I have to pay to update to 1.3.1!?!?!?!

[Adam Markon]

I've been a loyal Growl user for about two years now, since I've had Mac OS X 10.5 on my MacBook. I updated to OS X Lion the day it came out and today I received a message that I should update to 1.3.1. However, my only option is to download it from the app store. Why must I pay for a service that I have been using for years and when I downloaded the service, I was explicitly told that it would permanently remain free? Please explain this, because I don't understand this at all. 

[Christian Franz]

Adam, 

have you listened (read) to what you are saying?

Why must I pay for a service that I have been using for years [...]?

Really? Is that a difficult question? You are using it, you like it, and it has value for you, right? If you don't think it's worth the new price, then don't use it. The fact that Growl technically is still free (you can download the source and compile it yourself) is immaterial here. You complain with self-righteous indignation that something valuable you used for free isn't free any more - instead of saying 'hey guys, thanks for letting me freely use your tool in the past'. What's next? Sue the dev team to pay for support?

Just goes to show that no good deed ever goes unpunished. They gave you a great service in the past for *free*. Is complaining your way of showing appreciation? Please explain this, because I don't understand this at all.

-ch

(Note: I am NOT a member of the Growl dev team, just a happy Growl user and independent developer)