GPS app from Skylabs mobile systems is a scam

**bearclawcoffee** · 08-29-2011, 08:25 PM

I bought 2 apps from Skylabs mobilesystem and they were useless in my opinion. They delete bad reviews AND the 2 apps are no longer listed-replaced by $10 apps for cities (search "gps - all skylabs) I am beyond pissed they need to be stopped.
I bought "gps maps and world maps" again they deleted bad reviews mine included which made their apps appear to be 5 stars ...gah...
ok i just had to get that off my chest thanks for listening.

**bearclawcoffee** · 08-29-2011, 08:38 PM

oh and 1 more thing .. they have Added "Offline Map" as a sort of disclaimer for their new crap apps ..

F2 · 08-29-2011, 08:49 PM

I would think that REVIEWS are subject to Rim's actions and that the developer/seller canNOT change or remove "bad" reviews. They might be able to play with the system if they change the name of the app.

I did purchase the France Offline Map. I mistakenly thought it had detail as you zoom in but I think it has a basic map and then needs to download additional "detail tile" maps. The price was listed at $0.99 and that is what I expect to be billed and my receipts show. The price was raised later in the day. So we shall see.

**bearclawcoffee** · 08-29-2011, 08:54 PM

mine were $5 - i could have used free google maps. I checked everyday to see the reviews after my purchase... and I saw bad reviews deleted very quickly..some had suggested improvements with 0 to 1 stars. hmmm

**beamolite** · 08-29-2011, 09:22 PM

Thanks for the heads up. I was considering purchasing it now I won't.

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

**andyp60** · 08-29-2011, 09:46 PM

I agree that skylab is ripping people off, I bought canadaexplorer thinking I would get offline maps for 9.99. GMAP LT is free and is of much better quality and includes decent topo and terrain rendition. live and learn.

**trsbbs** · 08-29-2011, 11:08 PM

DisasterAlert is a product of theirs for the BB phones. Paid $30 for a lifetime license and the app just plain blows.

Stay away from them and their CrapApps! Made in China.

Let's see, let Skylabs CrapApps in but bury good apps like IM Plus. Way to go RiM!

Tim

Sent from my BlackBerry Bold

F2 · 08-29-2011, 11:48 PM

Well, I just checked my email/bbid and no change in my $0.99 charge for France has happened.

I have no idea how much or large or whatever the France Map I purchased is. I did not find it stored in the usual places so it must be in one of the more hidden folders on the pb.

What is interesting is that they use OpenStreetMaps. When I tapped the "thumb tack" the maps switched from France to my current location and came pretty close. I was then able to zoom in/out and pan that maps. Obviously, it is not on the pb but downloads as needed.

So it is not a total washout, especially if the price holds at 99 cents.

**rickgainsmith** · 08-30-2011, 12:21 AM

Bought the Australian Map, waste of money! Crashes every time!

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

**312** · 08-30-2011, 12:28 AM

Originally Posted by F2

I would think that REVIEWS are subject to Rim's actions and that the developer/seller canNOT change or remove "bad" reviews.

Actually, developers DO have the ability to deny reviews. The reason for this is because a lot of users are completely ignorant when it comes to writing reviews. They will post questions (instead of READING THE DESCRIPTION and then emailing support if need be) or leave a review for a completely different app.

Also, believe it or not, competitors will intentionally leave a baseless negative review just to lower the app's ratings.

I do understand where the OP is coming from and in this case it seems the devs are taking advantage of the system. However, there's no way RIM would be able to moderate the reviews to determine if they are a legit beef or some idiot writing some crap. Ultimately, it's our own peers we have to blame for this.

@OP Have you tried communicating with support? Requesting a refund?

**BuzzStarField** · 08-30-2011, 07:07 AM

Originally Posted by 312

I do understand where the OP is coming from and in this case it seems the devs are taking advantage of the system. However, there's no way RIM would be able to moderate the reviews to determine if they are a legit beef or some idiot writing some crap. Ultimately, it's our own peers we have to blame for this.

