Robert Burns iPhone app updated after crash protests

Published on Saturday 29 January 2011 10:07

THE Scottish Government has been forced to update its Robert Burns iPhone app after users complained it was difficult to access and inaccurate.

User ratings last week originally averaged just two-and-a-half stars out of five, and one disenchanted Burns fan simply wrote: "Crap App".

The app was developed by the Scottish Government to give fans of the national bard instant access to his work. All 558 poems and love songs are included, complete with a glossary to help interpret the Scots dialect.

Culture minister Fiona Hyslop said at the 20 January launch of the free download: "This app uses the very latest technology to bring Burns firmly into the 21st century. It is a great platform to promote his work on the international stage."

But while users welcomed the idea, most were critical of the delivery. "Poor", concluded one, adding: "Crashes upon opening. I'm scunnered."

Another said: "Crashes all the time. Please fix it for the big yin's sake."

"Great idea, but… every time I try to load Tam O' Shanter the app crashes," complained another Burns fan.

Others said the app contained inaccurate information. "The highlighted words in the poems with English meaning pop-up is a good idea, but there are too few of them and many are incorrect," wrote one.

Another observed: "Some of the translations are incorrect and some old Scots words are not translated at all."

Issues have also been raised about finding information, with several calls for a searchable database.

The criticism meant a new version of the app had to be rushed out after four days.

But even now the complaints are continuing to come in. "Before the last update it crashed on launch. Now it only crashes when accessing the timeline," said a reviewer.

A spokeswoman for the Scottish Government said: "We were aware of these initial problems and the app has been updated."