ReadAnywhere

Las quarter I use the app for ten weeks and it worked fine. Now I downloaded a new book and it won’t download any chapters it keep giving me an error. I’m frustrated because I am depending on this app to avoid carrying my book for school everywhere. Other than this issue the app is great. I just wish it would work as normal . I’m not sure why I cannot download the chapters that I select. Hopefully the developer will read my review and do something. This app is definitely useful when it works right. I deleted the application twice and download it each time to get it to work accordingly.

I rely on etextbooks because with kindle and other PDFs I can have my phone read the pages aloud to me while I am cooking, cleaning, commuting and managing my family. Moreover, I have issues with my eyes where I cannot stare at screens for long periods of time so I reserve screen times for when I have papers and online research. I can understand not allowing copy and pasting for copyright reasons but spoken screen and spoken content with iOS does not work at all for this app which is absolutely absurd. Why would you prevent people that can’t see digital content very well from being able to have the content read to them?!?! If I were any more blind than I currently am I would not be able to use this app at all so those with vision impairment should STAY AWAY!! The “highlight and speak” feature worked the first day I tried this app and has not worked since, a feature that is also poor because you cannot pause long segments so you have to highlight very short segments at a time (which is extremely inconvenient when driving). Since that KY worked one time I have deleted and redownload this app 5 times and it still dies not work. I hope professors in the future will stay away from McGraw Hill products all together because the snout of money paid for this textbook and the lack of accessibility is absolutely outrageous.

I don’t understand how such a big company like McGraw Hill could come up with such an utterly lousy app. I would give it 0 stars if I could. I am being forced to use this app for school because of school, but if you have ANY CHOICE WHATSOEVER, DO NOT USE THIS APP. You’re better off taking pictures of every single page of your textbook and using photos on your phone than using this app. The entire app is the most inconvenient and poorly formatted. First of all, “continuous scroll” is the only option. I put continuous scroll in quotes because it isn’t even continuous. The pages are all strangely different lengths and the application stops you at the end of a page so you have to swipe multiple times before you can access the next page. Moreover, the markup features are absolutely pathetic. There are very few markup options; they have four highlighter colors and don’t even have a handwriting option. Also, seeing as this app is geared towards iPads, the fact that Apple Pencil does not work with it is absurd. You also have to select the text you want to markup by dragging your finger around for an unholy amount of time before the markup options even show up, because as i mentioned earlier, you cannot draw on the book with Apple Pencil.

It works as a fairly good reader, albeit the scroll is vertical for some reason. Honestly, everything is passable, EXCEPT the note taking system! Arguably one of the most important features of a textbook reader! You cannot just write directly on the page (I’m using an iPad btw) you have to highlight the text, select write note, then write a note in a separate window that covers the text you’re referencing. And the little note window only supports typing or that handwriting to typed word conversion setting(which is terrible if you write in cursive like me,) meaning you can’t just jot down a quick handwritten note, you either have to type it out or write it and then spend time editing it so it actually makes sense. And ladies and gentlemen that’s not all! These notes you write? You Can’t See Them On The Text! They appear as dotted lines under the words you highlighted or in a list of all your notes organized by date? Maybe I’m being entitled but it is hard to believe that this app doesn’t allow you to easily take notes with your stylus without having to jump through hoops.

How a Textbook company cannot make the "Connect" website mobile friendly is beyond me. Plus, I have issues with the site outside my mobile experience. If this is their attempt at mobile friendly it is hands down one of the worst I have ever seen. I have to constantly switch between landscape and portrait modes to be able to skip questions or submit assignments while on a mobile device. I have noticed they place videos on each question, but the videos rarely have anything to do with the question being asked. You'll need to skip one or two questions to find the relevant video. I have issues with words overlapping or it displaying a couple letters before going to the next line to finish each word down the whole page. There is no excuse to not have a user and mobile friendly website during our society as it stands today with technology. I would not recommend wasting time or money with this app unless you're required to for class. That is even questionable. This website has made me so mad. I'm supposed to be doing homework, but I'm so frustrated with the site that I had to write this review.

