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Good news, and even some free 'tasters'. I've tweeted Stanley Gibbons to follow suit!

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Ian Billings - Norvic Philatelics GB stamps info: http://www.norphil.co.uk - also /catalog for our ecommerce site, blog.norphil.co.uk, shop.norphil.co.uk and Ian_norvic on twitter

Thanks for the link apastuszak.

I like to see this.

Thanks for the link.

Only the 2012 US Specialized and the World Classical (1840 to 1940) catalogues are available from the Apple iTunes Store for the iPhone and the iPad. The price for each is US$59.98, this price is to be compared with the $69.99 price of the paper copies bought directly from Amos.

Nothing on the Amos Press website about this. Are those guys sleepy or just clueless?
There is no way to know if they intend to make the 6-volume world catalogue available, either this year or next.

Memphre

I bought part 1 of the US Specialized for $29.99, and that's all I need. So it's a cost savings for me.

I'm a tad underwhelmed. It looks like an app wrapper for a PDF. I was hoping for the ability to browse by year and have new stamps added as they are released.

I have the 2009 PDFs and I loaded those into Goodreader on the iPad. With those I can annotate and highlight, so I can mark off the stamps I already have.

It doesn't just look like an app wrapper for PDFs, it IS a wrapper for PDFs.

My iPadbis jail broken, so I was able to browse the file system and SEE the PDF files, but they are all password protected, so I can't open them.

Hi apastuszak

Although an iPad user myself, I am completely mystified by this post.

How different is the Scott app from a normal ebook you can download to your iPad?
What is a wrapper?
«iPadbis jail broken»

Please again. In simple English.

Memphre

For those who are interested Stanley Gibbons are working on a similar product. More on that in a separate thread as news comes in.

_________________
Ian Billings - Norvic Philatelics GB stamps info: http://www.norphil.co.uk - also /catalog for our ecommerce site, blog.norphil.co.uk, shop.norphil.co.uk and Ian_norvic on twitter

Ok, it looks like the Scott catalog is still a PDF, but the only way to download and view it is through the Scott app.

When I launched iFile, I could browse to the folder for the Scott app. In that directory, I saw the PDF files. But when i try and open them in iBooks, I get prompted for a password.

Here is a link to the Scott Catalogue app at the Apple App Store:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/scott-catalog/id484086693

The app is free. The 2012 U.S. Specialized and 2012 Classic Specialized catalogues are available as in-app purchases.

Cheers,
Chad Snee
Scott Catalogue Editor

The way of the future Chad .. 'we live in interesting times'.

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Click HERE to see superb, RARE and unusual stamps, at FIXED low nett prices, high rez photos, and NO buyer fees etc!

That we do, Glen. I do hope the app will be a boon to many overseas collectors, who can now avoid the very high shipping costs associated with the print catalogues.
Cheers,
Chad

Sadly I am an old fashioned git, and like to have a catalogue opened out in front of me, and album pages to the side.

As I am mostly pricing collections, not perusing the info, but agree it is the way of the future.

Glen

_________________
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Click HERE to see superb, RARE and unusual stamps, at FIXED low nett prices, high rez photos, and NO buyer fees etc!

Chad

Is there a plan the issue the complete set of catalogues?

Why is there no mention of this app on the Amos Press website?

Memphre

Hello, Memphre:
The six 2013 Standard catalogue volumes will be available through the app at the same time the print versions go on sale. Look for Vol. 1 in early April, with Vols. 2-6 following May-September, the 2013 U.S. Specialized in October, and the 2013 Classic Specialized in November.

Cheers,
Chad

That is a huge plus Chad. Plus you beat Stanley Gibbons and Michel to market, which may be a huge plus.

Chad,

Will we be able to buy sections of the 2013 volumes, or do we have to buy complete volumes?

