r/TheBYOK

This has been the most requested thing on our roadmap for a long time, so I'm happy to finally say it: Studio now runs as a real desktop app on Mac and Windows. It's in open beta starting today, and we're planning the public release soon.

You can grab it here: https://byok.io/studio/desktop?utm_source=reddit

A few things worth spelling out:

The offline (or local) version of the desktop app is 100% free on both platforms and you can install it on as many computers as you want. You don't even need to create an account. It includes all of Studio's writing features, even the ones that are premium on the web app and mobile app (manuscript, grid, wiki, outline, cards, etc.), and everything works with no internet connection at all.

The only thing that requires a subscription is syncing. If you want the desktop app to sync across your devices, or you want your BYOK to sync directly to the desktop app over Wi-Fi, that's the paid part (since that is what actually costs us money to run). The existing Studio subscription already covers this. If you're subscribed, just open Account › Sync in the desktop app and sign in, and your library comes down and stays in step with the web app, mobile app, and your BYOK. No new subscription is being introduced. In effect, they are all one app, just on different devices.

For BYOK owners who aren't subscribed: plug your BYOK in (disk mode) or pop in its microSD card, and the desktop app will run a local one-way sync with it. Free, no account needed. And the BYOK still syncs to the web app and mobile app for free like it always has.

The beta has been stable in our testing, but this is the first time it's leaving our controlled environment, so expect some rough edges. A couple of things I'd ask:

- Back up anything you can't afford to lose before you start (Account › Sync › Back up in the app). The whole library goes into one file.

- Updates install themselves, so when we fix something it'll show up without you reinstalling anything. Your beta install carries straight through to the public release too.

- If you find a bug, the easiest thing is to open the menu in the app and choose Report Bug. That files a ticket with your version attached so we don't have to ask.

Two platform notes:

Windows: you'll most likely see a blue "Windows protected your PC" screen the first time. Click "More info," check that the publisher says BYOK LLC, then "Run anyway." The installer is signed. That screen is just Microsoft's SmartScreen, which warns about any newly published app until enough people have installed it. It goes away on its own.

Mac: signed and notarized, so nothing to approve. There are separate downloads for Apple silicon and Intel (Apple menu › About This Mac if you're not sure which you have).

If you want to talk to us while we're actively fixing things, the beta is running live in our Discord: https://discord.gg/m2sEw8ATmv. We're reading everything there and pushing fixes as they come in!

Hi! I bought my BYOK some two months ago. It's an awesome device, feels great to use. But I can't fully use it because it does not yet support Russian. So I was wondering about the state of language support. Are there any estimates as to when certain language will be implemented?

Was very excited to hear the news that there's a Studio desktop app in the works! My only question is, do I need to have a Studio Lifetime subscription to use it, or will it be free for all BYOK users?

Also, if anyone can tell me how to become a beta tester, do let me know!

Hi all,

Just a heads up that we've pushed out a new firmware update for the BYOK. It fixes a disk mode issue created with version 1.2 but also improves overall disk mode behavior. Disk mode on mac computers should behave much better and be more reliable than previous versions.

In addition, we've tweaked some other things such as the LED brightness and how the BYOK is labeled on your computer. Feel free to read the full patch notes here: https://byok.io/firmware

All the best,
Nick

BYOK Team,

I ordered an accessory, and you sent a whole BYOK. I messaged you via email. But I'm posting here since I'm not sure the customer service email will go directly to Nick. It seems to be a glitch in your ordering system.

As I wait for my BYOK, I've started using Studio. At the moment I don't plan on paying the premium, as I do my outlining and note taking in a way that is much more messy and hand-crafted. So it would just suffocate me to have to use the Outline or Grid or the other tools (it's also the reason why I can't get into Scrivener).

The interface, though, is pretty nice. So I've moved to writing my fiction there, just text files.

What I would like to see, though, is the ability to share a limited-permission link to individual text files, or whole projects, to an outside, unauthenticated user (or authenticated, sure, although it would make it easier to share with beta readers).

I could simply export it, send it out and then manually work through any comments, but it's incredibly tedious and error prone. Having a possibility, like in google docs, to give out a safe, limited access link with only viewer or viewer+commenter permissions would be awesome. And it would set Studio a notch above other similar products, in my opinion.

It's really great for beta readers, editors, or even co-authorship situations.