Downloading Digital Issue

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Downloading Digital Issue

This topic has 21 replies, 9 voices, and was last updated 13 June 2018 at 17:06 by Neil Wyatt.

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28 October 2016 at 19:16 #263470
Journeyman
Participant
@journeyman
Have recently taken out a digital subscription. Managed to get the Windows app downloaded although I am not impressed at having to be logged into a Microsoft Account to make it function. Also managed to put the MEW app on my Android tablet. Questions…
1. Why is there no download oportunity available on my PC?
2. Hit the download button on the Android app – it says downloading and the button changed to READ. Where has the damn thing gone, can't find the downloaded file anywhere?
3. Why didn't it give me the choice of where to put the file?
4. How do I download something for a second time once the button has changed?
PocketMags seems to be a few sandwiches short of a picnic!

John

Edited By Journeyman on 28/10/2016 19:18:07
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28 October 2016 at 19:16 #38915
Journeyman
Participant
@journeyman
Wherefore art thou?
28 October 2016 at 19:25 #263474
Neil Wyatt
Moderator
@neilwyatt
Hi John,

(1) If you click 'Digital' on the black strip[e above it will take you to this page:

http://www.model-engineer.co.uk/editorial/page.asp?p=1334

Which will tell you how to download to pC or Mac as well as Iphones and Android devices.

From my sketchy knowledge:

(2) & (3) I have no idea how Android works but as the files are linked to the viewer app I assume the app has a working directory you change through its options/settings (i.e. it's not the same as downloading a file in your browser).

(4) I doubt you have to – have you tried clicking on READ?

If you want definitive answers the Pocketmags help page says::

"If you have any further queries please do not hesitate to contact us at help@pocketmags.com we will endeavour to respond to your enquiries as soon as possible. "

Neil
28 October 2016 at 20:05 #263485
JasonB
Moderator
@jasonb
Should put them in "Pocketmags Offline Viewer" which looks like this.

As soon as you open the offline viewer it will download any mags you have not previously downloaded (provided you are online)

Edited By JasonB on 28/10/2016 20:07:35
28 October 2016 at 20:19 #263487
Journeyman
Participant
@journeyman
Neil, thanks I had read the destructions, I just assumed that the downloaded file would be in some known format.

With 4 I was thinking more about device failure and how to recover items already downloaded but I think that's covered by Jason 's answer.

Jason, I haven't come across the offline reader yet! I will have a rumage about.

I still don't like Microsoft Account looking at what I'm doing.

Cheers John

Edit: Ah, the whole thing is basically the offline reader! (I appear to be having one of those senior moments)

Edited By Journeyman on 28/10/2016 20:45:05
28 October 2016 at 23:17 #263524
Enough!
Participant
@enough
Posted by JasonB on 28/10/2016 20:05:46:

As soon as you open the offline viewer it will download any mags you have not previously downloaded (provided you are online)

That's not how it actually works on my (Windows) version. Any new magazine is displayed a s a dim image and I have to click on it to download. In fact, sometimes the new magazine isn't shown at all and I have to hit "refresh" to see it.
29 October 2016 at 08:06 #263544
Stephen Benson
Participant
@stephenbenson75261
But you still need an Internet connection to read them it just hangs otherwise, best to print to PDF all the articles that interest you and file them for safe keeping and easy reference.
29 October 2016 at 08:24 #263547
Steambuff
Participant
@steambuff
If you have downloaded the files, using the offline reader I do not need to be connected to the internet to read the magazines. (I use Windows 7 and a iPad)

Also I do not need to sign into Microsoft either. (This may be needed if you are using the app (Win 10) and not the program.)

Dave
29 October 2016 at 10:13 #263558
JasonB
Moderator
@jasonb
You are quite right Bandersnatch, I don't really use it much as I have paper & digital. Did download a whole bunch last night after posting so I'm upto date now.

I can read them when offline. If you open the reader when you don't have a connection you get a message along the lines of "unable to login and verify user as no internet connection. Would you like to run in Offline Mode" Say yes and you can view all issues previously downloaded.

Edited By JasonB on 29/10/2016 10:19:19
29 October 2016 at 11:18 #263570
Journeyman
Participant
@journeyman
Think I have it worked out now! I assumed (wrongly) that download was in a format I could make use of. The downloads for the Android app are stored with the app in an encrypted format. The windows app works in a similar manner. You can read the mags offline with either app. The direct access to PocketMags through the forum links basically is just reading in the browser.

I tried to print the mag out to a PDF but it will only let you print two pages at a time. It would be useful to be able to print the whole thing and then I could store it locally just in case! I have paid for it so I would like it under my control, I am not keen on cloud storage where you have to trust some distant company who may run away tomorrow.

My other gripe is with the archives, which insist you use Flash Player to view them. I studiously avoid Flash for security reasons and the rest of the web has stopped using it (well it's trying to). When is MyTimeMedia going to catch up with the rest of the interweb?

John
29 October 2016 at 13:20 #263602
JasonB
Moderator
@jasonb
Having it in a format that you can easily download to PDF and store on your own computer also has the disadvantage of making it easy for any low life who wants to start selling boot leg compilation DVDs
29 October 2016 at 13:52 #263608
Journeyman
Participant
@journeyman
Yes, I saw that on another *** thread *** You just can't win. Perhaps there is a need for that DVD that Neil is investigating. At least then you can back up once a year!

