When you have multiple apps that interact with each other across multiple operating systems and devices, it’s never easy to just release a major update. If you then throw in some other opportunities (or hiccups?) like sandboxing, GateKeeper and Mountain Lion, it complicates things even further. So I’m here to talk about how a number of our products and some forthcoming updates you’ll be seeing from us.
Let’s first talk about iBank for Mac. We’ve been pushing small releases over the last several months that add enhancements and fix small bugs. However, we have also been working on iBank 4.5, which will offer a number of significant changes. While many of the changes for iBank 4.5 will go unnoticed to some users, the changes are quite significant. First, it will only run on OS X 10.6, 10.7 and 10.8. We are dropping support for OS X 10.5 because we can no longer support 10.5, Sandboxing, Mountain Lion and GateKeeper. For those of you still on 10.5, you will get one more update, iBank 4.3.4, in the upcoming weeks. Unfortunately, we simply cannot compile a single binary that supports 4 major operating systems and keeps up with Apple’s progressive technological changes. Second, iBank 4.5 (and 4.3.4 for that matter) will no longer support iBank Mobile syncing via MobileMe because MobileMe and iDisk will no longer exist after June 30th. Third, iBank 4.5 will add support for syncing with iBank for iPad, including syncing of security transactions. Lastly, iBank 4.5 will be Sandboxed and support GateKeeper via signing the app with a Developer ID issued from Apple. In order to Sandbox the app we will also be removing our backup feature. This is something we aren’t terribly excited about doing, but there is no known way to support backup and Sandboxing. We are working with Apple to get the required APIs, but we don’t have a timeframe for when they might be available. Hopefully most of our customers have moved on to Time Machine enabled backups and if you haven’t yet, now is a great time; you really should be backing up more than just your iBank documents.
I want to talk a little about iCloud. When Apple first announced iCloud, I was excited. It clearly has the potential to be the “digital hub” replacement. However, I’m very much less enthusiastic about how Apple is restricting it. If we want to use iCloud on the Mac to allow people to sync iBank documents, it could only be implemented in copies of iBank sold via the Mac App Store. So we would need to create two separate versions of iBank, or we’d have to stop selling our app from our online store. In a nutshell, it doesn’t make sense for us to do that. I certainly hope that Apple’s policy on this changes, but until then we won’t be supporting iCloud syncing. This is really too bad because I know our customers want it. I want it too, but we can’t do it the way iCloud is currently implemented. So we hope to announce an alternative sync solution in the near future.
Many people have been asking when iBank for iPad will be released. I don’t have a specific date, but I can say it will be this summer. It’s the biggest undertaking we’ve ever done at IGG, and while it has taken a bit longer than we hoped, we are very excited about the end product. When it does ship, we think you’ll really enjoy it. I hope to do a couple more posts about iBank for iPad while it’s still being developed, so stay tuned.
-Ian
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Thanks for the update, Ian! Looking forward to the coming updates.
I’d love to see built-in Dropbox support to address some of these issues — https://www.dropbox.com/developers/ — my primary use-cases are 1) seamless backup, and 2) sync to both my Macs.
Keep up the great work,
-Eric
Thank you for the update Ian.
I have been holding off on upgrading my OS to above 10.5 but I guess I won’t be able to do so anymore.
I don’t know much about Sandbox so I will have to start looking this up.
The explanation of why iCloud can not be supported was certainly was helpful as I did not understand the issues involved. With your explanation, I can see why iBank would not be able to sync via iCloud. Hopefully we will be able to have another sync method. (I currently use iBank for mac, iBank Mobile and will be getting iBank Access as soon as it comes out.)
Thank you for the update on iBank Access. In the newsletter released the end of March I thought I remembered seeing that it should be out before the next quarterly newsletter putting it sometime before the end of June. I guess we are still on track for this timeframe. I look forward to seeing more tidbits/teasers on Access.
Is iBank Access going to have all the reports available that iBank for Mac has?
Are we going to be able to print from iBank Access?
While in iBank Access, would we be able to take a picture of a receipt/bill/etc. and attach it to a specific transaction?
Thank you.