Hello, apastuszak:
Each Standard volume will come in two parts, A and B, each sold at $29.99. Depending on which countries you collect, you might need only one part from a given volume.
Cheers,
Chad

I think it is only a plus to people who don't automatically use SG or Michel. Seeing the arrangement with the Scott, and knowing that SG already produce their catalogues in country groups, I'm hoping they will produce not only the Stamps of the World (slightly less than equivalent to Scott World) but also, eventually, the others in country groups which will be much more convenient than buying the equivalent of 12 volumes at $30 apiece.

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Ian Billings - Norvic Philatelics GB stamps info: http://www.norphil.co.uk - also /catalog for our ecommerce site, blog.norphil.co.uk, shop.norphil.co.uk and Ian_norvic on twitter

I'd love to see it on android.
Only a Linux fanboy!

Hello, corstar:
Our plans include expansion beyond the Apple mobile devices. Will provide schedule updates as we progress.
Cheers,
Chad

I just downloaded & started using the IPad version this week. Whilst it's a little awkward to use in some small ways, overall it is a fantastic innovation.
Well done !

Hello, Rob:
I am pleased that you are happy with the app. Please spread the word to other collectors living outside the U.S.
Cheers,
Chad Snee
Scott catalogue editor

Does anyone know how the 2013 Vol 1 is divided? The two parts are called A and B. Judging by the paper version, it could easily and almost evenly be divided into the A (+ US) and B countries, but I don't see anyplace where this is explicitly addressed.

The list of 'digital product' for the 2013 catalog lists 2 individual segments that are available, but no mention of the A & B parts.

Thank you for the link, will be downloading it soon.

To see the catalogue segments in each part, go to the Store in the Scott Catalogue app. Click on the "i" in the circle that is just above the "Buy" button for Part A and Part B.

Cheers,
Chad Snee

Chad,

Is there a reason why there are German Areas (A-E) and German Areas (F-M), but no German Areas (N-Z)?

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Presenting the GermanStamps.net Collection - Germany, Colonies, & Occupied Territories, 1872-1945

It appears you are asking about the breakdowns in the 2012 Classic Specialized catalogue. For those German areas N-Z, it was easier to group them within their respective geographic areas. For example, Saar is found in Europe N-Z.

Chad

Thanks for noting that! I purchased both parts of the 2013 vol. 1 this weekend. I made up a few APS books from the iPad and then took it along to the local show to give the catalog a bit of a workout.

There are some things the iPad Scott is very good for, and a few more things it has yet to accomplish. It's perfect for cataloging a collection that's already in order, and for making up APS books from stock. Since it's an iPad, the page can be expanded to 12 or 14 point type immediately, and of course the images blow up as well. It's also handy at a show for cataloging auction lots, or collections for sale (You do need some elbow room for this).

The app seems less useful for searching a single stamp or building a wantlist, especially a topical one. This could be made much easier with a better search mechanism. I think almost everyone has mentioned this, so I would think it'll be forthcoming. Is there a 3rd-party app that would work until then?

Although the pages in each section can be browsed, it's not the same as flipping through physical pages. The extreme sectioning can also be a problem to deal with: in order to go from Australia to Argentina, I have to back out, pick another file, then open that. Flipping back 50 pages should be easier than that.

I would like to see a simple notepad and calculator added to the basic Scott app. This would be handier than changing apps on the iPad (at least as far as my abilities go) and would come in very handy at an auction viewing, for example.

In the future it would be nice to have hyperlinks added, so that notes such as "See number 500-505" for similar designs could just be clicked on.

I've only had this for 2 days, so I'm guessing I'll have a few more comments eventually. But just for the resizing and portability issues, I'd make the iPad Scott a definite pick over the paper version.

Hello, nolimitsstamps:
Thank you for your detailed feedback, which I will forward to our digitial media team. Yes, we are working on a more robust search feature, which we hope to have as an app update later this year. And we intend to develop a want list/check list feature. I like your idea of an in-app notepad and calculator; that would be most handy at an auction.
Cheers,
Chad

As an ardent Android fan, I'll wait for the expansion into that market, but I'm sure I'll be using these as I still use my 2009 pdfs quite a bit.

Although I'm likely to NOT buy everything every year... certainly not the entire US Spec or Classic.

