Scientific American App Negative ReviewsNature Publishing Group

Scientific American Negative Reviews

4.7
4.73963 star

Total 111 Negative Reviews

Scientific American App Complaints & User Negative Comments 2024

Scientific American app received 111 complaints, negative comments and reviews by users. Have you ever had a bad experience using Scientific American? Can you share your negative thoughts about scientific american?

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Scientific American for Negative User Reviews

Poor appIt looses my log-in details repeatedly. Hard to navigate publication and app..Version: 2.0.3

Does not even run in IOS8Crashes on download of magazine. Reinstalling the app does not resolve the problem. Let's see how long SciAm take to fix it. I'm guessing not for a few weeks. FYI it crashed occasionally before the upgrade too. Pity, the content's great even if the shrunken display on an IPad Mini strains the eyes a little. Glad I paid the extra money for a print subscription..Version: 1.2.1

They completely destroyed this app!What have they done to this app? It used to have great presentation and interactive features that gave it added value. Now it's been completely gutted and all you get for each article is lousy blank white space and plain text. The pictures have to be clicked on separately and load in full screen. It's like they took a worthwhile app and gave it to a 5 year old child to develop this Mickey Mouse version. Now you get a better experience from visiting the website online so this app has absolutely zero value... unbelievable..Version: 2.0

Still not working on iOS 8It tries to update my library—non existent due to doing a full restore, and the previous version wouldn't re-download purchases. But it comes up with an error saying it cannot update the library, dumping me back at the main screen with no issues present and no way of even trying to re-download..Version: 1.3

I can't even get into it! There is a huge glitch somewhere!I've been going around and around trying to figure out how to get my downloaded issues back... Incredibly frustrating!!.Version: 2.0

No download possibleThe old sciam digital worked faultlessly. This ipad version is a shocker. It is great when you can actually download it. I have managed 2 months in the last year. The first when I first paid for it. The second was after email exchange. Again managed to down load a copy. Then no more. It is unclear where the downloaded app actually is. It is unclear how to find when the next edition is out and how to download. Other magazines on zinio download seemlessly. My suggestion is go back to the old digital edition. A recent survey on the the ipad version completely missed any question as to whether it was easy to download nor asked for overall satisfaction..Version: 1.1

Not compatible with iOS 8...App will not allow issues to be downloaded, then crashes..Version: 1.2.1

Does not workI bought single issue October 2013 and I cannot access any of the content. waste of money.Version: 1.1

Downgraded and NeglectedWhen the digital edition of SciAm was first released, it was an exemplar of it's type. Unfortunately though, the content presentation within the recent release of the app has plummeted. Interactivity is almost nonexistent, pages are pixelated, and the interface lacks responsiveness! Such regression is most surprising for what is normally a progressive and high quality publication. This is one case where the old is most certainly better than the new!.Version: 2.0

Very poor app for a science magazine!I cannot access the issues I have subscribed for. It prompts me to BUY these issues. A ripoff. Disgraceful for a magazine that promotes technology..Version: 2.0.2

IOS 8 fixed but still buggyHaving trouble scrolling up on articles. I can scroll up and get it to bounce down a bit. Sometimes I have to hold my finger on the screen to prevent it from popping back to the top. Most of the time instead of scrolling down it changes to the previous or next article instead. I have to drag my finger exactly vertical or it changes article. Very frustrating. It went from unusable to barely useable..Version: 1.3

Needs more workEvery month the digital subscription requires me to logout and back in to download that months issue. The password is not saved so I need to re-enter it every month - such a hassle. Since app is on my device and I'm logged into my device SA app shouldn't need any more authentication, it should just check subscription is still valid and work. It would also be nice if instead of getting an email telling me a new issue is available, it just downloaded and had a notification to tell me it's ready for reading..Version: 2.0.1

Useless on iOS5 with latest compatible versionCurrent version on my iPad 1st gen (iOS5) can no longer refresh or download old issues. I am stuck with 1 and a half issues which I downloaded a year ago. Paying for digital subscription and now am forced to upgrade to a newer iPad. At least some minimal backwards compatibility, even just for older issues, would have been appreciated..Version: 1.2

Awful latest versionIt used to be ok but this latest version is absolutely disgusting. Whoever was the UX designer, s/he clearly doesn’t use the app and doesn’t read the magazine. Whenever I get my iPad to read it, the app resets to the latest news tab and I’m left lost trying to figure out where was I in my reading. Very very upsetting..Version: 2.4