This is all great but I hope some of many, many FRs and bugs that have been posted to the forums will be addressed as well. Sandboxing means squat if the reports still suck.
Interesting stuff, disappointed about the stance on iCloud. It’d make more sense to me to go Mac App Store exclusive than to not support iCloud at all and introduce some sort of a different sync solution… if you don’t have the option of supporting both.
Dropbox works really well for synching my 1Password data with 3 Macs and 2 IOS devices. I’d much prefer to synch iBank via Dropbox than via iCloud. The restraints Apple is putting on iCloud are unnecessary (e.g. can’t use on Snow Leopard) and very un-Apple like. How I miss Steve Jobs.
And yes, fixing the reports on iBank would be a great thing. In general, reports are buggy, not easily assembled, and poorly designed.
I really hope a significant proportion of the large number of bugs and feature requests are addressed in 4.5.
Ian
Great update.
Like Mike, I don’t know much about sandbox – I will have to research.
Sad to lose backup – but that is done by Time Machine – as you say. Alternatives may include creating a second file manually before quitting or duplicating your file in the finder.
With respect to iCloud would any of the following make sense (for IGG and users)?
1) would Apple consider grandfathering existing users for a one time “free” purchase via coupon code or other method?
2) Sell via iTunes the upgrade from 4.X to 4.5 for say $1.00. This upgrade would run to upgrade any existing iBank4 program file to iBank4.5 iCloud ready.
If either idea would work you could migrate safely to one version of iBank which would be iCloud compatible.
Ian,
Thanks for keep us posted… love hearing where things are going. I have to agree with the others. If iCloud is a no go I would love to see dropbox support.
Thanks!
Hi Ian-
Thanks for the update. It’s unfortunate that Apple has the restrictions regarding iCloud. iBank still needs to work with iCloud. iBank is made for Macs, Apple is moving everyone to the App Store, iBank only needs to be on the App Store. Using only the App Store will also streamline updates. Please, please be forward thinking and include iCloud in 4.5.
Thanks!
Time Machine is NOT an acceptable substitution for the backup command. I backup to a folder on Dropbox; this way I have a copy of my iBank data file safely stored at an OFF-SITE location. If my house burns down and my only backup copy is on my Time Machine drive (also in the house), then I’m left with nothing. Think about it!!
Hi Ian,
As many people to youbefore, dropbox would be a wise and flexible choice to sync between an iMac, an iPhone and an iPad.
I do hope you will be able to add this feature.
I think the lack of iCloud support is unfortunate. Personally, I hate having to store sensitive data on a bunch of different systems — I made the decision a long time ago that I trust Apple with a lot of my information. While I currently have a Dropbox account (primarily for 1Password syncing), I am/was hopeful that I could transition to using iCloud for my syncing service with the revamped Finder interface in Mountain Lion. I would have even repurchased iBank via the Mac App Store to do so.
My wife isn’t going to like this either… whereas iBank Mobile “just worked” with her iDisk, now I’m going to have to setup something new for her that may or may not work as reliably as what she is used to.
Ian,
I think I would rather pay extra to get the 4.5 update from the Mac App Store with iCloud syncing support myself. I really like the ablilty to keep mobile iBank app and iBank Mac app synced on the go.
Will sandboxing effect those of us who currently store our iBank database on Dropbox? I use this to keep my Mac Pro and MacBook Air in sync, and would be sad to lose this. I know 1Password had to specify this within the app when they added sandboxing. Any chance we can get the same in iBank?
Thanks as always for the updates and great apps.
Thanks for the detailed update.
Will the account aggregation feature be available for the desktop app as well? Or only for iPad? If only for iPad, can we (reverse) sync, so that the desktop app syncs from the DB on the iPad?
About the part where you say all the transactions are updated automagically… I’m scratching my head on that one. In real life, it seems to me that I send out checks in February that don’t get cashed until April. Those are always a pain to reconcile, and a pain to match up against import data. Is this new aggregation service really so good that NO manual confirmation of downloaded transaction matching is necessary?
