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Comment by ralfcheung | Hacker News Reader

No need to wait for another two years, I already made an exact app you're talking about. it's not only a dash cam, but it's integrated with turn by turn navigation as well.

maybe I can claim it to be revolutionary :)

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dashmap/id1638360259

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Cool app.. but why subscription? this should be a one time payment.

Why not a subscription given with each iOS version comes new APIs and deprecations requiring time and effort to fix?

Hmmm.. Id say thats a cost of doing business on the app store? App stores should be doing a better job of making sure everything doesn’t require rework ever so often, but I don’t see why end customers have to pick up that tab. On a continued basis like in a subscription.

It is unfortunately because of API cost from Mapbox. In Google's use case, they can obviously do it for free (for being Google and not integrated with navigation within the app). The 1 week tier is aimed for rental car users, for normal users, I'd recommend 1 month.

Subscriptions for apps are like paying the service fee to a skilled mechanic for your car's maintenance and upgrades. The developer acts as the mechanic, using the subscription revenue to continually improve the app's performance, security, and features. Just as the mechanic ensures your car runs smoothly and can add better features (tinted windows, reverse camera etc), the developer can deliver regular updates, replace outdated components, and introduce innovative features. Subscriptions support ongoing app maintenance and enhancement, providing users with a reliable and up-to-date experience, similar to how a mechanic's services keep your car in optimal condition.

That's a lot of fluff for meaning to say that subscriptions earn more than one-time purchase fees.

How often do you pay your mechanic

Once per maintenance change, not once per car you buy

By that logic you should pay the app only when the version changes, not every month

Great idea but there isn’t an easy way to manage that

the biggest cost for me is the navigation, mapbox charges quite a lot...on a per trip basis, but you guys can use the promo code HACKERNEWS for 1 month free trial

Thats a good point.. I hadn’t considered the continued use of paid navigation apis for this app

I love apps like this. There’s a world full of high quality software out there that is just waiting to be discovered.

Thanks for sharing.

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