***Updating from 2 stars to 4 stars*** Spring 2025 After receiving a response from the developer, and redownloading the app, I find that I can now access the content of the given hour of prayer. (previously I was unable to access the hourly chant without first creating an account, but I think that this problem was fixed by updating my iPad to the latest version - something I’m often loathe to do; but that is no fault of the developer). The app is as described, and is indeed the only accessible recording of all of the chants. And to have it sung by the faithful of this Benedictine community is another triumph for the app. There is also a download feature for any given chant; but it seems you cannot download a full day at a time, or a full week at a time. Being in an industry which sends me to odd places in the world and often on flights and on ships without internet, it would be an incredible feature to include (I realize 9000 hours of recordings can’t fit onto any normal device; and it might take a lot of work to create some sort of alternative where only a few days or a week could be downloaded at a time). ***But now I will also include a bit of criticism. While it is a blessing (and I mean it, this work is momentous), the price of $7.99 per month to access everything is something I am unwilling to do. For that I would need professional recordings. And while the recordings are good; it is several notches down from professional, both the quality of the recording itself, and the quality of the singing. It is beautiful, reverent, and to be there in person would be divine. But I cannot justify paying $7.99 per month to continually have access. I would pay $1.00 for the rest of my life; but as it stands, for $7.99 I can purchase a premium music subscription, or I could buy a premium sheetmusic subscription; or for $50 I could own forever several hundreds of hours of chant and follow it with a $10 book which I own, and never need to pay again, or to lose service when I’m offline. *** All of this to say; as a free app, its really fantastic. I am very thankful for it. I would give it 5 stars if this were only a free app with the free features. But since the app contains so much promise, with such a hefty recurring price, without ever owning anything; simply renting the ability to listen, I will keep the review at 4 stars.***** Below you will see my previous 2 star review from a month or so ago: Please excuse this low-review, but I think I have good reasons. I will haply upgrade my review to 4 stars if it was possible to at least sample it without having to pay. I would increase to 5 Stars if I could purchase content outright (instead of paying a subscription - happy to pay more for more content as it is released). Once you download the app, you will find that you are unable to listen to or view anything until you have created an account. You cannot sign in with Apple ID, but must create an account manually. Then you must wait (apparently) until the exact time that the particular mass or chant you wish to listen to occurs in real time. That is to say, it is currently 7:17am and I am unable to access any of the content. In order to access any of it even to sample, I must pay $7.99 just to try it for one month. This resource description is amazing. I would love to give it a try. But I’m not interested in a subscription model in which I do not own the rights and to which I could lose them at any time (such as when I am deployed by the military without internet for months - or at the whim of anyone who gains control of the app in the future who doesn’t have the heart of the creators and decides to place more restrictions on its use. I have seen it happen to other apps). Dear Brothers and Sisters of the Abbey; I respectfully request you make this app less money-centric. A laborer is worthy of his wages. Please offer 1)Samples to any user who downloads. 2) The ability to purchase forever music with options to purchase more as it is released or new features are added. 3) An option to donate on a recurring basis [which I would also happily do!]. Blessings - J. Michael
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Response from developer
You can follow the offices hour by hour and day by day with a free account. Yes, internet is required, but we feel this is the best way to offer the liturgy as widely as possible to those who use it to pray meanwhile offering a paid service that can support the communities and cover some of the cost of creating and maintaining the app itself.