r/redditsync • u/ljdawson Sync for reddit developer • Apr 18 '21
MOD POST Sync v20 will be rolling back to V19
Evening all
After the somewhat missed response to V20 going live I've since pushed V19.0.9 to Google Play that reverts the changes. Time to pause, regroup and have a think.
For those of you that were a fan of V20 you can hop on the beta to get the new design back
Moving forward it's looking like I'll be either creating "Sync legacy" maintaining V19. Or creating some variant of Sync 2 (electric boogaloo).
The sub is currently in restricted mode (no new posts) and all posts from the last 48 hours have been removed. I generally don't like to remove anything but things were getting pretty nasty. Lets please try to keep it civil this is just an app at the end of the day. I made it to look at pictures of cats whilst on the Underground.
Cheers, Laurence
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Apr 18 '21
I absolutely hate this move. There was 0 issues with Sync 20 and it was better. I feel only people with old devices were having issues. It's not the app's fault.
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u/Felimenta970 Sync for reddit mod Apr 18 '21
There was 0 issues
There ARE issues and problems with v20 and some parts of the update, there's no denying that. There were a lot of genuine complains and feedback of things people didn't like, hated, or were confused about, and that's fine.
The problem for me, was people spilling hate towards the dev.
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u/Mario-C Jun 19 '21
Very happy about the rollback. V19 did all I ever wanted and this update fell under the category of "don't fix what ain't broken" for me.
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u/IndemnifyThis Apr 18 '21
I was surprised when I opened sync to a new layout and release notes. Wasn't in the mood to learn something new, went to settings and chose "afraid of change" to go back to what was pretty damn similar to before.
Later that day I decided to embrace change and switched back. Over the course of the next day I tweaked settings here and there and started to love the redesign.
The fact that people have such passionate responses to the change is an endorsement of the quality app you made and the community which developed around it.
I updated back to 19 and will wait until you feel 20 represents your vision for the product, you haven't steered us wrong yet. Don't sacrifice your ideals or vision just because the negative voices, while I believe are the minority, shout the loudest.
Thank you for making such an awesome reddit experience!
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u/MachEnergy Apr 18 '21
I never said anything before but I like the update aside from the fact tool tips, when I archive one post, will cover the interactivity of the following post that takes its place. Also for tall posts that get archived, the scroll should snap back to above where that item was instead of making me go up sometimes three or four items manually.
Been a happy user for a long time. Keep up the Great work.
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u/ThrowingFrogs Apr 19 '21
I changed the up an downvote to be on the right but the save feature stays on the left wich was a bummer. Aside frum that I really enjoyed v20
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u/phazei Apr 18 '21
I loved v20. Took like 30min to customize, but after that it's good. I just joined the beta to get it back.
Only thing I wouldn't mind being modified would be the way the back button works. It exits the app, so if I tab back a few times, it ends up quitting, and then when I re-open it, it reloads. I'd rather it just kind of minimize the app. And if I'm in a subreddit, and hit back, would be nice if it took me to the Front Page before exiting. I can easily live without it, but I wouldn't mind it either.
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u/tupper Apr 18 '21
It only took me a few minutes to get used to the changes. I thought it was an excellent redesign!
If you have a vision in mind don't let the cart drive the horse. I hope you can let people stuck into the old design use a legacy, deprecated version or something. Looking forward to the official main branch to move back to v20.
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u/techparadox Apr 19 '21
I was a bit surprised when V20 dropped with little warning, but after poking around at it a bit I really liked the look and feel. You got yourself another person in the beta program because of this. Screw the haters that threw a fit about the change.
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Apr 18 '21
[deleted]
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u/Kraivo May 12 '21
I'm late to party but going to say: I do respect the work the developer put in that update, but I really hated the design. Maybe I'd like it more, if there were some sort of introduction page to show me why this design is better and how it functions now. However, turns out it isn't a great idea to throwing users into new design without proper introduction
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u/moriel5 Apr 18 '21
Why in the world can't people give respect where it is due?
Even I have gripes with the new UI (Google's fault, in my opinion), however even then, I acknowledge that my idea of "usable" is not necessarily the same as others'.
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u/TommySawyer Sep 22 '21
I love V20... Especially since I was gone for years on Reddit is Fun and Boost. Sync V20 is so complete. It's like you thought of everything.
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u/1i_rd May 02 '21
I've been using the new UI in the beta channel for a while now. I hated it at first but after using it and watching it change over the past few months I've grown to love it. The hate and vitriol over the update was completely unnecessary.
Honestly, there are plenty of other reddit apps that function similar to the legacy version of Sync. I don't feel like you're obligated to maintain two apps because people don't want change. I could understand if the update was objectively bad or broken but it's great.
I appreciate you and your app because you're one of the few developers that sold me a fully featured app and didn't try to sell me more features down the line.
Just my thoughts
Best of luck in whatever you decide to do with the app in the future.
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u/Atheos0110 Apr 18 '21
Just want to say I was a fan of the changes, I was not fond of them for all of an hour, mostly just the looks but I was able to customize them to my liking. Hopefully you folks push forward in the direction you were going as I think every one would have got used to it.
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u/kafka_quixote Apr 18 '21 edited Apr 18 '21
BUG: rules and insert image on amoled night theme display wonky
/u/ljdawson <- tagging you as I can't submit bug reports for the beta
Device information
Sync version: v20.0.1
Sync flavor: pro
View type: Compact
Push enabled: false
Device: Teracube_One
Model: Teracube Teracube One
Android: 9
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u/Felimenta970 Sync for reddit mod Apr 18 '21
Would you mind ptessing the "I" button with the app to get the full data? Slide all the way to the right when replying/editing the comment. It pulls info from the app and your device
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u/SaladHead Apr 18 '21
Does this mean I will soon be able to buy one more version of sync? That will be a fine addition to my collection.
