RunKeeper's new low price: free
In early September, TUAW published an article about iPhone exercise-tracking apps that use the built-in GPS of the iPhone 3G to track walks, hikes, runs, and bike rides. One of the apps, RunKeeper, provided instantaneous feedback of speed through a bar chart display and had a $9.99 price point. Jason Jacobs of Fitness Keeper, the developers of RunKeeper, announced yesterday that the company is going to make the application available for free in the App Store (click opens iTunes). As noted in Jason's email, "Although we have been featured recently in TechCrunch and NY Times (and TUAW, of course!), and we have several thousand paying customers and a vibrant community, we are making a bold move and making the app free. We are doing so in order to forgo short-term revenues with the hope that our community will get to massive scale."
Fitness Keeper definitely listens to user feedback -- our September post mentioned that RunKeeper didn't track total rise or elevation vs. speed, and now both of these items are available on the tracking Web site.
Please note that Apple must approve Fitness Keeper's price change request before the new pricing goes into effect.
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Source: http://www.runkeeper.com/
In early September, TUAW published an article about iPhone exercise-tracking apps that use the built-in GPS of the iPhone 3G to track...
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Runkeeper is now listed as FREE in the App Store.
October 14 2008 at 1:01 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Replyit's up and free now.
October 14 2008 at 12:58 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyJust use Fitnio, it's always been free.
* it does everything RunKeeper does
* its easier to use
* it tells you how many calories you've burned (which runkeeper doesn't)
* it doesn't lose your data when you get a call or change the music
* they give you a free account on http://www.fitnio.com
I think Fitnio is the reason RunKeeper changed their price.
They better watch out even a free RunKeeper isn't as good as Fitnio.
Stacy, you've posted this twice now. You're clearly employed/developing Fitnio. Stop advertising!
October 14 2008 at 1:43 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Replyit still $9.99 please let me know went it free....thanks
October 13 2008 at 3:59 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyHey just to let you know it is not free in Europe ...
October 13 2008 at 3:43 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply"My guess is that this app is having problems competing against the free Trailguru app, so they've decided to go with a similar profit model."
Ok, I guess I don't understand... How does the profit model of free work?
If you take a look at the Trailguru site, the reporting site for the free Trailguru app, they make all of their revenue from online ads (usually for a site called fitness-singles.com). I'd be willing to bet that at least for the near future, the Fitness Keeper / RunKeeper folks are going to do the same thing.
TUAWSteve
For those who have asked, apps of this type will work with the original iPhone, but your mileage and speed readings will not be as accurate as they are when using an iPhone 3G with the GPS receiver turned on. In actual use, I find RunKeeper and Trailguru to work best with the iPhone 3G. If you're in a crowded metropolitan area with lots of Wi-Fi hotspots, the original iPhone may work as well as the 3G since GPS is often blocked by tall buildings.
TUAWSteve
I second the request for info on whether this works with 1st Gen iPhones... That'd be handy.
October 13 2008 at 1:58 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyGood morning, everybody! Some replies to the comments are in order:
1) I received an email last night from the developer stating that the app would be available for free once Apple approved the price change, probably some time today. That comment is included in the last line of the post. The change may NOT happen today, but the developer still wanted us to let everyone know about the new price.
2) My guess is that this app is having problems competing against the free Trailguru app, so they've decided to go with a similar profit model.
Cheers! Thanks for your comments,
TUAWSteve
It still doesn't make sense to post it until it's a done deal. Especially given the "relaxed" nature with which Apple approves and denies applications/updates into the App store.
October 13 2008 at 5:12 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Replywell it isnt free yet...1:33pm on 10/13/08
why dont you repost this article when it is actually free
sounds good to me
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