SkyORB 2021 Astronomy in AR Reviews

by Flobocop

There are so many areas for improvement with SkyORB2021AstronomyinAR it is not possible to list them all, and I do not suggest you use it nor upgrade to their premium product; I have not upgraded and have no plans to. I suggest you try Pocket Universe instead.

For starters, the interface is clunky and unwieldly. Function icons are not clearly labeled, and occupy valuable display space on my phone. I should be able to hide these icons to make full use of my phone's display or they should auto-hide themselves in some off-screen fashion. To continue, pop-up information does not clear itself and gets in the way of the skyview display. SkyORB2021AstronomyinAR continued to display data about Mars when I had navigated away from that planet's view in the "orbital" view. SkyORB2021AstronomyinAR also does not remove information that is no longer relevant to the star/planet/satellite object that I am no longer looking at through SkyORB2021AstronomyinAR . There is no obvious control that actually removes these info pop-ups; the control only resizes the pop-ups but does not remove them. Additionally, the stars all have "lens-flare" or "starburst" effects that won't turn off. A control needs to be plainly and obviously named that can disable this effect. Finally, the "night vision" mode should be just that: everything should be low-HSV color or red. When this option is turned on, SkyORB2021AstronomyinAR does not use an appropriate color scheme.

The list goes on, but these are some of the most obvious items that can be improved upon.

by Ehdonhon

I just wanted something to point at the sky and figure out what I was looking at. At one point SkyORB2021AstronomyinAR could do that.

Now the interface is so complicated that it is a beast to use. Plus, there is no useful documentation. Half the time, it freezes up on me when I want to use it most.

Here is the other thing: I spent good money on SkyORB2021AstronomyinAR. But then they got rid of the old "free" version and renamed this paid version as the free one. Then they came out with a new paid version. So even though they have my money, I now get constant nags to give them more for a piece of junk. For shame!

by Astronomy Buff

SkyORB2021AstronomyinAR reminds me of the first-generation planetarium programs we all used 20 years ago. It is essentially an electronic sky atlas with one or two rudimentary features added.

Major weaknesses include:

Only displays the name of the object at screen center, so you must do a lot of zooming in and out to ID an object of interest. User should be able to touch the screen and get the ID for the object closest to the center of the area touched add confirmatory tic marks on the display.

SkyORB2021AstronomyinAR only supports azimuth (compass direction) automatic tracking, and it doesn't do that very well. The Compass app works perfectly at my location, but SkyORB2021AstronomyinAR updates azimuth unpredictably and often is off by >30 degrees.

Mode switching is frustrating. Sometimes you can switch directly between modes, but often you must return to the home screen and switch from there.

SkyORB2021AstronomyinAR is more likely to frustrate than foster interest in astronomy. There are far better alternatives in SkyORB2021AstronomyinAR store.

by Docjohntx

I found SkyORB2021AstronomyinAR difficult to figure out, but I know nothing about astronomy except the locations of the Big Dipper & North Star. Strange as it may seem, SkyORB2021AstronomyinAR mislabels the most commonly known star in the cosmos (other than our sun), putting it in the handle of the dipper instead of in line with the two stars on the "dipping end" of the dipper. I actually went on the web to make sure I had not been wrong for the last 60+ years. If there are help screens, I didn't find them easily. I love the concept of SkyORB2021AstronomyinAR and will check out some others that help me with basic stuff like identifying constellations and phases of the moon. Can't recommend an app that doesn't know true north.

by PooHammer

I write frustrating because it SEEMS like the features included would be useful... if they worked.

Most of the time I am met with a mode that will not go back to its previous screen, or something freezes up- there are numerous bugs in this application. For instance, going into “planetarium” mode will either freeze, or I’m stuck in that mode until I literally close out SkyORB2021AstronomyinAR - there’s no going back! Interface is clunky, and the same buttons do different things on different screens; this is a major design flaw.

Additionally, when I do get push notifications about events or astronomical news, upon clicking it in my events notifications screen (iPhone, not in-app), it just brings me to the settings screen. Why doesn’t this bring me to a news article? Or some sort of information about the event? More of a personal gripe, and not a problem with SkyORB2021AstronomyinAR I guess.