No access to web siteBe warned, if you subscribe in Apple you do NOT get access to the web version, but if you subscribe to the web version you get app access. Borders on deceitful business practice, but hey ho..Version: 6.2

But, I DID buy it, really . . .The app has been a constant battle to convince I do have a subscription... sigh..Version: 2.0.2

Subscription cancels every monthI have to re-enter my log in information every month. Don't lose it. Otherwise, very interesting content and science vulgarization..Version: 2.0.1

The app is terribleI have to jump through so many hoops in order to sometimes see my magazines. Horrible app.Version: 2.1

CanI love SciAm, but I have spent hours trying to sign in and can't (I'm a digital subscriber, I know I have my login info correct but it keeps saying "authentication failed"). I emailed support the other day and no response yet. If I get a response and I can sign in I will change my rating. Has anyone else had this issue? Any ideas? UPDATE: Almost a MONTH and STILL no response from customer service, what is going on!?.Version: 1.0

Needs to be fixedThere is clearly something not right with this app. Downloading issues is VERY slow when compared similar sized content on the same connection. For some reason the app keeps deleting downloaded content, so the option of downloading issues for use in places where there is no internet is a complete and utter waste of time as there is absolutely no certainty that the content will be available at a later date. As others have said, it does not work at all under IOS 8..Version: 1.2.1

SA AppApp for iPad needs some improvements. Downloads take forever, and crash several times before successful. Have a look at National Geographic app as gold standard. Regards.Version: 2.0

More experimentingThe Times has one of the best navigation systems for the iPad and SA might take a look at this as an alternative navigation process for exploring magazine content. The current system is kind of OK but feels somewhat stilted and clunky..Version: 2.2

Awful user experienceThis is a terribly designed app, which is painful to use for paying subscribers. Vertical page alignment is enforced and I have no idea what is going on with the scrolling: it's a constant struggle to be able to read any article. I'd be much happier with a plain HTML page per article as it would be a dramatic improvement over this shambles..Version: 1.2.1

No way to mark stories or magazines as “finished”If you like reading magazines in random order there’s no way to mark an article as finished. I guess they expect you to make a list on notepad or something? Really frustrating! And, if you get a new iPad, any system based on downloading disappears because the app rests. Please - make this useable!! Scientific American is such an iconic publication, why isn’t the app as good as the content??.Version: 2.0.3

Stars Subtracted for Political BiasI read science news, presumably because it is peer-reviewed in order to make it as objective as possible. We get enough ideological brainwashing everywhere else. Long story short, I downloaded this app out of curiosity and the first article was a highly politicized opinion piece masquerading as a scientific article. My suggestion is, if you all are not peer-reviewing for demogoguery, I highly recommend you begin. If you do have a peer-review process, perhaps considering hiring different, more objective reviewers. If I wanted propaganda I'd go to MSNBC or the Daily Wire..Version: 6.0

Great magazine, terrible browserDifficult to navigate, unintuitive menus, Incomplete and rudimentary search tools, unintuitive navigation. Spoils the pleasure of reading great articles.Version: 2.0.1

Really pretty poor from such a respected publicationThe app is basic at best, offers very frustrating functionality to view the magazines. When downloading the different issues, the app serums to have a mind of its own. It doesn't seem possible to reliably download a bunch of issues to read offline (like on the plane). You'll think you've downloaded them only to find the downloads incomplete or not happened at all. I expect better..Version: 2.0

Dinosaurs alive and well at SASome great stuff , but their denial of the electric universe is destroying their brand. Have been a subscriber for many years, sadly will cancel my subscription..Version: 2.0

Doesn't work on iOS 8All of my previous issues were lost after upgrade to iOS 8! Tried to redownload but the app doesn't allow. Please fix asap!.Version: 1.2.1

InfuriatingYour App is infuriating. It refuses to accept my sign-in in my iPad until I have made a general sign-in on my laptop computer. Additionally, every few weeks, the downloaded copies in your App on my iPad “evaporate” and I have to go through the whole download process again. INFURIATING! Why don’t you try using the Economist magazine’s App for a few months? I have used it for years without one single problem. Maybe you could learn something from them about how to construct a user-friendly App..Version: 2.2