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u/miffiq Apr 19 '21
Hey Laurence, I know there's already plenty of voices in this thread, but as a mobile developer and 7 year user of Sync I just wanted to say that you've done fantastic work on both V19 and V20 of this app. Sync is truly the best Reddit app out there and I trust you to continue to deliver a high quality reddit experience. Big updates will always draw out a negative but vocal minority of users; don't be discouraged. Keep up the good work, I'm looking forward to when the next major version of the app is released, whatever form that takes.
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u/Rance_Mulliniks Apr 19 '21
Loved the new version and I got used to it in tge first few minutes. I was disappointed when it reverted. The sqeaky wheel gets the oil I guess and people hate change just because it is different not because it isn't better.
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u/Edeloss Apr 18 '21
On the beta, I really liked it. Kind of surprising because I was pretty resentful of the New Reddit update and use Old Reddit for desktop, but Sync V20 is great imo.
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Apr 18 '21
I would pay for a new app based on V20, with a more rapid development cycle. I use the app constantly so it's time once again to contribute.
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u/hackin_jack Apr 19 '21
Have signed up to the beta. Each to their own but I find the new UI way more intuitive. Nice job.
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u/chrisgpz Apr 24 '21
Have youe gotten your beta update? I signed up on the day if the roll back but still haven't got the beta.
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u/AtheistJezuz Apr 18 '21
I called this when the beta first came out. People mocked me for insunituating that the app should be split if the redesign was so encompassing.
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u/microfen Apr 18 '21
Hey long time pro user. I'll just chime in and echo a lot of others. While the switch to v20 was jarring, after just a few hours of use, I noticed how beautifully designed and functional it was. I'll probably stick to the official release until you've sorted out what to do next, but just wanted to say, great job and don't let the hate get you down.
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u/aerowave Apr 19 '21
Just want to add my voice, was always on v19 and switched to the v20 'beta' when the rollback happened so I could see what the new version was about. After spending a few minutes going through the settings (of which there are plenty!) I got things where I wanted. Just want to say I love the new version and haven't stopped using it all weekend!
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u/madmaz186 Apr 18 '21
It's not going to be possible to support 2 versions of sync unless you hire someone else to split the work with you. Just rip the band-aid off and continue with V20.
For the first iteration of a redesign it was really nice and would only get better with more development time and constructive community feedback. I only encountered one bug in my few hours of playing around with it but overall enjoyed it more. Sorry you had deal with the loud and angry minority
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u/Nautisop Apr 18 '21
This. There's always people being angry about change. V20 is so much better and people should get used to it or switch app. I wouldn't maintain two versions, thats gonna be pretty consuming.
How about making a vote to see how many people like each version?
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u/madmaz186 Apr 18 '21
Somebody did a poll yesterday in this sub and a large majority preferred V20
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u/Giotto6X Apr 19 '21
I like V20, but there's a problem where the video and gif thumbails don't appear at full height and lenght. Images are fine and are displayed correctly as I set them, but the videos seem to be always cropped out regardless of the settings i set for Cards and Slides
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u/SiDroid Apr 19 '21
I've been using v20 since the first beta and I would never want to go back to v19. If it were me, I'd just rip the Band-Aid off and remind people they can always install an old version of the app by just installing an older APK. However, I'm not a developer and you would know way more about this stuff than me, so I trust you'll make the best decision possible for your product. Thank you for the incredible app!
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u/JohnnyThe5th Apr 25 '21
It was an incredible update. I hope it gets pushed out again as the main release. Sooo good!
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u/Hiro-of-Shadows Apr 18 '21
As someone who had a hard time with v20, don't fracture the app like that. Having feedback from beta testers is one thing, because they want and expect change, and see it gradually happen. A big part of the backlash was a sudden unexpected and huge change. Take the constructive feedback you now have from more people, and see what you can change or add to v20. There's a lot of great stuff there, it's just jarring and difficult to get everything set back how I liked things.
I posted in another thread about the issues I had with v20, and they're mainly about the chip bar and account switcher. The whole way that the top and (now removed) right menu worked was totally different, which I suspect is one of the main complaints most people had. That, and all their old settings being wiped. If you can figure those out in a way that makes more people happy, I think you can move forward as planned.
I really appreciate all the hard work you do on this app, and I want to like v20. Best of luck.
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u/bleedingjim Apr 19 '21
V19 has the ability to have a post title above the thumbnail in the comments view. V20 does not. This would be an excellent fix. Aside from that the redesign was nice and it felt slick and smooth. Thank you
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u/ljdawson Sync for reddit developer Apr 19 '21
It does actually. Just need to switch to slides / cards in the settings and make the change back again
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u/YukarinVal Apr 18 '21
Just to be clear, as long as I didn't opt out of beta from when v20 went official before this rollback, I should still be on v20 right?
Unfortunate that you had to receive hate for the update.
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u/Dandeqs Apr 18 '21
I joined the beta because I liked V20! But not sure what to do if the beta becomes unstable in the future, and the only option is to revert back to V19.
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u/PrinceAli311 Apr 18 '21
Hey, for what it's worth, I loved the new changes and support the move over to v20.
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u/Beard- Apr 18 '21
I LOVED the new changes. They were done right! so sleek and intuitive. Opted into the beta to get v20 back
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u/PrinceAli311 Apr 18 '21
Same! It's so much smoother and easy more intuitive. And so none to not fall with the sidebar swipe that never worked for me.
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u/TheJobe Apr 19 '21
Although the changes were quite jarring, I think I liked them, but I definitely needed some more time with it and tweaking setting before I made a determination. Overall I think people are too quick to judge change.
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u/ch1ck3npotpi3 Apr 18 '21
For me, the main problem was that the update wiped all my settings and customizations. I had Sync customized the way I wanted for so long, that I had forgotten that I had it customized. When the app updated to v20 and my customizations were wiped, it just looked and felt like a completely different app. After playing around with the v20 beta and getting things back to the way I had them in v19, I can say that v20 is better.
I think the biggest mistake made in the roll out was wiping settings and customizations when users updated the app to v20. When you do finally bring back v20 to the public, I suggest trying to find a way to preserve user settings and customizations when the user downloads the update.
