Finally! beaTunes 6
It took a long time, but now it's finally here: beaTunes 6!
Why did it take so long? Here's the short list:
- Apple Silicon support
- Migration to SQLite 3
- Switch to subscriptions
- Other things
beaTunes isn't just one monolithic app; it depends on a bunch of libraries, some of them native, some not. Making sure all of them work correctly and support Apple Silicon took some time. The same is true for switching the internal database: H2 is a great database and has served beaTunes well for a very long time, but corrupted databases were the single biggest reason for support requests (newer versions of H2 may be more robust!). SQLite 3 was the natural alternative, but not a drop-in replacement. Automatically migrating the data alone was no small task. Above, I also mentioned "Switch to subscriptions." Yes, that's right, beaTunes now comes as a subscription. I'll explain why and what it looks like below. For now, I just want to say: this switch took way more work than anticipated. Last but not least, a lot of (mostly good) things happened in my private life that kept me from working on beaTunes.
So. Subscriptions.
I am not a fan. Never was. But unfortunately, there is an economic reality, and it comes in the form of server bills. beaTunes communicates with a central database. Keeping the servers running, maintained, and backed up costs money every month. There is no way I can pay for this indefinitely without a recurring stream of revenue—like a subscription. So beaTunes 6 will not be sold with a lifetime license, but as a reasonably priced subscription instead. That said, beaTunes 6 also runs without a subscription, with two limitations:
- Analysis of up to 10 songs (per app start)
- Inspection solutions cannot be applied
Other than that, the free version of beaTunes 6 is fully functional.
With that out of the way, let's talk about what's better in beaTunes 6. The simple answer: pretty much everything. beaTunes 6 does not focus on adding fancy new features. Instead, I wanted to make everything just a little bit better, faster, prettier, more stable, and easier to use. On the surface, things may seem very similar to what you know from version 5, but let me assure you: a lot has changed under the hood. And you can feel it! It's simply more fun to work with beaTunes. Less waiting, fewer surprises.
I hope you enjoy this new version of beaTunes as much as I do. It's available today.
Labels: Apple Silicon, Release, SQLite
posted at 09:18
3 Comments:
I purchased a lifetime license for beaTunes 5. I tried the beaTunes 6 beta, but I’ve now discovered that it requires a subscription—and it’s not a lifetime license, either. Can I go back to using beaTunes 5, given that I’ve already paid for it? Thanks.
In any case, I believe the monthly payment model should apply to new customers, not to those who have already paid for a lifetime license.
I feel cheated for having purchased a lifetime license, considering I'm not even able to keep using beaTunes 5 on my Mac since macOS will soon no longer be able to run Intel-based apps. With the decision you've taken, I'm now forced to pay a subscription to upgrade and keep using the app, even though I was perfectly content with the supposed lifetime license I had purchased.
Please reconsider.
Really? A lifetime license for Version 5, only to have support discontinued after six years? I’m extremely disappointed in this decision.
As someone who actively supports independent creators, I want to see you succeed and continue developing great products. But I cannot get behind the shift from a perpetual license to a subscription model. There is a fundamental difference between paying for a product you own and paying indefinitely for permission to keep using it.
A perpetual license gives customers the freedom to purchase software on their own terms, use it for as long as it meets their needs, and decide for themselves when an upgrade is worth the investment. A subscription shifts that balance entirely in the company's favor, turning a one-time purchase into an ongoing financial obligation. Customers who prefer a stable version of the software shouldn't have to keep paying simply to retain access to something they've already purchased.
This is especially disappointing when the product is marketed with a lifetime license, only for that commitment to be limited by a finite support window. Customers make purchasing decisions based on the expectation that a perpetual license provides lasting value, even if updates and technical support eventually end. If the software remains functional, why should continued use be tied to an active subscription?
I understand that independent developers need sustainable revenue to continue improving their products. But subscriptions aren't the only way to achieve that. Paid major-version upgrades, optional support plans, and reasonably priced upgrade paths allow creators to generate recurring revenue without forcing every customer into a subscription.
I want to support independent developers, but that support should be built on a fair relationship that respects customer ownership, choice, and long-term value. Please reconsider this decision and retain a perpetual licensing option for customers who prefer to buy their software outright. Supporting independent creators should not require abandoning a licensing model that has served both developers and customers well.
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