User interface needs little basic attentionI would like to be able to dynamically increase/decrease font size. Also, be able to change font style to non-serif. Sometimes the typeset is hard to read. Adjust the lightness/darkness of the background and tone to adjust contrast, especially with a mind to the environment I’m reading in. All for now. Nice little app..Version: 2.0.3

Don't subscribe to Sci Am through AppleThe Scientific American app is great. But you should not subscribe through Apple. You should only subscribe through the Scientfic American we site. The reason is that subscribing through the web site gives you access to Sci Am on all platforms, including the IOS app, but not the other way around. If you subscribe through Apple, your subscription is not recognized on the web site, and you cannot access the huge amount of additional timely material that they provide there. This restriction makes no sense, because both subscriptions are the same price. But you get so much more by subscribing on the web site. This is not made clear in the app store description. Very frustrating, and not something I would expect from Scientific American..Version: 2.0.4

Love the mag. App needs improvementThe app has a nice simplicity, but is very clunky in its operation. Although a current subscriber, I am frequently denied access to magazines and articles. Additional purchases are also heavily promoted, to the point of being a nuisance.Version: 2.0.2

No zoom and iPad miniLike it a lot! Three stars for one reason and one reason only: On the iPad mini the text is too small. Which would not be a problem if the app would support zoom via double-tap. But it doesn't. Only way to get zoom is to enable zoom in the accessibility option in the settings, but that is then global for all apps. So please support zoom in the app via double-tap and you'll get full 5 stars..Version: 1.0

No Financial incentive to purchaseWhy would I honestly spend $35 on a digital only subscription when I can get a print/digital subscription for basically the same price. I can't find an answer that justifies that enormous act of stupidity..Version: 1.0

An update should bring more value to readersThis latest update for tablet app clearly doesn't. All the interactive features are gone. The resolution is lower on iPad Pro. The images are embedded awkwardly. An unpleasant reading experience overall. This used to be a great app. Please fix these issues which clearly everyone is complaining about. Otherwise you will lose many subscribers, me included. Some feedback from SA will be appreciated. Show us that you care please!!.Version: 2.0

Still not compatible with iOS 8When downloading previously purchased issues, connection to server keeps dropping out & I do not seem to have an internet connectivity issue. It must not be compatible with iOS 8..Version: 1.3

Individual issues are way too bigEditions for iPad are approx. 10 times those of PDF versions. This might be manageable if you could archive via iTunes but alas this is not possible. Archiving just removes the issue and it has to be downloaded in its entirety again when required! Much room for improvement..Version: 1.0

A marginal appThe app lets me download and read each issue of Scientific American, which is its core purpose. But each month when a new issue comes out it tells me that I need to buy it before I can download it. Then after I log out and then log back into the very same account it’s willing to let me download the next issue in my subscription. Why can’t it just let me get the issue without the extra work? Or even better, automatically download it..Version: 2.0.2

Update loses saved articlesI just updated the old app to the new updated app and all of my Scientific American saved articles are missing. I can see the magazine editions, but the saved articles that I have been collecting for years are gone. I tried reporting a problem to apple, but they refer me to the scientific american website which does not address this issue. I have emailed the scientific american support team, three times, only to have them refer me back to the scientific american website each time which, of course, does not address this issue. I cannot seem to get anyone to address this. So if you update to this latest version, be prepared to lose your saved articles..Version: 6.0

Buy the print version insteadThis newest update takes it from a fantastic interactive digital magazine with crisp images to what looks like a copy & paste of the trial section of a news website with image quality so poor you can see the pixels. If all you want is the written content, get it for free off the 'net. If you want a digital copy that looks exactly like the print version like I do then sadly this does not exist anymore. For the asking subscription price this is a terrible app..Version: 2.0

TerribleAll the issues look so badly designed now. No full screen images for feature articles, no proper interactive diagrams. Looks terrible. No longer even enjoyable reading on iPad. Absolutely rubbish!.Version: 2.0

Doesn't work on iOS8Oct 2 - The other day it was working again. Checked tonight and broken again!! As others have said, this used to be an excellent app. But broken completely under iOS 8. Before reading this reviews wasted a lot of time trying to at least read the previously downloaded issue. Nothing works and the error message makes no sense! If this is fixed in the next few days will change my score to a high one..Version: 1.2.1

