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MacFormat App Complaints & User Negative Comments 2024
MacFormat app received 68 complaints, negative comments and reviews by users. Have you ever had a bad experience using MacFormat? Can you share your negative thoughts about macformat?
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MacFormat for Negative User Reviews
✓ Good magazine--not so good app.This is a very good magazine, better than its American counterparts but the app is poor. Its main deficiency is not automatically notifying you of the new issue and usually you have to go to "help" and restore issues to get the new issue to download..Version: 3.8.3
✓ Great Magazine!I've read this magazine in print for years and I'm very happy to have it on the iPad. However, the app only contains low resolution scans of the magazine pages. Hopefully, they will update it when the iPad 3 arrives..Version: 1.8
✓ Incredibly ExpensiveI can't think of another magazine subscription (print or electronic) that's as high as $65 per year. That's WAY too much!! Especially for a digital subscription that isn't any more than a scanned copy of the normal print version. If all you're going to do is duplicate the existing print version through another channel, lower the price and get some sales volume. You're missing out at these prices..Version: 1.6
✓ App crashes immediately when openingThe last update makes the app to crash and I haven't been able to make it work. I did uninstall and installed it again and keeps crashing..Version: 3.7.2
✓ Slow on an iPad 3This app is frustratingly slow when opening the magazine, turning a page, scrolling or selecting a website..Version: 2.2
✓ Bad magazine, bad appReally regret paying for this. Magazine is light on content and they always show you Scroogle products shots. How bloody annoying! And the app is a mess to use, and you can't highlight or bookmark! I hate this UK magazine, a total POS..Version: 3.6.5
✓ Gone downhill againThe app is very hit and miss with each update. This time it's a miss, regularly freezes and crashes. Shame because the magazine is well worth reading..Version: 4.9.4
✓ GoodIt's a great magazine. The only thing that it is lacking is a book mark function so that you don't have to start over every time you go back into the mag..Version: 1.0
✓ Total rubbish and really poor customer serviceI have just updated the app and now I can’t view any mags on my iPad Pro. I am going to cancel my subscription through iTunes as this is a total waste of money. The mags down load then the app crashes. I have written to the customer service and only had some crap generated response! Truly awful app and service!.Version: 5.6.3
✓ Na this newstand concept is a disasterI love mac format but na this aint happening. These magazines are ruining apples newstand concept by charging the same price as the paper copies. Simple fact of the matter is if you charge the same price as the paper version then im continuing to buy the paper version and i think most people will do the same...hence newstand is a failure due to the dispicable greed of all the publications involved...shame on you all...you need to take a lesson from the game developers here, they play a very fair game whereas newstand feels more like getting mugged. Getting ripped off seems to be the general consensus here in newstand..Version: 1.0
✓ Charged for free trialI looked at this magazine a long time ago and got one issue liked it and deleted it because it was too expensive. Recently I got an offer from the company, from Mac format to get two free issues and then buy it it I liked it. This sounded like fun. I downloaded the two issues and discovered my credit card had been hit for the full amount of a subscription for the free trial was up. I will never be buying a magazine from this company again. Too bad, as I am an IT professional. This magazine would have been helpful..Version: 3.8.1
✓ Poor InterfaceDisappointed with the interface design on this magazine. Articles are in columns that you have to scroll but to accommodate large areas for pictures, the the heights and widths of the columns are too small. This means you generally have to scroll every other sentence. Reading the articles is not very pleasurable as a result. I don't know why a second page(s) can't be added to allow text to be read in full (or fuller) width. I've got a years subscription but won't renew if the interface is still as bad next year.Version: 3.4.4
✓ Latest ReleaseYou seem to have broken the app with the latest release. The content pages on my iPad Pro appear in a window over the front page. If you touch outside the windowed display the whole app locks up and you need to reload. I have tried reinstalling the app. All the magazines are the same..Version: 6.0.6
