The subject line says it all. I can't find the Bard Mobile app anymore. I even tried using the link to the app on the Bard web cite and it said that the app is no longer available in my country or region. Has anyone heard why they might have pulled this? It would be very unfortunate to lose access to the Bard service.
By Nicholas Stanford, 9 July, 2024
Forum
iOS and iPadOS
Comments
I’m not seeing it either. It…
I’m not seeing it either. It’s very possible they’re working on Rolling out a from the ground up rewrite because the app is about 11 years old at this point. I wouldn’t worry too much yet.
It is not accessible in the app store
If you open the App store on your iPhone, then:
1. Tap on My Account from the Today tab.
2. Tap on Apps
3. Scroll through the list until you find, "Bard Mobile".
4. You will be presented with a page that reads like a screenshot, and image recognition will read something like, "Cannot connect. Something went wrong. Please try again. Retry."
So yeah, Bard is out of commission. No idea if this is permanent or not.
HTH. 😞
Yep missing for me as well.
That's not good. I hope this isn't a sign that they're discontinuing BARD. Something's not right here.
It’s still there
Shows in the App Store for me n my iPad. See if it shows for you now
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/bard-mobile/id705229586
I see it too.
Whatever happened yesterday seems to have been rectified.
Yep It's Back
Thanks all. I do hope they're working on some updates for it though. If nothing else, it needs AirPlay 2 support. When I try and AirPlay through my pair of Homepods the experience is extremely glitchy. I have to connect the Homepods to my Apple TV and airplay to that to get it to work even passably, and even then the audio will flicker on and off from one of the Homepods occasionally. If I don't go through the Apple TV and go straight through the Homepods one of them cuts in and out constantly.
syncing between devices would be nice too
I also would love for them to implement something to allow for syncing between devices, especially after purchasing new ones since there's a limit on how much you can download every month, of course you also lose your position in every book.
It would just be nice to be able to sync progress across devices.
BARD was "mistakenly removed"
I reached out to the Overseas librarian who told me that the BARD Mobile app for iOS was "mistakenly removed" from the app store. It should be back by the end of this week.
How and why would someone "mistakenly" remove an app? And yes, there's room for improvements and need for new updates.
Syncing would be nice
It’s up, no question about it. The National Library of Congress or the BARD Mobile app for blind and print disabled aren’t going anywhere.
“since there's a limit on how much you can download every month”
The limit is 250 books during a 30 day running period and they do take into notice unique titles so if you download a book on your iPad and then download the same to your iPhone it only counts as one. However as stated it would be very nice if this would sync between devices. I’ve always wanted that.
syncing
I know the amount may seem excessive, but I love having a ton of books, being able to switch between them at will.
I have so many books, along with tons of bookmarks which are unfortunately only specific to this device.
Hopefully something gets done about this soon because it seems like adding books via airdrop or similar means also counts against this limit.
I'd done it after getting most of my library back, and got the same authorization error.
bard mobile
Do they have a number to call or email to make suggestions? Use iPad and iPhone would love to be able to pick up from one device from another with my audiobooks, similar to audible.
i hope people learn from this experience
Reading through the thread, I heard the bells of the alarmists going off. "I hope this is not permanent." and other such worries. I hope people learn from this and stop spreading such fears. Why would BARD be discontinued? Reall. People. Use your heads. I had noticed that BARD was down for a few hours. I could download nothing, nor could I check for new books. Then I heard that the app had been removed from the store. My first thought was that a problem cropped up that needed immediate fixing. So they took BARD offline for a while. I wasn't a bit worried. Something that longlasting wouldn't, without prior notification to patrons, would not suddenly be permanently be dropped.
Ok...
You're over-reacting in a big way. All that happened was I went to download an app that wasn't there, and since that app is for blind and visually impaired people I figured this would be the community I should go to so I could seak out additional info. When I mentioned losing access to BARD I meant specifically on iOS, not in general. I just wondered why the app had been removed.
In any case, you were correct and the app came right back. I have had apps disappear for very long periods of time, but I figured if that was the case there probably would have been some official announcement from the NLS about it. Since I couldn't find one I came here.
Booboo
Apple made a big booboo. It happen, the app is back. Now all who were concern, which is understandable now have a glass of whatever you drink. Keep save all.