Dark mode needs work
I use this often at night and when in bed, so I’ve got it set to dark mode, but the very first ‘new scientist’ screen is so bright it makes my eyes water and wakes my wife up ! Also, although I appreciate they are trying to maximise content there are an awful lot of insubstantial articles, often citing dodgy Chinese universities and researchers. It’s widely known in academic circles that Chinese academics and Chinese academic institutions don’t align with accepted norms of practice and often don’t allow Western academics review or allow them to assess or critique their findings, so why should their work be so widely disseminated here ? Answer: to create more content ? Or is it just more CCP soft power at work and money changing hands ? Either way, it doesn’t exactly fill me with confidence.
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Great app great articles
The best app I know for a magazine. Can easily download issues for public transport/flights. Audio reading of articles is genuinely much better than other app experiences. Very happy
Awesome
The articles, the overview, the audio option.. just great
Large font doesn’t work consistently
There is a setting to increase the font size for visually impaired people like me, but it does not increase the titles of the articles available via the various tabs eg “Latest”, “Space”, “Technology”. Instead the article titles listed on these pages vary from a few medium ones to tiny, which I assume is the size all other users get. If I can find an article and open it, the text size is enlarged correctly, but if you can’t browse the full selection to see what there is to read it’s pretty pointless.
Ironically, the page that contains “tools” where you find the accessibility settings to increase the font size only displays in tiny standard size font as well, even after you increase the setting to maximum. Similarly the menus along the bottom eg “home”, “magazine”, only display in the standard size.
This app has the potential to open up a whole world of information for visually impaired people, but it falls short when it comes to basic navigation.
Ironically, the page that contains “tools” where you find the accessibility settings to increase the font size only displays in tiny standard size font as well, even after you increase the setting to maximum. Similarly the menus along the bottom eg “home”, “magazine”, only display in the standard size.
This app has the potential to open up a whole world of information for visually impaired people, but it falls short when it comes to basic navigation.
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Quality reporting
I consume large amounts of information from the New Scientist.
The articles provide well explained summaries and updates that are pitched in a way that neither assume you know lots on the subject nor treat you like an idiot.
The editorial team do seem to know their subjects and care about the accuracy of content and its significance/relevance.
The app points me to hot news items as well as letting me wander off to explore themes. It is genuinely educational, and for someone in their late 50’s I’m enjoying that.
The articles provide well explained summaries and updates that are pitched in a way that neither assume you know lots on the subject nor treat you like an idiot.
The editorial team do seem to know their subjects and care about the accuracy of content and its significance/relevance.
The app points me to hot news items as well as letting me wander off to explore themes. It is genuinely educational, and for someone in their late 50’s I’m enjoying that.
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Subscriptions are muddled and infuriating - incredible content though
It‘s infuriating that App Store subscriptions don’t include online website access, they seem to have two completely different membership systems. I have an active subscription for App use but when I log in it vanishes so I can’t use the website.
And the page they have offering gift subscriptions doesn’t work at all - offers three levels of gift subscriptions but not of them are clickable and there is no buy button, its just a static page so you can’t buy any of them.
Magazines are always complaining of decreasing revenue and no money but they make it so hard to subscribe people just give up!
And the page they have offering gift subscriptions doesn’t work at all - offers three levels of gift subscriptions but not of them are clickable and there is no buy button, its just a static page so you can’t buy any of them.
Magazines are always complaining of decreasing revenue and no money but they make it so hard to subscribe people just give up!
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No magazine flow / no night mode
I read NS at night in bed. I am aware the app designers are working on night mode but it’s been months now. It’s galling that the FAQ section states it’s in the app.
Id also like a simple option to read through the all the articles in an issue from beginning to end. Currently, I have no idea if I’ve read all the items in a given week. The old app was very intuitive- swipe right for next article. I really don’t care of you just make a continuous article from beginning to end of the entire edition.
Update. Night vision has now been corrected. Thanks.
Id also like a simple option to read through the all the articles in an issue from beginning to end. Currently, I have no idea if I’ve read all the items in a given week. The old app was very intuitive- swipe right for next article. I really don’t care of you just make a continuous article from beginning to end of the entire edition.
Update. Night vision has now been corrected. Thanks.
