Nice looking app .. refinements needed
Firstly overall this is a potentially nice app but initially I found it very frustrating as I was expecting to be able to access the written articles as well.. I have since realised these are only available outside of the app. This is a shame but now I know I’ll just have to work around that. The two gripes I do have are 1. Please normalise the volume across different articles. I listened to several articles no problem and then one was at a much lower volume level.. So much so that on bone conduction headphones out in the open I had to stop and wait until I was back home. 2. The play banner at the bottom of the screen is far too big i so not need a permanent play panel overlaying up to 20% of the screen. Much better to have a decent sized tap toggle button to show/hide this panel. The app feels to me like it has been put together by someone with little UI/UX experience … please put yourself in the head of the user not the designer. In many ways I’m not sure what advantage this app now provides over a standard podcast approach As always the tortoise content itself is pretty good albeit quite expensive
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Bold bright but ..
First impressions are positive . I enjoy the big bold interfaces and though still navigating through the new app it feels a more enjoyable experience than before . I don’t seem to have all my previous saved material which is disappointing but hopefully I’ll get it back soon .
It’s a job well done but as one of those blokes who used to flick through legions of CDs at HMV on Oxford Street what i would like to able to locate and search more easily is all the back catalogue of material . This maybe several years old now but still I think very relevant and testimony to the fine reporting that exists at Tortoise media .
It’s a job well done but as one of those blokes who used to flick through legions of CDs at HMV on Oxford Street what i would like to able to locate and search more easily is all the back catalogue of material . This maybe several years old now but still I think very relevant and testimony to the fine reporting that exists at Tortoise media .
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Disappointing Upgrade
Although the app looks better the player is disappointing.
Now you have a choice of 3 playback speeds, 0.5, 1x or 2x. I like to play my podcasts faster and I like more granular control. 2x is too fast for me. I usually sit around 1.5x and then slow it down if someone has a particularly strong accent. My usual podcast player I can change it in stages of 0.1. This would be much better. To say the app is biased towards listening now and then to launch it with a player that lacks the basics of other players lacks thought and planning. Maybe they should’ve asked their subscribers what they wanted. The contact button in app also does not open my email app, it tells me I need to install Mail and takes me straight to the App Store and the Apple mail app page. 🤦♂️
Now you have a choice of 3 playback speeds, 0.5, 1x or 2x. I like to play my podcasts faster and I like more granular control. 2x is too fast for me. I usually sit around 1.5x and then slow it down if someone has a particularly strong accent. My usual podcast player I can change it in stages of 0.1. This would be much better. To say the app is biased towards listening now and then to launch it with a player that lacks the basics of other players lacks thought and planning. Maybe they should’ve asked their subscribers what they wanted. The contact button in app also does not open my email app, it tells me I need to install Mail and takes me straight to the App Store and the Apple mail app page. 🤦♂️
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Response from developer
Thank you, Sean, for your feedback. We appreciate your suggestions and have forwarded your comments to our development team, and they will be incorporating more granular audio controls in a future release. Additionally, we are actively working on implementing a new contact solution to address the inconvenience of requiring Apple Mail to be installed on your phone. We value your input and are committed to continuously improving our app based on user feedback.
Slow is good
News at a pace that encourages discernment, discretion and deliberation. Of which the world is in dire need. Nice work…
Highly recommended!
If you want to read considered, well-researched news and current affairs writing that avoids sensationalism and hype, Tortoise is where you should look. As a member, you can get involved in discussions (called Think-Ins) with commentators, politicians, business people and so on. It’s a terrific antidote to the headlong rush of 24-hour news.
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The news app I want
A news app that does not overwhelm me with “breaking news” and focuses on analyzing what’s going on in the world, what are the agendas and what are the main topics/issues being discussed all around the world.
I just love opening Tortoise at the end of my day and try to understand what’s going on in the world. Also, I love the different thinkins (seminars) available that focuses on different topics featuring comopetent individuals in their profession.
I just love opening Tortoise at the end of my day and try to understand what’s going on in the world. Also, I love the different thinkins (seminars) available that focuses on different topics featuring comopetent individuals in their profession.
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A more considered and creative take on the world
Tortoise offers quality journalism that takes a step back from the daily news grind. It covers the issues, but with wider context and greater verve. The writing is of high quality and the audio essays are brilliant sound pictures. There could be improvements in the amount of quality photography on display, and the Today section of the app is a bit of a presentational mess. But none of that detracts from the fact Tortoise has become a must read (and listen).
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Good articles - if you manage to access them!
I came across an excellent article by Alistair Campbell about Brexit, and wanted to share it. After sharing it a couple of times I started getting notices from Tortoise and decided to join.
Their sign-up form requires a lot of information, I can’t see why a newspaper site would need to know all that. In the end it didn’t matter all that much - after about 2 minutes, it told me that my membership had expired and I needed to renew it.
Don’t think I’ll bother. If they want subscribers - perhaps they should make it easier to subscribe, at the moment it seems to be more trouble than it’s worth.
Their sign-up form requires a lot of information, I can’t see why a newspaper site would need to know all that. In the end it didn’t matter all that much - after about 2 minutes, it told me that my membership had expired and I needed to renew it.
Don’t think I’ll bother. If they want subscribers - perhaps they should make it easier to subscribe, at the moment it seems to be more trouble than it’s worth.
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Response from developer
Hi, I am really sorry to hear about the trouble you had with this. If you would be interested in trying again please do get in touch at memberhelp@tortoisemedia.com and we would be happy to help you.
Unbelievably London-centric and smug
I’m an Oxbridge-educated former journalist and now between a politics masters and PhD that will straddle wellbeing economics, politics and social epidemiology. So you might think I’m just the sort of person Tortoise might appeal to. But it doesn’t appeal to me.
I’ve attended a couple of digital “think-ins” and webinars and that’s plenty. It’s mainstream in the worst way. It doesn’t think radically enough [in any direction] and so it appears stale and self-satisfied. I think they mean well but they just can’t help themselves. Matthew D’Ancona is involved. Nuff said. The first month is free but I’ll be cancelling before the £10 gets debited for month 2!
I’ve attended a couple of digital “think-ins” and webinars and that’s plenty. It’s mainstream in the worst way. It doesn’t think radically enough [in any direction] and so it appears stale and self-satisfied. I think they mean well but they just can’t help themselves. Matthew D’Ancona is involved. Nuff said. The first month is free but I’ll be cancelling before the £10 gets debited for month 2!
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Journalism we need now
I am an American who supported this new journalistic approach through Kickstarter. I appreciate the unvarnished approach and it’s attempt to tell a truth that needs to be heard.
