ngCordova Preferences Plugin Failing (desperate)

I am trying to use the ngCordova preferences plugin and am getting

TypeError: undefined is not an object (evaluating '$window.applicationPreferences.get')

the code that causes the error is

.controller('FriendsCtrl', function ($scope, $cordovaPreferences) {
  var key = 'name_preference';
  $scope.data = {};
  $scope.data.showMore = false;
  $scope.data.key = key;
  $scope.preferencesGet = function () {
        try {
            $cordovaPreferences.get(key)
                .then(function (value) {
                    console.log(key + ' get was succesfully:', value);
                    $scope.data.pref = value;
                }, function (err) {
                    console.log(key + ' get was not succesfully: ' + $scope.data.value + ' due to', err);
                });
        } catch (err){
            console.log("ERROR " + err);
        } finally {
            console.log("end of prefs get");
        }
    };

A settings bundle has been created in XCode, the identifier “name_preference” exists in that bundle.

I’m getting desperate as I’ve been mucking with it for hours and hours. The toast plugin is working as expected. Any help would be hugely appreciated.

Cheers,
PJ

Perhaps someone from Ionic/Drifty could respond to this?.. I know a few people (including myself) are seeking resolution on this.