No more Kobo newspapers

thepossum · 02-20-2014, 08:10 AM

This was in my email:

Quote:

Important Information about your Newspaper Subscription

We've made some changes to our newspaper and magazine services.

We now have hundreds of bestselling magazines including, Time, Forbes, Vanity Fair, Esquire, and so many more!

Plus, we have enhanced the magazine viewing experience to make it easier and provide the best reading experience possible!

How does this affect your current subscription?
The switchover to our new magazine service means we've said goodbye to our current newspaper and magazine service.

Unfortunately as of March 31st, we will no longer be offering new issues of your existing newspaper and your last subscription charge will be on or before
February 28th.

We understand that this change might be frustrating and we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. We hope that you take some time to browse our newest selection of bestselling magazines we have to offer. You can try one or all FREE for 14 days!

Come back often, as we are adding new magazines to our catalogue all the time!

Sincerely,
The Kobo Team

As my "next" renewal date is March 8, I guess that's MY deadline for finding an alternative source for my Toronto Star. And gee thanks for telling me BEFORE I picked up a new prepaid credit card, sigh.

I know that I can get most of my newsfix via rss feeds from thestar.com, but there's quite a few drawbacks to doing that...

On the "bright" side, subscribing to the Digital Access edition from thestar.com appears to be cheaper than Kobo's price ($9.99 vs. $16), plus I apparently get a "digital Replica Edition" daily. But I'm really going to miss the auto-downloading to my Glo every day.

Sadly thestar.com's FAQ doesn't quite explain how well this all works on an iPad. Does the replica edition actually include every section every day? According to the website https://www.syncaccess.net/po/tstar/...6&op=subscribe I may only get Insight and Wheels and comics if I live in the GTA (I don't), and only if I get the "free" Saturday Home Delivery option.

taming · 02-20-2014, 09:41 AM

Check your library's online newspaper offerings. In Red Deer, I can read the Toronto Star through that service on my (Android) tablet's browser.

thepossum · 02-20-2014, 10:27 AM

Unfortunately not in my area.

robko · 02-20-2014, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thepossum

On the "bright" side, subscribing to the Digital Access edition from thestar.com appears to be cheaper than Kobo's price ($9.99 vs. $16), plus I apparently get a "digital Replica Edition" daily. But I'm really going to miss the auto-downloading to my Glo every day.

Sadly thestar.com's FAQ doesn't quite explain how well this all works on an iPad. Does the replica edition actually include every section every day? According to the website https://www.syncaccess.net/po/tstar/...6&op=subscribe I may only get Insight and Wheels and comics if I live in the GTA (I don't), and only if I get the "free" Saturday Home Delivery option.

The Toronto Star seems to use PressReader apps/software for their e-subscriptions. I have the Windows 8.1 App on my tablet and it actually works pretty well. Not sure what the Ipad version is like. Download is a little slower (because it has all the pics etc), but the app is pretty snappy. I will say that the app IS NOT very intuitive (and to be fair I just played with it until I figured it out rather than looking for proper directions).
I just checked and YES it does include comics in the replica and I'm pretty sure I've seen wheels anyway (I live OUTSIDE the GTA). There is a "text" mode which basically reflows things (which is what I have been using) and a full page mode which is more like a pdf that has comics, crossword, ads etc. Wasn't sure I was going to like it, but it has been better than I thought in the last week or so that I've been using it (still miss having it on e-ink though).
If you go via PressReader it will give you a free 7 day trial to any of the papers they cover ($29.99/month for access to all of them if you want more than the Star -- pretty impressive selection including a lot of small town papers) so you can check out how it works before you go for the full Star subscription.

And thanks for mentioning the comics -- I was so used to no having them I never thought to check out the page view and see that they are there. Yay!!

thepossum · 02-24-2014, 03:02 PM

So it looks like no matter which way I go now, my new Toronto Star subscription will be via the PressReader apps. My choices are either:

1- Subscribe directly via http://www.thestar.com/ for CDN$9.99 a month

2- Subscribe indirectly via http://www.pressreader.com/ for USD$29.95 a month

Option 1- apparently lets me share my subscription with up to 2 household members, each using their own unique username/password. Option 2- may or may not allow similar functionality, their website's faq doesn't make it clear whether I can authorize multiple iPhones, iPads, or computers. And their faq seems to indicate that for non-mobile devices you must use Windows/Mac software, even though they seem to have a web-browser interface now.

I am also interested in digitally subscribing to a second local newspaper, which also says it uses PressReader technology:

http://eedition.stcatharinesstandard...er/viewer.aspx

So my new questions then are, how simple is it to read more than one separate newspaper subscription? If I subscribe to both the Star and the Standard, am I going to be trapped into constantly logging out and logging in on my iPad?