All in all, I regret paying for premium, it was not worth the consistently buggy and cumbersome app. If these kinks get ironed out it may be useful. Sorry bruh.

by SuperPieruccio

Maybe when SkyORB2021AstronomyinAR will work flawlessly it will be a nice one. At the present (ver 3.3.3) it looks a lot a beta version! Some button is not active(?), some function doesn't do what it is supposed to do. The menu/submenu are not intuitive, you just keep tapping to know what is active and what is not, as on the screen nothing happens. Option activation is sometimes slow, sometimes it stacks in a mode and you have to reopen.... It's subpar, it needs a lot of work to become acceptable. The Premium version is even more disappointing. I rated 2 stars for the potential, hoping they will fix it.

by MoonSmiles

This free version has too many limitations to be truly enjoyable. I kept getting interrupted by advisements of what I couldn't do, so it was difficult to focus on what I could do.

I'd rather just pay the $2.99 for the full version than try to evaluate this. Is this a good app? Might the full version be worth buying? I don't know, and I don't care enough to deal with the confusing buttons and constant advisements.

I see that 34 of the first 67 ratings are just 1 star. It isn't that bad, but apparently others are frustrated too. Which is too bad, because it seems like it may be great!

by Michaelspringfield

Not a bad app. The sky charts are excellent but rotating the iPad confuses it. Works best if you hold the iPad in Portrait with the home button at the bottom. Rotate the iPad to the left or right into landscape mode and the sky chart's view rotates 90 degrees. Turn the iPad upside down with the home button a the top and your sky chart is now off by 180 degrees. Does not make good use of the accelerometer so when you tilt the iPad up to try to match the screen to the sky SkyORB2021AstronomyinAR will think you have rotated the iPad. Hitting the location button doesn't take into account of the iPad's orientation.

As others have pointed out the in App menus are not the most intuitive.

SkyORB2021AstronomyinAR has a lot of potential, and stays on my iPad but it really needs some work. Take a look at the free version of GoSkyWatch instead.

by Dan Of Lindisfarne

SkyORB2021AstronomyinAR is pretty ok, though I personally find the interface a bit awkward and confusing (probably because I do not use it that much). What really outrages me is the utter incompetence of SkyORB2021AstronomyinAR 's managers. Notifications of events pop up from time to time, also urging me to buy SkyORB2021AstronomyinAR , and every now and then the events are wildly wrong. A while ago, it was "Mercury at Perigee", I mean, come on, if you are going to use big words, at least know what they mean. Then I just saw "Pluto at Aphelion", which I think they later modified to "Opposition", but seriously, what is going on here? My math would indicate that Pluto is not due for aphelion before at least 2101, how do competent people make that mistake? And how can you trust the accuracy of their app if their basic astronomical sense is so questionable?

by RobbieDSB

This is a fairly interesting app, but it needs work. The solar system map is very cool, and accurate, and I like the earth daylight map too. But past that there isn't a lot to use, and the developers show some lack of understanding with glaring errors. For example, listed in the solar system calendar is "Uranus at perigee"; well, any amateur astronomer can tell you that Uranus doesn't have any such point; perigee refers to a point in the orbit of an object that orbits Earth. So how did that get on the calendar? Also I don't like the motion translation from the touch functions. Bottom line there is some usefulness here, but don't trust it as an educational tool because of the multiple basic mistakes.

by SmALLFLAGs

Impressive, but haven't really compared it to other sky apps. Interface not intuitive, which is frustrating. Hints help a lot. Seems to have gotten somewhat better than when first purchased. Hope it continues to improve. Great graphics.

Update: also frustrating to see very informative news topics come up, can be read once, and then not be able to find a way to go back and re-read them. If I'm missing how to do that, I blame it on the design that there's no intuitive navigation nor users manual.

by KC2PED

This program has the best sky catalog of any of the programs I have tried. You can search for things like the dwarf planet Ceres, for NGC objects and for satellites.
The circle over the searched for object is annoying. It is useful while you are trying to get there but would be better if it were a different color like bright green and unfilled.
I haven't found a way to use it to look at a time in the future or the past even after purchasing the full version.

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Newest upgrade:
SkyORB2021AstronomyinAR is orientation aware except for the list of searchable objects which appears upside down when I hold my iPad with the home button up.
Searchable objects list is the only thing I have found in SkyORB2021AstronomyinAR which is not in night mode and is a night vision killer since the white box takes up a lot of real estate.
I got into the time adjustment mode but there was no way to get out except closing and relaunching SkyORB2021AstronomyinAR .
The option for turning off the red fill in the planet locator is too well hidden.

by Tyler____Durden

I have used many different Sky/Space apps and Skyorb excels past them with its options...however, the Navigation could use some tweeking. I find it difficult to understand a lot of the different Nav options and how they work within SkyORB2021AstronomyinAR .
They just provided an update (9/17) which has in the past proved to fix
issues and bugs.
A tutorial may be a good way of instructing users on how to use the Nav and app correctly.
If the Nav was easier to understand and use I would rate it 5 stars.
No app comes close to the content that Skyorb has in terms of views, constellations, space information (i.e: meteor showers, moon phases, etc...).
Lastly, just a heads up...the updates usually need to be done over wi-fi as they are quite large in size.

