BWP

App crashes after update

Bug reported over 5 months ago and allegedly fixed and awaiting release. Since then no reply to e-mails, no fix, nothing. Other apps claim supported by BWP (eg Life List) but they aren't, presumably needing an update that never happens. Suspect abandoned. Shame as it has lots of great info and potential.

For bird sound enthusiasts and noc mig enthusiasts this ap is a big disappointment. The original books with Joan Hall-Craggs, PAD Hollom and Patrick Seller all leading experts in bird vocalisations were the definitive handbook for this subject. Bird guides have systematically destroyed this side of the work. The sonograms have been eliminated, the original sounds that the texts were based on have been discarded. At different times they have introduced different collections of sounds (Roche etc) that have little connection to the original. There is no connection to the original recordings held by the British Library. With some work this could have been a scientific masterpiece for sound enthusiasts instead it’s a huge disappointment.

Some really unhelpful reviews here. Great to have this back on my Macbook had the original DVD rom Breeding info and pictures are great being someone with a dedicated interest in the breeding habits of birds. Really recommend this - outstanding

Disappointing that the text has not been modified to include BWP update, which was made available as separate text with BirdGuides BWPi product many years ago. For some species the updates are important, providing completely revised text to BWP (e.g. for Red-necked Grebe the update provides replacement text for Habitat, Distribution, Population, Movements, Food, Social Patterns and Behaviour, Breeding, and Geographical Variation plus new section on Cause or Mortality and Related Species. Without these updates the early volumes and the text in this app is now over 40 years old (vol 1 was first published in 1977) The statement the this is a revision and update of BWP seems incorrect, for example Manx Shearwater uses the original text and includes Yelkouan and Balearic (although separate accounts for these species are also provided). Although photos have been added, as BWPi included text for BWP update and BWP Concise edition, I would argue that that version was actually more current - this versions seems a step backwards. Also would have been nice if the app allowed text size to be altered, which I find too small for a phone app.

Three weeks in and still very happy that I bought this app. Not sure why there are those complaints about the age of some of the stats, the developers have been totally upfront that this is based on the original work from that period with some tweaks. Not had any problems going between this and the Collins guide and they compliment one another very well. Is it perfect? No, of course not, there are some minor niggles such as the mode of scrolling through the illustrations rather than having them full screen as in the Collins guide, but such things aside I cannot recommend this app highly enough.

Quite easy; unless you want the xtra info BWP provides, then don’t bother. Buy the Collins app And the extra videos within it. Videos in both provided by nature guides. Pictures/diagrams pretty much the same, although they do take some and spin them 180d to make them look different. However, if you do want the extra info then it’s worth it.

I have just tried this out on my iPad and it is amazing, I do have shorter version of the books, but this is so easy to use and so well done. Reading some of the criticism, I can only think that the bugs have been fixed. It works perfectly with the Collins app. Excellent photos (easy to switch from one to another) and excellent videos. All with the best information on every aspect of the subject. I would not use this while out birdwatching - but at the end of the day to review and find out more about what I have seen. Also so valuable to take away on a birdwatching break. Very pleased with it.

I appreciate the enormous amount of work and knowledge that has been captured here. However, it’s translation to an iPad app is a poor user experience. A number of obvious features are missing: after selecting images it should be possible to swipe through all images for that species (these images are low resolution); more detailed explanation of indicator plumage should be given on images; it should be easy to navigate between family accounts and the corresponding species descriptions; distribution maps and annual cycle diagrams must have keys and explanations readily to hand, in fact there is no explanation anywhere in the text of the orange on maps (I assume this means resident). Overall the BWP feels like a very flat book and not an interactive app.

I was excited by the description, but all this app represents is a facsimile of a set of books CDs from a previous generation. Artwork is of low resolution and very poorly cut out with excessive aliasing, photographs are original and really not suited to the high screen resolution of a modern iPad or phone. More significant is that the information is also extremely out of date. Quoting populations from the 1960s, ie half a century ago is of little relevance, even in this time of shifting baseline. Regrettably at the price of £34, I have deleted and claimed a refund. If the historical value is useful to you, buy a set of CDs or the original books.