glinet 4+

For all but the simplest use cases this app does not help you connect the router. If there’s a paywall, it never works. However the router’s admin web page always works. It scans the available networks, finds them all, and connects to the one I choose without any drama. The app does none of those things.

This App could be good, but isn’t yet ready for Prime Time.

Firstly, it asks for the router password, which is understandable, but it isn’t clear whether it’s phoning home with that password (as it apparently offers a cloud service for syncing passwords). So i have a trust issue with this App.

[Note: Apple offers free iCloud syncing for app developers, so at the very least, they should be using (or at least offer) iCloud rather than “GoodCloud.”]

Secondly, while it’ll run on an iPad, it’s not designed with iPads in mind. Granted, it doesn’t purport to be an iPad app (only an iPhone app), but it would be so much more useful if it played nicely with iPads… and operated in landscape orientation!

Perhaps they figure that using the web interface on a larger screen eliminates the need for this app on an iPad? Might be. But i think this app could be very nice to have on an iPad, if for no other reason than to monitor router status, etc.

And wouldn’t it be nice if it had a Widget for the Home Screen, showing Network Connection and VPN status?

It would be useful if the app — and the Widget — had a red dot indicator, if a firmware update was available.

I can understand them not offering a Luci interface in the app, but at the very least, they should offer a web link to the Luci interface, so it’s a one-click operation to open in Safari.

Finally, how about a few more screenshots on the app’s page in the App Store?

Got my router today and downloaded this app to set it up. It didn’t work so I just followed the instructions with my router. Use the local ip address to control everything. This app wants access to your location to run. Deleted after it forced me to keep it on.