Questions About Digital Versions Of The Scott Catalog

I have recently returned to stamp collecting and am trying to decide what resources I might need. Before spending the money, I have a few questions for the good folks here at SCF about digital versions of the worldwide Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue.

First, I apologize if this issue has already been discussed to death. I did do a search and found an old thread on SCF here:
https://goscf.com/t/9282
The thread indicated that Scott/Amos Press was not planning on publishing a digital edition in 2010, but suggested that there could be one in 2011. I do not know if that ever came to pass. I also found this thread from 2012 that gave some tips and warned of pirated copies:
https://goscf.com/t/23053
Like I said, I have been out of the stamp collecting loop for a while.

My questions:
Did Scott produce a digital edition on CD/DVD after 2009?
Does anyone use a digital version of the Scott catalogs, and how do you like it?
Does anyone use an online version of Scott or any other WW stamp catalog, and how do you like it?

I will be grateful for any enlightening opinions anyone has to offer.

Kevin

Hey, Kevin! Welcome back to the hobby!

And the hobby is a little behind the times when it comes to the digital revolution ...

Scott has not issued their catalogs on disc again. It's too bad, because the version (can't remember the year) where the pdfs were printable was just fantastic. This is absolutely what I seek. Scott regrettably disabled that in a subsequent edition, and then dropped the cd/dvd version entirely.

There is currently one path to a digital offering. They do make their catalogs available for the Apple platform (iPhone, iPad), through the iTunes store. There is nothing for Android (which is what I have).

They say in due time they'll have an online database available for subscription, but they've said that for several years now, and it's been confirmed that it won't be available this year.

If you have just a few countries that you collect, there is a seller who buys the print catalogs and literally cuts them apart and sells the individual countries. He does it very neatly, so it's quite a usuable product.

Hope this is a little bit helpful!

-- Dave

To find out about the most recent and any upcoming software releases, it is best to contact the source directly (Amos). You can go to their website, and it should have a phone number listed that you can call. That is what I used to do.

I prefer using the print catalogs. However, the software is really convenient because it goes wherever my laptop is -- there's a huge weight difference between my laptop vs. 8 Scott catalogs (6 WW, US Specialized, and Classic Specialized)

I use the software to do text searches for particularly hard to ID stamps from countries that have lots of issues or countries with which I am unfamiliar.

I used to print out catalog pages as needed to mark inventory; 2007 is last set that did not have print/save function disabled. However, now I directly mark the pages using the highlight function. That way I have a simple inventory list on my computer without having to enter in a lot of information. If I have to add additional info, you can attach a "sticky" to the highlight. Just remember to keep a monthly back-up of your inventoried pdf's in case something goes wrong.

I got a very good clearance/wholesale deal on my software from a couple of supply dealers (whom I have unfortunately lost contact with now), so I didn't pay much for it, making it well worth the price just for marking as a checklist. I probably would not have gone out and got the entire set if I had to pay retail price. I did get my US Specialized directly from Amos. Now, it's almost impossible to find genuine software primarily because the pirated copies are so annoyingly plentiful.

Best wishes, and please update us on any new info you might get from Amos. Thanks!

OK, I see Dave has already provided some updated info while I was typing. Thanks, Dave!

Great minds .... (or something)

-- Dave

Yeah, I don't know either. It's beyond my comprehension...



Well, that didn't help either.

k

There were no versions after 2008 but I still prefer the cd version because of physical problems that make using the print issues somewhat difficult for me. I like the search functions and the ability to zoom, up to 800%. I would love it if Amos would produce them again. The last versions produced show up on ebay from time to time. The 2008 edition, (at least the US Specialized) requires an out-dated version of adobe reader so it is kind of a pain. By the way, welcome to the forum!

Amos did produce a 2009 WW set. After that, I do not know.

khj - I sit corrected (too tired right now to stand). yakboomer

The only way to get digital catalogs now is to buy them through the iPhone/iPad app. The app is really just a wrapper around a bunch of encrypted PDF files. You can do searches and flip through pages, but that's about it. No printing, or any other options.

I did managed to get the PDF files off the iPad and tried a brute force PDF decryption utility. After a week, it still hadn't cracked the file, so I gave up.

I bought the 2012 US Specialized on my iPad and then moved to Android and lost access to it.

Thanks to all for the good advice and clearing up some of my uncertainties about digital versions.

Dave..thank you for the welcome back to the hobby!

khj...thank you for the best wishes!

yakboomer...thank you for the welcome to the forum!

apastuszak...thanks for sharing your experience!

I confess that finding SCF with all its information and especially the friendly discussion available here encouraged me to get my old albums out of storage. I am looking forward to participating.

Forgive me if I portion out some of my replies, but as a newbie I could use some more posts.

Dave,

Yes, I would love the convenience of a digital catalog. I agree with you that it is a shame that in 2013 there are so few options available. I can understand that Scott/Amos want to secure their intellectual property rights in the digital world; but after five years, one would have hoped that Amos (or another publisher) had more than the one path. And their chosen path via iTunes seems (as apastuszak noted above) to be less useful than you would expect for a digital product.

I guess I may have to stick with the print catalogs. Following your advice, I will check on break-downs by single country.

Thanks!

--Kevin

khj,

Thanks for your previous posts here and on other threads--I am now much more suspicious of what is available out there.

I have seen on eCrater a complete set of the 2009 Scott for sale, but since the seller claims it is on 3 DVD's (not six) and since they guarantee that registration is not necessary to use, I expect it is pirate booty. There is also a seller (in the Philippines) on ebay who regularly offers a complete set for $99.00, but I don't know now if it is trustworthy, either.

It sounds like many collectors would like a better solution. So what does an honest stamp collector do? Wait and wait for Amos to maybe come up with a new digital platform, or obtain a known pirated copy of an older 2009 catalog and accept the bad karma?

--Kevin

yakboomer,

Thanks! I would love to see the discs available again, too. And, I agree, having the search and zoom functions is one of great advantages to digital media. Since Amos decided not to re-release discs, it does surprise me that Amos has not at least made the Scott available for Android, Kindle or Nook.

By the way, your profile notes that you are in western WA. I used to live in North Bend, WA (before moving back to Chicago), and I do miss the mountains...and the seafood...and the hiking...and the fresh fruit at the markets...and the....

--Kevin

apastuszak,

Thanks very much for the info on the iPhone/iPad app. I have a wintel laptop and an android phone, so I had been wondering if it would be worthwhile to get an iPad. I appreciate your insights, and have determined that I will need a better reason to spend money on an iPad than just to have the Scott catalog on it.

When you moved the iPhone/iPad app to run on Android, was it stable before you lost it? I know that the controls in Apple's Objective-C and Android's Java are not compatible, but I imagine there should be someway to display the pdf files without the wrapper. Oh well, that is a problem for more skilled minds than mine.

--Kevin

Stamp Mole -


and the rain? regards, yakboomer