Terrible appMakes it difficult to read more than one magazine at a time. Is always flashing the price of magazines and articles at you even if you are a subscriber and have paid for full access. Does not seem to have any concept of how to build a properly searchable archive function. A Scientific American employee actually informed me that the best way to do a keyword search of articles in their historic archive was to -leave the app- and do my search over the internet. The Scientific American line of magazines is great; too bad their terrible app makes it so difficult to read and to search them. You would think they could just follow the lead of what so many digital newspapers and magazines already do so well..Version: 2.2

Poor customer supportSA Tablet delivers insightful reporting in a beautiful package. This is undoubtedly true. Having said that, their customer support is non-existent. I made a very basic feature request, asking for the ability to look up the definition of words. I got a boilerplate response saying that they would look into it. Then I got no follow-up for well over a year. When I remembered to follow up my request, I was then told that they couldn't support this very basic feature, without giving any reason whatsoever. In contrast, when I made the same request to the Guardian app, the issue was fixed within two weeks! Very disappointed with such poor customer support that does not fit the high caliber content the magazine provides..Version: 1.2.1

Review of ApI have found that each month I have trouble downloading my digital subscription. I have contacted the provider and never have any response or help. The only help I have had tells me that it will not download onto my IPad but I have done this before. They tell me to download onto my computer but I don't read my magazines on my computer. I am very unimpressed with this Ap.Version: 2.0.1

I enjoy but!I truly enjoy the scientific articles in SA and have gift subscriptions for our son and a grandson. Having said that I am upset every time I read the liberal political driven articles. My son and I just agree that we skip them. If you must do so than at least be fair and present opposing conservative points of view. After all is not that what the Scientific process is all about?.Version: 2.0.3

Fails to provide access to all paid for issuesVery disappointed with the latest update. It fails to display all my paid for issues. These were available in the previous version. Again in attempting to "improve" the app SA have screwed up. Regret having a digital only subscription and if the app does not improve before renewal is due I am reverting to occasionally buying on the local news stand. Very disappointed in SA digital editions.Version: 2.0.1

Rubbish AppCannot access things I paid for..Version: 2.0.1

Really Quite PoorJust a whole heap of things that don't work right. Biggest problem: some articles in issues don't download, it says 'update edition', which you can't do....Version: 2.0.1

A spreader of Political Correctness masquerading as an objective, scientific magazineSadly, things have gone downhill at SA in the last few years. Their recent decision to support a political candidate in the USA election is yet an other example of how they abandoned objectivity and scientific neutrality for left wing propaganda. Just looking at the list of authors in the September 2020 edition indicates how science has been diluted away from the magazine. Many of the authors are left wing journalists, without a "lick" of scientific background or objectivity to their name. The theme-of-the-month is systemic racism everywhere you look (or don't look), with the evil caucasians guilty from the word "go" for all that is wrong in the universe. I will NOT be renewing my subscription to this rag and I suggest you think twice bwfore wasting your money here..Version: 2.2

Good content, terrible appOver the decades this magazine has gradually dumbed down its content and become a lot glitzier. 30 years ago the articles were written by the researchers. They were long and often impenetrable. Today many articles are written by journalists and the ones by researchers have clearly been heavily edited. Some are excellent while others are very superficial. Still it’s far and away the best general circulation science magazine in America. As for the app, I have the same subscription problem as everybody else. People have been complaining about this for years. But Scientific American seems uninterested in trying to do anything about it..Version: 2.0.3

Constantly have to reinstallPoor app, I often have to delete and reinstall it as it stops recognising I have a subscription.Version: 2.2

Poor app.For a scientific publishing house you would think they could do better and produce an app that actually works. Poor download performance, slow, hangs etc..Version: 1.3

Theft of issues I've paid for!Where the hell are have all my issues gone? I've paid for this mag for years but they have removed a lot of the old issues and I no longer have access. Why did they delete the issues I had downloaded from my iPad without my permission? I won't be renewing my sub; that's a given. It's tantamount theft if you ask me. Where is the 0 star option?.Version: 2.0

Need retina display supportI have been a long fan of SCIAM. And it is finally come it the iPad. However, it would be great if it can support the retina display for the text..Version: 1.0

Dark modeNeed to incorporate dark mode in the app. White light is too much strain on the eyes..Version: 2.4

Pathetic ServiceDoes not run at all on iPhone or iPad with all current versions verified. All logs sent to support but for 2 weeks they are still not interested in providing any customer service. Love the print magazine, but for one that professes to be so technically knowledgeable and can't fix a simple logon issue... This can only be described as intentionally neglectful..Version: 2.0.1