Does the Classic include the new-each-year special articles... and can these be purchased seperately?

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"Fairy Tales are more than true; not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten."
G. K. Chesterton

Hopefully they will sell individual countries as well.
No need to have the whole set even though it is electronic

I've had a month or so of use on this, and a few more comments. I was going to download the Vol 2 first, to check for any updates, but that release seems to be delayed a week or so.

One thing I'm not certain about is exactly what I am buying. I assume that I get indefinite access to this particular set of PDFs through the iPad app. If and when I buy a later catalog, I will still have access to the earlier volumes. And even if I don't update, I will 'always' have access to the original PDFs.

Well, we all know what 'assume' means.

It would be nice to have this spelled out somewhere. Maybe it's in some terms of use file I've clicked on, but I haven't seen whatever policy exists discussed elsewhere.

One of the advantages of purchasing a physical volume is the potential resale value when updated. This can cut 30-50% off the cost, depending on how clever one is. However, this additionally helps the collector with a smaller budget, who can pick up outdated volumes at a reasonable price. This can filter down several levels; it's not hard for a beginning collector to pick up a 7 or 8 year old complete set for just a few bucks.

Will this come to an end if the PDFs eventually predominate? I realize transferring rights to view outdated files could be difficult, and probably require Scott to facilitate it. Nothing as easy as passing down old volumes at the club. But as a vehicle to entice younger collectors, or low-budget adults, an old Scott catalog (ok, in the US) always has some value.

I would like to have a landscape option available. Aside from the introduction, I don't read the catalog like a book. It's more useful zoomed in on the column I'm working on. Landscape gives me more room, and props up on the desk better.

The library page lists the 5 most recent downloads in the limited space available. I would think the 5 FIRST downloads will be the ones most often consulted. I know it's only a click or two or so away to get back to the entire list of downloads, but it would be nice to be able to populate this space as desired.

I can always wish for more illustrations. This would be especially helpful in the Classic volume. One example is the 1930s airmails of Italy, which often are nothing like their regular-postage counterparts.

Others have complained about the presence of ads. I can accept them, they're fairly unobtrusive and occasionally helpful. Sometime when I flip through pages horizontally, the ads scroll vertically.

Australia is up to Scott nos. 3587-8, a joint issue with Korea. There are also 5 additional numbers, B1-5, for the 2011 flood relief set.

The US goes to no. 4591, Jan 2012 New Mexico statehood.

Thank you for the link, will be great to see
the Stanley Gibbons version.

Cheers

Hi all. I know some of you have been asking when Stanley Gibbons will be releasing an app so I thought I'd let you know that we have in fact just released two - one for Stanley Gibbons catalogues and another for Gibbons Stamp Monthly magazine.

It's important to stress that the Stanley Gibbons App is in the early stages of development and more titles will be added, but at the moment you can download the latest editions of our Great Britain Concise, China and Falkland Islands catalogues for a reduced price.

You can find out more about the two apps here:

http://www.stanleygibbons.com/stanleygibbons/view/content/sg_app

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Rob Beeson
Stanley Gibbons

Have you changed the title of your "Central Asia" book to give it a more appropriate title or at least include the countries which are in Central Asia? Currently that title holds Iran, Afghanistan and Turkey which is not what academia define as "Central Asia".

I had the impression that this thread was about the Scott app, but it seems to be wandering afield.

Vol 2 of the Scott catalog is now available, and more importantly there is an app update for full-text searching. I've only had it for a day, but I've found it to be useful so far. I've pulled up responses using subject, color, denomination and some other search terms. Response is fairly quick as these things go.

A few slight caveats: The search is limited to the PDF file that happens to be open. It doesn't seem to recognize Boolean operators, and it returns a lot of extraneous text in the search (I'll post a screen shot in a day or two).

It's very satisfying to see Scott address these and other issues.

Chad

Just to clarify:

The 2012 Classic is available on iPhone today but the 2013 Classic will also be available in 6 months.

Have I got that right?

Thanks
Nick