Need GlobeReader Support? Click here or call our Customer Care team at 617-929-2233.

What is GlobeReader?
GlobeReader, powered by Adobe AIR, is a downloadable software application offering a digital experience of The Boston Globe that is very much like reading the newspaper itself.  Whether you’re using Windows, Mac or Linux, you get everything you’d expect from The Boston Globe in print, delivered straight to your computer in less then a minute.  After you’ve synched, no Internet connection is needed, so you can take the most insightful journalism with you wherever you go.

How much does it cost?
GlobeReader digital edition only costs $4.98 per week.

7-day Home Delivery print subscribers to The Boston Globe are eligible to receive the GlobeReader as part of their newspaper subscription. All other home delivery print subscribers, please call 617-929-2233 for rates.

Do I have to be a Boston Globe Home Delivery Subscriber to use the GlobeReader?
If you do not wish to be a Home Delivery print subscriber, click here to subscribe to GlobeReader.

I am not a Home Delivery subscriber to the Boston Globe newspaper, do I have access to the GlobeReader?
If you are not a home delivery subscriber to The Boston Globe newspaper, you can download the product and get access to the headlines and summaries of articles. You will be unable to have full access to all content, as reflected with lock icons next to section headings. You can get full access to the contents within the GlobeReader by subscribing to The Boston Globe home delivery service or the GlobeReader Digital only subscription.

How do I sign up for GlobeReader?
Visit this link to subscribe:
http://www.bostonglobe.com/globereader 

I already subscribe to the Boston Globe Electronic Edition.  Can I upgrade to the new GlobeReader product?   
The Boston Globe Electronic Edition is a separate product and cannot be upgraded to the GlobeReader.  To sign up for the GlobeReader, please visit:
http://www.bostonglobe.com/globereader

Do I need to uninstall the Boston Globe Electronic Edition to use the GlobeReader? 
These two products operate independently from each other.  You do not need to uninstall The Boston Globe Electronic Edition product to use the GlobeReader.

How does the GlobeReader work?
GlobeReader is a software program you can install on any computer running Windows, Mac or Linux.  You’ll need an Internet connection in order to download GlobeReader content, but because GlobeReader is an application that lives on your computer (instead of a page you view in a Web browser), you don’t have to be connected to the Internet to use it. After you have synched GlobeReader, you can take it with you on your laptop or netbook to read wherever you go.

What are the Terms and Conditions for GlobeReader?
The Terms and Conditions for GlobeReader can be viewed here.

What is Adobe AIR?
Adobe AIR is a cross-operating system runtime that lets developers combine HTML, Ajax, Adobe Flash® and Flex technologies to deploy rich Internet applications (RIAs) on the desktop. Adobe AIR allows developers to use familiar tools such as Adobe Dreamweaver® CS4, Flex® Builder™ 3, Flash CS4 Professional, or any text editor to build their applications and easily deliver a single application installer that works across operating systems.

What operating systems and versions does GlobeReader run on? 
GlobeReader is available for Microsoft® Windows® 2000; Windows XP; Windows Vista® Home Premium, Business, Ultimate or Enterprise; Mac OS X v10.4 or 10.5; and Linux®.

What are the system requirements?  Do these vary by operating system? 
Hardware requirements:

What Web proxy settings does GlobeReader use?
GlobeReader uses the system’s default Web browser’s proxy settings. 

How much hard disk space does each issue consume? 
Issue sizes vary by day. The Sunday edition is the largest and can consume approximately 10MB of hard disk space. Other days of the week typically consume 4 to 6MB per day. We estimate that a 7-day archive should not consume more than 100MB of hard drive space. Space is freed up as old editions expire and new ones are downloaded.  If hard disk space is a concern, there is also a preference in the Settings screen that allows you to store fewer editions than seven days.

How long does synching typically take on a high-speed connection?
Users on a high-speed Internet connection (broadband or DSL) should see sync times in the 30-second to 2-minute range, depending on the size of the edition. A high-speed Internet connection is recommended, as synching over dial-up will take significantly longer.

What is the typical download and installation time? 
If you have already installed Adobe AIR installed on your machine, the typical download time of the application is a few seconds over a high-speed Internet connection. The application itself is only 3MB. If you do not have Adobe AIR, click the Download button to automatically install it.  Adobe AIR takes up 20MB on Mac, 15MB on Windows, and 13MB on Linux.  The installation process is very quick and a typical installation is measured in seconds.

How do I manually install Adobe AIR and GlobeReader?
There are some computer configurations that may require a manual installation process to get GlobeReader running:

I am having difficulties installing GlobeReader. What can I do?
If you are experience problems with the installation process, please click here to get to the GlobeReader Customer Support page or e-mail our Customer Care team for assistance at globereader@globe.com or call 617-929-2233.

I have both a desktop computer and a laptop. How many GlobeReader installations are allowed?
We understand that subscribers may want to access GlobeReader from more than one location. For that reason, we allow up to five software installations.

