Customer Reviews (500)

krisdogwalker • 2020-06-27T18:22:17-07:00

It stopped working two weeks ago. I can’t edit or add dates to my calendar.I’ve been using it for years! It’s been a lifeline for my work and appointments. I’m so bummed. 😢

Hitechprincess • 2019-04-05T12:48:14-07:00

I have used this app for years and loved it, recommended it to friends and colleagues, and appreciated the all-in-one usability. However since Google did away with Google+ (and I assume this is somehow related to that event), whenever I create an email or reply on this app on my iPhone I end up with several draft versions even after I've sent the final email. I have to go back, click edit for each one, and delete one by one. I deleted the app and reinstalled without success. Extremely frustrating for this longtime user and promoter of G-Whiz Plus!!! :(

Mtcarver • 2018-12-27T21:01:54-07:00

I use the tasks feature all the time. I depend on it. It’s very reliable.

Summary of Key Insights

G-Whizz! Plus for Google Apps aims to be a central hub for accessing various Google services and social media platforms. While many users appreciate the convenience of having everything in one place, the app suffers from significant issues that impact its usability and overall user satisfaction. Key strengths include the ease of accessing multiple Google services from a single app and the potential to save space by replacing individual apps. However, significant weaknesses include instability (crashing), performance issues (slowness), outdated design, and a lack of essential features like push notifications. The overall sentiment is mixed, with a substantial number of users expressing frustration with the app's reliability and functionality. The app has a rating distribution skewed towards positive reviews, but the detailed reviews reveal significant and persistent problems. The app's last update was in 2015, indicating a lack of maintenance and development.

Overall Rating: ~4.0 stars (based on the provided star distribution)

Score Distribution:

  • 5-star: 51.6% (258/500)
  • 4-star: 22.4% (112/500)
  • 3-star: 8.8% (44/500)
  • 2-star: 5.8% (29/500)
  • 1-star: 11.4% (57/500)

Data & Methodology Overview

  • Data Sample Size: 500 reviews
  • Time Frame: Reviews span from approximately 2012 to 2016, with a concentration between 2013 and 2015.
  • Analysis Methods: The analysis involved a qualitative review of the app reviews, identifying recurring themes related to user sentiment, pain points, feature requests, and positive aspects. Keyword extraction was used to identify frequently mentioned issues and strengths. The reviews were categorized by star rating to correlate sentiment with specific feedback.

Key User Pain Points

  • App Instability (Crashing/Freezing): This is the most frequently mentioned issue. Users report the app crashing unexpectedly, especially when opening links, attaching files, or switching between apps. This significantly disrupts the user experience and reduces productivity.
  • Performance Issues (Slowness): Many users complain about the app being slow to load, especially email and calendar data. This is a major source of frustration and diminishes the app's convenience.
  • Outdated Design/Lack of Optimization: Several users point out that the app is not optimized for newer iPhone models (e.g., iPhone 5 and later), resulting in a poor visual experience.
  • Calendar Issues: Users report problems with calendar syncing, editing events, setting reminders, and the app not reliably loading calendar data.
  • Ad Problems: Some users who paid for the "Plus" version still encounter ads or promotional pop-ups for other apps by the same developer, which violates their expectations and feels deceptive.
  • Facebook Integration Issues: Problems with Facebook integration are frequently mentioned, including difficulty linking names in posts, slow scrolling, and the lack of a "back" button.
  • Login Issues: Some users experience infinite login loops or being prompted to log in every time they open the app.
  • Missing Features (Push Notifications, Google Talk/Chat): Many users express disappointment that the app lacks push notifications for email and does not include Google Talk/Chat functionality.
  • Attachment Issues: Users have reported issues attaching files to emails and opening or saving attachments from Google Drive.

Frequently Requested Features

  • Push Notifications: This is the most frequently requested feature. Users want to receive real-time notifications for new emails and calendar events.
  • Google Talk/Chat Integration: Users want the ability to chat with their Google contacts directly within the app.
  • Improved Calendar Functionality: Users request features like setting reminders, recurring events, and a more user-friendly calendar interface.
  • iPhone 5 (and later) Optimization: Users want the app to be updated to take full advantage of the larger screens on newer iPhone models.
  • Better File Management: Users want the ability to easily save attachments to other apps (e.g., Adobe Acrobat) and download files from Google Drive.
  • Customization Options: Users want more control over the app's appearance and functionality, such as the ability to customize the menu bar and remove unwanted apps.
  • Improved Search Functionality: Users want a more robust search feature for finding emails and calendar events.