Not including iCloud sync seems like a very short-sighted decision, especially since it would address the backup problem as well. MoneyWiz, a very promising iPad and iPhone app, has automatic “cloud” (not iCloud) syncing and there will be a Mac version released this summer. I’ll probably make the switch if iBank can’t offer something similar. However, what I really want is an app that uses Apple’s iCloud to automatically sync all my devices. iBank is Mac and iOS only… what’s the problem? Raise the price if you have to… or maybe you’d get more paid downloads if you had an integrated syncing solution.
I’ve noticed a number of comments urging IGG to essentially, ‘Get with the program’. I won’t do a full rant here about Apple, but I’m glad to see that IGG is not blindly submitting to Apple’s monopolistic policies. Apple produces many great products–that’s why I use them. But I don’t do it with enthusiasm because their control tendency scares me. I don’t want Apple deciding what software can run on my computer which is the direction they’re obviously moving; if using software that is not sold through the App store is not eventually flat out prevented it will be so burdensome to developers not to sell that way exclusively that for all practical purposes it will be required. Do you like Apple’s control of iOS software and the elimination of Flash for example? I don’t. I could go on for quite a while, but I promised to keep it short.
If I have to sync using Dropbox or SpiderOak, both of which I use already, or something like it, I’m fine with that.
Ian:
Thank you for the update! While what you are saying is a little hard to accept the loss of some major features, I can’t help to blame IGG Software vs. Apple’s new requirements.
Let me kindly start by saying that I think IGG Software has become a little bit like Microsoft. You built something great and now you don’t know how to advance it and take the next step other than patches, tweaks, and updates. While an iPad app would be great and liked by many, so would advancing the hub of it all, iBank for Mac. I feel your challenge is you are so far behind the curve on updates you can’t catch up now.
iBank should already have been updated to support iCloud. This is not new anymore. The addition of Sandboxing and other items should just be natural progression items that you have to incorporate as you move forward. Other are right in their comments… You still have a lot of very basic bugs, fixed, and features that are needed already before we even get into what your current issues are not. For example, iBank still cannot even track your credit limit on a credit card account and show you how much credit is available to use on that account! To me, this is a very basic feature any financial software should have.
I think if you were already up-to-date, these other changes would not be so difficult. So you need to move to only selling your software via the app store… What’s the big deal? In fact, you should be excited about that! Move revenue for you! Selling on your own website is great, but I know many people who are using your software for free by sharing codes and stuff. Getting whatever % of the sale via the app store is better than the % you are getting from several people using your software for free.
Again, I think you are working on some cool stuff and we can all appreciate that, but let’s back up and have the best financial program on the market first and then worry about the iPad app later. Currently you are behind the times and I hate to see this. I fear someone is going to come along and build something better and much faster than you are even supplying general updates.
Let’s get started today on fixing just iBank… by adding and fixing features already posted by users on your website, add iCloud support that you should have already done, and advance iBank itself first.
Just catching up on the happenings with Ibank, and I will say that I am quite concerned with the lack of a “backup” feature in the new version moving forward. I undertand the importance of Time Machine and backing up. However, my financial files are extremely important and keeping a copy off site at dropbox or icloud is much preferable to Time Machine which is local storage – and prone to major issues in a disaster situation with everything being kept locally.
I’ve had these type of things happen – twice, and it’s not fun.
I really think that the developers really need to revisit this issue and come up with a solution that utilizes Drop box, Skydrive, or Google Drive to give those of us who are passionate (and experienced with data loss) some peace of mind about having a copy saved offsite on the cloud.
To me, not being able to back things up to the cloud is a huge issue and will force me to look at other options like YNAB or something similar. I just can not afford to loose the data – I had my macbook crash last month (hard drive died) and restoring from my dropbox backup on a new macbook air was a breeze.
Please reconsider this stance or give us options.
As a few others have expressed I too am sad to see iDisk go. As uneducated as it may sound I will still be using it and whatever software decides to support it. While I have been using iBank for a number of years now I will be looking for a financial solution that does support iCloud if iBank decides not to support it. For me it is a matter of simplicity. I have no need for a dropbox account and don’t want to sign up for it or any other similar service just for a single program. I certainly hope that iBank will have a change of heart but if not I am sure someone will fill the void.