Seems to do the minimal of what’s needed. Download for offline use, highlight text, underlines text (wish you could choose the color for underlining!...just does black, so it’s difficult to tell if you did it or if it came with book), and add text-notes to specific words/phrases that you highlight. However, this app could be MUCH more dynamic. Functionality that would give this app a 5 star: -The ability to write/draw with finger/stylus! -pre-made shapes/figures -add text boxes so we can fill white sides next to e-book text -Highlight ability simply by sliding finger over desired text (like iBook) If we are required to use an e-book for our courses, then McGraw Hill apps should give us close to the same functionality as a real/physical book. I want to be able to make “mark-up” additions to the e-book like I can in iBooks (iOS is capable of these functions; please make this app capable as well). I want to be able to draw arrows between paragraphs, and I want to add in text boxes that overlay onto white spaces near book text. Most especially with Chem books, there are a lot of equations, and in my mind, I need to draw connections between what the text is saying and how the equation is manipulated to answer the question. Since more effective learning is the main goal of this publisher, please make this app more dynamic and give us more functions than physical books could ever give us =)

I downloaded this because it said on the website that you could download your book and use it offline. I tried using it,but I would get logged off and if wasn’t on WiFi couldn’t get back in to use the app. I contacted support and went back and forth for 2 weeks only to be told, “Yes, that’s how it works, you have to log in while online and stay logged in when you go offline, then you’ll continue to have access.” that doesn’t sound like the definition of available offline. Also, since I get logged off without notice, it becomes a crapshoot of whether I’ll be able to use the app. Don’t publicize this as an offline app, if you need WiFi to make it work. I did test out the offline workflow they proposed and it will allow you to see some of the content, but every other page has an error “No internet connection. Reconnect to load content.” I expect better from McGraw Hill.

On mobile there is a lot of issues. The read aloud function is overall terrible, skips over things, describes photos then skips the actual description under the photo, skips around the page. Sometimes the sections of the book does not work IN THE APP (leaving a blank screen and then skipping to the next section). I contacted customer support and they spent over an hour on it with me saying that it was my device and to trouble shoot it with them. (It wasn’t, and later they admitted it was a problem, and to use a different web browser instead of safari or the actual app.) Overall that does not give me a good impression. The fact they can not even manage the app well, but expect 55$ for a single electronic book is insane. I was hoping to use this while commuting to school and work, but was sadly mistaken after using it once on a textbook and it decided to skip around the whole page, the reading finishing it less than 5-10 minutes which should have taken around 20-25. It works well if you can babysit it and do small sections of text, but overall not impressed. — however, on computer it works great, rarely any bugs, only complaints is the terrible voice they have for the read aloud function and the inability to copy text and paste it for reference in the class.

This app works well for my purposes. I am able to use the audio function to listen to my text books, which is helpful since too much screen time and/or reading triggers migraines for me. However, I can not exit the app or lock my phone while listening to a chapter. Thus the screen stays on and lit-up the whole time, the touch screen is active, and the battery is quickly drained if not plugged in. The smallest accidental tap of the screen causes the audio to stop and you can’t pick up where you left off. You have to start the entire chapter again. It would be helpful if one could navigate away from the app or lock the screen and still have the audio running.

Studying Anatomy & Physiology and love having eText. It’s a lot easier than carrying around an enormous text book, HOWEVER… All of the images are blurry. On this platform and on non-iOS platforms. Some of them are so bad that the descriptions on illustrations are completely illegible. Not to mention that the images are pretty blurry too. Most images with text on them are impossible to read. This is obviously a HUGE problem with any course, but especially Anatomy. I need to see what the parts of the anatomy are labeled as for exams! I emailed support, sent screenshots of the images, and the response I got was “We’re sorry. We sent this to the team to look at.” It’s an expensive college version of “Thoughts and prayers!” I’m strongly going to reconsider buying an eText from this company next semester. At least physical books aren’t blurry.

