Gross Incompetence---iPhone app completely useless

[LewisLevin]

The app frequently won't load at all.

When attempting to open books, the app freezes. 

The only solution is to uninstall the app and re-install it.  But, this is no solution:

You must unlock your already purchased books again and download them again.

But, this will fail.

At some point, simply opening the app causes corruption.

So, you can NEVER use the app unless you have only 1-3 books.

I purchased books to take on long flights for vacation.

Now I have nothing.

I do not want to support Amazon's proprietary lock-in strategy, but after B&N's:

1) Complete incompetence;

2) Complete failure to acknowledge the problem and fully accept responsibility

It's is now clear that B&N will fail in making the transition from books and mortar reseller to ebook technology.

There is not a single satisfied customer for Nook or iPhone at this point.

[IrishEyes531]

I beg to differ. I have both the B&N iPhone app and the Nook. I am an extremely satisfied customer where both are concerned. I have at least 5 full books in my library so far, plus many samples and both the eReader on my iPhone and my nook work great. I couldn't be happier. I'm not sure why you are having your iPhone problems and you didn't mention actually having a nook.

[MariAlejandra]

I also have the iphone app and am completly satisfied. I haven't gotten my nook yet though.

[sparkles61785]

I also have the iphone app. However, I am not experiencing any of your issues.

[pidgeon92]

Mine works fine, too.

[icebike]

2) Complete failure to acknowledge the problem and fully accept responsibility

They have acknowledged the problem, they have done so on more than one thread. 

Oh, wait, you were expecting the CEO to post back to you personally about this issue? 

You do realize the APPLE APP store is not accepting any new updated software till after the first of the year, right?  If B&N had a fix right in hand, Steve Jobs STILL wouldn't let them get it to you.

I find your attitude very odd for an iPhone owner.  Apple NEVER EVER acknowledges a problem or accepts responsibility.  In fact they never even say a word until they finally (several months later) get it fixed.  They charge exorbitant prices, yet they get a pass for that behavior. 

[icebike]

> There is not a single satisfied customer for Nook or iPhone at this point.

To quote the Honorable Joe Wilson:  "You Lie!"

I use BOTH daily, and am very happy with both the Nook and the iPhone app.

[OneChantz]

I am having issues reading "Under The Dome" which I purchased today. Unlocked it ok, and read a few pages. Then closed the app. Opened the app up tonight to continue reading, and the app displays the "wait" spin symbol, then closes.

I have never had this problem with eReader or Fictionwise. Both are now owned by B&N.

Please test your books with your latest software!!! I am very frustrated. The only work around that I have found is to uninstall the application. Then re-install. Then unlock the book again. Of course then I need to never close the app...

Again, I have *never* had this problem with eReader or Fictionwise. Get your act together B&N.

[steve10]

This is kind of wierd but, there was a Lewis Levin (same name as the ultra-negative poster) who not that long ago was a corporate VP at Microsoft and who is no longer there.  I worked with people at Microsoft who were under his wings.  I doubt it's the same guy, but perhaps someone using his name?  It's not quite like going on a board under the name BillGates or SteveJobs, but not all that far from it.  Someone at that level wouldn't typically go on under his own name, if at all.

[debiant]

I sometimes think we get shills from Amazon

[JohnBrooks]

For what it's worth, I have been having the same problem as the original poster.

I have been using the eReader for iPod Touch for about a month, purchased a couple of books, and had no problems reading them.  I purchased a book recently that would not download unless I updated my eReader software.  I installed the update and was able to read the book initially.  When I came back to the book to read it the next day, the eReader wouldn't open.  I deleted it and reinstalled it, the book worked (after unlocking it again), but the next time I went to read it, the eReader wouldn't open again.

When it works, it's a great concept - if B&N could address this bug I would purchase more from them.  Otherwise, I'm thinking of looking elsewhere for an eReader...

[Martlet]

Mine works fine.

[LewisLevin · Accepted solution]

Resolution

It's not a case of gross incompetence;  it's more a matter of a rushed upgrade.

I followed the suggestion of a poster in another thread. Delete the app. then shut down the iPhone. Turn on the phone and install the app. 

Turn off the phone. Turn on the phone.

Now the app works. You need to unlock at least one book again.

I had re-installed the app multiple times. but, multiple symptoms showed that the install failed even though the upgrade downloaded and initialized. When I ran the app I was still getting the old version, not the new bits. Some symptoms:  missing new startup screen, app often wouldn't load, only a few books could be unlocked before the app crashed.  Turning off the phone BOTH after deleting and installing ensured that I got the new bits. This is the first time I have had to do this with any app upgrade, so it was a surprise.

This also explains why people who installed 1.1.2 the first time they ever used the app didn't see any problem.  So, B&N didn't completely botch the upgrade, but they could have gotten the upgrade to work properly.  Prior to this point I had been satisfied with the features of the app itself.

The reason the CEO should be concerned is not because I had a problem.  It's because B&N is locked in a battle with Amazon where Amazon has a huge lead and B&N's survival is at stake. Judging from analyst reports and the many Nook complaints others are reporting on this forum (I don't have one) it seems like the Nook launch has gone poorly while at Amazon Kindle books outsold paper books (this could be a holiday anomaly).  See:  the-tide-has-turned-nook-is-dead-this-season and Not Yet the Season for a Nook and from their most recent SEC 10-Q: "The Company's consolidated operating loss increased $7.6 million, or 30.5%, to $32.4 million during the 13 weeks ended October 31, 2009 from $24.8 million during the 13 weeks ended November 1, 2008. This increase was primarily due to the inclusion of B&N College's operating loss of $10.2 million, as well as the matters discussed above."

So, I was too quick to anger but it still seems that B&N has a bit of a hole to climb out of.

- Lewis

.

[johnnybgood0925]

I read a lot on my itouch. how do i update the progress on my nook without manually paging up?