Heartfelt Thanks from a VoiceOver user!
Response from developer
Rachael, glad to hear you're getting value out of the Accessibility additions we made! We're about to release a new version that has a bunch of VoiceOver tweaks. I don't believe I saw your feedback; can you resend it, please? (to info@standalone.com). Thanks!
The Best Gets Better
When I use any other crossword app, I miss features that this one has. The dual clues. Rubbing to move through the word. Tapping the clue to change direction. Easy imports of several formats. There’s just nothing as good.
The built-in sources are good although I miss several that are no more. It would be nice to be able to define new sources for sites that regularly post puzzles but I realize the complexities of dealing with random providers. And every other app only has one (its own) source.
The developers are responsive to feedback and have been quick to correct problems lately.
If you want to be able to solve crosswords on a phone or iPad, this is the app to get. It will spoil you for all others.
Response from developer
Thanks for the feedback! We are trying to clean up and streamline the UI, but sometimes we went too far. The new build restores the Browse the Web and All Clues items. You can access Check Square, Check Word, and Check Puzzle from the Hints screen, accessed by long-pressing on a square. Finally, we added back the non-standard character popups on the keyboard. We’re still working on the calendar interface. Thanks for sticking with us!
Update 10/26
Response from developer
Thanks for the feedback! The newest release allows you to change the font sizes (two finger press on an area to modify the font), and we hear you about the confirmation alerts and puzzle sizes in the list.
New update fixes bugs but removed features
First, “check word” is gone leaving only “check puzzle”.
Gone is “browse the web”. I
Know I can save from a web browser but this was convenient.
The method to type non-letter characters is gone. Admittedly this isn’t needed much and maybe users didn’t know how but I do and I miss it.
I can’t differentiate on the Older Puzzles calendar days that are completely loaded and ones that aren’t. Does it show? Can one still long-hold to force reloading puzzles?
Not crazy about the clues being split into across and down. It’s nice to be able to get to the down clues, but I’d like them all in one scroll so I could read them all in clue order, but I see how switching between across and down scrolled down to a region could be useful. Maybe add an All button too?
I’m glad to see some updates though I don’t like the new look as much as the old, but I’m sure I’ll get used to that. And rebus squares seem to work now. And, most of all, it remembers which direction you were typing when you re-enter the app! (The bug that has always been there that vexed me every single day.)
But the capricious and arbitrary removal of features is jarring. I’m hoping some of them grow back.
It’s still the best crossword app but it could be- and perhaps already was- better.
Response from developer
Thanks for the feedback! We are trying to clean up and streamline the UI, but sometimes we went too far. The new build restores the Browse the Web and All Clues items. You can access Check Square, Check Word, and Check Puzzle from the Hints screen, accessed by long-pressing on a square. Finally, we added back the non-standard character popups on the keyboard. We’re still working on the calendar interface. Thanks for sticking with us!
Best
Response from developer
The auto-advance issue should have been addressed in the most recent build. I haven’t seen the delete issue you mentioned, but we’ll take a look. If you have any more problems, you can quickly reach us via the support link in the Settings. Thanks!
