FAQ for The Straits Times Star E-books app

Publications in the ST Star E-books app: The Life magazine, Lee Kuan Yew: The Man And His Ideas, Home: August 9, 2015.

The Straits Times would like to thank its readers for their interest in the ST Star E-books app, which has been downloaded more than 270,000 times since its launch in June 2014.

From June 2016, we will be migrating content from the ST Star E-books app to ST's website at www.straitstimes.com and bringing you more interactive specials here.

If you wish to download our e-books from the ST Star E-books app, please do so before June 9, 2016.


FAQ for The Straits Times Star E-books app (valid until June 9, 2016).

The Straits Times Star (Straits Times Appreciates Readers) E-books app is now available for the iPad and Android tablets and smartphones.

The Straits Times Star (ST Star) E-books app is a collection of e-publications showcasing The Straits Times' brand of journalism in a multimedia format. The elegantly designed app brings you exclusive features from our award-winning journalists, photographers and videographers. The Straits Times Star E-books app is designed for tablets and optimised for the iPad.


Key features

  • The Life magazine, a monthly lifestyle e-publication with features on style, design, pursuits, travel and food.
  • E-books by The Straits Times on special subjects and topics of interest.
  • Downloadable content for offline viewing.
  • Interactive features such as in-article photo galleries, videos and infographics to enhance your reading experience.
  • Designed for tablets; optimised for the iPad.

How can I download The Straits Times Star E-books app?

  • Go to the Apple App store on your iPad, or Google Play Store on your Android tablet or smartphone.
  • Type "The Straits Times Star" to search for The Straits Times Star E-books app and download it onto your iPad or Android device.
  • Note: The app is designed to work on iPad devices running iOS 6 to iOS 9.3.1. For Android tablets and smartphones, Android 4.0.3 is required to install the app and view the contents. The ST Star app is supported up to iOS 9.3.1 and Android 5.1.1.
  • Note: The app is best viewed on tablets. Many publications exceed 100MB in size and are best downloaded using a Wi-Fi connection.


Who can read the contents of the e-publications?

The Straits Times Star E-books app and its e-publications are free to download. If you are an All-In-One subscriber to The Straits Times, you can also log into the app. Please enable notifications so you can get updates and be informed of new e-publications when they are released.

You can subscribe to The Straits Times All-In-One package at www.sphsubscription.com.sg or by calling our Customer Service Hotline at 6388-3838 or by e-mailing circs@sph.com.sg


Current All-In-One subscribers to The Straits Times

How to download The Straits Times Star (ST Star) E-books app on your iPad

  • Go to the Apple App store on your iPad.
  • Type "The Straits Times Star" to search for the app.
  • After you have downloaded The Straits Times Star E-books app successfully onto your iPad, tap on the "Star E-books" app icon to launch the app.
  • Tap on "I am a Straits Times All-In-One Subscriber" to log in. On the login page, key in the same username or e-mail address and password that you use to log in to the ST app or www.straitstimes.com
  • Once you're logged in, you can immediately download the e-publications available on the storefront and start reading.

How to download The Straits Times Star (ST Star) E-books app on your Android tablet or smartphone

  • Please go to the Google Play Store on your Android tablet or smartphone.
  • Type "The Straits Time Star" to search for app.
  • Download (Install) The Straits Times Star E-books app onto your Android device.
  • Tap on The Straits Times Star (ST Star) E-books app icon to launch it. Tap on "I am a Straits Times All-In-One Subscriber" to log in. On the login page, key in the same username or e-mail address and password that you use to log in to the ST app or www.straitstimes.com
  • Once you're logged in, you can immediately download the e-publications available on the storefront and start reading.

I am an All-In-One subscriber to The Straits Times. I have downloaded the app but I can't download the contents.

Please check if you are logged in to the app. If you are not, you will see an "All-In-One Subscribers Login" button at the top right hand corner of your screen. Please tap on the button and log in.

If that does not resolve your issue, please contact our Customer Service Hotline at 6388-3838 or via e-mail:circs@sph.com.sg


Other Straits Times subscribers and non-subscribers

I am not a subscriber or I subscribe to the print/tablet only/smartphone only/online package. Can I read the publications in The Straits Times Star (ST Star) E-books app?

