Camelot

Sometimes when you buy a piece of software you get access to it in multiple formats. Which might make you wonder why the iPad version of Camelot must be purchased separately from the desktop version.

It’s NOT because the apps are significantly different. They’re not. Camelot is the same in both versions, and you can move Camelot Setlists and Songs and Scenes between the two versions easily.

“Fine,” we hear you thinking, “then….why the separate purchases?”

It's a good question. And we have a good answer, in fact, we have TWO very good reasons that is the case.

1. Anything for iPad brings Apple directly into the equation. iPad products are sold through Apple’s App Store, and the licensing system is entirely different for iPad products.
2. Our desktop versions include compatibility with both macOS and Windows. But there is quite a bit of time and work consumed in creating these compatibilities, fixing bugs in them, and maintaining them as the operating systems are developed and change. There’s a programmer with a desperate look in his eye that does all this work, and he keeps himself locked away in a dark room lit only by the glow of his screen. And, we have to tell you, it costs a lot to keep a steady stream of pizza and coffee flowing into that little room all day and all night, day after day after day. Would YOU deny a programmer his pizza OR his coffee? No, of course not, and we can’t either. That could be dangerous.

So, there you have the two perfectly fine reasons that we really have no choice but to have iPad and desktop versions of Camelot be separate purchases at different prices. We don’t like boring you with all of this nitty-gritty and sad programmer stories, but you are perfectly reasonable in asking why we charge you for your hard-earned money twice for what you think of as the same application. But you have to admit, it’s pretty darned cool to be able to build setlists at home in your studio and then play live using just an iPad. And then, when you suddenly have a Big Gig that really counts, be able to take your laptop instead and have everything be exactly as it is on your iPad. I mean, you know, that IS awesome.

We do try not to make the financial hit too hard and to make sure you are really, really getting your money’s worth. Because we are hoping to be able to go home and take our life partners out to dinner this weekend so that they’ll forgive us for spending so much time taking training classes in Wild Programmer Taming to keep Camelot compatibility on track. (Oh, he looks calm enough sitting in front of his monitor screen, but wait until the coffee runs out one day…) You can hardly blame us for that.