✓ Liked the old version better.I've been a long time fan of Mac Format, but the new version seems to be too crowded per page. Also, adding a bookmark doesn't seem work. Small things, but enough to make it not enjoyable to read..Version: 4.4.1
✓ Annoying sales pitch!Brilliant magazine, but constantly bombarded with an advert and notifications to buy all the back issues. Once would be enough! Also when I go back to reading my magazine, it takes me to the front cover (if not asking me to buy the back issues again) not where I finished reading last time. Part from that would be 5*.Version: 4.9.4
✓ Seriously how can you not update this app?I just bought a new issue thinking, hey the app is old but at least I’ll be able to read the content after full screen, but no, you can’t and although I have an iPhone max I have to view the magazine on an iPhone 5 size...Shameful guys, this update wouldn’t cost much and should be your top priority, as I think things are going digital lol....Version: 5.2.3
✓ Junk, not an app.Walk away from this one. It's just a way to sell magazines. No info available without a subscription to one of this publisher's many mags. This "app" is a waste of time. Don't bother with it.Version: 3.2.2
✓ Poor download speedDownload speed is terrible and often fails. Magazine content is good. But they need to fix the download problem which has been going on for several months..Version: 3.6.5
✓ Rubbish appCan’t open my subscription.Version: 6.0.6
✓ Press ReleasesMac Format read like a series of press releases with very little information about improving the user's experiences with new products, apps and services..Version: 3.7.2.1
✓ Couldn’t figure out how to navigate the trial issueAll I ever saw was the front cover. By tapping on that, a screen comes up with instructions saying to click the front and back arrows to navigate—but there aren’t any when the issue is full screen—and swiping to turn does nothing. Good magazine, but a poorly implemented app, it seems..Version: 5.2.3
✓ Not worth the price difference from hard copyThis app is pretty much a PDF version of the magazine. My first, and now last, purchase took more than a dozen attempts before it would download. I contacted them about the problem and got back a standard "look at the FAQ" email. If that's the attitude I'd say spend your money on something else. It seems that some of the Apple dependent press should catch up with where the technology has got to and get a decent server before offering us such an unsophisticated app clearly built as a "we'd better have something" rather than taking advantage of the functionality on offer..Version: 1.0
✓ Screen RotationThis App would get five stars if the screen flipped other then that it's awesome. I love the content you can't beat it. If you are not a Apple head this app is not for you...Version: 3.8.1
✓ Love the content, hate the appI feel compelled to write this review as I'm having a terrible user experience with the app and have stopped assuming a magic update is going to come along and resolve my troubles with my subscription. I have an iPad Air 1 with iOS 8.1.2. I can download and read the magazine in one session. However if I ever return to the app at a later date, the app crashes when opening the magazine. My only workaround is to delete the magazine, re download and reopen. No amount of closing apps or rebooting the device works for me..Version: 3.8.1
✓ 1Gb download for magazine!!Quite enjoy the magazine so thought I would get on newstand but discovered why took so long to download as it takes 1Gb of space!! Presumably due to all the video content. Should have stuck to Zinio.Version: 2.2.5
✓ No way to close out magazines with navigation buttons...I'll second the occurrence of missing navigation buttons. It wasn't a problem when I first got the app, but then it just happened out of nowhere. Tapping the screen will no longer bring up the navigation buttons required to close out the magazine and go back to the library. The only way to fix is to uninstall and reinstall and redownload all magazines..Version: 1.8
✓ Nags for reviews despite iOS settingsPoor.Version: 5.2.3
✓ Very slow to download :(For the past two years I've bought the mag from the shop and always paid the full price of £5.99 now I've got an iPad mini I thought it would be nice to view the mag without having to carry or try and find where I put it. The biggest problem is speed, I'm on a cable connection with a speed of about 60mb p/s and it takes ages to download it took over 1h 30mins. When it's downloaded the quality is very good and I like it. Not only that it was a day late in coming out for download surely being a download it should be available on the same day as the paper back copy hits the shops?.Version: 3.2.2
