Subscriptions unreliable!
Why is it that with each new issue I am obliged to re-enter my credentials before I can access the mag? I can see that it needs me to, effectively, login, but why is it so primitive? I can login to my banking and other apps using TouchId or (on my iPhone) FaceId, so why not this app too? Shoddy!
Show less
Absolutely awful, and a huge energy hog
FIrst, this app is a HUGE waste of energy. My M1 MacBook Air is normally completely cold as it sits on my knee, whatever I run. With this app running it very quickly became so hot I had to lift it up to avoid being scorched! That might be OK for an app doing some serious work, but is absolutely unforgiveable in an app that does rather less (and does it a great deal worse!) than the Preview app. For that reason alone I would recommend you don't bother downloading this app.
But that is just a part of the problem. This Mac app doesn't make reading the magazine a nice experience, even though the iPad app version is not too bad. If this is the "enhanced reading experience" bragged about in the App Store page, then I struggle to imagine how dreadful it must have been before being improved!
The magazine page is, of course, always in portrait orientation, whereas my Mac's screen is always landscape, , so this is always going to be a compromise. Yet even in full-screen mode, instead of letting you use at least the full height of your Mac's screen, the app shows the magazine in a small window, only about 2/3 the height of the screen, with everything else black surround. It's like trying to read a newspaper through the wrong end of a telesccope - or, if you magnify the text, a keyhole - bonkers! If you want to read the magazine electronically, do it on your iPad - it's a much less frustrating experience!
But that is just a part of the problem. This Mac app doesn't make reading the magazine a nice experience, even though the iPad app version is not too bad. If this is the "enhanced reading experience" bragged about in the App Store page, then I struggle to imagine how dreadful it must have been before being improved!
The magazine page is, of course, always in portrait orientation, whereas my Mac's screen is always landscape, , so this is always going to be a compromise. Yet even in full-screen mode, instead of letting you use at least the full height of your Mac's screen, the app shows the magazine in a small window, only about 2/3 the height of the screen, with everything else black surround. It's like trying to read a newspaper through the wrong end of a telesccope - or, if you magnify the text, a keyhole - bonkers! If you want to read the magazine electronically, do it on your iPad - it's a much less frustrating experience!
Show less
Charged but not able to download
I am not one to write a review but I am so frustrated with this app. I have tried on numerous occasions to download the latest magazine but apart from being charged each time, I am never able to download it. Not great!
Excellent value and highly informative
I bought a couple of magazines at the tail end of last year and found them to be excellent. There’s loads of useful info and the journalism is enjoyable to read as well as being informative. It was a no brainier therefore to become a digital subscriber...£8.99 for six months is excellent value for money. Try it yourself, you just might surprise yourself.
Show less
Much improved
The new app (October 2020) is much improved after switching from Pixelmags to Pocketmags. I can now download and read the issues going back to when I first started to subscribe.
Unreliable with no support
Fine while it worked but magazine downloads have stopped working halfway through my annual subscription and Pixelmags support aren’t responding, so I’m paying for a service that I’m not receiving. I’d give no stars if this were possible.
NO USE FOR NZ
Pointless app!! Cheers
Trashed by latest update
Was halfway through reading last year's Car Of The Year special edition. Opened the app today to find myself forced onto a purchase screen with no explanation and no way back to my content. Had to manually check my automatic update history to find out the app had been updated. It then forced me to register with them to continue using the app, only to then find my downloaded content had been deleted and I now need to pay to purchase the magazine I was halfway through reading.
As if that's not crap enough, the "new format" magazine is just a cheap digitised copy of the paper layout instead of the far better bespoke digital layout they used to used.
Am now deleting this cheap, lazy app. If you really want something photoshopped from the print layout instead of genuinely designed for iPad, and a magazine that removes your downloaded content then expects you to pay to get it back, this'll do. For a quality app, look elsewhere.
As if that's not crap enough, the "new format" magazine is just a cheap digitised copy of the paper layout instead of the far better bespoke digital layout they used to used.
Am now deleting this cheap, lazy app. If you really want something photoshopped from the print layout instead of genuinely designed for iPad, and a magazine that removes your downloaded content then expects you to pay to get it back, this'll do. For a quality app, look elsewhere.
Show less
Big disappointment and a rip-off
Potential buyers should be warned - the Buyers Guide in this online version gives only a fraction of the information available in the print copy. Only recommended models appear for each class and full information is not available even for them.
The online version isn't cheaper - so it's a bit of a rip off.
The online version isn't cheaper - so it's a bit of a rip off.
Show less
Not for me
It's obvious that a lot of effort has gone into this app, but somehow the navigation system misses the mark with me. It's very much like finding your way around a maze, except that it won't always let you go back, so a wrong turn means pressing on. It also seems light on content in comparison with the print version, or perhaps I just couldn't find everything in there. I think I must be better suited to conventional layouts.
Show less