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Response from developer
Night mode is now available on our app - to switch it on, please navigate to your settings. You are also able to read through all articles published in an individual issue. Locate the issue under the magazine tab, click on the first article and then swipe from right to left to move between articles. If you require more support, please email app@newscientist.com. Kind regards, New Scientist Customer Care
Great - but lost some features with new version
As has been mentioned elsewhere, this is an invaluable companion to a New Scientist subscription, offering all the articles but with links embedded and an audio version for selected articles. My only gripes are that the brilliant search facility disappeared in the redesign (can we have it back please?) and the ability to play an entire issue’s audio vanished with the latest release (12 Aug ‘22). Good to know it is always being improved.
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No search function
I was thinking about subscribing but given that the app has no search function to look for articles on a specific topic, I won’t get a subscription.
Update: I did find the search function but would like it to be placed in a more visible area. But I will reconsider getting a subscription now.
Update: I did find the search function but would like it to be placed in a more visible area. But I will reconsider getting a subscription now.
Response from developer
Thank you for your review. Your comments regarding the search feature have been passed to the relevant team. Best wishes, New Scientist Customer Care
App is nice but print version doesn’t arrive
The app is pretty good. What I dislike, though, is the unreliable delivery of the print version.
Issue arrived late by 2-3 weeks on average.
Issue arrived late by 2-3 weeks on average.
Response from developer
We are sorry that your print issue has not arrived. Please contact subscriptions@newscientist.com and they will be able to look into this. Kind regards, Customer Care
No more dark mode
Latest update no longer usable for reading the current magazine issue at night: for unknown reason, dark mode was removed.
Response from developer
Thank you for reviewing New Scientist App. We are planning to make night/dark mode available. However it took longer to develop than expected and is planned to be integrated into next phase of our app development. We would like to apologise for the delay and inconvenience this causes and hope you enjoy the app in the meantime. Kind regards Customer Care
A very significant improvement
I am, here, reviewing the new application (not the publication), and I am very pleased to find that it has been vastly improved from the previous version. I am very grateful for that, and it will mean that I can, at long last, enjoy my digital subscription. The layout is clearer, making use of screen space, navigation flows better, and the ability to bookmark and save articles of interest is very useful. The audio and visual media have also been much better integrated.
One gripe I have is that I lost all my previous scrapbook articles (oh well…). I also look forward to a dark/black theme option.
One gripe I have is that I lost all my previous scrapbook articles (oh well…). I also look forward to a dark/black theme option.
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Response from developer
Thank you for reviewing New Scientist App. We are planning to make night/dark mode available. However it took longer to develop than expected and is planned to be integrated into next phase of our app development. We would like to apologise for the delay and inconvenience this causes and hope you enjoy the app in the meantime. Kind regards Customer Care
Version 4.0.0 is confusing
After update to version 4.0.0:
I started buying individual issues (without subscription) since autumn 2021 - it seems all of the issues which I purchased are now lost and cannot be restored.
I can’t find special issues like the “New Scientist Essential Guide” serious in this version. Only two or three days before the release of this version, I purchased ALL ELEVEN ISSUES of the “Essential Series” in this app - I forgot the price but I believe it’s around £100.
All lost and can’t be restored. This is so confusing and I feel betrayed - you’ve got my money and now you’re denying my access to the books I’ve purchased.
And one last issue: at the moment the oldest available digital issue in this version 4.0.0 app is the 02-January-2021 issue - I noticed this when I was trying to find an article which was published in early 2020 when the pandemic just began.
I know the new version of your app looks better and is arguably easier to use - but please do remember there’re people who enjoy the things you mercilessly (and carelessly) deleted. You can’t just take our money and soon delete what we paid for.
I started buying individual issues (without subscription) since autumn 2021 - it seems all of the issues which I purchased are now lost and cannot be restored.
I can’t find special issues like the “New Scientist Essential Guide” serious in this version. Only two or three days before the release of this version, I purchased ALL ELEVEN ISSUES of the “Essential Series” in this app - I forgot the price but I believe it’s around £100.
All lost and can’t be restored. This is so confusing and I feel betrayed - you’ve got my money and now you’re denying my access to the books I’ve purchased.
And one last issue: at the moment the oldest available digital issue in this version 4.0.0 app is the 02-January-2021 issue - I noticed this when I was trying to find an article which was published in early 2020 when the pandemic just began.
I know the new version of your app looks better and is arguably easier to use - but please do remember there’re people who enjoy the things you mercilessly (and carelessly) deleted. You can’t just take our money and soon delete what we paid for.
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Response from developer
Thank you for reviewing the New Scientist App. Our Essential Guides and older issues are in the process of being transferred over. Once complete you will be able to restore any purchases made. Apologies for the inconvenience this causes. Best wishes, Customer Care
Super
Your last update of your application makes it far more better, I Love the scientists interviews..great job ..!