I, too, have been awaiting IGG’s assessment of iCloud synch and, although I do understand your reluctance to adapt to the iCloud requirements, it would be reasonable to keep your user’s requirements in mind before dismissing iCloud outright. I concur that when it comes to banking data synch, the operative words are simple and secure – iCloud synch would provide for those features in the most effective manner. I purchased my versions of iBank for Mac and iBank mobile through the Apple Apps Store and would have no difficulty paying a premium to have iBank 4.5 and iBank Mobile updated with iCloud synch support. It performs well with iDisk… I’m sure it would do so with iCloud and the transition would be quite simple. I do understand IGG’s concern with the 2 version situation but if most of the iBank synch users are Mac/Mobile users, then it may be a more customer-effective solution than forcing that large community into a non-iCloud solution.
As noted, I would be comfortable to pay a premium for iCloud synch support but I would consider moving to another product that does/will provide same if iBank Mac/Mobile are not able to bring that capability to market.
Thank you for your straightforward and straight-up explanations above.
Thanks for your explanations.
For me, iCloud integration is a must-have feature. Having to manually synchronize my mobile and desktop iBank data is becoming anachronistic very quickly. I further recognize that the reticence to go to an App-Store only version likely has to do with the profitability of direct sales, and retail outlets, as well as supporting older versions of the OS, so there are many factors. Good luck as you continue to develop your product and make design decisions.
iBank sync should have supported iCloud as soon as it replaced MobileMe. Over six months later, your sole justification for not supporting it is that you’d have to sell iBank exclusively in the Mac App Store. This is not a terribly compelling argument, since most people expect that anyway. Like it or hate it, this is how the Apple software ecosystem now works. Trying to buck this trend for no good reason is ridiculous, especially when it is at odds with the needs and desires of your own user base.
Considering that the plan is to have a Mac desktop app that can easily sync with the iPhone and iPad apps, it seems insane to not use iCloud. Using some other sync solution will require users to jump through additional signup hoops, and ultimately rely on something that may have issues of its own. Dropbox could work nicely, but not everyone has a Dropbox account.
Anyway, I’m sorry to hear you won’t be supporting iCloud. You’ve just created a gap that someone else will surely fill.
Agree with most iCloud supporters, would make easier and seamless sync between devices. A part from Mac App Store migration, that would/might require some database BIG changes to support both Mac and iOS devices (not a dev myself, I can only speculate on this). Think of MobileMe annual $100 fee to free going to MAS 30% cut Apple gets (fair enough, they need to keep it running, and so far, ran very well for most people using it).
Agile made this decision with 1Password last November, so App should be sandboxed and password file in user Library (something I am not sure is going away or change, as I read Library being deprecated in the future…long term). They could still keep selling out of MAS without iCloud support, promised in v4, but time and money spent might not justify.
While MAS do not support migration or upgrades, looks like developers will change upgrade and selling cycles to more upgrade cycles while keeping a lower price. Something of instead paying $60, using iBank N for 2 yr, paying $30 for N+1, use for 1.5 yr, customers will have to play yearly $30 for major upgrades. Requires some faith on this will work (and still better than $100 bucks yearly your competitor charges in Windows platform!)
iCloud makes keeping copies of Mac, iPhone and probably newer iPad app in good shape. MoneyWell’s moving to that, but I am staying with iBank as like it much better and I bet on its future! If not for version 4.5, I would say iBank 5 should deserve a good thought. With OS X 10.8 out in the woods for more than 6 month this might make more sense than it is today for your customers.