✓ Unable to get free digital edition of paper magazine OfferBought The Ultimate OSX Yosemite Handbook also offering a "free digital edition". Input the URL address & took mento the APP but no free download available even though it's supposed to be valid through 16th May 2016. Very disappointed..Version: 4.4.1
✓ MacFormat & Tap & Dig. Camera etc.....Your update is terrible. It is slow, it will not load and when it does load some bought mags have to be re-downloaded again which can take hours...Wish I had never updated! Please, please fix these problems Thank you, Jan Kennedy.Version: 3.1.3
✓ Terrible App!The new digital version is absolutely terrible (August 2012). Takes forever to download (even with a good internet connection). It's been going for 3 hours and is only 32% done!! No response from MacFormat either..Version: 2.0.2
✓ Love the mag but app doesn't work rightMag is great but when I loaded in special preview of new iPad mag it will not lwt me go back to library or store to view other mags.Version: 2.1
✓ Hard to ReadSince they removed the ability to change font size, it is all but impossible for me to read on my iPad Air 2. I really enjoyed it in the past in spite of the high price. I won't renew, and the print version here in the US is ridiculous. I don't have this problem reading other magazines I get from Zinio..Version: 4.2.9
✓ No discount as advertised!I see on the app that they are offering for a "Limited Time All Issues Are Half-Priced To Celebrate The Queens Diamond Jubilee"... But when you go to purchase, prices are the same! I like the magazine, and would like to take advantage of this offer but can't because it doesn't give the discounted rate! (Regular price for the individual or subscription rate is outrageously high for a digital magazine!).Version: 2.0
✓ Buggy Can't access download libraryDownloaded the app and a free back issue. I found it slow to render each individual page which was slightly irritating but not as much as the iPad guide bug that almost every review mentions. Once you download that guide you can't access any other download in the library or call up a UI to navigate through the app. Very annoying Hope they fix this soon. I used to be a Mac Format subscriber so I know it's a good mag, if only I could read it!.Version: 1.8
✓ Possibilities, but annoying.Some of the content in this magazine is useful. However, be aware that it doesn't deal well with non renewal. It will keep showing up with new content (at a price) and is a pain to ignore. Suggest you avoid unless you plan to subscribe long term..Version: 3.8.1
✓ CrashesEvery time I try to read a magazine I download, it crashes, 2 weeks now........Version: 3.8.1
✓ Glorified PDF documentDespite the launch of the Newsstand, many publishers like Future continue to sell what appear to be just static PDF versions of print magazines. These magazines are horrible to read on any device, even worse on a device with limited pixels. You have to constantly pinch and zoom in to read the content, and you'll find yourself growing increasingly frustrated at the need to navigate and zoom around different locations of a single page. The magazines don't appear to remember where you left off either. So you'll find yourself back at the start each time you launch the magazine from within newsstand. It may sound trivial, but it quickly gets annoying and in the end I just give up trying to read the magazine I paid for at all. I really wish publishers would make a bigger effort to format their magazines correctly for tablet devices. I would have no problem buying a subscription if the content was a joy to read, and not a chore to navigate around. But for as long as magazines like MacFormat make it terribly cumbersome to read the content, I just don't see the point of buying these digital versions..Version: 1.2
✓ Does not workThe most useless app out there, took my money but will not download new issues, just keeps asking me to subscribe.Version: 5.2.3
✓ Help!! help!!Purchased a stand alone issue and it is not downloading! I tried all the things mentioned in the support area. Anyone else had this issue? If so how did you resolve it!! Please help!!.Version: 2.2.5
✓ Magazine good -app poorI paid for on going subscription, read the first issue which was fine, but when the next month's came out, despite having my subscription taken, I ended up being charged again for the magazine. Even though I enabled notifications on the app, I received no notification that the new magazine was available to download. I complained to the App Store but they just referred me to the app supplier Future Publishing and as yet I have not heard from them. It's a shame because the magazine is great, let down by a poor app..Version: 3.8.3
