DER SPIEGEL - Nachrichten Ratings and Reviews

Terrible app

This is NOT about content. Der SPIEGEL is one of the best news outlets there is. It’s about their new app. The old one provided a quick overview about the main news item. User friendliness, ability to navigate and quick access to the main news - all gone now. This new app is now one of many others, complex page with many categories that only show up if selected. In the old one they were seen when scrolling through. Old app got me to top new headline again when clicking on header. Not so any more. Big loss. Not using this much anymore.

Quite a loss. I am not using it as often as I did. Was my go to news app first thing in the morning and last thing in the evening. Not any more.

Exceptional!!

SPIEGEL remains one of the most thought-provoking publications in Germany, where people from all over the world pivot for in-depth analysis of everything from politics to lifestyle and anything in between. Since its creation in 1947, its unmatched journalism has promoted transparency, accountability, and democratic values. But what amazes me about this publication is the worldwide accessibility of its articles and immediate translation to any language. A hurrah to a job well done.

Developer Response ,

Dear Robbedinthedark, Thank you very much for your great review! Best regards, SPIEGEL-Kundenservice

Verschlimmbessert

The German language has a word for what happened here: verschlimmbessern. It means trying to improve something but making it worse. The new app is so much worse than the old Spiegel app, which in my opinion was pretty close to perfection. The new app uses too many webviews (with Cookie dialogs and sign in prompts), is confusing to navigate (go back to content overview is on the right rather than the left) and does not feel like a native iOS app anymore. I wish I could still use the previous app, which was so good at the one thing it did: Offer the Spiegel magazine offline.

Developer Response ,

Dear SebastianSmith, Thank you for your critical judgement; this helps us to continuously improve our offer. Kind regards, SPIEGEL-Kundenservice

Using (reading) it several times a day.

Especially in these dark days in the US, this app gives me the look from the outside in.
Unfortunately, the most recent version doesn’t load the whole front page again after I read an article or two. Please fix it!

Waste of money

The new layout is horrible to navigate. Navigation is very confusing.
The font style is a copy from PricewaterhouseCoopers’ standard layout.
That was a true waste of money, I barely visit this website currently. Prior to the change I used this site multiple times every day. Instead I started using the websites of other agencies.

Deutscher Spiegel

Since I barely have a chance to speak/read in German , I enjoy your magazine very much, besides of Frankfurter Rundschau and FAZ. (I am from Frankfurt.) Your reporting is straight to the point, as has always been, and it gives me the opportunity to monitor the general European response to the ongoing unrest in the US. Keep it up!

Just use the website this app is only a “wrapper”

I’m a subscriber and every time I open the app to have to enter my login details. There isn’t a bookmark feature or a history (most recent article read). I believe this app is just a “wrapper” a portal to the der Spiegel website. Better luck and usability simply reading on your laptop or via a web browser. (This is only a critique of the functions of the app, as news source Der Spiegel is a benchmark in German media. )

Developer Response ,

Dear KJBerlin, thank you for your critical feedback. It's important for us to receive the opinion of our users. Kind regards SPIEGEL-Kundenservice

Substantial improvement

The Spiegel is now faster and much easier to navigate than before the App update. Plus the design and graphics is now much spiffier. Some of my satisfaction may also have to with my biting the bullet and paying the monthly $20 for full access.

No online support after cookie problem

After the app changed settings and needed support for cookie settings, I cannot access the app anymore for free. One minute to the next the app didn’t work anymore.
The given tutorials only referred to online browsers such as chrome, but not to the iOS app itself.
Emailed support and they sent an automatic reply saying they could not help me - without even looking at the email.
Will use another news app from now on!

Great content, but soon all of it will be behind the paywall, at exorbitant fees

To me, Der Spiegel is one of the most balanced German new publications. I’d be willing to pay for it, but not hundreds of dollars a year, so I’m forced to just read the free content.

That will soon be reduced to nothing as more and more of the meaningful content is high pay only.