To Download and Start-up of Skim APP SMHAge

Navigating and Using Skim

To view a story, simply tap on the title from the index page and it will open it up.

If you have not signed up yet as a subscriber, there will be a meter prompt that will appear at the bottom of the article page to inform you that you have just read their first free article.

Skim Main Menu

To access the menu, you need to tap on the hamburger (3 horizontal lines) icon in the top right hand corner of an index page.

The menu will allow you to easily choose the section you want to view

Note: You can also navigate between sections by swiping right or left at index page level

Sharing Articles using Skim

You can share the article by tapping on the top right hand icon (with the arrow symbol) at the top of the article page.

This will then open up another screen with a list of sharing options available, depending on what apps you have installed on their iPhone.

If you have a social media app like Twitter or Facebook, then these options will be presented.

Bookmark an Article in SKIM

To bookmark an article for review later, youcan tap on the bookmark icon which appears over the image at the top of the article page (in the bottom right hand corner).

This has been highlighted in the image below.

Changing Font Size in SKIM

You can change the size of your text font by tapping on the ‘A’ icon.

Tapping on the font size selector will enable you to increase and then decrease font size on this article page and on all other article and index pages in the Skim app.

Note: To get rid of the font selector mode, tap on the ‘A’ icon again or tap on the article section.

Subscribing & Logging In for Skim

To get unlimited access to all the content in the app, you need one of the two:

• A valid Fairfax digital subscription account (print subscribers who have not activated digital will need to activate digital first).
• A valid iTunes subscription to this app

How to Login as a Fairfax Subscriber

If you have a valid Fairfax digital subscription account, you can login by going into the menu and tapping on LOG IN (screenshot below):

Alternatively you also log in via the ‘Subscribe’ page by tapping on ‘Already a digital subscriber? Login’ (highlighted below).

The Log in page will look like this:

Trouble getting access after reinstallation

If you deleted and then re installs the app, and you are an iTunes subscriber, you will have trouble getting access again.

Tap on Restore iTunes subscription and you will then be prompted to log in with your iTunes password. You should once again be able to get unlimited access to the app.

Troubleshooting for SKIM

1. App Refuses to Open:

a. Make sure the app is not already running in the background by double tapping on the home circle button on your iPhone and checking to see if it is shown in the parade of open apps.

b. You can then tap on the app icon to try and open it again.

c. If this doesn't work, restart your entire device by holding down the home circle button and then holding down the button on the top of your phone.

Your phone screen should shut down and then several seconds after that, the Apple icon will appear and your phone will be available for use.

d. If the app still does not start, delete it and reinstall it again.

e. Finally, escalate to Fairfax (details below) if problem persists.

2. App Locks Up:

a. Kill the app by double tapping on the home circle button on your iPhone and then swiping the app upwards

b. You can then tap on the app icon to restart the app again.

c. Attempt to complete the same function that caused the app to lock up previously.

d. If the app continues to lock up, restart your entire device by holding down the home circle button and then holding down the button on the top of your phone.

Your phone screen should shut down and then several seconds after that, the Apple icon will appear and your phone will be available for use.

e. Once the phone has restarted, attempt to complete the same function that caused the app to lock up previously again.

f. If the app continues to lock up, delete it and then reinstall it again.

g. Attempt to complete the same function that causes the app to lock up previously.

h. Finally, escalate to Fairfax if the problem persists.

3. App Crashes:

a. Ensure the app is not still running in the background by double tapping on the home circle button on your iPhone and then swiping the app upwards

b. Try to start it again by tapping on it.

c. If this doesn't work, restart your entire device by holding down the home circle button and then holding down the button on the top of your phone.

Your phone screen should shut down and then several seconds after that, the Apple icon will appear and your phone will be available for use.

d. If the app continues to crash, delete it and reinstall it again.

e. Finally, escalate to Fairfax if the problem persists.

Frequently Asked Questions

App Experience

1. What is the purpose of this app?

This app gives you quick access to the biggest stories from The Sydney Morning Herald/ The Age at any given moment.

Read the five must-read stories across our most popular sections, as well as breaking news and the top five stories selected by our editors all updated throughout the day.

You can also save stories to read later, share them with friends and, when you need to, dive deeper with related tweets and other coverage from across the web.

 

2. What kind of content can I get in this app?

You can read the top 5 stories from key categories on the Sydney Morning Herald/The Age depending on which app the customer is referring to and dive deeper into each topic.

You can view photos, watch videos, read Tweets and other content related to this story.

 

3. What's the difference between this app and the SMH/The Age mobile site?

This app is about giving you the top five stories across key categories right now whereas the mobile site offers a broader base of content for consumption.

You can also receive breaking news alerts on this app, which is currently not possible on the mobile site.

 

4. How do I share articles in this app?

At the top of each article in the top right hand corner, there is an icon that enables you to share via email or social media (depending on which social media accounts you have enabled on this device).

 

5. How do I change font size in this app?

At the top of each article in the top right hand corner, there is an icon A that enables you to change the size of the font on article and index pages.

To dismiss this mode, tap again on the same icon or tap on the article page (screen grab above).

 

6. How do I get to the top of the article page quickly without having to keep scrolling upwards?

On article page as you scroll down, an arrow will appear in the bottom left hand corner of your screen. Tapping on that will take you to the top of the page.