In general, liked very much using iBank for sometime and probably dropping Quicken Essentials. Having a good sync solution helps me entering data manually in increments instead of monthly typing as in Quicken! (yeah, I can’t download transactions from non-US banks, but nothing too die for! Been there for 12 years)
After reading this blog entry and the subsequent comments, I am in agreement with the majority of posters. No iCloud or DropBox sync is inexcusable. Whether you like it or not, or whether it fits with your way of doing business or not…our data has moved to the Cloud. If you don’t like Apple’s closed MAS ecosystem that’s fine, but to close the door on cloud syncing altogether is very shortsighted. I have been syncing my data between my iMac and MacBook via DropBox for years. It is an excellent solution. It solves two problems at once. It backs up my data to the cloud and it keeps my two Macs in sync. Any update that would prevent me from utilizing DropBox in this fashion would force me to find another personal finance software option. I really like using IBank and would gladly pay a premium for a fully integrated and cloud-centric Mac/iPhone/iPad iBank software package. Your users are already on the high-end ($$) when it comes to technology. We gladly pay the premium for our Mac’s and iOS devices, because they WORK! I hope you will reconsider this decision and build a comprehensive suite as described above. I would pay $99 for that kind of solution!
I understand the reasons you give but I bought iBank because it synced with my iPhone. Now I have 10.7.3 and 4.3.4 and cannot sync. I have a bunch of good excuses and no sync. iCloud was announced about a year ago. Rather than any more lengthy explanations about why you can’t, I would just like a working solution. Today would be nice. I am really disappointed. Cannot recommend iBank.
@Frank You will still be able to sync iBank between your Mac and iPhone. MobileMe based syncing is the only thing going away.
Nice to see you’re still updating iBank for Mac – thanks for the continued support. Someone else already said this, but really syncing is the least of my worries with iBank, when the reports are still so horrible and consistent. You really need to keep an eye on things like Moneywiz – report wise, it’s night and day for example.
Another vote for cloud sync by iCloud or Dropbox. This is an essential feature and one I’ll be looking to get elsewhere if iBank doesn’t offer it soon.
I don’t think you are really understanding what the typical user needs so I’ll tell you
1. Budget vs. Actual reports
2. Backup files
Most of us are looking for a basic financial package with practical functionality and security. I want to see how my spending is going according to my plan, and I want my data to be safe.
More basic stuff that is long overdue :
dividends reporting as income
proper fund performance, annualized rate of return as would be reported in a mutual fund prospectus
accurate foreign currency reports
big clean up of the awkward parts of the UI
big clean up of the reports to make them more useful (e.g. why can I not report on monthly net worth for more than approx 20 months ? After about 20 months, monthly reporting doesnt work !!!)
Ian G,
it feels like iBank is in point-point maintenance mode with no end in sight.
http://www.mattgemmell.com/2011/12/13/dear-textmate/
PC
I have to admit that I’m very disappointed in much of this news. I was fully expecting that the next major update would require me to buy a new full-price version from the Mac App Store in exchange for getting iCloud sync. I can’t believe that the improvement in features isn’t seen as being worthwhile. As iBank is the number 1 App in both Top Selling and Top Grossing for the USA store, I have difficulty believing that you aren’t making enough sales through that channel to weather through the transition to be App Store only.
As a long time iBank user, it feels like iBank is going backwards rather than forwards, especially when it comes to sync. Currently there is no support for multiple Macs to use the same document. The only multi-device support is for iOS devices with a central computer (generally fine in my opinion), but with MobileMe going away and no other officially endorsed WebDAV service, we are left with WiFi sync which has a number of problems.
As a software developer, I’m having trouble understanding what technical challenges you are encountering that are seen as insurmountable. Especially since other software I use has seemed to overcome similar issues over a year ago. OmniFocus responded to the end of MobileMe sync by rolling out their own online sync service. 1Password moved away from Keychain sync to Dropbox long before iCloud was even announced. And yes, both of these apps sync smoothly between multiple Macs and multiple iOS devices. Apple is providing a sync service you don’t want to use, but I’ve not seen anything to indicate that you are working on one yourself. And I can’t even begin to guess why you believe backup has to be removed.
I’ve been using iBank for 8 years, think it is the best option for personal finance on the Mac, and recommend it to folks all the time. I’m generally pretty pleased, but didn’t realize how frustrated I was about the lack of improvement in these areas until I started writing this post. I’ve got workarounds that work for me at the moment, so I’ll just have to keep hoping for better news ahead.
Another vote for iCloud support.