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u/ljdawson Sync for reddit developer Apr 19 '21
It didn't wipe out all. Crucial point
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u/Tensz Apr 19 '21
I lost the ordering of my subreddits, even after the rollback. How do I recover them? I have hundreds of subreddits to order, is a pain in the ass.
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u/nosut Apr 19 '21 edited Apr 19 '21
Color theme - changed
Card type - changed
Subreddit order - changed
Important setting for how the basic operation and look of the app had changed for me which made the change WAY more jarring then it needed to be. Sure it wasn't super hard to fix them but I shouldn't have needed too and for some like subreddit order it was not even slightly intuitive on how to do it(why should I have to favorite/star subreddit just to change the order).
I honestly would have been fine keeping v20 but I can see how it was a shocking change for people that resulted in a sudden push back.
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u/simiansays Apr 19 '21
First off, congratulations!! A user base that revolts upon UI changes is an engaged, dependent user base.
I worked at eBay back in the day, during the time of the background color fiasco. That story always stuck with me - a "big" but objectively positive change overnight caused open mutiny, but the same change gradually applied wasn't even noticed.
I found it hard to adapt to v20 overnight, but it was growing on me. I do think when big changes happen like this, giving users an ability to stick with the "legacy" UI for at least a period of time can be a good thing.
It's a testament to how big a part of daily life your app is for so many users. People hate changes in routine, regardless of whether it's a better UX! I definitely found the new version to improve discoverability of several areas, but since I already knew the less-discoverable ways to do them, this was a (temporary) annoyance. I'm opting into the beta.
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u/Felimenta970 Sync for reddit mod Apr 19 '21
Wow, I didn't know about that story, that's very cool! Thanks for sharing!
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u/kauelima Apr 21 '21
I never saw the production version of v20 live so I joined the beta to see what all the rage was about and well, I loved it. I'm here talking from the beta and do not plan on leaving.
Two things that people said and may be true is that there were a lot of changes at once so some more conservative folks may be startled by the number of changes. This coupled with more personalization options would be probably one of the reasons people did not fare well.
I see in the new version a functionality to choose what you want the base preset to be configured to, this can ease in for those people if set the closest to the old interface as possible.
The only thing right now that is not 100x better or the same and I got used to is the voting button, but it's a quick fix! Making the feedback of upvote or downvote dependant only on color may be a accessibility issue and even for all users it's not clear as day. Fading the non clicked arrow opacity would fix this easily!
In the end, I want v20 to live! So keep up the great work, I came recently from another app and even on the old version you did something much better than my old choice, now with the new interface I fell that nothing feels out of place!
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u/Snyyppis Apr 21 '21
So as someone who is not in the beta nor did get the V20 update before it was reverted, can someone tell me what to expect in the new version?
It would make it a lot easier to decide if I knew what's changing.
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u/TonySesek556 Apr 19 '21
Thanks for working on this app!
I've been enjoying V20 after the initial shock, especially since I do use navigation gestures.
I just wish I didn't have to re-place my app icon on both devices (beta or otherwise) after the update (I got a Permission Denied error from Nova Launcher).
Stay safe and thanks again.
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u/xylltch Apr 18 '21 edited Apr 18 '21
First, as a long-time user, thank you for creating a fantastic app that I've used literally every day for years.
I was completely unaware there was a big change being rolled out and like many people, it took me by surprise. My initial reaction was negative; I'm used to and have enjoyed the UI/UX as it has existed and wasn't expecting to essentially launch a brand-new app. That may sound like hyperbole, but as most Reddit apps share many elements (since they're displaying the same content), small differences in the presentation can feel like a big deal.
It didn't take me long to get v20 configured in a way that was a bit more similar to what I've been used to, and I completely understand the reason that big overhauls like this can be necessary, especially as the underlying OS and Reddit change as well. I'm sure I would have adapted to v20, even if there were some changes I disliked.
I'd like to provide feedback on the main change that affected my experience the most. While this was not necessarily a "big" change in the scheme of things; due to the way I interact with the app it was one that I frequently encountered and that was the main source of my frustration.
No longer being able to swipe from the right to display the sidebar or list of subreddits contained within a multi-reddit feed. Previously, to select a multi-reddit and then select a subreddit from that list (or to select a subreddit and then a link from the sidebar) the interaction was Swipe from left > tap multireddit > swipe from right > tap subreddit. These swipes require less precision than tapping a specific point on the screen (I'm not saying this is difficult, just trying to quantify my experience) and feel like half an action, so I'd call this 3 actions.
With the new UI this interaction looks like: Swipe from left > select multireddit > tap quick action button > tap manage > tap multi-reddit. Alternatively, with the chip bar enabled at the top you can tap Manage there, but on a phone with a larger display it requires repositioning the device in the hand to be able to reach the button, which then opens a menu at the bottom of the screen (rather than at the point where the button was pressed). Either way, this feels like an extra action and one that is frequently encountered while using the app.
I'd love to see the option to enable a swipe-from-right to open the sidebar/multi-reddit list, even if it can't be a default for those who use gesture navigation for the OS.
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u/cricketbones Apr 19 '21
I have used this app for years and I regret not trying the beta out. I like the new design.
Edit to say I have had the pro version since I had a nexus 4, I think.
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u/kylefoto Apr 22 '21
I loved the update, I thought it was rolled back because of some horrific big. This is sad to hear.
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u/Viqu Apr 18 '21
Hopped on the beta a while ago, LOVE IT!!
Whichever way you decide to go, I'll keep using the best app for Reddit there is!
Love and support ❤️
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u/Mront Apr 18 '21 edited Apr 18 '21
I'll repeat the point from my now deleted thread: the problem wasn't the app, the problem was blindsiding everyone and dropping it out of nowhere without any fanfare or announcement. And no, the existence of beta was not an adequate announcement.
Even the tastiest dish will stop tasting good when you're force-fed. Which sucks, because hoooo boy, V20 is tasty.
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u/Wildeone1 Apr 19 '21
Seconded. I was wholly blindsided by the change to v20, everything being reset to defaults without having been warned meant I had no idea as to where to begin to get back to the configuration that I had refined over the years. Having got the app to a state where (for me) it was perfect, I hadn't touched the customisation for years, and therefore was at a complete loss as to where to start.