Has flaws which need to be resolvedThe file size for each edition is over 600Mbytes, compared to around 30Mbytes for the PDF version. Downloading frequently stalls and just leaves one hanging and having to start again. Navigation is along similar lines to the Engadget Distro App, but not as easy to use in part because of the amount of content. Whilst the quality of the photographs is superb compared with the PDF edition, such quality is very rarely warranted. Whereas the PDF edition is a page facsimile of the print edition, the retina edition requires one to scroll up and down the page which is very annoying if you just want to skip through the magazine looking for interesting content when on a limited time budget. However, the real killer is the size of the download and the space required to store each edition. Keeping 12 editions within the app on your iPad would occupy around 7Gbytes! Nice try but a redesign is required before the app is useable in practice..Version: 1.0

App deletes your content without asking!I am SO angry that issues of SA I have downloaded are removed without consulting me! The excuse is “to make more space” but there are gigs and gigs of spare memory on my phone. HOW DARE YOU take back stuff that I have paid for without asking?! That’s theft..Version: 2.0.3

Not as goodNew app version is not as good as previous. I liked the previous version - more like a magazine..Version: 2.0

App needs improvmentIts such a great magazin and i subscribe for years, but its a pain to download your subscription on the app. as already stated from others . i ALWAYS have to lock in again to get my issue. They should learn from NG . Their app is just awesome!.Version: 2.0.2

DON’T BUY THIS SUBSCRIPTIONDiscovered that the kids were interested in the contents of SA during a trip to the dentist. Bought a subscription in July, 2018. Immediately got access to that edition online (via app). Months later, realised I didn’t get a single printed copy yet and got in touch (via email and phone). Was told their records say my subscription started on October 2018!!! We’re still in September 2018, by the way. Now, the app has blocked my access to July and August editions. I had access to them up until a few weeks ago. BAD APP, BAD SERVICE, TOTALLY INCOMPETENT PEOPLE RUNNING THIS OPERATION. SAVE YOURSELF FROM HEADACHES. THIS SERVICE DOESN’T DESERVE YOUR MONEY!.Version: 2.0.3

Ok when it worksPretty good when content is downloaded. But - no background download, crashes on download with ios8, demands religion often. Generally too clunky. Please fix the ios8 version Asap. Truly awful. Ios8 has been out for a while and bugs have not been fixed. I expect much better from the premier sci mag..Version: 1.2.1

Upgrade failSince the last upgrade I've lost access to my subscription. There is no way to restore purchased issues, and it's asking me to log in, I never set up a user profile before the upgrade. I don't even see an option to cancel my subscription. This is sad, such great content ruined by a crap app..Version: 2.0

Terrible appI paid a lot of money for two annual subscriptions but since signing up the app has refused to work about 95% of the time. It either refuses to download or asks me to pay again for each issue. Biggest waste of money ever..Version: 2.0

Who took the since out of Scientific MagazineBeen reading SA since around 1975. It was this magazine that inspired me to create and learn. Now, the publication is almost exclusively about global warming and how horrible western civilization is. This is constant and a large portion of EVERY issue If I wanted confirmation bias on left wing politics, I would subscribe to Time magazine. Other tha pure science, the only way to solve global warming is through population reduction. This is a difficult task as all humans have rights. Pointing fingers a people like a bunch of snowflakes and support presidential candidates is not what the publication used to be about. No one is going to inspired to be an engineer or scientist reading SA. Unless you think that taking an environmental studies class makes you a scientist. Ahhh, the end of an era. My subscription will not be renewed..Version: 2.2

PoorI have to reload the library and download my purchase each time I open the App. A real, pane..Version: 2.0.2

Latest news tab no longer workingThis tab stopped updating after installing iPadOS 15.7 (new magazines are still received).Version: 2.4

Scientific American iPad edition is fraudDon't buy this app! Purchases made on this app are not honored! After 3 months of use the year subscription that I made would only permit me to download the cover page of new months volumes. Any time I went past the cover, the app crashed, giving me a message to restart the app or log in to the scientific American web site. If scientific American wants me to buy the magazine from their website, then they should at least honor the subscription we take through the App Store till the subscription runs out. Buying this app is a rip off!.Version: 1.3

