A character limit note in the Edit Details textarea would be helpful, or at least if the form fields remembered what I typed in before displaying an error. It wiped out everything I'd written up.
Congrats on your first iPhone app! It's designed very nicely. Some feedback on the website, if you don't mind:
1) The profile image of the iPhone is a bit unnecessary. It takes away from the app you're trying to showcase. The skewed view of the app interface just looks... off.
2) What's a drinkup? Perhaps some explanation would help. To me, it sounds freakin awesome. But maybe it's only for a secret society which I don't belong to... ?
Thought I'd give this a try to see how it worked. Upon registering and agreeing to the Terms, I received an error page with instructions to call customer service. When I called, the rep had no idea what I was talking about. "Star what?" she said.
After I was transferred to a rep who knew what it was, he said I needed to download the iPhone app for it to work. However, it states throughout the FAQs[1] that the iPhone app isn't yet available. This was further confirmed at the StarStar website[2]. His response: "That's wrong. It's definitely available. Is there anything else I can help you with today?"
It's really cool to see how you've come up with tron in just 219b.
You mention saving 11 bytes, bringing the total to 212. Then another 9 (seemingly making it 203). But go on to say you saved 2 more bytes, making it 219. I'm confused.
The fact you refunded the deposit alone should clear you of any responsibility, both financially and work-wise. Smart move there.
Ultimately this comes down to your contract with them. You did have them agree to a contract detailing everything right??
Although some will say a contract is worth as much as the paper it's written on (or how much one is willing to pay a prosecutor) it's still smart to outline expectations from both sides before beginning work.
I'm curious though -- define "insane amount of money".
Also, what went wrong? Unmet expectations? Better offer come along? Burn out?
Well, they're asking me to pay like 5 times the original amount I charged them and this only came after like 6 months since I refunded them the deposit.
As for what went wrong, it's a case of both having a better offer (work at a startup) and burn out from bad experiences with other clients.
No, unfortunately refunding the deposit doesn't necessarily clear him of liability. If I say I'm going to do something, and I don't, I can't always get out of the situation by saying "let's pretend I never made a commitment."
That said, I doubt it's as bad as he fears. He needs a lawyer.
I actually enjoy your version of the hat icon better! Great job.
This is good advice. People learning to become designers get hung up in the creativity portion, then falter with creating anything at all.
Don't forget that the majority of people see computers as tools or vehicles, and just like you have to fill your gas tank from time to time with expensive gas, they think it's perfectly normal to pay for software regularly, even when it doesn't offer new features. Just keeping it going costs money. That the upgrade from CS5.5 to CS6 is a 'Critical security vulnerability fix' is a detail most users won't even notice.
That's just like saying you should pay for car repairs when a faulty design of the cruise control made you loose control of it and crash into something.
