Pocketmags withdraw Windows 7 and 8.0 Support

Neil,

Many thanks for looking into this ... I have 100's of issues of ME and MEW on my Laptop's Hard Disk which currently are useless. As I initially stated I do a lot of travelling and therefore do not have access to the internet all the time so rely on the offline copy. (i.e. on a trans-Atlantic flight!)

If you remember back ... One of MyTimeMedia's big selling points when they had a large increase in digital subscription rates was OFFLINE access for life.

Since I purchased my subscription from MyTimeMedia they have the legal responsibility to supply this service, not PocketMags. MyTimeMedia subcontracted the service but my contract is with MyTimeMedia.

I will wait and see what happens next week.

Dave

I think about 150 is the most anyone could have, I have ME from when Pocketmags was first used by MTM and there are 99 mags there, so add about 50 MEWs and thats hardly 100s.

If you change machine, the old one goes bang or you want to view the mags on another device then you will have to download them again. So unless anyone intends to use one machine for the rest of their life that won't go wrong its a fact that you are going to have to download all your mags every so often.

Edited By JasonB on 04/06/2017 18:55:33

Can I suggest something.

BSI produce standards in PDF format. Each has a watermark with the user's name and download date/time stamp that is added automatically just before download. Maybe MTM could duplicate this system. Also put in a penalty clause for the file's escape that the downloader will pay for all lost revenue up to, but not exceeding £1million.

This would be enough deterrent for the majority of users likely downloading ME & MEW. It's not too difficult either - I've written a C++ unit to create PDF 1.3 format files natively.

Just a suggestion.

Regards

Richard.

Jason,

If you know what you are doing, you can copy them to another PC, I have successfully done it with no issues.

It's not the fact that I have to re-download them that is the problem .... Under Windows 7 currently you cannot read anything you have downloaded nor can you re-download old issues or download new issues.

Dave

Neil I am at the moment as you know in the middle of not just this issue but also my subscription stuff up due to changes that were made during due to their software net problems. After taking out my subscription which culminated in loss of Digital MEW and postal of ME all arse about. The trouble with the process has only come to light a month after payment. I am still waiting for someone to contact me on that matter an email sent during last week.

Obviously I do feel like an idiot when people start to make excuses for others who are trying to smooth over and make changes without notification or consideration for the subscribers.; I as though some new CEO has walked in the door and said get rid of do this do that i don't like it. They being 1/3 our age and so switched on to well you get the picture.
They and others seem to forget that many of these magazines subscribers are of an age where changes make life harder not easier.

I like many feel a PDF which can be password protected if need be would be far simpler it has stood the test of time. It is easy to view. It means then it can be stored on a portable disc unlike what is being used now which will over time as has already been shown to happen the company can not maintain the workable version.

Neil appreciate that you guys have taken a beating about this my personal frustration mounts as said from not just this matter but the other thread I started only to be pointed to a similar thread and now this one.
In your position though flack has to be expected when it becomes so damn obvious and its not the first time this issue has raised its head. Were you or any staff contacted/notified such a dramatic change was in the wind?? Doubt it otherwise you would have posted on here??
It makes me wonder who is running the ME & MEW team?

I did get a reply from a Pocketmags (John) who I have replied to scathingly due to his slack response and oversight of their contractual and legal matter of "Life time Off Line Viewing" using the original viewer software.

Maybe its time to share the load more ??

I have and I am very happy with Windows 7 I tried the free Win10 upgrade and it loads of issues including not being able to shut down so reverted back. The answer for me is print to PDF you can save the articles you are interested in avoid the adverts and if you use sensible file names find them easily later.

I recognise the frustration being experienced by Steambuff &  Raymond and by Neil.

