Just Flippant! ‘My Magazine’ another Samsung “fix” where one wasn’t needed…

As a long time Galaxy Note user, I am pleased overall with the newest generation of Samsung’s flagship line of phablets, the Galaxy Note 3. The large 5.7” full HD super AMOLED screen generates criticism but admittedly wows with it’s 1080 x 1920 pixels delivering vibrant colors and pin sharp text.  Improvements to the overall specs and ergonomics makes this third iteration of a historically expensive line of devices feel “premium” - finally.

courtesy of Samsung.com

Holding the device literally makes you feel 10 levels more classy but then you turn on that beautiful screen and it gets a little, well, um, not classy. TouchWiz, like the Note line, has it’s fair share of naysayers. Speed issues, cartoonist UI and everything-but-the-kitchen-sink features only distract from really great things Samsung does with their products.

 "..powered by Amazing but still isn't usable"

Out of all the useless add-ons taking up precious device memory space is the newly accessible “MY MAGAZINE” - the child of Samsung and Flipboard’s public partnership since the Galaxy SIII launch. I have to admit that when this new curator of sorts was announced and demoed during the Unpacked Episode 2 event earlier this year I couldn't wait to get a first hand look at it. Now that I have several days with the new device under my belt, all I can say is “why?”

Flipboard is the app I use most in everyday use. I still have my old Google Reader feeds syncing and, with the addition of their own official “my magazine”, you are able to collect and share content beautifully.. 

But that’s what is so great about Flipboard, YOU get to manage the feeds.

This is where Samsung’s My Magazine fails. It's powered by 'Amazing' but still isn't usable - you can’t customize the information; negating the entire purpose of Flipboard. If that wasn't enough, if you dare buy into Samsung’s swipe up disaster, once you tap on an article to read, you are met with a sluggish animation that redirects you to the official Flipboard app to view the content. What? Why? Who?

Unfortunately, there is no current way to disable this app except by installing a different launcher so time will tell if Samsung and Flipboard give more attention to a failed attempt to say the least!