Boom 2.0
Global Delight has released Boom 2.0, a major new release for the volume booster and equalizer app (see “FunBITS: Boom for Mac Pumps up the Volume,” 18 April 2014). Rebuilt to complement OS X 10.10 Yosemite, Boom sports a new look that plays well with both standard mode and Dark Mode in Yosemite and is engineered to take advantage of 64-bit processors to deliver smoother performance. The equalizer has been improved with precise Frequency Constrain controls that enable you to adjust minute aspects of bass, mid, and treble frequency bands. Boom 2.0 also adds one-click audio effects (Ambience for a surround sound effect and Fidelity for
crisper, sharper tones), intelligently improves file audio boosting, and customizes the sound output according to your Mac model. Boom 2.0 is priced at $14.99 for a single-user license that’s valid for use on two Macs. If you have a Boom 1.x license purchased from the Global Delight Web site, you are eligible for a 50 percent discount. If you purchased Boom 1.x from the Mac App Store, you can email Global Delight with your Mac App Store sales receipt to receive the upgrade price from the Global Delight site (details on this support page). At this time, Boom 2.0 is not available on the Mac App Store, but Global Delight is preparing to submit
it in the coming weeks. ($14.99 new from Global Delight with a 25 percent discount for TidBITS members, free update, 5.0 MB, release notes, 10.10+)
Software purchasers have come to expect a free upgrade when a new version comes out and they are a recent buyer (like me). Otherwise it is like paying twice. The fact this company doesn’t recognize that is a very anti-consumer move.
The company doesn't seem to understand how bad their policy is. You don't sell a product to customers and then turn around and quickly sell a new version and not include recent purchasers in the new version. It is an anti-consumer, bad business practice.
This company is the only software manufacturer I ever heard of to engage in such a practice. It leaves a very bad feeling for recent buyers, and is a breach of good faith.
I checked into this and it's one of those situations that has been thoroughly confused by Apple's Mac App Store policies. Global Delight is keeping Boom 1.x available for people who have older versions of OS X, and they specifically updated it for Yosemite compatibility.
And since they're also selling through the Mac App Store, where app updates have to be free, they didn't have much choice but to make Boom 2.0 a new app. They're already in a situation where it's hard to deal with the difference between their direct customers and those who purchase form the Mac App Store, and trying to offer free upgrades to purchases in the last month or whatever would make that even messier.
There will always be a handful of people who fall between the cracks, and those cracks have gotten larger with the split between normal software sales practice and the Mac App Store. On the plus side, the Mac App Store has driven app prices down, so 50% off a $15 app isn't a bad upgrade price.