I a using this app on my macbook, purely because i cannot reach the online book without this app. McGraw does not have an option on opening the book on the website for the macbook. This App can be very frustrating to use with the macbook. I have had several glitches with highlighting and other options(option appearing then disappearing when i move my mouse, so i cannot click the option), it struggles with taking notes. It does not like to move page to page fluently like it does as an app on the Iphone. Its just extremely frustrating when I have an exam due in 4 days, and all this app wants to do is act up. I don't have a hard copy of the book, so when it comes to this app it is so very frustrating.

Great design, great functionality. So easy to navigate between sections, highlight important bits, and browse my highlights/bookmarks. I'm honestly surprised: my desktop browser experience with all things Connect related is often a miserable one, but this is something else. Update2: developers reached out to me, thanks for that! Here are more details on the issue I had, hope this helps: --the textbook is called "Ross, Corporate Finance: Core Principles and Applications, 5e (ebook)". --I had downloaded it in its entirety for offline use through this app --I was connected to wifi at the time. --iPad Air 1, 16GB, iOS 10.0.2. --The error message appeared in brackets, with red colored, italicized, regular sized font: "[Math Processing Error]". --At the time, I was reading about financial ratios in Chapter 3, and the error message had replaced every instance of math equations. --I removed and reinstalled the app, restarted my iPad, and have not seen the error message since then. I have, however, noticed a second issue: throughout the book, there seems to small red "broken image icons". Let me know if there's a way I can send you screenshots of this.

They now offer 4 colors to highlight, circle, box, and underline. I would like to see a handwriting option soon. Also, I wish I could reorder my highlights instead of always starting with the first one. The reason is bc sometimes I change my mind on how I want to categorize the selected text since I use a color-coded system, and when I change my mind, I have to scroll all the way to the bottom of the Highlights section to delete it and re-highlight. That, or add an Erase function as an option to save time. Otherwise, once you get used to the functions, it’s actually not so bad. I have used an Apple Pencil and a stylus with ease.

The title of the application is a false advertisement. Get a hard copy and tell your teacher why her class is back by the upper echelon of bureaucratic society. internet is required to read “anywhere “ BUT when you need it. So make sure you are a rich collage student if you need this application. It total trash and I feel pity for others that require it. I feel like the zealots are winning the battleground of education and we are the subjects of the lost and financially raped Society of students. So haul and salute to the masters of our Financial demise. My wallet is raped thank you for Subjugating your required trash material upon educated opportunists and thank you Apple for sponsoring trash applications. I am fully disappointed in the representation of your product and do not trust your brand or label or whatever legal bull you feel to call your self.

Work full-time and go to school full-time, so it’s hard to find time to read/study. This app is a life saver as I’m able to use the audio function between apps, and have this play on the commute in my car. This helps me review/study and get information from text without stressing my eyes. The app also has a great ebook function where it can be downloaded to retrieve during offline mode. I really appreciate this app.

I had the app for a little over a month before experiencing difficulties. The app worked well initially and showed to be very useful. However, after a month, the app managed to lose its data, requiring me to re-download the book entirely to view offline. I then lost several features, mainly the search feature. I assumed it was a mild error and uninstalled the app and then reinstalled it. Once I reinstalled it and logged in, the app said I no longer had access to the book. After being on the phone with customer support for 30min. Nothing was resolved, only more frustration. Now I’m supposedly waiting for the engineer team to get back with me. For me, being able to view offline was huge, I don’t always have access to internet and now my studies are limited because of this issue.

