NYT 5:44 ... LAT 4:34 ... MR 4:00 ... BG 4:47 ... ND 3:24 ... CS untimed ... WP 4:20 ... Diagramless (p) 7:05
I tried out Crossword Solver for the first time, to solve the CS puzzle. I think it's going to be the last time, because that program seriously stinks. Sorry to say it, but I'm not going to bother solving CrosSynergy puzzles anymore until the situation changes.
7 comments:
Well, you've sold me against the new Puzzle Solver. Haven't had the chance to DL it and likely won't. Maybe I can find the puzzle in an online app and just print it from there.
Um, Neville, I think you should try it and decide for yourself. Plenty of people are satisfied with it, especially ones who don't need the kind of navigational velocity that I do.
For you, Dan, I will. I do really enjoy the CS puzzle (esp. the Sunday Challenge), so we'll see. I just don't like that that we're creating a new file format for no apparent reason. If there's added value to the puzzle (embedded picture clues, a second set of clues to resemble an 'Ornery' crossword), then I understand the need completely. If the new program can still run off of .puz, why can't it be out on the net in .puz? Rawr change. I guess I should at least check it out first.
Oh I'm sure there's a reason, they're just not sharing it with us. Surely it has to do with trying to monetize online solving, because we've been getting a free ride for too long. (Not being sarcastic, it's kinda true.)
What sucks is that CS has always worked closely with Litsoft (i.e. Across Lite), so I'm guessing that relationship has broken down.
You're absolutely right - there has been a free ride for a number of crosswords for a while. I guess time will tell on this decision - I don't really have enough knowledge of the monetary aspect of the industry to speculate further.
However, I doubt that CrosSynergy has the brand appeal that NYT does, so I'd be interested to see how that was finessed.
So I'm not imagining that navigation is lacking in the new program. I rely on Home, End, CTRL-arrow and SHIFT-arrow to get around, and these weren't working.
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