Great app – Puzzazz Crossword & Puzzle Review

Update three years after original review. Puzzazz just keeps getting better. It now supports an external keyboard, the internal keyboard, and of course the hand-lettering option. I continue to read comments by people who are using other electronic solving platforms, particularly for the New York Times, that the puzzle doesn't show up on their screens the way it was printed (shaded squares, and other such graphical stunts). With Puzzazz all the monkey business is rendered just like the version that newspaper subscribers get. When there's some kind of funny graphic for the answer, like connect-the-dots, Puzzazz displays that perfectly, too. The handling of rebuses has become smoother as well. Recent changes in the way the puzzle is distributed by the NYT, or maybe it's a change in iOS, not sure which, but they "broke" Puzzazz twice recently. In both cases the app was revised quickly to adapt to the new environment and was back up and running in a matter of a couple of days or less. Users were advised by email of the problem, and given workarounds. Puzzazz works well with puzzles from other sources, as well as the NYT. I'd give it more than 5 stars if I could. ---------------------- Original review: I've been using it for about three weeks and have no complaints. Great interface, great customer support. (Not Bangalore: the owner/developer answers the questions.) It's very easy to use; once logged in, it remembers me, and takes me automatically to my last puzzle. I don't know if it can connect to an external keyboard, but I don't care. Instead of a keyboard at all, I prefer to write in the letters and it does a very good job at recognizing my writing. It shows the puzzle just like the printed one, complete with notes that sometimes accompany the trick ones, and of course the title for Sunday NYT. The grid and clues are very easy to read. It has a good Rebus function that allows multiple letters and special characters. No drawing feature that would support a real Rebus (like drawing a picture of a person for the letters M*A*N), but putting in the letters works fine. Good support for cheats like revealing errors (by erasing incorrect letters) or revealing words or letters. When complete, it tells you if you solved correctly or not, and most fun, it connects the dots for puzzles where the completed grid forms some kind of picture. Excellent app.
Review by NanaEllen on Puzzazz Crossword & Puzzle.