Also, if I go the other route and subscribe via pressreader.com directly, am I also able to authorize three or four separate phones/tablets for a single subscription? Do I HAVE to use their Windows/Mac software or is there an online browser interface?

Perhaps a Kobo-specific forum isn't the best place to ask these questions though, lol.

robko · 02-24-2014, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thepossum

Option 1- apparently lets me share my subscription with up to 2 household members, each using their own unique username/password. Option 2- may or may not allow similar functionality, their website's faq doesn't make it clear whether I can authorize multiple iPhones, iPads, or computers. And their faq seems to indicate that for non-mobile devices you must use Windows/Mac software, even though they seem to have a web-browser interface now.

Not sure about 2 different people using unique username, but I do have a PressReader subscription authorized on my Win 8 tablet and my Playbook no problem (under the same username). I haven't actually played much with the desktop version. I did initially install it on my windows tab until I discovered they had a Windows APP that worked much better. I checked and St Catherines Standard is available under the PressReader subscription.

Quote:

Originally Posted by thepossum

I am also interested in digitally subscribing to a second local newspaper, which also says it uses PressReader technology:
http://eedition.stcatharinesstandard...er/viewer.aspx
So my new questions then are, how simple is it to read more than one separate newspaper subscription? If I subscribe to both the Star and the Standard, am I going to be trapped into constantly logging out and logging in on my iPad?

Yes, but it's a stored login info so it would just mean an extra 2 or 3 steps vs a PressReader subscription. Going between papers with a PressReader subscription is very similar to the Kobo: you have a library of your selected papers and can either pick the most current directly or pick the option below for back issues.

thepossum · 02-25-2014, 03:59 PM

I have gotten a response from PressReader, confirming only so far that I can authenticate up to 7 devices on one account.

I am still unclear on how to read on a desktop computer when my family is pretty much Microsoft-free (Linux), basically meaning that we'd be stuck using pressreader.com instead of their apps.

And again, how would subscribing to two completely independent subscriptions at the same time affect my ability to read both?

My local paper at http://stcatharinesstandard.ca/ provides a "free" 14-day trial. Perhaps somebody who is already paying thestar.com their $9.99 monthly can try this out, find out how to read more than one subscription with a single PressReader tablet app. And without spending $30 for the unlimited content subscription.

thepossum · 03-01-2014, 09:11 AM

It is now four days later since I asked my SIMPLE question to both thestar.com and scstandard.com's helpdesks, and I have gotten ZERO response from them. Yup, I've checked my spam folder religiously to make doubly sure.

(The simple question being, how easy is it to subscribe to two different papers which both use PressReader for their backend; does it require logging in and out each time?)

And pressreader.com's support answered me that day, at least with regards to their own service.

If that's the kind of support I'll get when stuff (inevitably) goes wrong, then I do NOT like to depend on them. Perhaps spending USD$30 for the buffet IS a better deal for me than CDN$14 for the two papers I actually want.

For what it's worth, our good friend robko above has confirmed that you can just authenticate for multiple papers, and they simply show up side by side in your unified library. However it seems that the free trial for my Standard doesn't include downloading? Gah. But thanks!

thepossum · 03-10-2014, 10:45 AM

Welp, I'm still a tad confused, but I'm sure that eventually I'll get over it lol.

I'm apparently still subscribed to the Toronto Star through Kobo, even though my "Next Billing" date of March 8 has already passed. But my credit card hasn't been touched since, so technically I'm getting this for free, for now.

They did miss one issue last week (Thursday March 6), which never got delivered to my Glo. And now every day's sync tells me that the current issue is download 2/2, so I'm assuming that download 1/2 would be my missing edition.

When I eventually do move to the PressReader app on my iPad, the one thing I'm going to most miss is my Glo's screen. :-( The eInk is just so much more gentle on my eyes, despite the iPad's "retina" display.

Now if only we could convince Kobo to partner with PressReader the same way they did with Pocket, so that any downloads available for the third-party service will be available via a Sync on my Glo. I'm told that the Kobo tablets have PressReader preinstalled? So maybe such a partnership isn't really so far-fetched?

thepossum · 03-13-2014, 08:07 AM

So I'm STILL apparently subscribed, but today's Toronto Star didn't download. Anybody else's Kobo newspapers not downloading today?

thepossum · 03-13-2014, 02:36 PM

Apparently I cannot use my Canadian prepaid MasterCard (from vanillamastercard.com) to pay for the USD$29.95 subscription. Really?!

So I've instead created an account at thestar.com directly. Actually they kinda made me create my account twice, once just for the "mystar" website features, and THEN I could subscribe to the digital access thing.

