If you can, do if you can’t, teach
Generally, an underwhelming app. It requires updating often or it will not work. The screen layout is difficult on a reasonably sized phone. Features seem to come and go at random.
At one time, one could put in sick time on the app if you were a member of the salary staff. It was awkward and difficult because of poor user interface design, but it could be done
Evidently, you no longer can do so.
The live chat agent I interacted with was pleasant and professional, albeit clueless about the issue I was having. This is, of course, industry standard these days. A ”ticket” has been opened.
One might expect better technical competence from one of the finest technical universities in the world. One would be disappointed in that expectation.
At one time, one could put in sick time on the app if you were a member of the salary staff. It was awkward and difficult because of poor user interface design, but it could be done
Evidently, you no longer can do so.
The live chat agent I interacted with was pleasant and professional, albeit clueless about the issue I was having. This is, of course, industry standard these days. A ”ticket” has been opened.
One might expect better technical competence from one of the finest technical universities in the world. One would be disappointed in that expectation.
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The app has serious problems but Support will help if asked
I first wrote a complaint with a grade of 1 star. The app failed repeatedly when I tried to get a copy of my alumni ID with no explanation, just “try later” for days. Someone in Support eventually delved deeper and found the problem. I am very grateful to that individual, and I hope the developers will look into such issues and provide better info to the users. I will gladly upgrade my review if I ever get my ID!
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Doesn’t Work and Never Has
MIT has successfully done amazing things, like create a color out of nanotubes that blocks 99.85% of light reflection, and use the CRISPR-Cas9 enzyme to edit the genetic code in humans. However, some problems are so intractable they can elude even the most intelligent researchers and scientists of our generation, and that includes the problem of how to use one’s phone as a keycard to unlock doors on campus, apparently.
You’d think this would be simple compared to, oh, inventing radar technology, but guess which one MIT has done successfully? (Hint: it’s an acronym for RAdio Detection And Ranging)
Anyway, if you like exchanging multiple emails and phone calls with university IT support technicians, or if you like endlessly waving your phone at unresponsive card readers in the freezing cold, this is the app for you!
You’d think this would be simple compared to, oh, inventing radar technology, but guess which one MIT has done successfully? (Hint: it’s an acronym for RAdio Detection And Ranging)
Anyway, if you like exchanging multiple emails and phone calls with university IT support technicians, or if you like endlessly waving your phone at unresponsive card readers in the freezing cold, this is the app for you!
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Terrible App
Got this app for easy Atlas access as an employee, but the app is absolutely useless for that. It has none of the features the web app has. Why even bother
Why make me update just for commencement
Being sent into a loop of “commencement requires app update”
I update the app
The app still says I need an app update
I can’t update the app because it’s updated.
Why put commencement info a week before the ceremonies behind a wall like this?
I update the app
The app still says I need an app update
I can’t update the app because it’s updated.
Why put commencement info a week before the ceremonies behind a wall like this?
Does not work on PC
Does not work on PC. Can’t update either.
Clunky
App seems a bit clunky and difficult to use when first signing in. The multi-factor authentication screens don’t handle autocomplete from email or text message correctly and only enter the first character, which forces you to go undelete the message to find the code and enter it manually. Then the screen for setting up a password doesn’t recognize dashes or periods as symbols for the complexity requirements. Kinda a bummer.
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I don't want any app
Forcing faculty to use App for basic tasks like appointing RAs and TAs is just a dumb design. I am ashamed that we (MIT EECS) could not even vet a competent contractor for this job.
Alleged Functionality Isn’t There
Half of the things you are supposed to be able to do aren’t there. Terrible support
Pretty good school
Their CS is not bad for sure
Great app experience for 20 months
I enjoyed this app for 20 months while completing my EMBA. It was especially useful for getting and transferring my digital ID and commencement.
Love the Tech adoption.
This makes the Campus fully interactive.
Love it!
Love it!
30 minutes is too much
Waiting 30min in front of the door is stupid. Today it took even more than that, so I was productive enough to send this review.
App does not tell you covid test results
When you receive your covid results the app gives the same notification for a positive test and a negative test. This means you actually need to go into the app to check which you likely wouldn’t do as it is the same as the negative test.
Response from developer
Hi Kdmdjjdndn, Thanks for your comment. Unfortunately, because of privacy concerns we are not currently allowed to publish any medical data via a push notification. We will continue to try to make them as informative as possible! Thanks for the feedback. Atlas Team
stop the forced updates
This has been going on for months, and the developer promised a fix in October.
Response from developer
Hi Dvb57 - Just letting you know that we've made updates to prevent the frequent updates. There should not have been any forced updates despite new releases since beginning of December. Apologies for the inconvenience caused for the prior forced updates. Best, Atlas Team
Horrible
The constant forced updates for well over a year now are completely intolerable. Many times I go to the building I work in (at Lincoln Lab) and I cannot attest until I update. And when either my cell service or the server isn’t doing well, I have to go over to the main lab and use their ipads to attest. I just love it when I am forced to work late to make up for the lost time from this app. I know they claim this will be fixed, but it has been this way for so long I really doubt it will ever change. You would think MIT could build a decent app.
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Response from developer
Hi - Just letting you know that we've made updates to prevent the frequent updates. There should not have been any forced updates despite new releases since beginning of December. Apologies for the inconvenience caused for the prior forced updates. Best, Atlas Team
Can't use the app without first updating??
I have blocked app store in my phone, but unlike other apps that auto update, I have to manually update the Atlas app every few days so I can attest and get my covid pass. So I need to change settings every time to unblock my app store etc. just so I can update Atlas...why doesn't it automatically update like other apps, and is it possible to have less frequent cumulative updates? and/or be able to attest even if not updated to the latest version... thanks the app otherwise is great!
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Forced Updates, User Feedback Unheeded
I’m currently standing stranded outside of my lab for the 47th time this year because I, once again, had an (biweekly) update force on my app on the way to work and it took forever to load. If MIT can afford the cost of sending the research of every student and faculty member to a grinding halt every single time they add vanity features to the umbrella ATLAS app, then they should have the money to move COVIDPass to a separate app that won’t need to update every three days. Considering there are many, many reviews of this app here that all say basically the same thing, I don’t think they intend to any time soon either.
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Response from developer
Hi cartoonaddict12345 - Point taken about the updates! We are really sorry about those - we introduced a bug and only realized it once we pushed out a few updates. The bug unfortunately still exists in 1.7.3, so once we push out the version that fixes it there will be one more forced update. Really do appreciate the feedback and commit to ending the constant updates. Best, Atlas Team
COVID Pass Issues
the only notification i get is a 2 hour notification to redo my covid attestation. as someone that tries to redo the attestation at the same time everyday, it becomes difficult when the 2 hour notification is the only one i get. definitely would like to see a 30 min warning and/or notification that my covid pass has expired so i remember to do it on time
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Number and timing of updates
Please adopt a regular, predictable schedule for updates. It is super annoying to have to update when on a tight schedule, compounded by the fact that the update server frequently cannot be reached
And the nickname mechanics are quite moronic
And the nickname mechanics are quite moronic
Response from developer
Hi! We are very sorry for the forced updates. While we do release updates frequently, the idea was not to force everyone to update to the newest version. That is a bug, and we'll address it shortly. Wasn't quite sure what the nickname issue you are referring today? Can you provide some more information? Thanks again for the feedback, Atlas App Team
