Updated Android app (v. 2.2) to be paid?!

[carlo0501]

Hello

I discovered more or less by chance that a new version of the Prime Pro app is available in Google Play Store (https://play.google.com/store/apps/detai....prime.pro)
However, it's not available as an update for existing users.
It seems that you need to purchase it anew.
That's rather disappointing, of course.
Is someone from Moravia reading this and available to comment?

UPDATE
I had been contacted by a Moravia's rep, who ensuered that the two Android apps were absolutely identical and both were going to receive future updates.
Shortly after that, in the Play Store only one instance of the app was shown, which matched the one installed on my phone.
However, since a few days (approx Oct. 20, 2024) HP Prime Pro app has completely disappeared from Google Play Store.

[CheshireChris]

The iOS app is still at 2.1. Hopefully it'll be updated shortly. Pretty poor show if you have to buy it again to get the update, I agree. It's not cheap!

[Dougggg]

From the pictures on the Android Version it looks like the lite version, not many apps or python

[StephenG1CMZ]

It is surprising that the screenshots of all these versions look the same in the Play store (the same number of apps, not filling the screen):
https://play.google.com/store/apps/detai...free&pli=1
The old Android HP Prime Lite
https://play.google.com/store/apps/detai...calculator
The old Android HP Prime Pro
https://play.google.com/store/apps/detai....prime.pro
The new Android HP Prime Pro.

The description of the new version claims it is "designed with the same ... Features ... As the ... Calculator", and the title says "Pro", so on that basis if it doesn't have both PPL and Python, then it would be incorrectly described.

But the old Pro version has the same claim, despite never having the Python update.

But since this is a new version and the real calculator has had Python (beta) for several years now, it would be misleading to claim that and not provide Python.

Version 2.2 is 16 MB, whereas Version 2.1 was 49 MB!!!

Perhaps Moravia will make an announcement soon.

[StephenG1CMZ]

That's unusual:
Google Play said order placed - and then you have to go into Google Play a second time to actually ask for the install.
Last time I purchased something from Google Play, that was a single step.

[StephenG1CMZ]

My very first impressions:
Yes it has a Python app!!! (micro python 3.4)
Yes it has CAS
I assume PPL is there too

The process for creating a Python program is not intuitive, indications are that it can be done, but some documentation would help. On-device Help refers you to python org.
(Save and Load seem to be for saving calculations, not programs?)

Time to play ...

[Dougggg]

I installed the new version, and every thing seems ok except it wont connect to the connectivity kit. Will they refund if not fixed i jumped the gun?

[Johnh]

(10-08-2024 01:50 AM)Dougggg Wrote:  I installed the new version, and every thing seems ok except it wont connect to the connectivity kit. Will they refund if not fixed i jumped the gun?

My (uninformed and cautious) approach to such paid apps is to check them out as best I can before the end of the automatic refund option on GooglePlay. If there is an issue that would be a show-stopper to stop me wanting it yet, I go for the refund. Easy enough to assess again later after any updates.

[Dougggg]

It seems like it thinks it is the lite version
There is an option hp prime pro in the calculator menu where as my old app has connect to. But does has python and the full app list

[nickapos]

Apparently this app is separate from the older ones and we need to pay again?

[StephenG1CMZ]

Yes, it seems so.
The advantage is that the older apps remain available if you have an old Android. I think they will run on older Androids than the new version.

[nickapos]

Yes I have the older apps, but this is a disservice to existing users. They make you to pay not for a new app but for an update of the existing one.
But it’s nothing new, we have seen this before from other companies. I think I am not going to get the new versions.

[goetz]

It does not seem to be about the Android version. The old app runs fine on the latest Android version (Android 14) and has also been showing up in the Play Store (at least for my Google Pixel series phone) for a year or more. I guess it is only not available for certain phones from other manufacturers.

I am not sure whether I like this "pay again for an updated version" policy Moravia decided to implement here. It would have made sense if the app had been overhauled and some quirks had been removed, and extended UI like zooming of the calculator display. However, it seems it is just like the old app, but with a more recent firmware. Maybe it will receive more updates in the future and is just the first attempt to get it published for later updates?

From a few minutes of testing the new app has shown unstable behaviour and force quits on like simple python commands and even for things that were working before, including syntax check for some programs I imported from the old version. That made me stay away for the moment, don't want to pay this amount of money for something that works worse for me than before. But maybe in the future it will be improved?

[StephenG1CMZ]

I have had several phones that did not even list the old versions and for a long time I could only run an old version on an old Android 8 handset.
My latest phone now lists all 3 versions (old pro, old lite, new pro).
But I know some users had no problems.
https://www.hpmuseum.org/forum/thread-20...t+and+miss
Given the difficulties with the Python App I am wondering why the new version was not released as a Beta.

[goetz]

(10-09-2024 07:16 AM)StephenG1CMZ Wrote:  I have had several phones that did not even list the old versions and for a long time I could only run an old version on an old Android 8 handset.

Yep, I remember these unfortunate issues we discussed in the past. It was also completely de-listed for me from the Play Store some time ago, but then came back a year or so ago, and still running on the new Google Tensor chipset while many other applications don't and are showing as incompatible. My point is only that it is not depending on the Android version, but device.

(10-09-2024 07:16 AM)StephenG1CMZ Wrote:  My latest phone now lists all 3 versions (old pro, old lite, new pro).

Fascinating! For me, currently the lite version is not showing in the Play Store at all. Only the two Pro versions are visible. No matter if I search for "HP Prime" or click on the Moravia manufacturer name to see all their apps. Google and Moravia are trying to make this a puzzle hunt for us?

And I agree about they should have published it as beta. The old Prime Pro has a "join beta program" button in the Play Store entry, but I have never seen a beta version show up there, only the production versions. Have not checked recently.

[StephenG1CMZ]

I just checked to see if I can still see the lite version, but now Google is only showing the installed new version.

[Radim Frydrych]

Hello all,

As you may have noticed, Moravia has taken over the app maintenance, and since the original signing key for releasing the apps was lost (this only affects Android apps, not iOS), the only solution for us was to re-upload the original apps.

Unfortunately, in the case of Prime App, an incorrect older build was released by mistake as part of preparing for a coming release. We have hidden the apps for now. I am sorry for any inconvenience caused to you who have already bought the new apps, but the good news is that there will be an update soon that will solve all the problems.

Since we are currently testing the new App, would any of you be willing to participate in this project and help us get the Prime App back in the store as soon as possible?

If you would like to participate in private Beta testing, please send me an email to radim.frydrych@moravia-consulting.com. You can also send me a DM here.

Regards
Radim Frydrych

[ctrclckws]

Thanks, Radim, for the update.
I was able to purchase the Android license from the Play Store while it was available.
I don't use it enough to really justify it, but I wanted to show support for the team taking over from HP.
Likewise, I re-purchased the 12C, 12C Platinum and 15C applications on Android.

I am pleased that someone has taken on the licensing and support of these products from HP, where they were certain to languish before.

I do hope you can continue to reap the benefits of your agreement and bring these applications and hardware to new users.

[StephenG1CMZ]

Thanks for the explanation, Radim.

[Insoft]

Is the iOS version of the HP Prime app nearing release, and will it offer full functionality similar to the physical HP Prime calculator, essentially serving as a complete emulator now that Apple permits emulators?

Having the ability to program in both Python and PPL would make it a powerful SDK for testing. Hopefully, the virtual keyboard will support copy and paste functionality as well.