Brain Training - SmartFriends 4+

Update: The developer contacted me, explained the issue, and asked for a 2nd chance. Not only did it load beautifully but there is also the ability to zoom in on the images. Fingers crossed this stays working as it really is a fun game.

This puzzle app was pretty fun for the first five days. A single puzzle, written or visual, each day was just enough to get the cobwebs knocked off in the morning. But then on day 6 it wouldn’t load. Same on day 7. I deleted it and reloaded it but it wouldn’t load. Day 8 with no loading was the straw and I deleted it for good. Nice try. No cigar.

Hi Carrie,

Thanks for your review! Last Saturday we sent the e-mail below, probably it reached your spam box. I’m happy to help and get your SmartFriends app fixed. Please let me know if the instructions below worked out properly.

We’re sorry for the inconvenience and hope you will re-join us :-). Looking forward hearing from you.


Hi smart friend,

Last week we were not so smart. We possibly messed up your SmartFriends account. Don’t worry, we will fix this together!

1. Please terminate the SmartFriends app (swipe up to close).
2. Re-open the app.
3. Is your app loading and do you see today’s challenge?

YES
You don’t need anything to do, your account is perfectly fine.

NO
Remove the app from your phone (not only remove it from the Home Screen, but completely delete it), download it and sign in again.

Just because we messed up, we will make sure you’ll get unlimited access for free. Please sign in again before October 25.

We’re sorry for this stupidity. Creating the SmartFriends app doesn’t make us necessarily the smartest. If you have any questions or need help, please send a message to info@smartfriendsapp.com. Thanks!

Kind regards,
Jeroen

My only gripe is that when the possible choices are displayed along the bottom, they’re too small. Come on developers, make them bigger!
UPDATE:
Thank you for addressing my concern. I knew that I could tap the puzzle itself to get a larger image. I had never tried tapping the Challenge Options, but it does indeed then show the answer choices in a larger format. However, I’m still keeping my review at four stars. The reason is your app only works in portrait, but the larger images for the puzzle and answers come up in landscape. You’ll get that fifth star from me when the larger images are also in portrait. Once again, thanks for your quick reply.

Hi Old School,

Thanks for your review! I understand your concerns. 

If you press or make the “zoom gesture” on the challenge image or answers, a page with the zoomed images will be shown. At the bottom you can also select “challenge options” which shows the zoomed answer options.

Hopefully that helps. If not, please let me know and send a message to jeroen@smartfriendsapp.com. Thanks in advance!

Kind regards,
Jeroen

UPDATE:
Thanks for the suggestion about the zoom function! In version 2.23 we completely changed it. You can now see the challenge and options in a single zoomable screen. This makes it much easier to use. This version has just been released.

Any more suggestions? Please let me know. Thanks!

Kind regards,
Jeroen

I am confused about the lifetime access. This app is not something that you can buy a lifetime subscription for as many puzzles that you want to solve in a day. I purchased the lifetime but see no changes made to the app. It is still asking me to buy for more puzzles and not provide them as I keep solving. Now coming to puzzles, there is a pattern. Its either linear equations or some arithmetic or some visual geometry, etc. but all of it are like 6th grade math concepts. Can you make it something for adults too?

UPDATE
The makers of this app contacted to resolve the issue from my initial reviews. The app is still in its developmental phase so totally understand the bugs and hope it will improve in future versions.

I was offered refund but I preferred more puzzles rather than sharing bank details.

The app is catered to audiences of varied age categories so it makes sense why the puzzles are sometimes hard and sometimes easy.

But overall time will be well spent with this app. Although I wouldn’t care to buy puzzles.

Hi Shamushikari,

Thanks for your review. Something had gone wrong obviously, maybe it’s a bug. Sorry for the inconvenience. Could you please send us a message from within the app (contact / talk to us button)? Then we have your account details and are able to solve it. Thanks!

Kind regards,
Jeroen