As a 'detached observer' I would like to offer three links to pages on the pocketmags website:

1. **LINK** https://pocketmags.com/terms-and-conditions
2. **LINK** https://pocketmags.com/help-and-faqs/help/1000/1041/how-do-i-read-a-digital-edition-what-devices-does-pocketmags-work-on
3. **LINK** https://pocketmags.com/how-it-works/windows

I have no desire to get involved in the debate, but [having some considerable experience with 'Terms and Conditions'] I would mention that;

• the 'Terms of Service' [last updated 27th September, 2013] are essential reading, and clause 7 is particularly relevant
• the current advice regarding the use of Microsoft Windows [see links 2 & 3 above] is explicit, and does not appear to contradict those 'Terms of Service'

Please don't shoot the messenger

MichaelG.

.

P.S. iOS users should be aware that the App currently requires iOS 8.0 or later; and also that things may get interesting when Apple launches iOS 11 

P.P.S There is an amusing typo on the "How it works - Apple" page:

https://pocketmags.com/how-it-works/apple

[quote] Read your digital magazines on an Amazon iPad or iPhone. [/quote]

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 05/06/2017 07:55:07

I have no problem at all with Pocketmags. I tried it and gave up on it when it was first introduced.

I just subscribe to digital issues on the web and view using Firefox. That works on Windows, Linux, Android, and iOS.

For PDFs you can install a PDF printer and print, admittedly only a page at a time, from the magazine viewer.

Russell

I ahve been in communication with MTM colleagues already this morning.

Please be assured they are looking into this.

One problem is that, as usual, it is not clear exactly what problems people are having.

Several people are saying they can't access already downloaded issues, but I am noit sure what triggered the problem? is it because people have updated their reader and lost access, or because they are migrating from oner machine to another? Or something else?

Neil

Neil

In my case, I did nothing, one weeked it worked the next week it did not.

The only change was that Windows 7 had loaded the latest security update, so I assume that this broke it.

The issue seen is that when the offline reader loads instead of seeing the covers of the magazines I just see a grey screen, with the usual dropdowns at the top.

Thanks for looking into this.

Dave

Neil, the old reader on W7, Vista etc machines no longer works (Assume not supported and updated to make it work with latest windows updates) so can't be used to view mags that have been downloaded over thet last 4 years.

Anyone wanting to view offline will now need W8.1 or W10 and have to download all the mags again.

Edited By JasonB on 05/06/2017 09:24:27

I don't use the 'Windows Store' but I've just had a look:

**LINK**

https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/store/p/pocketmags/9wzdncrdnq5b

Under "System Requirements" the Minimum OS is given as:

Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 10 Mobile, Windows Phone 8.1

Presumably, therefore, Windows 7 users attempting to update the App will see an error message about compatibility.

MichaelG.

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Edit: Jason beat me to it

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 05/06/2017 09:25:28

Not Quite, It is when W7 users go to use their existing app that it won't work as it is no longer supported they won't get any updates.

Only cure seems to be to load the new app on W8.1 or W10 and to download each mag individually.

I did e-mail PM Help yesterday morning to ask if there was a quick way to select them all to download but not heard back yet. Also noticed that they do not sort themselves into date order when downloaded so have queried that too.

.

Ahh ... I made that assumption because when I looked at the Windows Store App page on my iPad it came up with the helpful message: "This app does not work on your device."

MichaelG.

Probably as there is no offline reader available for Macs. This is something I think should be made clear on the MTM subs page.

.

Sorry, Jason ... I think we have our lines crossed [it's that dodgy telegraph pole of mine]

What I was trying to say was that Windows 7 users, attempting to update their App, might see a 'does not work on your OS' message.

Does the Windows Store push notifications about App updates ? ... I don't know.

MichaelG.

.

Really ??

There is certainly one for iOS devices

**LINK**

Pocketmags - Your favourite digital magazines by MagazineCloner.com Limited
https://appsto.re/gb/jggSA.i

... I will check the Mac App Store later

MichaelG.

Yes it's that dodgy pole of yours. I did click Neils link yesterday on my PC and got the message that it would not work on my (Vista) macine.

I did notice yesterday that it says no offline reader for mac, see here can probably use the reader online though

.

Thanks, Jason ... I hadn't seen that.

Seems odd

MichaelG.