Resource linking that is invariably wrong, requiring hunting through several pages of text. Incredible battery drain and sluggish performance even on iPad Pro. Frequent crashes and invisible questions/fields. No ability to search text, or omit formatting and captions from audiobook feature. All this wouldn’t be quite so bad, except the “new” connect books require app use in iOS, and students have no choice to move to competitors. This is quite clearly a product (and service) designed to do the absolute minimum to meet the desires of institutions and professors, and not the needs of the end users. Perhaps it’s time to end the publisher stranglehold on the education market?

The app is nice to not have to rely on my computer. The audio playback would be nice so I can play the textbook like I’m listening to a podcast. However, it is way to difficult to keep playing. It pauses every time you accidentally touch the screen. It’s like they demand you follow alone. I can hardly put my phone in my pocket. We should be able to lock our screens and have the option to keep playing. Please fix this feature. *Thanks for the response. Glad to know you’re working on it. These things take time. I’ve updated the stars.

I am forced to use this app through school. I do not personally care for it. I will also be giving the school feedback on on this app. Things that need to be replaced/fixed/updated: 1. I use the Read Aloud function in other apps and get a nice voice that doesn’t sound like a computer. This app gives you no options to change the voice. I am stuck listening to a crappy computer voice. I hate it. It makes the context hard to follow and hard to want to listen to. I can’t stare at a screen for long, so I can’t even read it much on my own. 2. When using the Read Aloud function, if you touch the screen to move the page up, the Read Aloud function shuts down. It needs to stay open and allow us to move the page for better viewing. 3. The Read Aloud function will not let you choose where to start. You move the page to the start of whatever chapter you want, but if you need to start in the middle of a paragraph, you can’t. I should be able to put a curser on the section/word I want to start with be able to start the Read Aloud option.

Sure, I prefer using my laptop because my phone is a small screen but sometimes this was the more convenient option. Makes a digital textbook even more portable. Especially with the downloading option for offline use! That was much appreciated when our campus had a few power outages. Also. it’s easy to navigate so it really is no hassle.

I love having my book on hand whenever I am out of my house. You pick up where you left off! You can still highlight and everything. The only flaw I see is the reading to you option. If you want the book to read you the section, you must highlight it like when you go to copy/paste. If there was a way to have the book read starting on whatever page you left off on then stop where you finish having it read out loud, I would give it five stars. No other complaints!

The app worked well for about 5 weeks into the term and then anytime I was offline the content was missing and the library within the app said nothing is there. The only way to access the book was to be connected to WiFi or the internet. Contacted the McGraw Hill staff and they passed it around. Gave the typical “delete and reinstall the app” which I had already done and still had the same issue. The problem got passed on to an engineer and it’s been another 5 weeks and the term is pretty much over and I haven’t heard any response. I will avoid using these ebooks for school in the future and will Hopefully be able to use other platforms for text books in the future

I have tried using this for several semesters and not once have I been able to get access to the supposed text book I have online access through my school despite everytime I sign in through my phones web browser its constantly advertising this useless garbage app which ironically not only is a pain to sign into or access, but every semester I go to look for the textbook that is supposedly not only supported through the app but “supposed” to be listed under the available textbooks, never have I discovered or found said textbook. Just overall a garbage app that does not provide what it advertises.

The fact that a textbook company has managed to make the most obscure, unhelpful, confusing system of ebooks and apps is just ridiculous. It is so not intuitive. I am an adult learner trying to work and study and I was excited to have the playback option. 2 minutes into it I have a headache, it reads in the most robotic, unnatural, distracting way. The screen stays in and if I touch it it stops and I have no clue where it left off. Can’t make notes while using it either. I use Cengage for another class and what a difference. If you have to use a McGrawhill text then you have no option. But if you can, look somewhere else.