After reading all of the comments in response to your post, I can only conclude that you do not have a client centered business model. Your clients are telling you that they want iCloud and Dropbox access to the data. They are also telling you that they are willing to pay a premium for that service. What we get in return are excuses. You need to take a step back and look at your client base. We CHOOSE to purchase iMac’s, MacBooks, iPhones and iPad’s even though there are much cheaper devices on the market. We have embraced the Apple ecosystem because it works, i.e., iTunes and Mac App Store, iCloud! I’ve said it once and it bears repeating. I would pay $99 for a comprehensive cloud-sync software personal finance suite for my iMac, MacBook, iPad and iPhone. That’s one thing about the free enterprise system, if you are not willing to fill the need someone will come along and make you wish you had!
I’ve been a loyal iBank Customer for years. That will end, if by June 30 I cannot get a sync with iCloud or DropBox. This is unacceptable. I thought customers mattered.
Another vote for iCloud/Dropbox sync between Mac & iOS devices. This is a MUST HAVE feature!
I share the strong support for syncing and backup, and I wish it would be possible through iCloud. But I think posters here are blaming the messenger, not the wrong-doer. The more I hear about the App Store, and sandboxing, and the limitations of iCloud, the more I fear for the future of Apple computers in my life. Please don’t accept their limitations, and try to retain IGG’s independence as you develop alternatives to the ever-steeper walled garden.
Ian,
Just a quick reaction to this “two version” issue. First, I need to confess I’m a total drink-the-koolade Apple aficionado. If I could, I’d buy exclusively from the Apple App Store for the reasons of security, ease of upgrade, simplicity, etc.
Yes, I know that Apple takes a big pound of fle$h from their third-parties for the right to market from App Store. But if any developer elects to increase their prices to offset this, I am totally OK with that. You have an outstanding product in iBank. I can’t imagine your customers abandoning you to save a few dollars. The extra cost of good software is a trivial part of the cost of home computing, given the great benefits. I couldn’t care less if I had to pay a few bucks more every few years to have the best program.
You obviously know infinitely more about price competition that I do, but if someone is looking for a quality piece of accounting software for the Mac, and bases their choice on saving $25, they will soon regret their misguided frugality.
I just had to add my support for cloud syncing. Honestly, I cannot believe at May 26th, 2012 cloud syncing has not been completely resolved, tested and already rolled out to users. MobileMe’s June 30th shutdown was announced over a year ago–over one year!. I personally do not care if it is iCloud (but that would be ideal) or DropBox, but for IGG Software to be dragging their feet on this issue is hard for me to comprehend. The cloud sync capability and iOS app integration is the main reason we originally chose iBank, and the it will be the reason we leave if this is not resolved soon. It is more than a little late in the game to be even discussing this. I will be eagerly awaiting to hear (like next week) what the cloud sync option is going to be!
What about budget reports? This is essential part and is still missing!!!
To developer Ian at IGG :
Go to your Knowledge base and look at the most viewed questions.
#1 with 1103 views is “How do you sync iBank with IBank mobile using iCloud?”
#2 with 1089 views is “Ibank sync to iCloud”
#3 with 821 views is “Great to hear that you are working on an iCloud replacement but do you expect to achieve this before MobileMe departs?”
I think there is a huge user interest in syncing and iCloud and its not being addressed in a timely manner.
“… there is a huge user interest in syncing [to] iCloud and its not being addressed in a timely manner.”
When I transitioned from Palm to iOS I needed a functioning mobile app for money management. I said goodbye to Quicken and hello to iBank. It was the ease and simplicity of syncing that sealed the deal. Fast forward to June 2012 and I find myself at a similar crossroads. Home WIFI syncing is nice but I need a simple mobile sync for those times when I cannot access home WIFI sync at the end of the day.
In case IGG does not have a timely satisfactory (i.e. uses iCloud) solution, what is everyone else going to do?
I’ll be using WebDAV. It’s part of my hosting package, and it’s essentially what MobileMe provided, but not in a nice OS X wrapper. Since IGG is clearly not focused on this forum, or perhaps even syncing right now (they appear to be completely consumed by the iPad app), that’s the only real option. For me, and I’d guess many others who travel and/or share iBank data across multiple devices with their spouses etc., the WiFi sync option is pointless. It’s far too limiting and a huge step backwards.
