Pocketmags withdraws support for Windows 10

[LimpetParticipant @limpet]

What's up with Pocketmags as they have stopped supporting their Windows 10 app. Issues are available via their website but you can no longer download to a Windows PC. Where does that leave subscribers whow view their mags via a laptop with limited web access.

Lionel

[LimpetParticipant @limpet]

[JourneymanParticipant @journeyman]

PocketMags also works from within a browser. Using Firefox, Edge, Safari, Chrome just go to pocketmags.com there go to My Library and Account, log in with user name and password and you can then access your Mags. No need for any apps or downloads.

John

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

PocketMags probably aren't supporting Windows 10 with an App because relatively few customers use it, and – as John explains – there's a good alternative that works across a much broader base.

Youngsters represent the bulk of the market, not chaps like us, and what they spend money on matters. The junior branch of my family are more likely to use a Laptop than a Desktop, a Tablet rather than a Laptop, and a Smart Phone rather than a Tablet. Windows 10 isn't a major part of their landscape.

Dave

[Peter SansomParticipant @petersansom44767]

The browser does not let you view it offline, which was Limpet's problem and is a common issue with the browser version.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

… Thin end of the wedge ?

Are they heading towards a pay-per-view model ?

MichaelG.

[JourneymanParticipant @journeyman]

Sorry about that, obviously didn't read the OP carefully. Yes the browser option isn't much good if you only have limited web access. I must say that I rarely use the browser option preferring to read MEW on an Android tablet which fortunately PocketMags still supports.

John

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Just got a reply back from them saying

"I am sorry that you are facing issues with the Windows app. Unfortunately, we have been informed that there would not be any further updates to the Windows app and hence would recommend that you please use the HTML5 reader via our website"

I have gone back to ask if they can confirm that offline viewing is no longer available on a Widows PC and also suggested that if so they amend their FAQs which still say it is. They have now raised a Ticket for the query.

Strangely the app still shows a box with each issue number but just gets stuck on "loading page" when I click one. It does show upto date covers for other recommended titles.

Edited By JasonB on 24/02/2020 13:09:38

[LimpetParticipant @limpet]

I usually view the mag on a laptop so like to download to read when I offline, although i also have a small tablet it's more hassle to make the print big enough to read and navigate the page and you have to keep moving the image to stop auto shutdown. It's very bad to discontinue windows support without giving customers notice beforehand.

Lionel

[Enough!Participant @enough]

Posted by Journeyman on 24/02/2020 11:30:44:

PocketMags also works from within a browser. Using Firefox, Edge, Safari, Chrome just go to pocketmags.com there go to My Library and Account, log in with user name and password and you can then access your Mags.

Can you still access your (already paid for) issues if your subscription lapses?

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

I would assume so as I have purchased individual mag (different titles) and they are available after several years

[David CauntParticipant @davidcaunt67674]

Bandersnatch's question is a very important one.,

I cannot believe that the digital copies we have paid for are actually on our computers. If they are, perhaps someone could find out where they are hidden.

It would be great if we could just open them as a PDF.

Dave

Edited By David Caunt on 24/02/2020 18:06:59

[Enough!Participant @enough]

Posted by David Caunt on 24/02/2020 18:05:52:

I cannot believe that the digital copies we have paid for are actually on our computers.

 

It would be my assumption that they are not, if accessed via the browser at pocketmags.com. Hence my question. When I used the app (some years ago), issues were downloaded to your computer and remained there even if the subscription lapsed … or, as in my case, they stopped supporting Windows 8.1 at that time. If they now no longer support Win-10 …..

 

  | It would be great if we could just open them as a PDF.

Well – this, of course, is the niggle that underlies this and many similar discussions here. Don't hold your breath.

Edited By Bandersnatch on 24/02/2020 18:30:32

[Frances IoMParticipant @francesiom58905]

the ‘deal’ with HTML5 is supposed to be that it can’t be hacked to make the underlying image available for storage otherwise you could download all images to your machine and share around. The idea is that you need to keep subscribing to continue to gain access to previously subscribed-to issues – effectively you have joined a lending library that only loans you an image whilst you still cough up.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

I have almost all my MEs on my PC and can open them to view even when not connected though not as PDF as they were never in that format.

Problem is many don't use Pocketmags and have (had) not set up the app to download them to their machines.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Now there's a funny thing.

This morning the more recent mags were not showing up in the app so could not be downloaded. Just opened up the app and they are now there so downloaded the latest ME. Shut down the app and disconnected form the internet and reopened the app. latest issue is now there and viewable offline.

