Notifications often go nowhere!
When a breaking news or time sensitive alert pops up on my iPhone, I’m often eager to read the content. Sometimes I’m just of luck. Please link to article referenced! Sometimes the content is visible off the top level page, and sometimes, well I am out of luck. Sad that the Observer is only a backup for local news instead of my first choice like back in the day. Small things matter.
Show less
Response from developer
We are sorry for the issues you are experiencing. Our developers are working on an update that will correct the issues you have been experiencing. Thank you.
Thank you! Update!
The new app looks incredible! The layout, the colors, excellent. Us old folks that have IPhone 8 running iOS 15.5 still can’t load the feed. But it’s all good! Thank You for all that you do! Thank you for the new update! Apple’s Private Relay(Beta)Fix! I appreciate you!!!
Error fetching feeds
This is easily the worst app I have ever tried to use. Sure, it’s swell to get news notifications on my phone, but when I click them to read I get nothing but spinning. Home feed doesn’t work and never has. Have tried clearing cache, deleting the app and reinstalling, praying to the Spaghetti Monster…you name it. I just want to read the f’n news. I’m going to delete the app again and rely on WCNC notifications for local news, because this is pointless. Get a grip, Mcclatchy - when even the Gaston Gazette can put out a better app than you can, you’ve got issues!
Show less
Response from developer
We are aware of an issue where Private Relay is affecting the app to fetch feeds, and are working to resolve this. In the meantime, go to Settings and disable Private Relay and the news feed should reappear.
Badly needs updating
The app is pretty clunky. Is seems like anytime I click a link in any article to read another article that it is referring to I am always asked to sign up for a subscription or continue to log in. The thing is that I am already a paid subscriber and obviously logged in. Also they repeat the same article over and over to inflate the appearance of their reporting. Come on gang, get it together.
Show less
Horrible Update
Update: Still the worst news app I have. I get popups with “breaking news,” click on the popup, and then it slowly loads the app homepage. Never goes to said article.
Edit: Still one star. I reinstalled as requested, and it’s still horrible. I was also asked to contact them, which I did not do. Not sure how any outreach would fix a bad app. Pop ups do not open when tapped on. App freezes for no reason. I appreciate the need for updates, but this was not tested well before rollout.
Edit: Still one star. I reinstalled as requested, and it’s still horrible. I was also asked to contact them, which I did not do. Not sure how any outreach would fix a bad app. Pop ups do not open when tapped on. App freezes for no reason. I appreciate the need for updates, but this was not tested well before rollout.
Show less
Response from developer
Thank you for your feedback, there is an issue with push notifications, which we are working to resolve, there will be a version release coming to address this issue.
Killed the app with a refresh
Their latest refresh of the app made it useless. Pages don’t load and when they do, the front pages of the app has stories that are months old. It’s like they forgot that the app exists. Update: clear browser cache, they said. Installed on a brand new iPhone, cleared the cache, and I got “error fetching feed”. Everything else on the internet works fine. As far as old articles, whatever is being used as a date index isn’t working. Some of the articles seem to be undated in the database, so they never age off. A clear sign of that is articles that say “0 months ago” in the caption.
Phone models: iPhone XS with iOS 14.8, iPhone 13 with iOS 15.
Phone models: iPhone XS with iOS 14.8, iPhone 13 with iOS 15.
Show less
Response from developer
We apologize that the issue was not resolved. Could you please provide the iPhone model and IOS version you are using? Thank you.
Good content. Terrible App
Given the challenges of local journalism in the digital age, I really enjoy the content of the Observer and feel Charlotte is lucky to have it.
But speaking of the digital age, the app itself is very poor. Half of the time it goes into an “infinite load”, just sitting there spinning. About one out of four times it hangs up. Notifications of new articles arrive before they are even loaded in the app.
Beta versions of apps generally are better than the execution of this app. If McClatchy wants to survive in the digital age, it better deliver a better app. (Note: I am a paying subscriber.)
But speaking of the digital age, the app itself is very poor. Half of the time it goes into an “infinite load”, just sitting there spinning. About one out of four times it hangs up. Notifications of new articles arrive before they are even loaded in the app.
Beta versions of apps generally are better than the execution of this app. If McClatchy wants to survive in the digital age, it better deliver a better app. (Note: I am a paying subscriber.)
Show less
Response from developer
Thank you for your feedback and apologize for your experience with the app. Our development team is aware of an issue affecting some users and are working to get this resolved.
Delighted
I’m delighted with navigation on this app as well as the content provided. I moved to Charlotte last month and subscribed to CO this past week. I’m pleased with the local, state, national and international news coverage that’s provided plus the extra sports coverage - NFL, college, PGA and more.
App Doesn’t Work
Recent upgrade was either slow to load are would crash constantly; rarely could work. Uninstalled and reinstalled and worked a bit better. But got notice today that I needed to download new version. Well…did but app only pulls up with message that says I need to download the new update. Uninstall and reinstalled again but no go. Can’t get screen to anything else but “upgrade screen”. As to new format, not really sure what all the blue icons that categorize the segments…looks like a 5th grader web design. The embedded ads also look cheap. Y’all can do better.
Show less
Response from developer
Please delete and reinstall the app. If that does not correct the issue please send an email to customerservice@charlotteobserver.com for assistance, Thank you!
Poor upgrade notice.
Tried to open app and a notice appeared indicating there was an updated version. Clicked on the upgrade button and was taken to a page where the Island Packet of Hilton Head could be downloaded. No new app for the Charlotte Observer in app store. No way at this point to open the Charlotte Observer app or to upgrade the app. Don’t you developers test these changes before they go live?
Show less