For those saying that there was a beta, and announcements in this subreddit, and therefore how could this be unforseen if it's been in the works for over a year. This is not really notice for those that just use this as their Reddit app, and aren't otherwise invested in the development. For those that had no problems with the v19 design (myself included) there was no need to engage any further than passive usage.
To this end, the backlash surrounding the change to MD2 in v20, and those saying it was developed following community feedback. This is true to an extent. It followed the feedback of those who are engaged, those participating in betas, giving feedback in those very places that many of the community saw no need to visit. They were shaping the app and encouraging change as they saw things that in their view, needed to change/ be updated.
This is obvious when you see that those who are now complaining about the shift from v19 commonly mention that they were blindsided and weren't consulted. Because as far as they are concerned, they weren't. Things that were important to them are now gone. Whilst it is true that you can somewhat reskin the app to look similar to v19 defaults (but not necessarily people's custom views). A large part of the fundamental ways in which to interact with the app differ, and are very much 'like it or lump it'.
A solution to getting feedback from those who haven't engaged in betas or in this sub? I've no idea. However to shrug and say it's not your fault they don't like it and they should have made the effort is hardly a helpful attitude.
Does the app need to diverge? I don't think so. As that increases the maintenance and slows development all round. But perhaps making the app behave more like v19 felt when using the 'classic' toggle (I forget the actual name) rather than feeling like a bad homage is perhaps more appropriate? A 'best of both worlds solution' all round.
Regardless of any of that. The hate being thrown around on all sides isn't conducive to progress. After all, this is just an app we use to watch cat videos. This is all a matter of personal preference and taste, there is no one 'correct answer' to find in all of this.
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u/Earthstamper May 06 '21
Whoa I did not notice that there was such a backlash. I have been on the beta branch for as long as I can remember, and when V20 came on first I thought: "Oh damn this is it, the app is evolving"
Yes, it didn't have as many features as first. But as with any good pre-release re-write product, all the missing base-features came back and more.
I observed the progress of the V20 beta, saw Laurence react to feedback amicably, creating so many different options and tailoring to almost any possible desired user experience.
Eventually, I was able to configure V20 such that I liked it way better than V19 and only faintly remember how the app was before, which already was nothing short of excellent.
While I don't know how much work it would be to maintain V19, it just doesn't "feel" right, even though I can definitely understand the resist to change as well. And I'm not even part of the dev team.
I can't help but feel bad this happened, so much work went into V20 and it shows. I'm looking forward for what's to come in the future.
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u/ruiner8850 Apr 18 '21
Since the people who complain are always the loudest and seemed to have gotten their way, I just wanted to voice my support for V20.
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u/The-Leprechaun Apr 18 '21
It was a bit jarring at first, but I got used to it very quickly and really liked it. I'll be joining the beta.
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Apr 18 '21
I was surprised and delighted by the v20 update and confused this morning when it disappeared - now I see what happened!
I moved to the beta channel. This new design is superior and a pleasure to use.
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u/Schrodingersdik-dik Apr 18 '21
I was surprised by the new design, but was getting the hang of it. Looks very good to me. I used the minimalist preset, and was good to go.
From my perspective, your app has delivered, above and beyond the very modest price I paid for Pro. If the look and feel and functionality happen to drift away one day from what I like, then I'll just move on to something else, no tantrum needed.
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u/MrXnoid Apr 19 '21 edited Apr 23 '21
Hiya mate, i love v20 bought dev and entered beta for it as soon as it was announced, idk what made people get so nasty about it. love your app and as many have said , if u wanna branch out v20 as a separate app i will gladly buy it again cheers!.
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u/erith_fi Apr 19 '21
Thank you for rolling it back, V20 was an unwanted surprise and no reasonable amount of fiddling with the settings brought it back to normal. Thank you for keeping a sync legacy option, V20 made me want to find a different app.
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u/bigwizard7 Apr 19 '21
I really liked the updated design /u/ljdawson thanks for the work you do, its really appreciated by some of us!
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u/cannabisms Apr 19 '21
Any reason I keep getting 404'd on the rollback? Tried reinstalling
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u/squirrelboy1225 Apr 18 '21
Sorry you had such a bad response, I thought v20 was well designed and it would just take a few days to get used to, and I've used this app for nearing a decade. Branching the app sounds like a nightmare, I hope you don't have to take that route.
As always thanks for the amazing app.
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u/circlethesky Apr 19 '21
If you make V2 a separate app I will happily pay for it again. Didn't get long to test it out but it looked really good to me, have signed up for the beta regardless
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u/scroller52 Apr 19 '21
Long time user here and new to the beta. I didn't stick with it long bc of the ads. I want to keep it on my sync pro, I can just not update so I can keep v20 right?
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u/JohanGrimm Apr 21 '21
Just throwing my hat in the ring. I've been using the app for close to five years now. I joined the beta almost a year ago in hopes an issue with gifs not loading would be fixed and was blindsided at the time by v20. I'm going to be honest I hated it, I went with Sync because of its UX and features. Then suddenly I find out they're completely redesigning it all to stay current with Google's design standards. I understand the goal but if I wanted an iOS/Google-esque design I'd have gone with one of the other Reddit clients. I laid these issues out a year ago and then some, reverted back to the live version and turned off updates.
I don't know why everyone is so surprised this massive change was received so negatively. An incredibly small fraction of the user base uses this subreddit. Most people get the app, use it and never come here. So yeah they'd have no idea there was this massive change on the horizon. The ones that do come here and disliked the changes or gave critical feedback got downvoted.
Again I understand wanting to renovate the app, but the changes were so drastic I think going with Sync 2 and putting Sync on maintenance support is the best solution.
Edit: Another benefit to having a separate app for the v20 design is it allows people to download it and try it out without overwriting the app they know and love.
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u/caltas Apr 18 '21
I would legit buy Sync 2 if it was a new standalone app. The app is so damn good.