I have different logins for Boston.com and Boston Globe Services.  Which ID should I use?
Your Globe Services login is connected to your Home Delivery subscriber ID.  That is the account that provides you the most direct access to the full contents of the GlobeReader.  You can link your Boston.com login to your Globe Services login to get that same access. 

Do I use the same login for GlobeReader and Boston.com?
Yes, you can log in to GlobeReader with the same e-mail address (or member ID) and password that you use on Boston.com as long as that email address is linked to your Boston Globe print Subscriber account number.  If your  Boston Globe print Subscriber account number is not linked with your Boston.com account, you will be prompted to provide that account number (found on your bill) and your last name when logging on to GlobeReader

If you are a Home Delivery subscriber but do not have a Boston.com or Boston Globe Services account,  you will be prompted to register as a Boston Globe Services member.  You will need to provide your Boston Globe subscriber account number (found on your bill) and last name.  With this information, you can create a Globe Services Account  that will give you full access to the GlobeReader.  If you do not receive a bill please call 1-888-MYGLOBE for your account number.

I have the Preview Edition do I have access to GlobeReader.
You will need to subscribe to the GlobeReader and upgrade to the latest version. Failure to upgrade to the latest version of the GlobeReader precludes you from using the new product features and will display some content improperly. A non 7-day subscriber has 30 days to update the latest version before the GlobeReader Preview Edition expires.

I subscribe to Home Delivery of The Boston Globe newspaper; do I have access to full contents of the GlobeReader?
Yes. If you are a 7-day subscriber and you receive your newspaper copies directly from The Boston Globe delivery service, you can get full-content access GlobeReader.  For weekend, Sunday only, weekday only, you will be charged a fee for access.  Please call 617-929-2233 for further information.

I am not a Home Delivery subscriber to the Boston Globe newspaper, do I have access to the GlobeReader?
If you are not a home delivery subscriber to The Boston Globe newspaper, you can download the product and get access to the headlines and summaries of articles.  You will be unable to have full access to all content, as reflected with lock icons next to section headings.  You can get full access to the contents within the GlobeReader by subscribing to The Boston Globe home delivery service.

What is the difference between GlobeReader and The Boston Globe Electronic Edition?

What is the difference between GlobeReader and Boston.com?
GlobeReader is organized more like the printed newspaper, with the articles and order mirroring the printed edition.  It also allows for offline reading and has a unique page-turning/browsing capability.  Boston.com is a Web site, with constantly changing content and a full archive of published articles.

Click here to see a demonstration video of the GlobeReader 

Is GlobeReader a replacement for the newspaper? For the Web site?
No.  The GlobeReader is a unique experience that leverages Adobe technologies to provide a highly readable, portable news experience. It is an alternative as opposed to a replacement for the printed newspaper or Boston.com.

Does GlobeReader give users access to archives of The Boston Globe?
Archives are available with the GlobeReader. All home delivery and GlobeReader subscribers have access to the full archives. Click here to access.

How can I e-mail an article from GlobeReader?
Current functionality does not allow for an article to be e-mailed from the GlobeReader.  This feature is expected to be included in an upcoming release.

Can I print an article from GlobeReader?
Yes. Click on the print icon at the bottom of the article.

Are there any known issues with GlobeReader?
Some users may experience application conflicts between GlobeReader and a Mac browser plug-in named CoolIris. Users experiencing application instability should uninstall CoolIris as a first step in resolving this problem.

The GlobeReader Customer Support page shows any current support or product issues.  Check this site periodically for any alerts.

I downloaded GlobeReader and am unable to log in.  What do I do? 
If you have (or a member of your household has) more than one account with Boston.com, make sure you are logging in with the e-mail address or Member ID that has access to GlobeReader. You must be a Home Delivery subscriber to access all contents of the GlobeReader.  To log in, make sure you are using the e-mail address or Member ID that has been activated with Boston Globe Services and is linked to your Home Delivery subscriber ID.  If you do not have a subscriber ID, click here to create one or to link your Boston.com ID to your home delivery subscription information. 

For further assistance, click here to submit your issue to customer support or e-mail us at globereader@globe.com.

How do I use my keyboard with GlobeReader?    
Useful keyboard functions:

What time of day does the GlobeReader update with the latest daily judgment? (if someone leaves their computer on overnight)
GlobeReader content is updated before 5a.m. each day.

Is there anything that I do not have access to when not connected to the Internet?
When not connected the Internet, users cannot access advertisements.

Does the GlobeReader update for latest news within the day? 
Currently, the GlobeReader updates once per day with no updates within a day. 

How does search work?  Does it search within the section that you are currently in?  Within the issue that you are currently in?  Within all currently downloaded issues?
The search will be performed across all currently downloaded issues within GlobeReader.

Does GlobeReader work on the Amazon Kindle?
No, GlobeReader does not run on the Amazon Kindle or other e-reader/e-ink devices. However, a special edition of The Boston Globe for the Amazon Kindle is available by subscription.
More information »

What if I have more questions about GlobeReader?
If you have other questions, e-mail us at globereader@globe.com or call 1-888-MY-GLOBE.