@OP Have you tried communicating with support? Requesting a refund?

Devs are consumers too and I am in the market for a good offline mapping app. I have been watcching this dev from the beginning and agree with the OP.

Actually RIM does moderate the reviews - the dev must submit a request to have a review to be denied and RIM must approve that request. Having said that here is another area where RIM could vastly improve the consumer's experience by making some changes to the review process. A few things off the top of my heed that might be helpful:

A button so that the customer can leave a suggestion or a feature request
A means so that the dev can register a public rebuttal to a denied review
The ability for a customer to modify a review (e.g. for a new version that fixes a problem)

I will admit to asking for a few 1/2 star reviews to be denied. I am open to honest criticism. Do you think I was justified in removing the following reviews?
1. IOS "rules" for astronomy apps and my app "sucks"
2.App is "unreadable" and cannot be read in the daylight (but app is designed for night viewing)
3. App is not "point and view" (but I can't access the compass due to lack of an API)

**bearclawcoffee** · 08-30-2011, 07:48 AM

ha its already happening with the cities. i have a little OCD and checked them like Miami has a 1/2 star with NO reviews but it was there last night. Hong Kong with 2 stars review still there.

None of the reviews were hostile just suggestions for improvement. i wrote that the search was not functioning with 3 stars ... it was removed as well as the app itself after 1 month.
For $5 and $10 it should do more than just be a basic map - heck Dead Space is $10 and you can see that is well worth the money.

**bearclawcoffee** · 08-30-2011, 09:17 AM

Originally Posted by 312

Actually, developers DO have the ability to deny reviews. The reason for this is because a lot of users are completely ignorant when it comes to writing reviews. They will post questions (instead of READING THE DESCRIPTION and then emailing support if need be) or leave a review for a completely different app.

Also, believe it or not, competitors will intentionally leave a baseless negative review just to lower the app's ratings.

I do understand where the OP is coming from and in this case it seems the devs are taking advantage of the system. However, there's no way RIM would be able to moderate the reviews to determine if they are a legit beef or some idiot writing some crap. Ultimately, it's our own peers we have to blame for this.

@OP Have you tried communicating with support? Requesting a refund?

looks like no refunds.
Go to the crackberry search - type "gps skylab" click on the forums tab and you will see a problem.

**BuzzStarField** · 08-30-2011, 10:02 AM

Originally Posted by bearclawcoffee

looks like no refunds.
Go to the crackberry search - type "gps skylab" click on the forums tab and you will see a problem.

Type 'skylab" and find more posts including one of mine from mid-July. I ended up not buying the product that I was asking about. As a consumer, I am upset when a developer tries to pull the wool over my eyes. As a developer, I am even more upset because questionable activities from one of my peers hurts us all. I don't know if there is an easy solution for this problem. The obvious "solution" (removing a dev's right to request denial of unjustified reviews) would have a devastating impact on an app's earning potential. I personally think that we need a complete overhaul of RIM's approval process as well as a re-think of the entire review-refund-complaint mechanisms in App World. The chances that I will see improvements any time soon are in the range of zero to none.

**yzf.shaun** · 08-30-2011, 11:05 AM

I purchased these to try it out and was glad it only set me back 99p for the UK.

Waste of time. They don't even pin point your location and lack basic search functionality. I guess it is what it says though. Offline map.

F2 · 08-30-2011, 11:30 AM

Buzz:

What/where is the complaint/refund mechanism for Appworld? I want to be prepared if they somehow raise the price I paid for this app. Thanks.

**BuzzStarField** · 08-30-2011, 12:10 PM

Originally Posted by F2

Buzz:

What/where is the complaint/refund mechanism for Appworld? I want to be prepared if they somehow raise the price I paid for this app. Thanks.

Glad you asked. The current review process doubles as a complaint mechanism (and we know how well that works!).