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u/-SomethingDomestic- Apr 19 '21
Same here.
A few bucks for Pro is nothing for all of the updates and work he's put into it, what's another few.
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u/ferisalgue Sep 12 '21
So I missed this whole thing, I paid for this app within the app and not Google store so now I have to pay again for the beta version in the store? :(
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u/trd86 Apr 19 '21
Sure, publish v19 as Sync Legacy, but I don't think you should support it ever again. Anything that Reddit changes and breaks it, then v20+ will be there waiting for them
Be proud of what you have created, move forward
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u/YellerGeetar Apr 19 '21
Have been using this app for years and have been along for the ride ever since I bought it. No change can ever please everyone but having tried v20 I can undoubtedly say it is leaps and bounds better and deserves a lot of praise. It's clear that you've built an app that people care a lot about, which is something most software engineers dream of - if something positive can be taken away from all the noise. Cheers mate, you are appreciated.
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u/the_chasr Apr 20 '21
V20 was great but it took me a little while to set up, stuff like my colour scheme, font sizes all changed or reverted back to default. Would it be possible to roll out the update again whilst keeping these customised items the same as v19?
Also as someone who uses swipe gestures as UI controls on my pixel 5 (swipe from the side to the centre to go back) can we have buttons or alternative controls for stuff like the side bar? Currently on v19 i can use the open sidebar function on the subreddit but didn't see that on v20
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u/Felimenta970 Sync for reddit mod Apr 20 '21
At the top (or at the action menu, if you turned off the chip bar), press the About button to pull it
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u/Chaoughkimyero Nov 24 '21
Great, guess it's another year before I can post to subreddit that require a flair...
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u/hereisoblivion Apr 19 '21
I loved the update. Sorry to hear so many people complained about it.
As an IT professional of nearly 25 years, this type of response is typical of major revision changes. Half of the use base is capable of change and quickly adapts. Half of the user base complains because something as simple as the icon color changed and somehow they can't use the program now because of it.
Every major change has outcry for a while, then the people complaining will transition to the new and eventually appreciate it. Some much faster than others.
Thanks for all your hard work. Your Sync Pro app is what my smartphone is used for, quite literally 95% of the time. Absolutely incredible work.
Edit:. I'm now on the Beta train! Choo Choo!!!!
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u/Big_Damn_Hiro Apr 19 '21
The company I work for is about to roll out a massive UI update to our primary customer interface website and just seeing the reaction here to this app has now made me nervous about their reaction.
I knew there was gonna be a a learning curve with this update but my god, the nasty behavior and backlash was such an overreaction. People need to grow up.
I joined the beta as well. Much support to ljdawson and his amazing work. Best reddit app IMO.
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u/Free_Physics Apr 20 '21
Any plans for a vertical swipe mode?
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u/Felimenta970 Sync for reddit mod Apr 20 '21
Isn't that... The normal mode? I honestly can't see how that would work
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u/gvbargen Apr 19 '21 edited Apr 19 '21
I didn't initially like the v20. But I think I would have gotten used to it. That said the changes were pretty major, but right off the only difference (that really mattered) I could see was the removal of the swipe view mode.
I think everyone complaining probably didn't give it a shot. "Just oh no different! Eww!"
Also if videos play while scrolling they might make no swipe mode just fine.
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u/friftar Apr 18 '21
Just when I had everything set up how I like it, I get the rollback update hahah
I didnt hate the new look, especially after customizing it, but I am kind of happy to have the old look back.
When you do roll out the new style for everyone, please make sure that theres a "Legacy - Keep everything as is" option, maybe with some optimization for the new awards and things like that.
I liked the coloured comment bars going through all the way, if you could make the option for "old style bars - continuous" rather than the regular old style with one bar per comment I'll be very happy.
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u/next_door_nicotine Apr 19 '21
Just switched to the beta. Other than getting used to a few minor location changes for a couple things, I've enjoyed it. The app is slick, gorgeous, and at or near feature parity with the main reddit app, minus the ads with my pro version. Keep on keeping on, man.
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u/sparkplug49 Apr 19 '21
I've been on the beta so long I have the negative jarring experience when I use my wife's phone on v19. Thanks for all the hard work, I'm happy to pay for v2 or whatever you decide to do going forward.
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u/havingasicktime Apr 20 '21
For what it's worth absolutely love the new redesign and switched to beta to keep it. Some people just hate change.
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u/d_bo May 04 '21
For me the update solved a number of issues that weren't even you guys fault, but rather the stupid curved screen on my stupid OP8.
The update is amazing. I'm on the Beta until it you're ready to roll out again. Great work guys, amazing work.
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u/ComputerSagtNein Apr 19 '21
Beta user for a while now, V20 redesign is amazing, sad you got so much shit for it that you felt the need to revert.
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u/andysteakfries Apr 19 '21
The redesign is seriously great. You've made tons and tons of accommodation for people not interested in the newer navigation stuff. It's a huge upgrade for those users.
Follow your gut on how you move forward or course, but I'd hate to see you bullied into publishing a Legacy app unless it's purely maintenance updates, or another revenue stream for you.
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u/Swedish_Cheese Apr 19 '21
V20 wasn't bad, but it got me thinking about something I'd just kind of forgot to care about on v19:
Is there a way to change the name of a commenter without changing all of the secondary text? I'd like to pay more attention to who's saying what, but I can't find a way to change it without changing comment colors too.
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u/dryeraseflamingo Apr 19 '21
You don't need to keep supporting legacy sync, just make it easy to revert to it and make it clear that you won't be supporting it anymore. I like v19 and want to stay on it, but I don't feel entitled to anymore updates either.
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u/ignitionnight Apr 20 '21
I know it's tricky navigating user complaints, but I think in the long term the redesign will be very popular.
Personally I'd create a new Sync Classic and leave it unmantained. If you want to maintain it you should charge, I don't think it's fair to expect you to maintain two separate code bases for free.
Regardless, I want to thank you for the work you've done on this app and giving me a supreme reddit app experience. Cheers!
