TGO Magazine App

Had an email this morning announcing the new TGO App for reading their digital edition of the magazine. Unfortunately, it requires you to create an account on a service called pocketmags before you can use it. You can preview the first few pages of the sample magazine at low resolution without creating an account. So, the app lasted all of 10 seconds on my android tablet before being binned.

If I am going to subscribe to a magazine, I want to be able to easily read it on all my devices. Something that locks me into another proprietary service with its own format definitely won't persuade me to subscribe.

What they should have done is made it available on the Amazon store, where I already subscribe to some magazines. OK so Kindle is proprietary too, but it's available on almost every device on the planet via the Chrome browser app. Also whilst Amazon stuff is DRM'd it's easy enough to remove if you really need to convert it into another format. Amazon must be aware of this and I presume their DRM is just a "pretence" to keep publishers happy.

I think the new revamped TGO is much improved and might have subscribed, or bought individual copies, if it was on Amazon. So sorry TGO, another epic fail.

I got this on iOS for the iPad yesterday.

Was a bit put off by the pocketmags thing, but ignored it and still managed to download a 16 page free sample issue. Si i think you can ignore the pocketmags thing unless you want to sync your purchases over multiple devices.

It's alright. Looks nice enough, works fine.

But, doesn't use the platform as well Outside do, doesn't really offer anything more than a reproduction of the pages on your device. Outside uses the UI in a more imaginative way.

If it was significantly cheaper than the paper mag I'd consider it, or if they threw in a free digital subscription with the hard copy that would be good, but as it is I'm not really sure I'd bother...

Installed, saw the 'sign up to use' screen, uninstalled it. :-/

You don't have to sign up. I didn't.

You might if you want to start buying issues though....

"Outside uses the UI in a more imaginative way"

Totally, agree - I've become a regular subscriber to Outside via the ipad app, as they've found a terrific blend of engaging content and very user-friendly presentation.

I wuite like TGO content wise, although I think Scotland Outdoors is catching up with them pretty quickly - if SO managed to pull off an iPad version first, I think I'd probably drop TGO altogether.

Not familiar with Outside, do you have a url? Googling produces rather a of of hits Reading and syncing over multiple devices is something the Kindle does really well. In my case I could be reading on the Kindle, Android Tablet, phone, or a computer using the Chrome app. Until I actually started using it, I didn't think that syncing your place was a useful feature, but now I wouldn't want to be without it.

http://www.outsideonline.com/

American mag, rather good at times.

on the iPad

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/outside+-magazine/id443946465?mt=8

Don't know if they have an android version. I couldn't see one...

I think its the OP that "doesn't get it"

Lots if things in life would be nice but there are reasons why they aren't done. Maybe in the future who knows but not now.... get over it!

I think the statement.....

"Also whilst Amazon stuff is DRM'd it's easy enough to remove"

Is very very telling of the sort of person who posted the OP.

What's wrong with removing the DRM? I bought the product and I want to be able to view/play it on the device of my choice. If you are inferring that I illegally download things I haven't paid for, or that I re-distribute material in breach of its licence/copyright then you are wrong.