I helped a customer just yesterday to get a refund after paying for my app and then not being able to download it. In cases like this, RIM is pretty good at getting a refund to you and allowing you to buy the app. Not so sure about other reasons you might want a refund. But t's worth a try especially in cases where the price on App World is different from the price during the payment process. Send an email to appworldbilling@rim.com.

There is another email address for app world marketing (blackberryappworldmarketing@rim.com) I have no idea if this address is appropriate to make complaints about shady dealings on the part of devs but again, it's worth a try.

The point is, there should be information and access to a complaints mechanism right from inside the App Word app. You shouldn't have to search RIM's knowledge base to find out how to navigate the system.

**bophil** · 08-30-2011, 02:20 PM

I'm glad too it's only .99$, I purchased the Montreal map. What a waste of .99$ !

**SuperDuckWC** · 08-30-2011, 02:40 PM

thanks guys for your feedback, I was closed to get the France one

F2 · 08-30-2011, 02:55 PM

Originally Posted by SuperDuckWC

thanks guys for your feedback, I was closed to get the France one

I know that I've read some pretty mixed to negative reviews for the company.

But for the (probably wrongly priced) 99 cents I figured I would get France. Frankly, it is not that bad. It is not really a gps enabled app. And I have no idea of how much "map" there is since I immediately started zooming, so it downloaded tiles. It does not have any search function (modeled after rim's lack of search in browser, pdf and word docs), nor tracking or routing. I am not sure that it even places a SYMBOL at your current location. But it does download map tiles with very sufficient detail so it could serve in place of a paper map - IF you have a way to get the data - either wifi or using the phone's bridge (still need to test the bridge aspect).

And when I tapped the "thumbnail" icon, the program did load maps of my current gps location. So the gps can locate you. It found my immediate location and drew a map of about 2 surrounding blocks and I was able to pan and zoom and it got more and more tiles - again, using data.

So, summary: It is not a garmin app. NO routing or tracking. No search for destination or points-of-interest. I have not walked with it so I don't know if it pans the map as you move or if you have to tap the "thumb tack" again.

It uses OpenStreetMaps for data.

**bophil** · 08-30-2011, 04:13 PM

Originally Posted by F2

But it does download map tiles with very sufficient detail so it could serve in place of a paper map - IF you have a way to get the data - either wifi or using the phone's bridge (still need to test the bridge aspect).

If you have data, google maps is a better alternative.

**pixieloulou** · 08-30-2011, 04:49 PM

Originally Posted by bophil

If you have data, google maps is a better alternative.

I'm glad you said that! I was reading this thread and kept thinking "why are people paying for a map app which you need to be connected to the internet to download detail, when you can use Google?" I thought I was missing something there and you all were wanting the app to do something special/different.

Bing maps are pretty good too, especially if you want to see a route from one place to the next. Google has streetview (I think that is what it is called), which is quite useful if you are going somewhere new and want to see what the area is like, or if there are parking bays close by

**rickgainsmith** · 08-30-2011, 05:02 PM

Just got a refund via the above posted email address. Thanks for posting, waste of money, do not buy!

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

**bearclawcoffee** · 08-30-2011, 05:36 PM

Originally Posted by bophil

I'm glad too it's only .99$, I purchased the Montreal map. What a waste of .99$ !

i threw $10 out the window.

They will get their money because they delete bad reviews and sorry to say not everyone reads crackberry.

i might just do a "ripoff report" or send this thread to RIM.

gah

**jhimmel** · 08-30-2011, 06:01 PM

Originally Posted by BuzzStarField

Having said that here is another area where RIM could vastly improve the consumer's experience by making some changes to the review process. A few things off the top of my heed that might be helpful:

A button so that the customer can leave a suggestion or a feature request
A means so that the dev can register a public rebuttal to a denied review
The ability for a customer to modify a review (e.g. for a new version that fixes a problem)

Yes, Yes, and Yes - those three things would make Appworld TONS better than it is now.