Now I'm trying to access this thing on my iPad, and it's fairly frustrating. Apparently I must first open Safari, surf to http://www.thestar.com/ and manage to log in, and THEN separately surf to http://www.thestar.com/replicaedition/ which redirects me to a page where I have to take three more screen taps just to get to the paper.

It's really a bunch of clicky clicky crap. All I REALLY want to do is be able to download the paper on my Wifi-only iPad and go sit in the park and read it. But how??!!

This thing is apparently making me go through http://torontostar.newspaperdirect.c...er/viewer.aspx to read it online. As in, if I lose internet access I won't even be able to click on a story to read it. And the "newspaperdirect.com" is now officially pressreader.com

But apparently I am extra-frustrated, because this is NOT done via the PressReader app on my iPad. And the "Save" button in the terribly klunky "Digital Access" on the iPad only brings me to the thestar.com website. And the links to "Read offline" and "Export to ereader" both similarly don't do anything.

So, not happy. Help?

ottdmk · 03-13-2014, 05:24 PM

I don't use the Star site... but on the Ottawa Citizen site "Export to ereader" works great. Today, for example, I exported two days worth of newspapers and put them on my Aura HD. The Citizen uses pressreader just like the Star does.

So I'm afraid I'm not much help. Sorry.

robko · 03-13-2014, 05:41 PM

Try entering your Star subscription info in as an account in PressReader. That should allow you to download/read it through it rather than messing around with it as you are currently doing. Not positive that will work, but it did for my standalone National Post subscription before I flipped to a full PressReader subscription. On my Windows app it is under the settings menu, not sure on the ipad. Stick with it. Not as perfect as just having it on the Kobo, but once you get it working it's a reasonable alternative.

BTW I didn't get my one remaining paper on my Kobo today but I figured my subscription ran out (I was anticipating it any day but hadn't actually looked up when it ended).

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02-20-2014, 09:41 AM	#2
taming Trying for calm & polite Posts: 4,012 Karma: 9455193 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mostly in Canada Device: kobo original, WiFI, Touch, Glo, and Aura	Check your library's online newspaper offerings. In Red Deer, I can read the Toronto Star through that service on my (Android) tablet's browser.

02-20-2014, 10:27 AM	#3
thepossum Zealot Posts: 123 Karma: 20018 Join Date: May 2010 Device: Kobo	Unfortunately not in my area.

02-24-2014, 03:02 PM	#5
thepossum Zealot Posts: 123 Karma: 20018 Join Date: May 2010 Device: Kobo	So it looks like no matter which way I go now, my new Toronto Star subscription will be via the PressReader apps. My choices are either: 1- Subscribe directly via http://www.thestar.com/ for CDN$9.99 a month 2- Subscribe indirectly via http://www.pressreader.com/ for USD$29.95 a month Option 1- apparently lets me share my subscription with up to 2 household members, each using their own unique username/password. Option 2- may or may not allow similar functionality, their website's faq doesn't make it clear whether I can authorize multiple iPhones, iPads, or computers. And their faq seems to indicate that for non-mobile devices you must use Windows/Mac software, even though they seem to have a web-browser interface now. I am also interested in digitally subscribing to a second local newspaper, which also says it uses PressReader technology: http://eedition.stcatharinesstandard...er/viewer.aspx So my new questions then are, how simple is it to read more than one separate newspaper subscription? If I subscribe to both the Star and the Standard, am I going to be trapped into constantly logging out and logging in on my iPad? Also, if I go the other route and subscribe via pressreader.com directly, am I also able to authorize three or four separate phones/tablets for a single subscription? Do I HAVE to use their Windows/Mac software or is there an online browser interface? Perhaps a Kobo-specific forum isn't the best place to ask these questions though, lol.

02-25-2014, 03:59 PM	#7
thepossum Zealot Posts: 123 Karma: 20018 Join Date: May 2010 Device: Kobo	I have gotten a response from PressReader, confirming only so far that I can authenticate up to 7 devices on one account. I am still unclear on how to read on a desktop computer when my family is pretty much Microsoft-free (Linux), basically meaning that we'd be stuck using pressreader.com instead of their apps. And again, how would subscribing to two completely independent subscriptions at the same time affect my ability to read both? My local paper at http://stcatharinesstandard.ca/ provides a "free" 14-day trial. Perhaps somebody who is already paying thestar.com their $9.99 monthly can try this out, find out how to read more than one subscription with a single PressReader tablet app. And without spending $30 for the unlimited content subscription.

