Half-Staff is a utility app for iOS that tracks U.S. and state-level flag status and half-staff proclamations.
The App DNA
What makes this app unique?
The app serves users who need to maintain compliance with official flag display codes, but the failure of the notification system prevents the app from fulfilling this job-to-be-done.
For Government employees, military personnel, and institutional users responsible for flag display protocols.
What does it look like?
Key features
Displays current U.S. and state flag status immediately upon launch.
Sends alerts for U.S. and state-level half-staff proclamations.
Supports status tracking for the U.S. flag, all 50 states, D.C., and 5 territories.
How much does it cost?
The $1.99 paid model fails to provide value because the core notification service is broken and the app has not been updated in years.
Velocity
Dormant developmentShow more...
Half-Staff has remained inactive for over four years, with no updates or feature releases since its initial launch. The development momentum is non-existent, as the app has not received any maintenance or content updates in 1,688 days. There is no evidence of ongoing support or operational activity for this application.
Who built it?
User Sentiment
What do users think recently?
Review voice lately leans upset.
How are ratings & reviews evolving?
What users say, by theme
- Automated notifications fail to trigger for half-staff events, leaving users unaware of required flag changes
19 of 19 recent reviews analyzed · moderate confidence · Upset overall
Read the full review analysisUnlock 2 more frustration themes and 1 user request, each backed by review evidence.
Access the full report for freeCompetition
Competitive landscape for Half-Staff
How's the Utilities market?
Half-Staff occupies a niche utility space for flag protocol compliance, but its market position is effectively null due to 1,688 days of inactivity. The $1.99 price point is no longer justified as the app fails to deliver the real-time data accuracy required by its target audience.
Read the market outlookThe rivals identified
Unlock the deeper market read.
Access the full report for freeThe Analyst's Read
Key takeaways for Half-Staff
Where is it heading?
The outlook for Half-Staff is non-existent, as the product has been abandoned for over four years. Without a shift to a sustainable maintenance model, the app will continue to erode its reputation until it is removed from the store.
- The app has been dormant for over 1,600 days, leading to a total failure of the notification system and data accuracy.
- Users report that the paid version displays advertisements, which compounds the frustration caused by the broken core utility.
The SWOT
- Multi-jurisdiction tracking covers 56 U.S. entities
- Institutional market remains underserved by reliable alternatives
Next best moves
Sunset the application because the notification engine is non-functional and the codebase is dormant → prevent further negative brand impact
The counter-intuitive read
The app's failure is not a technical bug but a business model mismatch…
Read the full takeBottom line
Half-Staff is a defunct utility that fails its core promise of timely compliance alerts. The developer should sunset the product, as the current state of data inaccuracy and broken notifications renders the $1.99 purchase a source of user frustration rather than utility.
Unlock 3 critical frictions, 2 market threats and the analyst’s take.
Access the full report for freeFAQ
Is Half-Staff still receiving updates for flag status changes?
Does Half-Staff work for all U.S. states?
Are there advertisements in the paid version of Half-Staff?
Sources
- [1] App Store, source
Report last updated