2 Across + NY Times puzzles = $46

[mcdj]

Just an FYI for anyone considering the (very nice) crossword app 2 Across for use with the NY Times crossword puzzles.

I downloaded 2 Across Lite and checked out a few puzzles. Not surprisingly, the NY Times' puzzles were best of breed.

I decided to buy the full version of 2 Across to access more Times puzzles than just the freebies, which are limited to one per week.

I bought the app, then got a popup saying the NYT puzzles were for premium subscription holders only. So, I went to the NYT website and looked at the premium subscription prices...$7 a month, or $40 a year, and apparently that's only for crossword puzzles.

To be fair, the game's description does say the NYT puzzles require a subscription, but if you think like I did "How much could some puzzles cost? A couple of bucks?", and you buy the app without knowing, you're in for a bit of a surprise.

I did subscribe to the puzzles, on a whim. The amount of puzzles seems pretty much endless, so I guess it's worth it. YMMV. I just hope my interest in playing crosswords on the iPhone lasts a year.

 

[slidetounlock]

Just an FYI for anyone considering the (very nice) crossword app 2 Across for use with the NY Times crossword puzzles.

I downloaded 2 Across Lite and checked out a few puzzles. Not surprisingly, the NY Times' puzzles were best of breed.

I decided to buy the full version of 2 Across to access more Times puzzles than just the freebies, which are limited to one per week.

I bought the app, then got a popup saying the NYT puzzles were for premium subscription holders only. So, I went to the NYT website and looked at the premium subscription prices...$7 a month, or $40 a year, and apparently that's only for crossword puzzles.

To be fair, the game's description does say the NYT puzzles require a subscription, but if you think like I did "How much could some puzzles cost? A couple of bucks?", and you buy the app without knowing, you're in for a bit of a surprise.

I did subscribe to the puzzles, on a whim. The amount of puzzles seems pretty much endless, so I guess it's worth it. YMMV. I just hope my interest in playing crosswords on the iPhone lasts a year.

Not for nothin' but seems kind of silly to complain about this when there are hundreds of puzzles available, outside of NY Times for this APP. Plus you dont have a gun to your head to purchase the NY Times Premium puzzles. You should have reserached the exact subscription cost instead of just complaining. IMO, you're just complaining to complain, for complaints sake. Move on, there several hundred crossword puzzle in the app you can download without having to pay the NYTIMES fee...

 

[chrisb3]

Just an FYI for anyone considering the (very nice) crossword app 2 Across for use with the NY Times crossword puzzles.

I downloaded 2 Across Lite and checked out a few puzzles. Not surprisingly, the NY Times' puzzles were best of breed.

I decided to buy the full version of 2 Across to access more Times puzzles than just the freebies, which are limited to one per week.

I bought the app, then got a popup saying the NYT puzzles were for premium subscription holders only. So, I went to the NYT website and looked at the premium subscription prices...$7 a month, or $40 a year, and apparently that's only for crossword puzzles.

To be fair, the game's description does say the NYT puzzles require a subscription, but if you think like I did "How much could some puzzles cost? A couple of bucks?", and you buy the app without knowing, you're in for a bit of a surprise.

I did subscribe to the puzzles, on a whim. The amount of puzzles seems pretty much endless, so I guess it's worth it. YMMV. I just hope my interest in playing crosswords on the iPhone lasts a year.

Ms. Eliza Block (2 Across' dev) has 25 other sources (aside from the NYT entries) for puzzles that are free to download with more sources coming in v1.3. Try one of those. Chronicle for Higher Learning, NY Sun and LA Times are pretty challenging and the Friday WSJ puzzles are large (comparable in size to Sunday NYT puzzles) and difficult.

FWIW, if you subscribe to home delivery of the NYT, you get access to their Premium Crosswords for free. For $40/year, you do get access to the entire catalog of NYT puzzles.

 

[Rojo]

Not for nothin' but seems kind of silly to complain about this when there are hundreds of puzzles available, outside of NY Times for this APP. Plus you dont have a gun to your head to purchase the NY Times Premium puzzles. You should have reserached the exact subscription cost instead of just complaining. IMO, you're just complaining to complain, for complaints sake. Move on, there several hundred crossword puzzle in the app you can download without having to pay the NYTIMES fee...

I don't think the OP is just complaining for complaint's sake. I think many people might appreciate that the OP posted soemthing like this, because they may not be aware of it themselves if they download the app. I'm not a crossword puzzle-person myself, but if I was, it is posts like these that I like to read.

Honestly...it's getting a little ridiculous that no one can post an observation about something around here without being labeled a complainer or a whiner. All you had to do was point out to the OP that there are other puzzles to download for free. There's no need for the added nastiness in your post...

 

[chrisb3]

I don't think the OP is just complaining for complaint's sake. I think many people might appreciate that the OP posted soemthing like this, because they may not be aware of it themselves if they download the app. I'm not a crossword puzzle-person myself, but if I was, it is posts like these that I like to read.

Honestly...it's getting a little ridiculous that no one can post an observation about something around here without being labeled a complainer or a whiner. All you had to do was point out to the OP that there are other puzzles to download for free. There's no need for the added nastiness in your post...

There are 27 sources for puzzles (2 sub, 25 free sources). It was his choice to pay $40 for an annual sub.

It's not like Eliza's seeing any of that $40 he shelled out. That's the NYT's greed showing through. His complaint should be with the NYT and not Ms. Block's excellent app.

I wonder what the OP would be saying if they purchased the 'Crosswords' app for $10 (the other crossword puzzle app in the store) then he would have spent $50.

 

[mcdj]

I don't think the OP is just complaining for complaint's sake.

Honestly...it's getting a little ridiculous that no one can post an observation about something around here without being labeled a complainer or a whiner.

Thank you! I am not complaining. Obviously no one forced me to subscribe. As mentioned, it was simply an FYI post.

 

[Rojo]

It's not like Eliza's seeing any of that $40 he shelled out. That's the NYT's greed showing through. His complaint should be with the NYT and not Ms. Block's excellent app.

Who said the OP was complaining about 2 Across? In fact, he calls it "very nice." His issue WAS with NYT.

 

[mcdj]

Who said the OP was complaining about 2 Across? In fact, he calls it "very nice." His issue WAS with NYT.

Actually, I don't even have an issue with the NYT. I'm just sayin' their subscription fees are not mentioned in the app's description, and that a subscription may cost more than you think.

 

[chrisb3]

Who said the OP was complaining about 2 Across? In fact, he calls it "very nice." His issue WAS with NYT.

Then maybe the title of this thread should have been something like:

"OMG - NYT Crossword Puzzle subscription costs $40!"

or just not dropped the $40 on the sub. Which if you average out the cost of the sub against the number of NYT puzzles you get, each puzzle costs less than a penny (0.009987/puzzle). If he thought $40 was excessive for a premium sub, he shouldn't have bought it and stuck to the 25 other sources for puzzles. Just my .02 and as always, IMHO.

There's a reason the NYT charges for the puzzles. Their Sunday puzzle is famous world-wide for it's difficulty and that's why they can get away with it.

 

[chrisb3]

Actually, I don't even have an issue with the NYT. I'm just sayin' their subscription fees are not mentioned in the app's description, and that a subscription may cost more than you think.

They're not her puzzles, so there's no real need for her to promote NYT sub prices. Now, if the app was published by the NYT themselves, that would be a different story.

Email Eliza Block and see if she wants to put a disclaimer in the app for NYT puzzles.