Response from developer
Thank you for your review of New Scientist. We are delighted you are enjoying the app. Kind regards, New Scientist Customer Care
Pretty good but with minor problems
The standard of writing has improved with fewer basic scientific howlers. Minor irritations are
1) the iPad app irritatingly shoots up to the beginning of an article should one have the timerity to rest a digit on the screen
This is especially irritating on long articles as swipong up to get back to the point which one was reading frequently results in jumping to the start of the previous or next article if the swipe is insuffiviently vertical.
2) the gaps in the text which sometimes change in size and sometimes want me to join the Wellcome institutes. Recently there is more variation but they appear with tedious high frequency. Perhaps you could produce an add-free edition?
3) the irritating mini ads which appear at the base of the screen after the text is moved once.
1) the iPad app irritatingly shoots up to the beginning of an article should one have the timerity to rest a digit on the screen
This is especially irritating on long articles as swipong up to get back to the point which one was reading frequently results in jumping to the start of the previous or next article if the swipe is insuffiviently vertical.
2) the gaps in the text which sometimes change in size and sometimes want me to join the Wellcome institutes. Recently there is more variation but they appear with tedious high frequency. Perhaps you could produce an add-free edition?
3) the irritating mini ads which appear at the base of the screen after the text is moved once.
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Response from developer
We are making improvements in regards to the usability of our app later in the year, which we hope will address these problems you have highlighted. We also includes adverts in our app, just like the print version of our magazine carries advertising. Kind regards, New Scientist
Scrolling issues
Thé app locks up and it is impossible to scroll down an article
Why does the app track me with ads? I subscribe!
I have paid for a print subscription and thought I’d try the app out.
Very annoying adverts at the bottom of the screen and all data provided to google without consent.
Immediately deleted- will stick to paper and the website
Very annoying adverts at the bottom of the screen and all data provided to google without consent.
Immediately deleted- will stick to paper and the website
Intrusive adds despite paying for content
The app used to work reasonably well, although swiping left/right to change pages can be over sensitive making it easy to accidentally change pages and lose your place when scrolling through an article.
Unfortunately in the last few months the app has started to insert adverts into articles, sometimes really distracting animated adverts. These are intrusive when reading and also easy to click on by mistake when scrolling on a small screen, spoiling the reading experience. Readers have already paid for content by subscribing so it is annoying that the experience is spoiled by clumsy advertising.
Unfortunately in the last few months the app has started to insert adverts into articles, sometimes really distracting animated adverts. These are intrusive when reading and also easy to click on by mistake when scrolling on a small screen, spoiling the reading experience. Readers have already paid for content by subscribing so it is annoying that the experience is spoiled by clumsy advertising.
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Essential reading for anyone seeking knowledge of our world. And beyond.
New Scientist has been a must read every week for me since I discovered it many years ago. Reading it means I feel informed on all the important scientific and moral issues of contemporary life.
Top-notch writing means even complex science is explained in ways I can relate to and use in my work and private life. I’m sure reading it makes me more interesting as a person as I can often explain science to others using the brilliant stories the writers use to bring cutting-edge scientific knowledge and theories alive.
I look forward to downloading it on my iPad every week. Especially if I have a long train journey to face.
One of the best weekly magazines everyone who wants to be informed should read. Always makes me think. And New Scientist grows my knowledge and understanding of the amazing universe we live in.
Top-notch writing means even complex science is explained in ways I can relate to and use in my work and private life. I’m sure reading it makes me more interesting as a person as I can often explain science to others using the brilliant stories the writers use to bring cutting-edge scientific knowledge and theories alive.
I look forward to downloading it on my iPad every week. Especially if I have a long train journey to face.
One of the best weekly magazines everyone who wants to be informed should read. Always makes me think. And New Scientist grows my knowledge and understanding of the amazing universe we live in.
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OK but navigation should be better
The content is all there and accessible from the menu but for me the are two irritations:
1/ no way of reading through sequentially as I could with the printed magazine. I always have to go back to the menu and choose another article. I’d like a “Next” button at the end of each article.
2/ the app keeps deleting previous downloaded issues, despite there being plenty of free space on my iPad. I’d like to choose what’s kept and deleted.
1/ no way of reading through sequentially as I could with the printed magazine. I always have to go back to the menu and choose another article. I’d like a “Next” button at the end of each article.
2/ the app keeps deleting previous downloaded issues, despite there being plenty of free space on my iPad. I’d like to choose what’s kept and deleted.
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