✓ Unable to access - cancelledApp no longer accessible. Doesn't recognize my subscription, even though paid up until May..Version: 6.0.6
✓ Problems with iOS 11The performance of this app with iPad mini 4 and iOS 11 is terrible. No response from the publishers so I’ll be cancelling my subscription..Version: 4.9.4
✓ No customer serviceProblems with this app include bookmarks not working and I can’t turn the pages to read the magazine. Only way I can read the magazine is to delete the app and reload both app and current magazine each time. These may be things that could be rectified if I could get help from customer support. Despite several emails they have not responded at all. Bad customer support will lose customers. They have lost mine..Version: 4.9.4
✓ Can’t restore subscriptionTrying to restore purchases on iPhone XS Max, nothing happens. So I can’t read any of purchases that I have bought. Been a subscriber for many years. Please resolve this issue..Version: 5.2.3
✓ Nice magazine but ......It takes forever to download on my hi speed Internet wifi connection. I've had to delete app and start again twice now. I won't be renewing my subscription..Version: 3.2.2
✓ Cannot log inI have subscribed but this does not allow me to log in.Version: 6.0.6
✓ Mag appears on newsstand....well before the iPadI've seen the July issue on the newsstand for weeks now, iPad version is still showing June. This really needs to be fixed..Version: 2.0
✓ RuinedMacformat have ruined what used to be a great app. It used to be a custom digital magazine with features to match, such as video and interactive elements and the layout was designed around the iPad screen. They have now scrapped the only reason to buy digital as it is just a pdf copy of the print version. This results in no rich media or interactive elements and a layout which is unreadable unless zoomed in to one small part of the screen at a time. The whole experience is very poor and just plane lazy and cheap. I had been a subscriber from day one of the digital app when it started out as pdf copy. But I have not cancelled this after this huge step backwards. Very disappointed..Version: 4.8
✓ Latest app version is uselessContent is fine but version 6.0.6 now compresses all content into the area the size of an iPad mini in the centre of the screen. Which looks ridiculous on an iPad Pro. Not to mention being very difficult to read. Which means there’s no point in keeping a subscription any more..Version: 6.0.6
✓ Disappointed1. Its not free. 2. Why would pay the actual price, they are saving paper, delivery, ext, ext, now cut the price and half and might just consider buying it..Version: 1.0
✓ Major flawsI love the Mac format magazine but the app has major flaws. For example tapping the screen doesn't bring up the navigation options. I DO NOT BUY ANY MAGAZINES UNTIL THEY FIX THIS. seriously, if you do, you will be disappointed..Version: 1.8
✓ Absolute rubbishI have to delete and reinstall the app every month before I can download the latest edition. Strongly recommend you don’t buy this app.Version: 5.2.3
✓ Love the mag hate the app!!!I simply love this mag, it's one of the best available but then there is the app. Unfortunately the app stands between the user and the mag! This app is slow with few features. Downloading is painfully slow and the subscription process, tracking and implementation are the worst. Customer service is not particularly helpful and all this for the most expensive mac mag I've found. Their mags are good everything else makes you feel like you're getting ripped off. To much work and patience required for such an expensive product. When this sub ends I'll go back to Zino for this mag, none of the problems there at least not in my experience. The app is just not very good and makes getting to the mag a painful experience..Version: 2.0.2
✓ Garbage!So I've got an annual subscription. I've updated to the latest version of the app. Now it hasn't downloaded the latest copy, and what's more I can't get access to any of the older copies either. All you get is the last version you read before updating the app. That's your lot. Nothing else, no nav bar, no copies, no option to purchase extras, and no way of contact the publishers for help either. Their Website refers to the Zinia edition and states that if you bought through the AppStore you'll automatically have a Zinia Account. You don't. Without that you get no assistance, and Zinia want to charge you a second time for your subscription. It's also been redesigned for the Retina screen. This now means that pages take forever to load on an iPad 2 and are very difficult to read without blowing them up to a large size. Net result is that you spend the whole time resizing and scrolling around. if you want to get ripped off, download this app and buy a subscription.Version: 2.0.2
