CC font in Ipad version of app too small; app doesn't recognize Apple's Accessibility Settings
2
By ConsumerJohn
My complaint isn't with the content of the Great Courses Plus app for the Ipad. Rather, it is with the small size of the font used for closed captioning. Oddly, this app does not respond to Apple's accessibility settings. Using those accessibility settings to specify an "Extra Large Font" has absolutely no effect on the size of the font used in this app. Equally oddly, when viewing a Great Courses course with the Kanopy app, the user can use the Apple accessibility settings to enlarge the size of the closed captioning font as needed. Why viewers using the native Great Courses Plus app for the Ipad aren't allowed the same benefit is a mystery.
Even those lucky viewers with perfect hearing may at times find that using closed captioning is helpful. While the Great Courses professors tend to articulate their words well, even the best of professors will occasionally swallow a word and some will, unfortunately, mumble a bit too much. In those cases, closed captioning permits the user to more readily understand the professor.
Although there is no set standard for the size of closed captioning fonts, the normal practice is to use at least an 18 point font. The font used in this app appears to be closer to eight points. This is an unfortunate error in the design of this app. Hopefully, it will be remedied at some point. As matters currently stand, the undersized font detracts from what is usually an instructive and entertaining experience.
Offline mode completely broken, also paid for courses locked
1
By Sun and Surf
This is an abysmally terrible app.
It fails at its primary function.
I downloaded a bunch of courses I own into the app to watch offline (in remote areas without internet, etc.) and the app will not start up if it doesn’t have an internet connection EVEN IF you recently used the app 15 minutes earlier on WiFi.
(I.e., I could at least understand if they wanted you to log in online once a month or so to re-authorize, but this isn’t that. The app just doesn’t start up at all without continuous internet.)
Why on earth would you take the enormous time to download everything before a trip if they render all your downloaded content inaccessible the second you’re outside of internet range?
This is on top of them intentionally and permanently breaking their “regular” app in order to force everyone onto their “Plus” app.
Which meant I had to re-download every single course AGAIN onto the new app. (Time-consuming process)
And then only to discover the new app is completely nonfunctional for offline use with downloaded courses.
I’ve spent thousands of dollars on DVDs from this company over the years, so it is heartbreaking to see them discontinue the sale of physical media, force everyone onto these digital apps, and then intentionally break their original digital app and then never get their “Plus” app (this app) to work with content you’ve already paid for.
And then on top of all of that, quite a few of the courses I’ve previously paid for are now “locked” and not available for download or streaming in the app even over WiFi because they want me to pay for those courses a second time.
I used to extol their “lifetime replacement guarantee” which is now not even worth the virtual paper it’s no longer printed on.
In fact, now they even take back courses you have previously paid for!
I strongly no longer recommend that you do business with this company.
Stay far far away.
Screwed up again
1
By Cincijp
In this new change, they have screwed up a good system again. The downloaded content isn’t available if the device isn’t connected to the Internet. What’s the point of downloading to watch on a plane if I have to be connected to watch? Fire your designers and talk to your users!!!!
Bring it back
1
By odhdddrgdy
Bring back the “Sleep feature”!
Disastrous update
1
By Werfgghj
Have been a TGC user for many years and was pleases with the technical presentation. There has been a gradual decrease in professional appearance. HOWEVER, this release is a total disaster. Non of my previously downed session are available and just taking space on my device. The new app download is spotty at best, sometimes works, sometimes nit and then disappears. Worse is the resolution. There has been a significant reduction in clarity/resolution in the presents compared to the previous version. Blurry, voice and video not synced on many sessions. Compared to other streaming service this is terrible. Previously streaming was generally good, so a change in the app.
Disappointed
2
By Person MEH
Why do I have to pay more money to view the courses I have purchased over the years? In order to view my courses, I had to take out a subscription to this app, otherwise my courses were blocked.
Add Sleep/Timer Feature
4
By Reviewer1242
I used the old Great Courses app which, for the most part, is obsolete to this app. However, one feature that needs to be implemented is the sleep feature, allowing you to set a timer for how long the content should play for. This feature needs to make a reappearance.
Do not upgrade
1
By bob's reviewer
Do not "upgrade!" Stick with the original app. The Plus app does not allow you to download courses you've paid for and view them later without signing up for an additional subscription. Their support people are ineffective, dumb, and useless.
Not as good as plain Great Courses app
1
By rivers987234
This forced upgrade / change of apps is a failure. We are now unable to background the app (for example to take notes in another app) without this app returning to the welcome screen of the app. To the project manager and their superiors: this is a failure of meeting basic functionality that was in the prior app and reflects poorly on your competancy.
Totally Screwed
1
By Arxantia
I PAID for courses and was very happy downloading them to listen to while driving on the Great Courses App. Woke up TODAY to find out I no longer have access to MY FULLY PAID for courses cause that app no longer works & I HAVE to PAY for this one to listen to MY FULLY PAID for courses while driving wtfh!!! Now I can ONLY access my content via website yeah that’s totally safe while driving ☠️☠️☠️