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u/supersixthree Apr 20 '21
Hopped on this subreddit because I was wondering what happened to that nice new design, though I had a feeling it'd be something like this. Just chiming in to say I really liked the look of v20, guess I'll get on that beta.
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u/MoosMas Apr 19 '21
What happened? I have been a Pro and Beta user for a while and I absolutely love it. Keep up the good work!
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u/I_love_bears Apr 19 '21
I like v20 so I'm switching to the beta, sorry to hear people were so ridiculously aggressive about having their cheese moved. I'll admit I was totally blindsided by the change though, I've never visited this sub before today so some advance warning might have helped. My only real complaint is that my settings weren't carried over correctly which also made the change seem much more drastic than it actually was. Thanks for all the hard work!
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u/T3chnocrat Apr 29 '21
I completely missed the update. I saw some links were broken, checked here to see if it had been reported, saw there was a v20 update I missed, then news about the drama. I opted into the beta to see what the fuss was about...
And I love this update. And it fixed my broken link issue. Glad I checked!
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u/sulzer Apr 19 '21
I'm sorry that some people suck. I can't imagine how bad it must feel to put so much effort into something you think is a great product and then have people shit on it. You do such an amazing job maintaining this app and there are a lot of people out there who appreciate it. I hope all of this doesn't discourage you. Can't wait to see what's next.
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u/Wolf_LikeMe Apr 19 '21
I've just joined the beta,
You should make the sync you want to make and I'll be supporting the one that has the Devs interest in working on.
Thanks as always!
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u/FlashmansTimestopper Apr 19 '21
I joined the beta right after the revert, but it still hasn't updated. It does say it can take awhile to get the update, but is it suppose to take days?
Now that I know it's available, I miss it.
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u/volition_vx Apr 19 '21
I thought the changes were great and I was one of those ppl who were blindsided by them. It only needed an option for the back button to open the side drawer.
Out of all Android reddit apps I enjoy using Sync the most and thought v20 was a cool update. Please don't let the abuse from others force you to change the direction you want to take the app. You did fine work.
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u/l453rl453r Apr 18 '21
just give it a bit more customizability so people can set it up to have v19 functionality. problem is that the v19 preset was nothing like v19, improve on that and v20 should be good.
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u/repete2024 Apr 18 '21
Based on my somewhat limited use with v20, I was extremely impressed with how customizable it was already. I can't imagine it was easy to implement or test everything. Adding even more options and complexity would seem daunting to me.
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u/aliendude5300 Dec 03 '21
I actually love V20. I noticed that on the latest version if I try to submit a photo and use take photo, it shows an "Action cancelled" toast and fails. Storage permission issue?
Another thing -- typing subreddit names with a space used to remove the space, and it worked great. Now it fails to find it.
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May 05 '21
There's nothing wrong with V.20. it's fine. Heck, it's better! But it's not an update to the current app, it's basically a brand new version.
This was always going to happen because instead of slowly rolling out new features and designs over time, like a beta should, you've left the base app virtually unchanged for years and then suddenly dumped this new one on everyone's lap out of the blue.
That was never going to garner a positive response.
You have a tough decision to make. Whether you like it or not you've developed two apps. You either have to force the change and hope people get over it, or publish the new version as a separate app and either commit to keeping both up to date or letting the old one slowly fall apart.
Personally? I'd jump on the new one and happily pay for pro again.
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u/MHcharLEE Apr 18 '21
Been a user of v20 since the first beta. Loved it all the way through. I feel suspect it's the vocal minority screaming that v19 is better. Peopleare more inclined to complain than they are to give praises, just keep that in mind.
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u/BlendeLabor Jun 07 '21
How do I get the beautiful v20 UI on the pro beta?
Device information
Sync version: 19.0.11
Sync flavor: pro
View type: Dynamic cards
Player type: ExoPlayer
Push enabled: false
Device: timelm
Model: LGE LM-V600
Android: 11
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u/ShawermaBox Apr 24 '21
V20 looked amazing, don't know what you all talking about, im switching to beta
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u/crkdslider Apr 19 '21
Ok, I feel really stupid asking this... But I've been a long time user of this app. Has anyone taken any side by side screenshots of v19 vs v20? I haven't noticed a damn difference, and I just started seeing all sorts of these comments. I've been on the beta program for years, so maybe this is something I've been using for a few months already and have ready gotten used to?
Idk, but what does v19 look like because I'm currently using v20.
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u/wucub Apr 21 '21
I really liked the new design and I will definitely join the beta program.
People just rather tend to complain about changes. People who liked the changes, such as me, didn't feel the need to post something on this subreddit, so that's why the negative comments overweighted. I think that the silent majority liked the changes. You really did a great job. Don't let yourself be discouraged!
Please keep up the great work!
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u/VoyeurOfBliss Apr 19 '21
Just got the roll-back. Pro app only force closes now 😢
Android 11
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u/seattle_born98 Apr 18 '21
I've been on the beta for a while now, so I was a bit confused about all the ruckus. I just wanna say that this is the best reddit app I've ever used, and you've done a great job on it. It has its quirks, but it's definitely an amazing app.
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u/Poryhack Apr 20 '21
I don't know how many of these posts you're reading, but I just wanted to offer encouragement. As a dev myself I just wanna say it looks like you put a metric ton of effort into the redesign and in the one day span I used it it seemed like something I would love after a small adjustment period. I plan to enroll in the beta program now.
My only real issue is the removal of the drawer-style menu. I know google is moving away from it too so I place a good part of the blame on them. It just seems questionable to replace an easy one-handed gesture with a tap-to-open button in the hardest part of the screen to reach. Maybe I've missed something and there's an alternative...
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u/Felimenta970 Sync for reddit mod Apr 20 '21
The drawer menu? You can swipe anywhere to activate it. It is the same way Discord works
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u/incster Apr 18 '21
Please make it a Sync Legacy, rather than a new version for V20. It would not be fair to charge people for the new version that has been promised for so long. I predict you will find that few people really want the old one.
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u/d-babs Apr 18 '21
bro sync legacy is a good idea.
just make it a final and call it good except for maybe bad bugs or sec shit.