03-01-2014, 09:11 AM	#8
thepossum Zealot Posts: 123 Karma: 20018 Join Date: May 2010 Device: Kobo	It is now four days later since I asked my SIMPLE question to both thestar.com and scstandard.com's helpdesks, and I have gotten ZERO response from them. Yup, I've checked my spam folder religiously to make doubly sure. (The simple question being, how easy is it to subscribe to two different papers which both use PressReader for their backend; does it require logging in and out each time?) And pressreader.com's support answered me that day, at least with regards to their own service. If that's the kind of support I'll get when stuff (inevitably) goes wrong, then I do NOT like to depend on them. Perhaps spending USD$30 for the buffet IS a better deal for me than CDN$14 for the two papers I actually want. For what it's worth, our good friend robko above has confirmed that you can just authenticate for multiple papers, and they simply show up side by side in your unified library. However it seems that the free trial for my Standard doesn't include downloading? Gah. But thanks!

03-10-2014, 10:45 AM	#9
thepossum Zealot Posts: 123 Karma: 20018 Join Date: May 2010 Device: Kobo	Welp, I'm still a tad confused, but I'm sure that eventually I'll get over it lol. I'm apparently still subscribed to the Toronto Star through Kobo, even though my "Next Billing" date of March 8 has already passed. But my credit card hasn't been touched since, so technically I'm getting this for free, for now. They did miss one issue last week (Thursday March 6), which never got delivered to my Glo. And now every day's sync tells me that the current issue is download 2/2, so I'm assuming that download 1/2 would be my missing edition. When I eventually do move to the PressReader app on my iPad, the one thing I'm going to most miss is my Glo's screen. :-( The eInk is just so much more gentle on my eyes, despite the iPad's "retina" display. Now if only we could convince Kobo to partner with PressReader the same way they did with Pocket, so that any downloads available for the third-party service will be available via a Sync on my Glo. I'm told that the Kobo tablets have PressReader preinstalled? So maybe such a partnership isn't really so far-fetched?

03-13-2014, 08:07 AM	#10
thepossum Zealot Posts: 123 Karma: 20018 Join Date: May 2010 Device: Kobo	So I'm STILL apparently subscribed, but today's Toronto Star didn't download. Anybody else's Kobo newspapers not downloading today?

03-13-2014, 02:36 PM	#11
thepossum Zealot Posts: 123 Karma: 20018 Join Date: May 2010 Device: Kobo	Apparently I cannot use my Canadian prepaid MasterCard (from vanillamastercard.com) to pay for the USD$29.95 subscription. Really?! So I've instead created an account at thestar.com directly. Actually they kinda made me create my account twice, once just for the "mystar" website features, and THEN I could subscribe to the digital access thing. Now I'm trying to access this thing on my iPad, and it's fairly frustrating. Apparently I must first open Safari, surf to http://www.thestar.com/ and manage to log in, and THEN separately surf to http://www.thestar.com/replicaedition/ which redirects me to a page where I have to take three more screen taps just to get to the paper. It's really a bunch of clicky clicky crap. All I REALLY want to do is be able to download the paper on my Wifi-only iPad and go sit in the park and read it. But how??!! This thing is apparently making me go through http://torontostar.newspaperdirect.c...er/viewer.aspx to read it online. As in, if I lose internet access I won't even be able to click on a story to read it. And the "newspaperdirect.com" is now officially pressreader.com But apparently I am extra-frustrated, because this is NOT done via the PressReader app on my iPad. And the "Save" button in the terribly klunky "Digital Access" on the iPad only brings me to the thestar.com website. And the links to "Read offline" and "Export to ereader" both similarly don't do anything. So, not happy. Help?

03-13-2014, 05:24 PM	#12
ottdmk Wizard Posts: 1,220 Karma: 3804496 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Device: Kobo Libra 2, Lenovo Tab M10 FHD Plus, Lenovo Tab M9	I don't use the Star site... but on the Ottawa Citizen site "Export to ereader" works great. Today, for example, I exported two days worth of newspapers and put them on my Aura HD. The Citizen uses pressreader just like the Star does. So I'm afraid I'm not much help. Sorry.

03-13-2014, 05:41 PM	#13
robko Wizard Posts: 2,454 Karma: 5469320 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Kobo	Try entering your Star subscription info in as an account in PressReader. That should allow you to download/read it through it rather than messing around with it as you are currently doing. Not positive that will work, but it did for my standalone National Post subscription before I flipped to a full PressReader subscription. On my Windows app it is under the settings menu, not sure on the ipad. Stick with it. Not as perfect as just having it on the Kobo, but once you get it working it's a reasonable alternative. BTW I didn't get my one remaining paper on my Kobo today but I figured my subscription ran out (I was anticipating it any day but hadn't actually looked up when it ended).

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