 

7. How do I get from one section to another?

You can either:

a. swipe right or left at index page level
b. access the menu in the top right hand corner and select the section you want from there

 

8. How do I return from an article page back to the index that I was previously on?

By tapping on the back arrow button in the top left hand corner of the article page.

 

9. How do I save articles to read later?

You can tap on the bookmark icon which appears over the image at the top of the article page (in the bottom right hand corner).

 

10. Can I choose what content sections I want to view in the app?

Not currently but this feature is on the roadmap of upcoming new features & functionality that we want to add to this app.

 

11. What device and operating system requirements do I need to run this app?

iPhone 4S+ and iOS7+ is required to run Skim.

 

12. Can I use this app on an Android device? Is there an Android app coming?

We are working on a solution for Android and hope to have this live sometime within this calendar year.

 

13. Can I use this app on a desktop computer?

No, this app needs to be used according to device and operating system requirements in question 11.

 

Login, Subscription, Payment

1. I’m an existing subscriber to SMH/The Age and want to use this app. How do I do that?

a. Go to the iTunes store and search for this app
b. Select ‘Get’ and ‘Install’ enter your iTunes login details.
c. Launch the app
d. Then, login via the Subscribe page (in the menu or the meter prompt) using your Fairfax digital subscriber username and password.

 

2. How can I access unlimited content in this app? You can do this in two ways:

a. Buy a digital subscription through Fairfax here (for SMH) or here (for The Age) and login to the app.
b. Log into the app with an existing Fairfax digital subscription account.
Note: print subscribers will need to activate digital before they can get unlimited access to app content.
c. Subscribe to the app via iTunes and be logged into their iPhone with the corresponding iTunes ID.

 

3. I aready have an existing Fairfax subscription account. Is this app included in my package?

This app is included in the following Fairfax subscription packages:
a. website access
b. all digital
c. digital + weekend
d. all digital + 7 day.

 

4. What kind of subscription do I need to access unlimited content in this app?

You need one of the following:
a. a valid Fairfax digital subscription
b. a subscription to the app via iTunes

 

5. How do I subscribe to this app?

You can subscribe to this app in two ways:
a. Buy a digital subscription through Fairfax here (for SMH) or here (for The Age)
b. Buy a subscription to the app via iTunes.

You can do this in the app itself by tapping on Subscribe via the meter prompt or via the menu.
Once you land on the Subscribe page, you will then see a button which says $5 per month tapping on that will then trigger the Apple iTunes App Purchase process.

 

6. What payment methods can I use to pay for access to this app?

a. If you purchase a subscription through Fairfax for SMH, you can pay at smh.com.au/theage.com.au via credit card or Paypal.
b. If you purchase the app via iTunes, you will pay via Apple payment method which is linked to your Apple iTunes account.

 

7. What is the billing cycle?

a. If you subscribed via Fairfax, y our digital subscription is charged monthly in advance from your nominated credit card or PayPal account.
Your billing day each month will be the same day you started your subscription to your nominated credit card or PayPal account.
For example if your subscription commenced on January 15, then you will be billed on the 15th of each month.
If you subscribe in a leap year on February 29, you will default in a non leap year to the last day of the month.

b. If you subscribed via iTunes, your account will be billed at the time of or shortly after your transaction.
If you use a credit card or PayPal account for a transaction, Apple may obtain preapproval for an amount up to the amount of the order.

c. All fees will be billed to the credit card or PayPal account you designate during the registration process. If you want to designate a different credit card or if there is a change in your credit card or PayPal account status, you must change your information online in the Account Information section of iTunes.
This may temporarily disrupt your access to the Services while Apple verifies your new payment information.

 

8. If I am not a subscriber, how many articles can I read for free?

The number of free articles a non-subscriber may view is 10 per month, which will reset at the beginning of the next calendar month.

 

9. When does my free article count start again?

At the beginning of the next calendar month.

 

10. How do I upgrade from a Skim only subscription to a Fairfax subscription?

a. You will first need to cancel your iTunes subscription to the Skim app. You can do this by following the instructions in question 11 (below).
b. You can then sign up for a Fairfax subscription by subscribing to a package here (for SMH) or here (for The Age)

 

11. How do I cancel my iTunes subscription?

a. Go into the App Store on your iPhone
b. Tap on Featured
c. Scroll to the bottom of that page and tap on your Apple ID button
d. You will then be given a set of options. Tap on View Apple ID
e. You will need to sign into the iTunes Store (if you aren’t already signed in)
f. Tap on Manage under Subscriptions
g. Locate the subscription for this app and turn off the auto renewal option

 

12. How do I cancel my Fairfax subscription?

You can cancel your subscription by calling Fairfax Media Subscriber Services on 13 66 66 or submitting a request at support.fairfaxmedia.com.au.

 

13. Are Fairfax digital subscriptions refundable?

Digital subscriptions are non refundable. When you cancel, we will stop billing from your next payment cycle.

You may notify us of your intent to cancel at any time the cancellation will become effective at the end of your current billing period so you can continue to enjoy full access and benefits until then.

 

14. I accidentally deleted the app and reinstalled it. Now I can’t access unlimited content in the app. What do I do?

a. If you subscribed to the app via iTunes, you can go into the Subscribe page (via the menu or the meter prompt) and tap on Restore iTunes subscription.
b. If you subscribed via Fairfax, you may need to log into the app again.
You can do this by going into the Subscribe page (via the menu or the meter prompt) and tap on Already a digital subscriber? Log in.