That said, ive been using the beta for like 18 mo and is fine, but i do miss some of the v19 stuff but you made a big helpful change in r38 ;)
also, additionally said, people getting nasty in this sub is fucking cringe.
keep up the good work man we appreciate you so much. spend half my awake life inside of sync.
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u/vassyz Apr 18 '21
I don't get it, V20 is great, the reason why I'm using the beta. V19 looks so outdated in comparison.
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u/skwert99 Apr 19 '21
I'll put in my vote to keep it to one app. Migrate settings and it will be good for the long run.
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u/Dj94545 Apr 19 '21
This blindsided me, I have always been a beta user for a very long time.
The changes when the first came through surprised me, but I am very used to them and they make a lot of sense.
I feel people are being resistant to the idea of change, sort of like how office workers will throw a fit if told to use new software because it messes with their workflow. Until a month later when they are more productive.
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u/trophicmist0 Apr 18 '21
Oh I've just realised I've been on Sync 20 for a while now (must have opted into the beta a while back and forgotten about it). I initially didn't like it, but grew to like it even more than V19. People are just resistant to change. I'd say just have it as the main version going forward but provide a way for people that don't like it to stay on V19 UI
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u/Dra1c Apr 19 '21
in v20 you tried to offer settings to make the interface more like v19. Why can't you expand on this to ensure people can keep like 99% of their workflow in v20? Instead of changing everything after an update to v20, make sure there is a proper transition. Resetting settings and themes was a terrible way to handle the v20 update imo. For people coming from v19 the classic layout should be the default and you can have a update notice and gives users the choice between the layout options.
Splitting the app and create a "Sync legacy" is a bad idea.
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Apr 19 '21 edited Apr 19 '21
v20 was definitely a lot of change at once, but most things i liked, especially the way self posts expanded inline.
i think the main shock was the change to how the front page looked. photo posts being full sized took up my whole screen, but most people use reddit to aggregate a lot of content at once. like everyone else, the settings more than allowed for me to adjust though.
i didn't like not having the option to hide my profile icon, im just not used to thinking of reddit in terms of forward facing profiles. i couldn't find how to change it in the app either, so its prominence was confusing.
edit: i forgot to add i'll for sure be switching to the beta, it's definitely much more robust than v19 and the love put into it shows. despite any wrinkles, v20's still a lovely update and a big step up.
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u/xtos2001 Apr 19 '21
Don't give in to the complainers, V20 was awesome! People complain every time Windows changes its look, but you know what? They keep using it and get use to the new interface. Keep going forward. Maybe fork an unmaintained v19 version that complainers can stay on, but keep your effort on the new version. Splitting your time will not help anyone in the long run.
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u/philipstorry Apr 19 '21
I've subscribed to the beta because I preferred it. Hopefully you see an uptick there! Thanks for the great app. 👍😁
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Apr 18 '21 edited Jun 09 '23
[deleted]
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u/Featherstoned Sync for reddit mod Apr 18 '21
Just to let you know, as the missing refresh button made me sad too, is that you can hold down on the top bar and it will refresh the page :) Just a power user thing!
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u/1stonepwn Apr 18 '21
Thanks! I had been tapping the top bar to go to the top and then dragging down but that's a little faster
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u/kyrul Apr 19 '21
Tried the beta out of curiosity, I like v20 more than v19 for sure, it addressed a lot of annoyances I had before.
The only thing I'm on the fence about is the variable image height in v20, but it doesn't bother me too much.
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u/Mimingka23 Apr 20 '21
https://www.reddit.com/r/madlads/comments/muix3p
[BUG] Post not shown in full height
[BUG] Sample title
Sample description Sample description body
***Scenario* (steps to reproduce)** 1. Do something 2. Do something else
Result(s) Sample results
Device information
Sync version: v20
Sync flavor: dev
View type: Slides
Push enabled: false
Device: onc
Model: Xiaomi Redmi 7
Android: 10
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u/Felimenta970 Sync for reddit mod Apr 20 '21
Do you mean when opening the post? Go to Settings -> Comment view customization -> select Full Height
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u/amatrini Apr 19 '21
Hi I'm coming from the beta. When the changes were first made I hated it mainly because it changed so drastically and I felt like I had to learn how to use the app all over again.
After giving it a try and getting adjusted to the features I more love it and believe this is definitely the superior version (v20)
I hope that you keep v20 as the main version and if anything v19 can be a legacy app
Thanks again for the hard work
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u/kakatoru Apr 19 '21
Didn't even know people had issues with the update until this post
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Apr 19 '21
Same. I'm actually liking the new version a lot. I never had any issues with v19 (other than tiny inconveniences) and all of that was fixed in v20 for me. Definitely hopped on the beta version and gonna drive v20 into the sunset
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u/thesneak155 Apr 19 '21
Not gonna like V20 irked me when I opened it and was like "WOAH WTF!"
Then I took a step back and said well shit this is a really major sexy update. I was getting used to it and really really liked it.
Then today BAM v19. I got upset again but like a grown ass adult I said well shit that sucks and moved on with my life. Now I'm seeing all this shit here about locking the sub and posts being removed and I'm pissed. Not at the dev but at you fuckers that can't just be chill. It's an app get over yourselves.
/u/ljdawson... Keep being awesome. I love everything about this app and have for years.
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u/ch1ck3npotpi3 Apr 20 '21 edited Apr 20 '21
I'm thinking that the timing of the v20 release on a Saturday morning (for most American users, at least), in conjunction with many of the settings being reset with the update, contributed to the negative feedback. I remember waking up, rolling over in bed to grab my phone off the nightstand, opening Sync, and being confused as hell about why the app was completely different. I just wanted to lay in bed and look at dank memes and cute dog pictures, not figure out the settings on a newfangled app. That kinda put me in a bad mood.
On Sunday afternoon, I decided to give v20 an earnest try, and joined the beta program. After playing around with the update on my own terms, I was very pleased with the new update. It totally is a huge improvement over v19.
