East Bay Times Reviews

Newest version is a terrible update. No longer does the paper fill the screen by default, and when you zoom in to do so, the paper “floats” with no way to lock it into place. Additionally, the ability to swipe forward or back from anywhere on the page, has been removed, replaced with directional arrows at the bottom (which also disappear when you resize the paper). Lastly, digital ads now appear at the bottom, with no way to close out the ad banner (isn’t my subscription and the ads inside the paper itself enough to pay for production? Feels like a greedy move to me. You are the only e-paper I subscribe to that does this in their e-edition). Overall, I am very disappointed in this update and hope that these issues are addressed and resolved quickly, otherwise I will be rethinking my subscription of many years. Until then, I’d much prefer going back to the previous version.

Why did they ruin EastBayTimes? I loved the old version. It felt like reading a physical paper, but in a way that worked for the iPad screen size (tap to zoom in, tap on article title or “continued on” to jump between pages). Not only can I not find these features anymore, there’s a giant ad and menu bars taking up a lot of the screen space. So disappointed that my experience reading the daily paper went from great to really bad. Please bring back the old version!

Now that you’ve completely abandoned the readable page format, you dishonor the typesetters, layout, pressmen, bindery workers, and even the kid on a stingray bike with the newspaper bags slung over the handlebars. That was me, in 1968, when a guy named Lesher put this out. I would read the front page as I folded and rubber banded them (you remember those right?), then off to dutifully porch each one without hitting the screen door. 50 or so, every morning before breakfast. Can’t forget the inserts, too. And Sundays were so large it took two trips. Oh how I miss the “good’ol days”. And you can’t even line the bird’s cage with an iPad…

Retired paperboy
Dave F Concord CA

I agree 100% with the two 1 star reviews the previous two days.
Two toolbars take up too much of my iPad screen. Now I can’t see the whole page of news. You have to zoom and shrink the text in order to read the whole page or advance to the next page. Too time consuming! You have to be very careful what you touch or it jumps to a “read one article only” format. Too many options.
What happened to the old (good) app? It’s gone. Here I am paying for a subscription and I’m now forced to see pop up ads that take up more space on the screen, shrinking the page size even more. Rediculous! I may have to cancel my subscription

I used to read the east bay times on my iPad daily and liked EastBayTimes . The new app is a downgrade from the old. I can no longer zoom in and go to the next page without zooming out first. Probably so I see the ad at the bottom of the page—which I don’t look at ever. And I can’t read it like a newspaper by tapping the page number to continue an article. It brings me to a word document format. Is there a way to go back to the old app?

The old app wasn’t great, but this new one is worse. You can’t scroll from page to page, instead you have to shrink the page and then click ‘next’ at the bottom (and be sure to shrink just the right amount). Which is NOT efficient. And you can’t jump to the page an article is continued on, instead it takes you to the Reading view. Also, I liked being able to show a the pages in the “pages” view, and select which one I wanted from there. On the plus side, the text does seem to be a bit clearer.

I used to love reading the daily news on my IPad, but am disappointed in the new app. It is now more difficult to enlarge the print, and I am often unable to simply advance to the next page. It freezes on a page and the page advance > doesn’t work; I am also unable to simply swipe forward. I can only swipe back. The section advance does usually work so when it freezes on a page, I use the section advance and then swipe back to what I want to read. It’s a pain in the neck. Needless to say, I really look forward to my Sunday EBT real deal newspaper!

Since the release of the new version, EastBayTimes has had issues. It has gotten a bit better, but still has glitches. Part is it is not great to navigate, and reading panes showing specific articles, does not always translate well. Also could have interactive features. There is potential, hopefully it will get there in the future.

I like being able to read an article to the end without searching for the remainder on another page. However, taping on an article to enlarge it does not always work.

Good way for me to read the locally based news. Way better than paper. No more paper waste, or gas used for delivery. Wish annoying left side bar ad could be removed. It doesn’t allow me to click that off until minutes after.

For the most part, I don’t understand what the symbols mean. Perhaps you could make them clearer or use text for some of them. Or provide an index which lists the meaning of each symbol for those of us who are regular readers but not particularly adept at using the computer.

I do like the options you have for displaying text.

Unlike other local newspaper online apps. I appreciate the fact that I can read my morning newspaper by 3 am every morning each and every morning. The ability to bring up all pages at once (so you can go right to the pages you want) is unique and appreciated

I thought I would never want to give up the “real” newspaper spread flat across the table at breakfast. The way one can quickly scan the headlines, feature articles, pictures, and ads to choose what is of interest this day.
I have read other newspapers on-line and often found it limiting and article focused.

What a pleasant surprise this has been! The format allows a quick scan of the pages and easy to zero in in the intended article with quick return to the full page. Also, the phone and font allows me to read it more easily in the shifting sunlight of mornings at the table or later in a comfortable chair. I love the on-line paper. Thank you writers and tech staff!

I never thought I’d enjoy reading the paper online but it’s so convenient! When we were traveling in Europe we could read the paper each night and keep up with local, state and US news! Plus there are no newspaper to stack up! It’s easy to email articles and to print out crossword puzzles!

EastBayTimes is easy to navigate and read. Love supporting quality local journalism. If any gripe, it’s that sending or copying some stories to share is not always successful since I prefer to send the “physical “ article or story or recipe rather than a link. If that can be overcome it’s nearly perfect!

I love having the standard newspaper layout that I can take anywhere I go. Enlarging the type by using it on my iPad makes reading easier (especially as my eyes - and the rest of me - continue to age!). Each page loads quickly and it is easy to navigate, even in the more remote places where WiFi is limited. Love EastBayTimes!

Have been a subscriber for over 15 years and enjoy seeing the paper in the classic tabloid format just like the print version. EastBayTimes makes it easy to then zoom in on an article or view it as text so basically best of both worlds (print & digital). Also enjoy viewing the comics page in the classic format.

I love the C.C. Times, have been a customer for over 40 yrs. There was a time a few years ago that I would receive the paper, maybe, or not. When it rained, paper was soaked. I didn’t think I could part without having the actual paper in my hands. But….the alternative was to get it online. If it didn’t work out, I could cancel, and go back to calling the Time’s office reporting no paper that day.
Well….I love opening EastBayTimes and I get the paper every day….and never another problem!

I’m just so happy with Duolingo! It has allows me to practice everyday, from any device, no matter where I am. The encouragement to practice everyday, and being fun too, makes me look forward to learning French. It is excactly what I was looking for.

I started using EastBayTimes about a month ago and I love how similar it is to reading a physical newspaper. It’s not exactly the same, of course, but as far as getting the news on a digital device it’s got the best “old school” feeling of any source I’ve come across.