Strengths and Positive Aspects

  • Convenience of Centralized Access: The primary strength of the app is its ability to provide a single point of access to multiple Google services and social media platforms.
  • Space Saving: Users appreciate that the app can potentially replace multiple individual apps, saving storage space on their devices.
  • Easy to Use (for some): Some users find the app easy to use and navigate, particularly for basic tasks like checking email and calendar.
  • Desktop Mode: The ability to view Google apps in "Desktop" mode is a valued feature for some users.
  • Multiple Account Support: Users appreciate the ability to manage multiple Google accounts within the app.

Prioritized Action Recommendations

High Priority:

  1. Address App Instability (Crashing/Freezing): Investigate and fix the underlying causes of app crashes and freezes. This is the most critical issue affecting user experience.
  2. Improve Performance (Slowness): Optimize the app's performance to reduce loading times and improve responsiveness.
  3. Implement Push Notifications: Add push notifications for email and calendar events to keep users informed in real-time.
  4. Update Design for Newer iPhones: Optimize the app's design to fully support newer iPhone models and provide a better visual experience.

Medium Priority:

  1. Fix Calendar Issues: Resolve the reported problems with calendar syncing, editing events, and setting reminders.
  2. Address Ad Problems: Ensure that users who paid for the "Plus" version do not encounter any ads or promotional pop-ups.
  3. Improve Facebook Integration: Fix the reported issues with Facebook integration, such as slow scrolling and the lack of a "back" button.
  4. Add Google Talk/Chat Integration: Consider adding Google Talk/Chat functionality to enhance the app's communication capabilities.

Low Priority:

  1. Enhance File Management: Improve the ability to save attachments to other apps and download files from Google Drive.
  2. Add Customization Options: Provide users with more control over the app's appearance and functionality.
  3. Improve Search Functionality: Enhance the search feature for finding emails and calendar events.

Opportunities for Startup Ideas

  • A Google Apps Management Suite with Enhanced Collaboration: A new app could focus on providing a seamless and feature-rich experience for managing Google Apps, with a particular emphasis on collaboration tools, such as real-time document editing and integrated chat.
  • An Intelligent Notification Manager for Google Services: An app could intelligently filter and prioritize notifications from various Google services, ensuring that users only receive the most important alerts.
  • A Customizable Google Apps Dashboard: An app could allow users to create a personalized dashboard for accessing their most frequently used Google services, with the ability to add custom widgets and shortcuts.

Trends and Observations

  • Shift in Sentiment Over Time: Reviews from earlier years (2012-2013) tend to be more positive, while more recent reviews (2015-2016) are more critical, suggesting a decline in app quality or an increase in user expectations.
  • Recurring Complaints: The same issues (crashing, slowness, lack of updates) are mentioned repeatedly throughout the review period, indicating that these problems have persisted for a long time.
  • Desire for Integration: Users consistently express a desire for a seamless and integrated experience across various Google services.
  • Negative Impact of Ads: The presence of ads in the paid version of the app is a major source of dissatisfaction.

Conclusion

G-Whizz! Plus for Google Apps has the potential to be a valuable tool for users who want a centralized hub for managing their Google services and social media accounts. However, the app suffers from significant issues that need to be addressed to improve its usability and overall user satisfaction. The most critical issues are app instability, performance problems, and the lack of updates. By addressing these issues and implementing the requested features, the developer could significantly improve the app's rating and attract more users. Given the age of the reviews and the lack of recent updates, it's likely that the app is no longer actively maintained. Therefore, a complete overhaul or a new app focusing on similar functionality with modern technologies would be the best approach.

Overall Recommendation: Avoid using this app in its current state. Seek alternative solutions or wait for a significant update that addresses the identified issues.

Original App Link

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/g-whizz-plus-for-google-apps-the-1-apps-browser/id368305725?uo=2