New version, same old issuesThe already reported sloppy development issues carry on despite various changes introduced, such as a content pop-up, and the fixed news section now finally getting new stories after being stuck with old ones for more than year! Reading settings such as font size got worse and now are hidden in the app. Text line spacing for text under pictures still too small and no dark mode. Can’t really understand how the team developing for such an important magazine still get the basics wrong and wrong again..Version: 6.0

MrI can't believe how bad this app is. They really need to remove the word 'Scientific' from the title. I pay a (multiyear) sub but each time I try to download a new issue I get asked to pay. So I delete the app and then it doesn't recognise my login details. Are "Scientific" American a scam or just incompetent?.Version: 2.0

Great magazine, terrible app!I have subscribed to Scientific American for decades. When I bought an iPad I was delighted to find there was an app by which I could get an electronic version of the magazine. My first disappointment came when I found out I had to receive both the hard copy and the electronic version. As it turns out, that was not such a bad thing! Although I'm logged into the app, and my subscription is paid in full, every couple of month, when a new issue comes out, I find that the app it telling me I have to purchase it! I have addressed this problem with the publishers more times than I can count! The app is virtually useless! So when I travel I'm still finding that I have to carry my hard copy. I sure wish they'd address and fix this problem!.Version: 2.0.1

Still not working for meStill not working on iPad Air running latest iOS 8 with plenty of space on it ?????.Version: 1.3

RubbishThis update removes access to all issues prior to August 2014 - issues that have been paid for. It also deletes all downloaded issues and wipes out the saved article database. Dishonest. Would give 0 if it were an option..Version: 2.0

UselessGives error message about 'technical difficulties, please try later' at every login attempt. Never managed successful login with app (ok in browser). So, unable to access digital edition included in my subscription. Email to help desk not even acknowledged!.Version: 2.0.1

Poor usability and readabilityInspire from "the economist" app to improve this.Version: 2.0.1

Corrupts credentialsThe magazine and its content is excellent. However, the app is frustrating. It regularly tells me that I am not authorised to view content or there is a charge. I log into the site via web browser and am able access the same material with my subscription. Logging out of app and back in again fixes the problem. App doesn’t remember where I have got to in reading an article and resets me to the top or front page. Far from the digital experience I’d expect. Tempting to revert to old school paper editions delivered by snail mail. 4 out of 10 - Could do better. See me after class!.Version: 2.0.3

App not so goodScientific American is first class - I love it. I love the App a great deal less. News seems to have stopped updating sometime last year!.Version: 2.4

Huge disappointmentAs the title says. Every cool feature of the app is gone, every picture and info box is crappy, and the newly added features are honestly not very helpful, maybe except the text size control. In conclusion, the new version makes it seem like this is some very low quality magazine where the readers are wondering if the papers are solid. Have no I dea why they posted this update....Version: 2.0

HopelessI paid for a subscription and despite many emails to sci. am. I am still unable to download the issues..Version: 2.0.1

Broken on iOS 8If you delete and reinstall the app you can download magazines the first time it runs, but then it loses them and you to delete and reinstall the app again. Essentially useless with ios 8..Version: 1.2.1

App is not user friendly.I find SA app difficult to use compared to those of other journals that I subscribe to. In content I am disappointed at the high proportion of medical and environmental articals..Version: 2.2

Forgets login details again and againIf you subscribe to SciAm, you are still faced with demands for payment when you want to download current SciAm issues. Not a particularly helpful 'feature'. Keep your login details to hand - you will need them! Andy.Version: 2.0.1

Great reading experienceThis is the best reading experience i’ve had in an app, except it closes the magazine I had open if the app is minimized for more than a minute or so. To reopen the magazine article I was reading I have to open the downloaded tab, and open the magazine again. I think they could easily have it reopen the magazine I was reading. It also loses my place within the article..Version: 2.4

Can’t Save ArticlesI have found the archived article I would like to read later and have attempted to save it under “Saved”. Not possible. There is no way to do that as far as I can see. Not only that but now that I have the article I’d like to save in front of me I can’t get rid of it to go back to the search bar. The only way I can back to the search bar is to dismiss the app and start again. Doesn’t help me much though since I can’t save the article anyway. Not a useful app really..Version: 2.4

Random Alert badgesContent is good, but the app will suddenly have an alert badge, and there's no feedback on the app to point you to the alert. Sometimes i was able to clear it by randomly opening things. Today I had to just delete the app. Putting a badge on your app icon with no indication inside the app of what is highlighted is terrible design..Version: 2.4