Limpet, can I ask you to try the same on your machine and see if you can add the latest mag to your device and report back.

[LimpetParticipant @limpet]

Jason

This morning the thumbnails were blank and would not download I will try again in the morning and let you know

Lionel

[Enough!Participant @enough]

'Nother funny thing. Even though I haven't used it in years, I discovered I still have the PocketMags app on my (Win-8.1 desktop) system so I tried running it to see if I still have the MEW issues from that time on my system.

Well, the app wouldn't run and I recall now that's where I got to before …. the app stopped running and when I checked there was no update for Win-8.1 and no plans for one. (In fact, if I recall correctly, PM specifically said, at that time, they would no longer be supporting Win-8.1 or earlier …. nice, especially after ensuring that the existing version of the app broke so that I couldn't even access the issues I'd downloaded up to that time).

At that point I said a few choice words about PM, wrote the whole thing off and moved on.

I just checked on line. I still can't get a local app but I was able to get into my account and I could still see all those (2013 – 2017) MEW issues from that time. I can't download them – no point, I don't have an app that works – but I can view them on line.

Edited By Bandersnatch on 24/02/2020 22:50:04

[David CauntParticipant @davidcaunt67674]

Don't you still have a current subscription to MEW, if so then why wouldn't you still have access to those you previously purchased.

I thought we were saying that when you no longer have a subscription they would be unavailable.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

I have asked MyTimeMedia to clarify this situation with PocketMags.

No reply yet, which is why I didn't post earlier as I don't want to jump to conclusions.

Neil

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by Frances IoM on 24/02/2020 18:48:49:
the 'deal' with HTML5 is supposed to be that it can't be hacked to make the underlying image available for storage otherwise you could download all images to your machine and share around. The idea is that you need to keep subscribing to continue to gain access to previously subscribed-to issues – effectively you have joined a lending library that only loans you an image whilst you still cough up.

No that is not how our subscriptions work. With pocketmags you keep access after your subscription has expired as long as you have your pocketmags account, which is free, you only pay for magazines once.

But also, yes, the hackers are so quick and inventive these days we have to use HTML5 to keep a lid on piracy.

Neil

[Enough!Participant @enough]

Posted by David Caunt on 24/02/2020 22:56:20:

Don't you still have a current subscription to MEW, if so then why wouldn't you still have access to those you previously purchased.

Sorry if I confused you, David …. no, I haven't had a subscription to MEW for several years. I did have one up to … oh, some time in 2017 I think – which is where the online issues that I can see under my online account date to (and where my non-working version of the local app dates to) …. but I haven't had a subscription since.

I thought we were saying that when you no longer have a subscription they would be unavailable.

We certainly speculated that it was the case, yes. It's why I prefaced my previous post with " 'Nother funny thing. "

[Enough!Participant @enough]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 24/02/2020 23:04:55:

Posted by Frances IoM on 24/02/2020 18:48:49:
the 'deal' with HTML5 is supposed to be that it can't be hacked to make the underlying image available for storage otherwise you could download all images to your machine and share around.

But also, yes, the hackers are so quick and inventive these days we have to use HTML5 to keep a lid on piracy.

Downloading, for someone with a subscription, is not inherently wrong. Sharing is. They are separate concepts.

Unfortunately, the solution gets the innocent along with the guilty. Ah, the joys of the modern world!

[LimpetParticipant @limpet]

Jason

It's all very strange but the thumbnails are visible this morning and the download works. Now I know that this has not been available for a week or so and thought it may just be a temporary glitch at their end. This gives the impression that PM deliberately disabled the Windows app to force you to on-line viewing in the hope that nobody would complain. Very underhand if this is the case

Many thanks for your efforts

Lionel

Edited By Limpet on 25/02/2020 09:39:45

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by Bandersnatch on 25/02/2020 01:36:03:

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 24/02/2020 23:04:55:

Posted by Frances IoM on 24/02/2020 18:48:49:
the 'deal' with HTML5 is supposed to be that it can't be hacked to make the underlying image available for storage otherwise you could download all images to your machine and share around.

But also, yes, the hackers are so quick and inventive these days we have to use HTML5 to keep a lid on piracy.

Downloading, for someone with a subscription, is not inherently wrong. Sharing is. They are separate concepts.

Unfortunately, the solution gets the innocent along with the guilty. Ah, the joys of the modern world!

Pocketmags gets around this by downloading an encrypted version rather than a PDF, so subscribers download their copies, but a scammer can't then simply put it up on a file site./ The aim is to make it so much faff they go and pirate a more laissez faire publication instead.

Neil

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