John
30 October 2016 at 14:21 #263802
Stephen Benson
Participant
@stephenbenson75261
Posted by JasonB on 29/10/2016 13:20:00:

Having it in a format that you can easily download to PDF and store on your own computer also has the disadvantage of making it easy for any low life who wants to start selling boot leg compilation DVDs

Although that is true that is not what has happened the the PDF files are not from a subscriber but actually PDF files from the printers as they all the print codes on the edges.

I mentioned this to Neil over a year ago in a PM
30 October 2016 at 17:55 #263849
Neil Wyatt
Moderator
@neilwyatt
Indeed, it is clear that there are lowlifes somewhere ripping off lots of printer's proofs.

Neil
20 March 2017 at 18:51 #289705
Neil Wyatt
Moderator
@neilwyatt
Posted by Journeyman on 29/10/2016 11:18:03:

I tried to print the mag out to a PDF but it will only let you print two pages at a time. It would be useful to be able to print the whole thing and then I could store it locally just in case!

My other gripe is with the archives, which insist you use Flash Player to view them. I studiously avoid Flash for security reasons and the rest of the web has stopped using it (well it's trying to).

Multi-page PDFing would just make life even easier for the people who sell pirate copies of our magazines.

There are alternative compatible players for flash available for those who want them.

Neil
20 March 2017 at 20:49 #289745
Frances IoM
Participant
@francesiom58905
“Multi-page PDFing would just make life even easier for the people who sell pirate copies of our magazines.”
elsewhere it has been found that making legitimate copies available at a fair prices discourages piracy

Flash is viewed as and has proved to be a major security weakness in all systems on which it is hosted especially that version peddled by Adobe who can take months to fix notified bugs.
20 March 2017 at 23:30 #289781
duncan webster 1
Participant
@duncanwebster1
Before taking out a digital subscription you should be aware that unless you are prepared to use Windows 10 (with microsoft spying on your every move) or buy one of these fancy phones you will not be able to download copies to keep, no support for Windows 7 or Linux users.

I bet this post gets the chop!
20 March 2017 at 23:58 #289787
Enough!
Participant
@enough
Posted by duncan webster on 20/03/2017 23:30:38:

Before taking out a digital subscription you should be aware that unless you are prepared to use Windows 10 (with microsoft spying on your every move) or buy one of these fancy phones you will not be able to download copies to keep, no support for Windows 7 or Linux users.

Ooh that begs some comment, Duncan.

First of all, what do you mean by "download copies"? It's generally used in either of two senses here:

– download directly as, say, a pdf. That isn't available (legitimately) here for any operating system, Windows 10 or otherwise.

– download in the sense of getting download copies – albeit low quality and with a certain amount of rigmarole – via PocketMags. AFAIK this is available for any modern Windows version, at least Windows-7 onwards (I use Windows-8.1). I couldn't say about Linux. "to keep" is a bit debatable since you only get to keep them buried and hidden on your HD and encrypted at that. You can only access them via the PocketMags viewer and any prints (low quality) have a watermark

Edited By Bandersnatch on 20/03/2017 23:58:19
21 March 2017 at 01:18 #289792
duncan webster 1
Participant
@duncanwebster1
I quote Mr Pocketmags

Currently you can only read online using Win7 and Linux mint via browsers.

Warm Regards,

John

Pocketmags Customer Service
21 March 2017 at 17:30 #289923
Enough!
Participant
@enough
Even disregarding the possible ambiguity in John PocketMags comment, it doesn't seem to make much sense given that Win-8 is only a warmed over Win-7 with that godawful front-end stuck on.

Certainly you could (easily) write software to run on Win-8 but not on Win-7 (you only need to have the software check the Windows version and refuse to install/run on Win-7) but there doesn't seem to be any logical reason to do so in this (or any other) case. And the underlying OS is so similar between the two versions that anything that can run on one should run on the other – witness the fact that pretty well any other software you can think of runs on both or none.
13 June 2018 at 10:55 #357566
Peter2uat
Participant
@peter2uat
Anyhow, with Win7 you are in a bad position, on pocketmags as well as mydigitalmagazine.

You may read the magazine, but nothing else, no download, no offline reading, no saving to your PC.

OK, you may print it to a real printer – but what is the sense of having a digital subscription which I can access only ONLINE? My in-laws live 6 miles from the next mobile tower – NO mobile phone, NO internet.

I'm having a problem with getting the printed issues sporadically not arriving at my home as well, and when I ask for replacement they are out of stock (or don't arrive at my door….).

And about piracy – well I got into contact with MEW through a pirated file, then looked around and subscribed
13 June 2018 at 17:06 #357625
Neil Wyatt
Moderator
@neilwyatt
Posted by Peter2uat on 13/06/2018 10:55:53:

And about piracy – well I got into contact with MEW through a pirated file, then looked around and subscribed

One of the good guys

Unfortunately the number of people using the W7 version across all of Pocketmags titles is/was tiny.

Neil
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