This app allows me to listen while performing other tasks which is helpful when you’re a full time parent and student. But it would be five stars if it could run in the background so that you could listen while doing something else on the phone. You can’t even take on the screen to highlight without the audio stopping. It would be nice if you added a highlight what is being read option so we could follow along while on the treadmill: that would take it to the next level,

The UI is clunky and unreliable. The search bar is completely useless. There’s no way to highlight or bookmark pages or text that I can find. The page layouts don’t make any kind of sense. And now suddenly I can’t use any of the picture descriptions or translation links because they crash the app. I have to force quit and restart the app every single time I go to a new screen. It feels like the app is designed to force students to use the website. Which in turn is so bad it feels like McGraw Hill is refusing to make usable so that the books must be purchased as well. 0 out of 5 stars. I’d go lower if I could.

This is a great app. The only thing I have been hindered by is the occasional sign in that requires me to get my password and type. The website version is better when you click on a definition. The text when doing so on the mobile version is way too small. But all the features are still there and it would be 5 stars if the small text for definitions in bold blue texts are fixed.

It is an alright app if you are only using it to read, it functions like an app that has just been developed. I wish the highlighting function of it was more user friendly, and i wish I was able to write my own notes onto the pages with the Apple Pencil. It is difficult to erase highlighting and underlining. Doesn’t save your place in the textbook if you close the app, the list goes on. The developers need to have the app be reviewed by actual college students and then take their comments and suggestions and run with them.

Would there be anyway to enhance this app to be able to make audio reading easier. Instead of highlighting the text and pressing the speaker to read. Maybe an option to play by chapter. I downloaded this because I thought it was set up that way and would work well when my hands aren’t free and I can listen to the book instead. If that is possible this will be truly an amazing app. But until then it’s hard to use. Doesn’t help when I’m driving and want to hear as I drive a lot with my job. It won’t play over my car just through headphone or out of phone itself.

I have been using this app for a long time with no issues but lately when I try to download a new chapter in my book it keeps saying “the file failed to unzip”. It only happens with the new chapters. All the old chapters can be downloaded with no issues after I delete and reinstall the application. I hope there is a solution to this issue soon because I need to read the book while on the go and I can’t carry this heavy paper book everywhere.

I will echo some of the other reviews - the app is functional. I love the audio play of the text, but it would be so helpful to be able to hear the audio while not actively looking at the app. Not having to actively have the app as the top window would be extremely useful and would allow a student to listen as they take notes their notes in another app.

I love all the features that are offered through this app. Whether is be accessing my assignments online or offline and also having the capability to access my ebook if I do not have WiFi. I love that I can have my ebook read to me. That’s an extremely helpful feature! Overall, a great app! I can’t wait to see what else McGraw-Hill Education has to offer to students in the future!

I love the ability to read my text book on my phone wherever I am. It does seem a bit slow at times while navigating but is great 95% of the time. I wish the chapter navigation tool had a bit more differentiation between primary subjects and paragraph subjects. Another tool that would be great would allow me to use something like a back button to go to my previously read space before clicking a link

The read anywhere app is an absolute MUST have for students using McGraw-Hill! This app gives you the access to read your textbook anywhere and anytime without the pain of carrying the book with you! Say goodbye to the stress of getting caught up and wishing you had your books with you because with Read Anywhere you have access to your books ALL the time!

I’ve only been using this app for a few days but I already appreciate the ability to read assigned chapters while sitting in waiting rooms etc. still need to see if there is more to this app for studying but trying to figure out new app resources can sometimes be that way. Hoping to discover even more learning resources here! Thankful

I have dyscalculia, and it would be incredibly helpful if I could read this in Sepia, as I have information processing issues with black and white when it comes to text. Other than that, it’s great. P.S. The in-text video clips don’t work. I have 5G, and a great up to date laptop, and plenty of space on my devices. It’s not something on my end preventing the video from playing.

Reading with it is great! And the ability to do all my assignments anywhere I go basically guaranteed I passed my accounting class. I wish highlighting and making notes and links to text were MUCH easier, but the ability to do assignments or download books to read later is worth it.

I would the option to change the voices of the read a loud option. Also, the app should allow you to select any area in a page where you can pick up and read using the read a loud option. Right now that option always starts you at the beginning of the page.