✓ Fed up with subscription issues!I have to delete, reinstall and restore purchases every month to try and get the latest issue. And even though I have a subscription it still tries to charge me for each issue. I won’t be renewing my subscription when it ends in February!.Version: 6.4
✓ Help! I'm stuck in the magazine!I downloaded because I love the magazine, but like everyone else- I'm stuck in the iPad issue! I can't get out or access the other issues. Major bugs!.Version: 1.8
✓ Crashes during download since last updateI have been trying to download the latest version since the last update and it crashes and aborts before it is finished. Using an ipad mini..Version: 2.2.5
✓ Can't view librarySince last update and purchase of Facebook mag, I can not view my library of downloaded issues. Extremely annoying!.Version: 2.2.5
✓ Stuck in an issueI've been stuck inside the complete guide to the new iPad ever since opening it!.Version: 1.8
✓ Still too expensiveI used to buy Mac Format in paper form - subscribed for about 3 years. I then ended my subscription, and now that I have an iPad, I'm going digital with everything I read. I am very tempted to come back to Mac Format but in my opinion, the cost is far too expensive, you can't really justify such a high cost with no colour printing etc involved. I hope you have a rethink, look at your competition and drastically lower your e-version costs if you wish to survive - thank you :-).Version: 2.0.2
✓ Awful app - the mag deserves betterThis must be the worst, most ill-conceived, cynically money-minded magazine app ever. Every time you return to the app, it opens at a page trying to get you to buy back issues. This would be simply annoying if you could just close it and return to reading the magazine (the content of which, incidentally, is good). But you can't. You have to find the issue you were reading, re-open it and then try to find the last page you were looking at. Every rucking time! For heaven's sake. Call yourselves a digital provider? This is either antediluvian or totally, nastily compromised by the commercial department. Whichever, it doesn't work. This may be a good Mac mag in print, but there are far better digital Mac mags available. Sort yourselves out. Bye bye. (I rate the content at three stars but the app experience at minus one star, which explains my overall rating.).Version: 4.9.4
✓ Free app, good mag, bad subscribe prices.The app is supposed to be free people. That's how newsstand usually works. What is stupid is the subscribe prices. I understand the print version costs a lot to ship to the USA but digital download get real.... Great mag though..Version: 1.0
✓ But it says "free"This is a brand new app and I thought it was the equivalent of a free magazine about Apple products but the download just gave me the opportunity to Subscribe to the magazine! I am disappointed..Version: 2.0.2
✓ Good magazine content, but really bad digital readerThe magazine content is good, but unfortunately it is really let down by the app for reading digitally. I already subscribe to the print format and added a digital subscription to be able to quickly find old articles etc. But a digital magazine that you can’t search is madness. As others have commented other basics for a digital magazine are also missing, such as returning to the page you were on before etc..Version: 4.9.4
✓ June 2020 update breaks it!Was working fine during trial period so I subscribed for a year. Then they updated it. Now on iPad Pro the magazine is much smaller than the screen and can’t be enlarged, the app frequently hangs and you’re left with a black rectangle in the middle of the screen obscuring the magazine you’re trying to read. No response from app support. Discussing refund with Apple..Version: 6.0.6
✓ Terrible appFuture Plc makes terrible magazine app. It is almost impossible to get a subscription from them that will work on more than one device (iPhone and iPad). They seem to make you purchase the magazines more than once if you want to read it on your iPhone and iPad. You are better off subscribing to their pdf format...at least with that you can read on a PC and multiple devices..Version: 3.8.3
✓ Dreadful AppThis app is clearly an afterthought after Future Publishing have already grabbed your money. Tried, without success, to access my magazine subscription but constant objections to my password even though I know it is correct. Very poor quality and ruins the overall enjoyment of the magazine - will just return to the print only edition..Version: 5.2.3
🙂 MacFormat Positive Reviews
MacFormat works most of the time. If it is not working for you, we recommend you excersise some patience and retry later or contact MacFormat.
⛔ MacFormat Problems