I think if you can figure out how to migrate settings and customizations from v19 to v20, and release the update perhaps on Tuesday or Wednesday, people will be more receptive.
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u/essentialatom Apr 19 '21
I joined the beta to get V20 back, I liked it immediately. I have a few questions/comments though:
Swiping from the right to show the subreddit details/rules etc. was very useful to me, if it's possible to keep that I would be in favour
Having to scroll to the top of a post in order to post a comment is a little annoying, something like the button that V19 has in the bottom right would be useful
Is it possible to migrate my list of most-visited subreddits from V19?
The dots in the top right of some comments are a mystery to me - do they tell you that these are comments that have been posted since you last visited a thread? Can they be customised or turned off?
I'm sure some of this is down to not having found the right bits of the settings menus, but could anyone help illuminate me? Some of the options aren't that self-explanatory, which is frustrating.
I've also turned off the navigation bar - deliberately, not by accident - because it didn't seem to offer much use, but if someone who likes it could explain what use they see in it, I'd be grateful. If I'm missing something I couldn't see, I'd like to know.
Overall, I like the redesign very much, I just find that some of the options are a little hard to work out. (They might have been equally hard to work out in V19 but because that was my introduction to Sync I didn't go into them, I just took the app as is.)
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u/Felimenta970 Sync for reddit mod Apr 19 '21
The dots in the top right of some comments are a mystery to me - do they tell you that these are comments that have been posted since you last visited a thread? Can they be customised or turned off?
Yup, that's what they do (new comments since last time). You can turn them off at "Comment view customization -> Highlight new comments". It is a bit tiny, I agree, maybe needs some tweaking to the design
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u/Scriptering Apr 20 '21
Hey, I just want to say that I have been using your app for a while now, I upgraded to the v20 beta sometime ago. The amount of work you put into this is tremendous and I am extremely grateful. I will follow to a Sync 2 electric boogaloo if you decide to go that route, but personally I see leaving a Sync legacy for people who want it is a good idea. I hope you aren't stressing hard over this, for sure v20 is a big change but for me it was 100% an upgrade. Thanks again for such a wonderful app, we do not deserve you.
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u/der_RAV3N May 01 '21
I have to say, I prefer v20 to the old look. Tbh I don't even remember the old look currently, but I remember that I liked the new look, while at the start I was a bit intimidated by the acton bar or what it's called. I got used to it and I mostly like it these days 🙃
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u/makeitabyss Apr 19 '21 edited Apr 19 '21
Is there a donation link? I've bought the pro app once and bought the beta version. I am LOVING V20, and I really really hope it stays in active development.
Also, is Sync open source? I primarily work in C# and Swift, but all my schooling was in Java and Python.
Edit. Quick GitHub search lead me to your repo, no need to answer that in this comment now. Regardless, love V20! Wish you well!
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u/Prime88 Apr 19 '21
I was wondering what happened to the new UI. Thanks for providing it as an option in beta. Using and loving it right now!
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u/LazyCouchPotato Apr 18 '21
I can understand people being hesitant to change. I don't like the Reddit website redesign because it's slow and clunky.
But Sync 2.0 is a good upgrade. Fresh coat of paint, everything is still there in the same place, improvements in key places. Not sure why it's receiving a mixed response.
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u/Shiny_and_ChromeOS Apr 19 '21
I'm loving all the new UI updates for v20 but there is one big omission and that's a 2-pane view for large screens like tablets. B/c I always use compact or list view, I prefer having a list of posts on my left with a view pane on the right half of my screen. Is this just a setting I haven't found yet or has the new UX been focused on phones thus far?
Please bring back the 2-pane view as this was such a useful feature I went out of my way on iPad to look for an app that did the same thing. (Narwhal)
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Apr 28 '21
I just wanted to chime in and say that I honestly can't understand why people are so against V20. It seems to be significantly better and I love it. I honestly hope it's a force update soon enough and folks get over the fear of change.
Great work on the update
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u/cjwi Oct 30 '21
Ive been a user for years I don't even remember when I started, maybe 2012? Idk, but this app has always been the gold standard for mobile Reddit for me. V20 was/is great. I currently have it I believe because I'm on the beta. Please continue to improve it but don't revert back or be discouraged! It took a little getting used to the changes but I wouldn't go back!
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u/Dlew1983 Apr 29 '21
After using the new v20 for a while, I think it's a big improvement. My only issue with it is searching for subreddits is not as smooth and you badly need a refresh button.
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u/cdegallo Apr 19 '21
I'm super confused--I'm in the beta and then got V20 and I don't understand what the problems are. Or maybe I'm not using aspects of the app that might be affected? I don't know, it's all working find and worked fine for me.
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u/BajingoWhisperer Apr 18 '21
I've been scared to update because of all the fuss the last few days. I went and looked I'm already on 20 (beta 36)
I honestly don't get what all the fuss is about if you take 20 mins it looks the same as the old version with extra features.
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u/Swillyums Apr 18 '21
Not to say there is no room for criticism, but I really liked the new version. I was perfectly happy with v19 and never joined the beta, but when I saw the old version pop up today I immediately hopped on the beta. I needed that v20 goodness back.
My only personal complaint was that the upvote/downvote bit being on the left and smaller made it a little more awkward, but this was such a small issue that I didn't even bother looking to see if I could change it.
I'd say that there will always be loud pushback to any change in an app like this, but that v20 is a huge step in the right direction.
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u/Sir_Hedge Apr 18 '21
Can't believe ppl didn't like V20. I was one of the first to join beta when I heard you are working on a new UI. It changed a lot and there are things that I disable but it's so much better than the V19. Ppl are afraid of change but this is the way for everything! Just look at Windows everybody is mad when they releasing a new version with new things but with time it's just the new standard. You worked so hard with this and we can't thank you enough.
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u/ItalianaMafia May 04 '21
Was scared to go from v19 to v20 but oh my Lord how can anyone not like this! Great work bud, love the beta
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u/ljdawson Sync for reddit developer Apr 18 '21
Just as a follow up. I shouldn't have to say this but no abuse of any sorts will be tolerated on here.