Important Announcement: SKYBOX will soon become a paid app

Andy

Hello, everybody. This is Zixiong, CEO of Source Technology.

It's been six years since my first experience with VR. For all these years, I have believed that HMDs (AR & VR) are the computing platform for the next generation. It is based on this belief that we created SKYBOX. We wanted to create the most immersive video viewing experience.

We started to work on SKYBOX in 2016. It's been 4 years now. However, we have always maintained the Alpha/Beta status for SKYBOX, because we understand that there are still many things that can be improved, although SKYBOX is already the highest rated VR video player by user ratings.

We are still not quite satisfied with what we have done with SKYBOX. Our to-do-list is still long. I believe we share the same higher expectations towards SKYBOX with many of our users, like videos with 6DOF, a photo gallery, better compatibility, online videos, etc..

These features require much more manpower and energy than we currently have. So we have decided to start charging money for SKYBOX in order to support our further development.

The change will begin on May 18th 2020, including Steam and all the Oculus platforms, safe for Cardboard and Mi VR.
The initial price will be 14.99 USD.
For those of you we have already downloaded SKYBOX for free prior to May 18th 2020 can keep using it for free without any additional charges or changes.
The free version will also get the exact same updates as the paid version.
Before we have found any other better business models, we will just keep this pre-paid charging method. However, we reserve the right to further raise the price or return to free in the future. We hope you guys can understand. This is just another business decision.
If you guys wish to keep SKYBOX free, but want to support us in our development. We now have a Patreon account: https://www.patreon.com/skyboxplayer

We hope this plan can cover our development cost and let us make SKYBOX better.

Thank you.

Zixiong

Travis254

I support this.

Travis254

I hope the update comes with custom or diffrent environments

lazkerkaboom

Let us know if there's anything we can do to help. Testing, development, modeling, etc.

Sagan

Your decision makes total sense <3 Keep doing what you’re doing, your work is appreciated :)

Frank

I'd be very glad to pay for it if your team could continue to update the iOS version :-)

Thomasthebear

All for a paid version, but hopefully the income helps speed the development process along. I personally wouldn’t pay for it as is, as I have had a lot of issues with features available. I’m currently using the iOS version, and I can say that the airserver option doesn’t play any videos, no matter format (not sure if it’s an issue on my end), some mkv files will play locally when transferred to the device but the video on it is scrambled or discolored. I would like to see an option to change the forward facing view, so I don’t have to rotate my body to see where the video is playing, and would absolutely LOVE to see some feature to allow you to view and respond to text messages while watching a video. Thanks a bunch though for being on of the only decent apps to support media playing in this way, so keep up the good work. Hope to see it really improve by leaps and bounds soon. :)

Frank

Thomasthebear Seems like they've stopped iOS version development years ago, and that's why I'm also hoping they can update the iOS app before I'll pay for it :-)
I don't know how App Store works but I assume they won't change the price unless they update something?

vrtraveller

i wouldn't mind paying for it when 5k+ support be added to quest

mcpish

I'd LOVE to see an option for old school CURTAINS over the screen, when you start a film it would project all distorted onto the curtain until they slide open (left/right) to reveal the regular screen behind it. Just like the way old movie theatres used to be. I'd also like to see some steeper/stadium style theatres. I feel the default theatre places you too low (below the screen). This can be resolved by using the other environments by placing yourself higher up, but not in the theatre environment. I'd rather be higher up in the centre vertically than below.

dibiemme

I support this.

endlessjake

Right on, I support this. Excited to hear about the potential for a gallery. The native photo viewer for the Go is junk.

wuyu19951015

It seems that the PC client version(NOT steamVR version) is not mentioned in both paid or free versions
It is not updated since 31/10/2019
Will it become a paid software

Yum

wuyu19951015
PC Client remains free :)

Reptile

Although I got it for free, if I get a Quest I'll apparently have to buy it again which is fine because the price is decent and the app amazing. However I still wish that it's strongest most promising point, which is immersive cinema experience, was further developed, mainly other environnements with light/dark or day/night settings, fake/scripted audience models, ambiant audience sound, as well as probably the most demanded feature which is online/multi-users functionality (which I know is complex but possible since BigScreen does it).

xyzs

Following feedbacks, price is a bit steep for some.
I think the psychological barrier is 7.99 for a player.

fortinmike

Totally support this move. I've got much value from Skybox over the last two years so the 14.99 USD price seems fair. Just bought it a few days ago.

Any app without a business model (that is not open source) worries me a bit as there is no guarantee the app is here to stay as the developers get zero revenue from it and might just get bored with it at some point. Might make development slower too as the app in question is not a source of revenue and investing lots of time in it makes less sense. I hope switching to a paid app will help Skybox on that front.

Of course the price might prevent some users from getting Skybox because it might seem a bit steep considering that there are multiple free video players available. Maybe offering a demo would help people see the light and drive more sales?

FooFighters

I'll happily pay, but are you bringing back support for iOS 14? Also, I'm an unable to download the mac streaming client app. I am currently on iOS 14.2 beta 1, and looks like the gyroscope data is causing an issue with video moving all over the place.

spawnreaper

I.m all for purchasing this. However, however, my experiences so far are very mixed. One moment it plays all video's without problems. Then an update comes out and 20% of the collection has black screens with only sound. Another update comes out, and all video's stutter like crazy, unwatchable. Still, its one of the nicest interfaces and controls are nice.
If it all becomes a bit more stable so I can count on it working properly I would love to pay for it even though I have the free version now.