is not available in the description anywhere. Presumably this is because you want people to download the app and be impressed by it before being put off by what may seem a rather high price initially. But I dislike this kind of tactic. Better would be to offer what you said initially - a permanently free version, that is restricted in some way (e.g the delay on scoring).
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Re: Kifu-Snap: automatic go-board image recognition for Andr

Post by Rémi »

quantumf wrote:Rémi, any update on the success of this app? It only has "100+" downloads, one +1, and one 1* review. So superficially it seems people are pretty unimpressed with your and the publisher's pricing model. At least, that is what I am blaming, as the feature set of the application is great, and as someone who tried the beta version, I know it will work well. Have the few downloaders been cancelling their subscription? Is it too soon to consider an alternative payment method?

The thing I find the most puzzling about this is that the subscription price is not available in the description anywhere. Presumably this is because you want people to download the app and be impressed by it before being put off by what may seem a rather high price initially. But I dislike this kind of tactic. Better would be to offer what you said initially - a permanently free version, that is restricted in some way (e.g the delay on scoring).

Thanks for your feedback. I forwarded the messages of this thread to Unbalance. They are planning to change the way they sell the app. I will post a message here when it is done.
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Re: Kifu-Snap: automatic go-board image recognition for Andr

Post by Milkman »

That's great news. I saw it but then got a bit suspicious about a subscription. I can understand it being annoying to feel pressure to sell a cheap app, but I'd much prefer to buy it one time than worry about subscriptions. Under $5, I wouldn't even think about it; under $10 I'd check it out first.
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Re: Kifu-Snap: automatic go-board image recognition for Andr

Post by Fantasio »

Hi Remi.
I'm afraid you need to get rid of Unbalance. Kifu Snap (I'm interested, but if I can't get it to work, why download it?) keeps asking for confirmation of Google account. There's no way to get on. Also, in the preferences there's an option about "cancelling renewal", but it just lets me unistall the program.
Dreadful experience. :-(

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Re: Kifu-Snap: automatic go-board image recognition for Andr

Post by wanyiwan »

I have the same problem, that I don't have a google account, so I can't use Kifu Snap, though it's free of charge.

Fantasio wrote:Hi Remi.
I'm afraid you need to get rid of Unbalance. Kifu Snap (I'm interested, but if I can't get it to work, why download it?) keeps asking for confirmation of Google account. There's no way to get on. Also, in the preferences there's an option about "cancelling renewal", but it just lets me unistall the program.
Dreadful experience. :-(

Andy
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Re: Kifu-Snap: automatic go-board image recognition for Andr

Post by alejo »

wanyiwan wrote:I have the same problem, that I don't have a google account, so I can't use Kifu Snap, though it's free of charge.



Except that it is not free of charge, they are still using the subscription system...
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