Headlines - News & Widgets 4+

Not What You Expected

This is a dishonest app. When you read the description in the App Store six main features are listed. Two-article translation and mute filter-are starred to indicate they are premium features. The description cleverly lists “easy feed discovery and management” as a free feature. Sounds like a good app with a free basic level and with premium features available. Download it and you see a mostly empty page with instructions to tap the plus sign to add a feed. Easy enough to add an url. Do so and you see a message that you have reached your limit!!! You can test the widgets on this one feed but that’s all. You have to subscribe for the app to be useful. It’s gotten a very nice review on MacStories but the review did not mention this (to me) rather important fact. I guess developers get a free pass if the app itself is attractive and useful. And , truthfully, it is. If you can swallow the dishonesty you get a good app. If not, then you can delete it. If the developer reads this, please spare me the whine about Apple rules, etc. The developer knows the rules beforehand and chooses deception over transparency.

UPDATE-I appreciate the developer’s timely response to my review, although I carefully avoided using the word “scam”, because I don’t believe the app is a scam. I very carefully pointed out the deceptive (I used the word dishonest as well) way that the app was presented (I used the words lack of transparency also), and stated clearly that it was a good app IF you give a pass on the issue I raised. I also quoted the developer’s own description on the App Store to make my point. Not exactly a moment of rage. I checked again and observed that the developer had indeed changed the description, although the new description states that the premium level gives unlimited feeds. The question is, is the limit for the basic app still one. I deleted the app so I don’t know. Potential users should be aware of this. The basic app would be unusable if it is. I will increase my rating for the app based on the developer’s response and quickness to change the the description, with the qualifications stated above. This rating would be for the premium app.

Developer Response ,

Dear customer, I’m very sorry if you’ve felt deceived by the description of the app. I will immediately update it to make it clear that the free version does not include unlimited feeds. I’m sorry that your review almost makes it look like my app is one of those scam apps the App Store is plagued by. Headlines is not a scam app. You can download it for free, give it a try and, if you like it enough, buy the full version. When you are on the other side, it is very easy (and tempting) to write bad reviews to let off steam although please consider that such reviews have a huge, negative impact on our work. As I’ve recognized the mistake, I kindly ask you to reconsider your rating. Thank you!

The news I want on my home screen!

Seattle has a rich pool of local journalists which I almost never read because I forget to check their sites. Now their articles on local news is pushed to my Home Screen so I never miss them. Thank you, Luca! I love this app!

Developer Response ,

Thank you for the kind review. Have a great day :)

Disappointing, But Has Potential

The widget text is formatted poorly and just doesn't look good.

Furthermore, this app does not seem to support RSS. Many feeds are missing - such as AP.

I really want to like this app. I like that is uses native Safari with Reader mode. I would subscribe in. heartbeat and use this with tons of feeds if it were better, but for now it need to cook a little longer.