Our current e-publications are available for everyone to download and read. They include issues of The Life magazine - a monthly packed with features on style, design, pursuits, travel and food and e-books including:
- Ocean's Fury, a 10th anniversary special on the Indian Ocean tsunami;
- 100 Hot Bods, a selection of the most impressive physiques featured in the popular, long-running Hot Bods series in The Sunday Times;
- Personal Best, a guide for runners preparing for marathons.

If you are an All-In-One subscriber to The Straits Times, you can also log into the app. Please enable notifications so you can get updates and be informed of new e-publications when they are released.

You can subscribe to The Straits Times All-In-One package at www.sphsubscription.com.sg or by calling our Customer Service Hotline at 6388-3838 or by e-mailing circs@sph.com.sg

The Straits Times All-In-One subscription gives you unlimited access to The Straits Times print edition, the iPad/iPhone and/or Android tablet/smartphone editions, as well as all the contents at www.straitstimes.com

For more information on our All-In-One subscription plan, please visit www.sphsubscription.com.sg


General iPad help

I am having problems with my iPad app

You may need to relaunch the application.

For iOS6 users, please try these steps:

  • Close the application by clicking the round home button of your iOS device once.
  • Double click the round home button to bring up the multitasking view.
  • Locate the "ST Star E-books" icon for The Straits Times Star E-books app and tap until the icon jiggles.
  • Tap on the red circle to close the app.
  • Tap the main screen and launch the app again.

For iOS7 and iOS8 users, please do this:

  • Double-click the Home button on your iPad. All your running apps will show as small windows with their icons below.
  • Scroll horizontally to find the window for The Straits Times Star E-books app (the Star E-books icon will be below the window).
  • To close the app, simply swipe the ST Star E-books app window upwards towards the top of the screen.
  • Tap on the Home button and try launching the app again.

I am having problems downloading content from the app

As some of the publications are heavily visual and interactive, the file sizes may be large and it could take a while to download them. For a shorter downloading time, please connect to a wifi network if it's available.

You may also encounter download problems if your device is running low on memory. To free up memory, try shutting down applications that are not in use on your iPad.

For iOS6 users, please try these steps:

  • From the home screen, double-click the Home button to display recently used applications.
  • Tap and hold one of the applications until a red minus appears above it.
  • Tap the red minus for all apps that are not currently needed.
  • Tap anywhere above the list of recently used apps, to return to the home screen and try downloading again.

For iOS7 and iOS8 users, please try these steps:

  • Double-click the Home button on your iPad and all your running apps will show as small windows with their icons below.
  • Scroll horizontally to see all your apps, and close those that are not currently needed by simply swiping upwards towards the top of the screen.
  • Tap on the Home button and try downloading again.

General Android questions

I am having problems with my Android app

You may need to reset/force close the application.

  • Go to your device Settings.
  • Tap Applications/Manage applications.
  • From your list of downloaded apps, choose "The Straits Time Star E-books".
  • Tap "Force stop".
  • Relaunch the app.

I am having problems downloading content from the app

As some of the publications are heavily visual and interactive, the file sizes may be large and it could take a while to download them. For a shorter downloading time, please connect to a wifi network if it's available. You may also encounter download problems if your device is running low on memory. To free up memory, try shutting down applications that are not in use on your Android device.

  • From the home screen, tap the menu button.
  • Tap Manage apps.
  • Tap the Running tab.
  • Tap an application.
  • Tap the Force stop button.
  • Tap the Return button and repeat for additional running applications.
  • Tap the Home button to return to the home screen.

How devices work can vary. Please consult the documentation that came with your device for specific instructions on how to shut down applications. Another way to close unused applications and free up memory is to restart the device.


Feedback/Bug report

If you have any feedback or suggestions on improving our app, please e-mail stonline@sph.com.sg If you have problems operating the app that are not answered here, please e-mail stonline@sph.com.sg or contact our Customer Service Hotline at 6388 3838 or via e-mail: circs@sph.com.sg. Please include details of your problem, which device and what OS version you are using to help us deal with your problem.

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