by MarcoLandin

The nag screens are a bit much at the beginning. But then I upgraded to premium (I've NEVER bought a $3 app before) and am very pleased I did. For the cost of a snack I have an incredible astronomy tool in my pocket. My only negative feedbacks: 1- the lack of inclinometer response, I hope you fix that to match the great compass response in SkyORB2021AstronomyinAR . And 2- in the solar system view, finger strokes to change viewing angles could respond a lot more smoothly than they do. Otherwise, it's a great tool.

by ILoveMetal!!

Yes I'm serious this is a really worthwhile app to have if you love astronomy and the only reason I don't give it 5 🌟's is because the UI is of very poor quality at times unresponsive and poorly constructed. That and the graphics aren't of the highest quality but what it lacks in UI and graphics it makes up for in information and facts and details about the planets and asteroids and stuff. I still have to play around with it for a bit but I still say its far from a regrettable decision for an app!!

On that note please improve on UI and (optional) graphics and I'll be glad to come back and give it a 5 🌟 rating

by JMurph46256

Does well, but the interface isn't as intuitive as it should be for the level of in-app help/descriptions that are available. My son accidentally turned on a very high level of detail, making it hard to look for Messier objects. It has been a challenge to figure out how to return to a less detailed view.

The alerts and events are great, but I can only see the first few lines of text. Usually never enough info, and no link to see the full story. I almost always have to leave SkyORB2021AstronomyinAR and use Google to get the story.

Other than these items, it is a good, useful tool in my stargazing kit.

by Ashley Wilcox

One of my professors suggested SkyORB2021AstronomyinAR, it has come a long way with the updates. Bought SkyORB2021AstronomyinAR and fell in love with it, when I'm out at night I will usually check where the planets. Love the compass feature which allows you to move and show you what planet or constellation is in that direction! SkyORB2021AstronomyinAR in my opinion is well worth the purchase. I hope the makers continue to improve SkyORB2021AstronomyinAR and maintain current information on planets. This has to be one of my favorite apps.

by RogueB's

It appears that mu original review "disappeared" hence 2nd try.
This application has potential thou needs more work on controls. However, it appears that SKY Orb "calls home" to verify that paid for registered version is still so. If you have no Internet connection it reverts to crippled version. If you hiking or traveling you basically loose use of application you paid for. This Is unacceptable; I complained to apple app. store. They asked to contact developer. I did but got no response.

by Rick/w/P

The biggest problem is that once I get into SkyORB2021AstronomyinAR . Time is devoured like a black hole eats light. The updates are always welcomed. As are any bug fixes. If I was to condemn it for anything, it would be that the use of satellite stills or video are not utilised to the fullest. You could , more than likely, out shine Google Earth by a great deal. Both in quality and current pictures less than 4 years old. Let's say, every 90 minutes or so. Utilising the entire spectrum too pier thru just about anything. Don't be afraid to use the tools you have.

by Mrtew

I LOVE planetarium apps but this one is useless unless you buy the "Premium Version" for $3 like I did which means I actually have some functionality now! Some things are super cool such as the Sun and most of the planets and moons look as good or better than in other comparable apps. Please do remove the pink circle covering up the planet in most views though! That looks awful and is totally pointless.

by Kevin_in_cs

Ads come back every time I open SkyORB2021AstronomyinAR , even though I paid to remove them. This is crap. Uninstalled in spite of having my purchase price stolen.

by Dave8963

SkyORB2021AstronomyinAR has beautiful 3D graphics and I love the accelerometer support on the sky view. I've been using SkyORB2021AstronomyinAR for quite some time and just recently upgraded to the Premium version. The calendar and the notifications let me know when something cool is worth watching and I love how I can have astronomy software in my pocket. I have recently noticed a problem, though. When I use the search feature, tap the search bar, and scroll past the "Stars" section and into the "Satellite" section, SkyORB2021AstronomyinAR would hang for about a half second and then crash. In case you are wondering, the crash happened on iOS 6.1.4 on an iPhone 5 16GB. For me, this is just a minor nuisance as I generally use SkyORB2021AstronomyinAR for planets and stars, but I would like to see this fixed to make SkyORB2021AstronomyinAR even better. Otherwise, this is a great app and I appreciate the work put into it so far.