SAI prefer the printed version and always have! Only limited experience with the online version..Version: 2.0

App lacks supportVery bad app. No dark mode. No bookmarking. Since os last update latest news do not refresh. Articles are great though..Version: 2.4

Worse Again and AgainOnce again I had to re-authorize which is not a smooth process. When I complained last time I was told they want you to reauthorize every thirty days. These people are really greedy, obnoxious idiots. Review September 2019. Password lost again. Cannnot restore. These guys are true incompetent morons. They are able to charge my credit card but not actually able to deliver what I paid for. They seem to have fixed the disappearing password problem. After a week or two and several tries I eas able to get back in. The interface still seems less smooth than it could be. Even Newer Review Restore does not work. They should change the name to “Incompetent American” New review: They supposedly made it better. Not really. It worked for a few months and then lost my subscription. It still won’t hold the password and won’t restore. Some of the issues I can read and others want me to subscribe. The way you view the content when it does work is strange and irritating. They will not respond to requests for help. They have my $99 and I have an app that does not work. I do at least get the paper version. Old review: Irritating and unusable. If it was free it would be a waste of time. Get the paper version. Hard to believe how bad it is..Version: 2.0.4

Room for improvementThe navigation it wonderful and the visual presentation of articles is excellent! However, there is a loss to using the digital version of the magazine vs the physical one: I cannot highlight and annotate as I read. It would be wonderful if I could highlight the article or export a PDF to a note taking/PDF annotating app so I can easily make favorite quotes stand out for quotation or reference later..Version: 2.4

Crashes since update to ios8I re-installed it. I restored my purchases. I started to download previous issues. It crashed. I tried to resume the downloads it told me I needed to quit the application and restart. I did so it but it did not help. I had to delete the application and re-download the application and re-download the issues and it crashed again. I don't know if it's due to iOS 8 or not..Version: 1.2.1

DisappointsThis app does not do much justice to the magazine. Static, and difficult to navigate. As if the new intern cut the magazine columns, cellotaped them into long strips, scanned those and put that online. Get with it SciAm. Navigation, readability and interactive content need much more attention..Version: 1.0

Partisan Science is not ScienceThey were always left leaning and the same is true of National Geographic magazine......but when they come out and say they can not support a candidate for stances they know are their own agenda is not acceptable.... statistics could prove election disparities....if you believe their environmental science then you should know that the election results are similar to global warming....an unusual and unexplainable Biden vote spike caused by global warming no doubt......Version: 2.2

What’s happened to all my back issues.And why is my magazine in web format?.Version: 6.0

Can't get issues I have paid forI can't find the issue of Mind that I have just paid for and although my main subscription lasts until January, it shows most recent issue as needing paying for. I mailed Sci am but have had no reply. It's not a great UI in any case. I expect more from a reputable supplier and the App Store..Version: 2.0

Forgets loginsIf you can get the content to display the app can work. One problem is that it always forgets my login information so I have to look it up every time I use the app. Another is that even for downloaded issues there are some articles that are not available, and I am told to"check the network". Of course the network is fine. Fortunately I continue to receive the printed version, or I would be out of luck..Version: 2.0.2

Great content; UI sometimes not functionalI love reading Scientific American mind. I was hoping to do some background research on ADHD since a family member recently received that diagnosis. I searched "adhd" using the search function. After reading one article, I couldn't figure out how to go back to my search results or even start a new search. I am no newcomer to using apps. If there is a way to go back to search results, it should be more obvious..Version: 2.4

Garbage since the last updateThe new update is garbage. The fantastic quality is gone. This used to be the best magazine in tablet format. Now it is no better than reading it on the web. Not worth the money for the subscription anymore..Version: 2.0

Where are the magazines?I can not access my paid up subscription. App just asks if I want to subscribe. Did that!.Version: 2.0.1

Great content, frustrating appI always enjoy the content of SA, and I liked the features of being able to download issues for offline use. I had about 60 hours of flying ahead so I said, hey why not subscribe and download some backlogs. So I downloaded 8 or so issues, ready to kill some time. I get on the plane and get on the app and my issues are gone.. I’m told they were automatically deleted to save space. I check my storage, had 9 or so GB of space left. Feel like a chump that wasted his money big time..Version: 2.0.3