WebDAV can replace what MobileMe did, but only if the iBank user has a hosting account that supports it (or runs their own server) and wants to get it configured correctly. It is not hard, but it is certainly not what IGG should be forcing their user base to do as an interim solution. I’m still an iBank supporter, and I’m glad they’re launching an iPad app soon, however they clearly took a critical misstep in their project management on this one. Syncing in a mobile device world IS THE WHOLE POINT of having mobile devices.
I hope this is resolved soon. Maybe they will even come through before MobileMe is cutoff, but the silence from IGG on this issue is inexcusable, in my opinion. WiFi falls far too short on functionality and I suspect WebDAV is not a good option for many users. IGG, please make this right for your loyal users.
Perhaps I’m a little late in adding my voice to this chorus, but nonetheless I’d also like to add my “+1” in requesting iCloud sync. I feel as though I’ve spent the past year, since iCloud was first announced, with baited breath, waiting for support for iBank to be announced. This has been especially so since I began reading about the upcoming iPad app, as it appeared to me to be the natural next step.
I enjoy using iBank, and will continue to do so until a competitor introduces a worthy finance app with iCloud support. When that day comes, however, and if it is something that still has not been implemented in iBank, I will most likely transition over to this new software. Of course I will not be purchasing the forthcoming iPad application until I have seen how the synchronisation situation is set to pan out, or until IGG’s irresolution on the matter has been steadfast enough to prompt me to abandon their platform.
I’m sorry that I and so many other users are having to speak in terms of an ultimatum, but we cannot suspend the evolution of our software usage habits indefinitely until such a time that the developer of our application of choice finally chooses to serve our needs, or even worse to renounce the development in personal computing we are witnessing in cloud synchronisation, and to persevere with anachronisms like wi-fi sync, and other bodge jobs. We are paying customers, and we expect the software we use to keep up with our evolving needs and habits.
I understand the developers concern regarding iCloud syncing. However you have a community of individuals who purchased your applications because they offered the best Mac alternative to existing financial management programs AND provide mobile access with syncing. If this functionality is lost, you will anger and alienate most of your customers. In my mind iCloud sync seems to make the most sense for a Mac developer. Have the recent WWDC announcements changed anything? If this situation is not corrected soon, IGG software will loose many customers for life.
I am new to this blog and read all the entries with great interest. I have enjoyed using iBank despite some annoying problems. I agree with what seems the consensus that IGG’s excuses are lame and that they need to address the concerns of its customer base. iBank should sync with iCloud somehow some way. The time machine backup is inadequate. I, too, will buy replacement financial software that addresses my concerns if IGG does not.
After using Quicken for several years, I switched to iBank when I bought a Mac. It is a good program and I love having the app on my iPhone that syncs to my Mac. Two disappointments from the start – no transaction downloads from Vanguard and no date adjustment with the +/- keys during transaction entry. Now I lost easy backup and can not backup with iCloud. It is time to adjust to the outside world instead of expecting them to provide on your terms.
I am a recent convert to ibank as quicken for mac does nt seem to be an option. I am on 4.3.5 and when I accepted the upgrade to 4.5 I found I had lost my backup via a flash drive. I have gone back to 4.3.5 where I have the backup facility. I do not wish to use icloud or the time machine. should i just stay with 4.3.5 and ignore updates ? Will I be missing much ?
Thanks
Without easy synching I am better off continuing to use Quicken for Windows using Parallels on my Mac.
Get with the mainstream IGG or you will follow Wordstar, Lotus 123 and Multiplan as nsotalgic software memories for geeks!
I have been an iBank user since OS X was a baby. I already had to pay once for a full version upgrade of iBank, and would do so again. It’s a great piece of software. After more than eight years using iBank, I sadly find myself watching the app store for a replacement due to IGG’s shortsightedness regarding the iCloud/dropbox issue. Without cloud support, a year after iCloud’s release, IGG has demonstrated a real lack of judgment and responsiveness. Customers clearly wish for the upgrade. Too bad you won’t listen. You will lose me, already a repeat customer, very soon.