The ReadAnywhere app has helped me study vocabulary on the way to an exam, brush up on the chapter on the way to class, and given me a way to get required reading done whenever it is most convenient for me! I definitely recommend it to students that could use a tool as convenient as this to read their textbooks on the go!

I was loving this app when I could read the text (either physical book or through the app to limit my screen time) and then use the app for taking the quizzes. I was able to use them earlier in the week but when I tried to take a quiz last night, it no longer worked. I have had to take the quizzes online which is not nearly so convenient.

As far as using this app to read textbooks, his missing a pretty basic feature and that is dark mode. The read aloud feature is also very clunky. It only has three settings for speed and if you accidentally tap the screen while it’s playing it will shut off. At least the voiceover is decent to listen to although you can’t change it. The one redeeming quality the app has is that you can download the book for reading offline.

I really enjoy using this app, easy to use functions like highlighting and writing notes. I think there could be a few improvements when it comes to integrated software for listening curriculum. Would love for there to be a dark mode!!!!!! Why is there not a dark mode?! So many students study at night!!! Developer please upgrade for a systems preference of dark mode!!!

Purchased ebook for a class I’m taking. Text is fine. Audio samples are non-existent. And support is useless. Bottom line: I didn’t get what I paid for. Bait and switch sale from publisher. Three weeks into classes and still waiting for publisher to “fix” the missing resources. Looking forward to a refund-not. At this point I feel McGraw Hills is just scamming students out of their money. Sorry. Very disappointed. In stead of paying for something that’s intended to help, I’ve paid money to give me more work to cover for the lack of resources from this ebook.

Apparently, while my book is perfectly compatible with the connect and the McGraw Hill smart book apps.. it is NOT compatible with the basic reader. Makes no damned sense. What a racket. They already have us by the shorthairs with ridiculous prices.. and in the 21st century with an eBook option—somehow they just can’t get it to work. Maybe someone in the company should read one of their managerial accounting books and stick a post it note on the page re: value proposition. Divest some money out of Executive compensation and get an IT department that actually creates something worthwhile.

The read anywhere app has made it so easy for me to fit studying into my schedule. Now I can pull out my phone or iPad and study during my morning commute or in between classes to utilize my time smartly and save me time later. Now I can get more studying done during the day and have more free time at night.

Great e-reader, so far it has worked flawlessly for my digital text books. However it is pretty basic (you can’t mark-up or annotate directly on the pages, but highlighting, underlining, bookmarks, and definitions are still available with a simple tap) I’m not sure why there are so many negative reviews... my professor made this application a direct requirement for the course and I’m glad he did.

You won’t get much out of this app. If you use the auto reader you cannot touch the screen or the reader stops. Most apps highlight the words as the apps reads and will advance the screen. This app won’t. If you want to listen and follow along, forget it. It doesn’t function well if you mirror the app on another devices. I wanted to walk on my treadmill, mirror the app on the TV screen and read along while listening. It won’t work with this app. It is ridiculous and virtually useless.

Developers - HEY! Devs! I have a simple request. In those boxes where you put tables that you have cleverly made scrollable - so they fit on any screen of any orientation, there is 1 super huge problem. The row names get scrolled out. How can I keep track of the numbers I am looking at if the labels are always off the screen? I like that I can slide through the data L to R, but when I have 15 rows of info, it makes it tough to absorb stuff when I have to keep going back and figuring out what each number is.

I love this app because of the accessibility. I can use it offline which is nice because it doesn’t use up any of my data. I can use it on the go, even if there is no good service where I am. It was made by the producers of the book so I know that I am reading the right stuff. Highly recommend to anyone!

Read Anywhere is exactly how it sounds. You can literally read... anywhere! You can study, anywhere! It’s completely at your convenience, and is there where you take your phone. Just another example of McGraw-Hill being there for you, again!