Horrendous app - actually stopped reading the magWow. This app was designed in the year 2021? Let me share all the things wrong with it: 1) It repeatedly fails to recognize that you have a paid subscription. Footnote - why am I getting emails asking to subscribe when I already subscribed? 2) Issues must be downloaded, which takes forever. Who does this in today’s world? Go visit The Atlantic, The Economist or any other of a number of great apps. 3) Font size - for an aging demographic, your base font size is entirely too small. This is the only app with which I have issues. You also can’t scale the font size. 4) Speed - loading speed is horrible and navigation speed isn’t much better. 5) Navigation - Articles are listed by title, which often gives no hint of what it’s about. You need to include a brief summary and/or categorize better. I was so excited to get this digital subscription - and I subscribe and read a lot of them out there - but this one needs to be completely redone..Version: 2.4

Very Poor Unstable AppAmateurish app in front of a great magazine. Clunky, cannot access magazines I pay for.Version: 2.0.1

Please bring back previous versionsAs some of the other reviewers have said, this app captured the essence of the experience of reading the magazine. The integration of graphics and text worked wonderfully. The current experience is that of reading a Word file with a couple of .jpg images attached. Was this version test marketed with long-time readers? Please give back to us the experience you have faithfully provided!.Version: 2.0

Quit improving if all you’re going to do is break it.I used to instruct Skeptic Magazine that they should copy the method that SA uses to keep tract of what I’m currently reading. It seems SA in the latest update has devolved. I now have to wind my way from the top level menu each time I return to the App. I gotta ask, do the developers/testers actually use this App or do they just read the paper version? The paper version does remember were I left off when I set it down..Version: 2.4

Condition: critical. Needs resuscitation immediately!This app is a stinker. It tries to download too many issues at once, there is no capacity to pause the download of any one issue, the downloads seem to stop if my iPad locks itself. In short this is unusable for me in its current state. This is not rocket science. Others can do this so much better, why can't Sci Am get your act together?.Version: 2.0.1

This performance is a disgraceNature publishing should pull its act together and fix the incompatibility with iOS 8.1. I haven't seen an issue for 2 months..Version: 1.3

What is this interfaceI’m a subscriber but it seems like all this app does is try and sell me new things. As for articles, I see one list of the same articles over and over. Scientists aren’t known for their aesthetics but, come on. I’m really in your corner. You can do this. Hire a designer or something. This app is a work in progress. I’ll keep using a PC until you can figure out how to deliver text over mobile. I’m sure you can ask somebody..Version: 2.4

This app blowsThe magazine is full of good content, and that’s what you get with a mag subscription. It’s also what you get with the app- the magazines you’ve already gotten in the mail. What you don’t get in the app is all the other published material on the Scientific American website. For that- you have to go to the website on your phone, and sign in. So, if you have to go to the website and sign in anyway, isn’t it redundant to even have the app? The answer is yes. Isn’t it also redundant to have an app that ONLY shows you what’s in the magazines you’ve already received? The answer is, once again, yes. A good app should negate the need for users to go to a different app- their browser- and log in to your website. And just think of all that valuable user data you’re leaving on the table by making them go to Chrome instead of your app! Abominable. Back to the drawing board dudes. Or if you outsourced, time to get a new development agency..Version: 2.0.3

Not workingAfter update to iOS 8 I could not download the issues any more. The support team denied any problem, as is reported by other people. I lost about 8 issues. Despite I love this magazine I have to cancel my subscription..Version: 1.3

This app is difficult to manageIt is very difficult to manage or synch up ones subscriptions with this app. Throughout the year I am inundated with offers for new subscriptions from Scientific American, The main magazine, Physics, Mind, combination bundles, etc... Managing the that is a nightmare. If I want to add I need to go to the website and it is not reflected in the app. If I had an earlier subscription to one mag it does not reflect in the app and I cant get to it without a laborious process of linking accounts. Is there anyone I can talk too?? Forget get it! Send off an email and get a response next day... the start over again. When I am able to get things working within two months something breaks and the app refuses to download,, again!! The app looks good and when it works it is great.. but the only thing it is really good at is trying to charge me full price for each issue of a magazine. You are more trouble than you are worth. I am letting my subscriptions lapse. If I can see your magazine through some bundling service like Apple, that will be the way it goes... At least their service doesn’t break every two months and is designed to be easy to manage!! PS. I cant even post this without giving the app a stupid nickname!!!.Version: 2.2


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