WE ARE STARTING A MAGAZINE - ARE YOU SAM?

Magazine Apps - What Apps Do You Like?

I'm talking to many publishers this month about magazine apps. Both iPhone, Android, and now iPad magazine apps. What magazine apps do you like most? What unique features do you want to see in an app version of a magazine?

Thus far, I really like the new Zinio app with both browse and detail reading mode. This is a store model app and you must not only be a Zinio digital edition customer but must have an enhanced xml formatted version of the magazine to participate. I also just looked over the Esquire iPhone app ($2.99 per issue) and found it very easy to use but still miss the paginated presentation that allows me to browse and then dive into articles I want to read.

Tags: android, apps, esquire-magazine, ipad, ipad-magazine-apps, iphone, magazine, magazine-apps, zinio

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Permalink Reply by Kaolin Fire on March 26, 2010 at 11:55am

I saw a mock-up of a magazine reader for an iPad-like-device half a year before the iPad was launched that stuck with me, though I haven't been able to find the video again. The main thing I liked about it was sliding left/right to jump between items, scrolling up/down to read within the item. Though your mention of pagination is a good one--our eyes are used to following text that is fixed in place. I keep meaning to implement such an app as soon as I get a few spare weeks.

Are you working on developing one yourself?

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Permalink Reply by David Blankenship on March 28, 2010 at 3:43pm

I do think we will see content sliders and functions as you've mentioned. I think the magazine apps will enable publishers to demonstrate a unique and creative app / content UI based on their audience. I'm sure we will see more ideas in the next week!

Kaolin Fire said:

I saw a mock-up of a magazine reader for an iPad-like-device half a year before the iPad was launched that stuck with me, though I haven't been able to find the video again. The main thing I liked about it was sliding left/right to jump between items, scrolling up/down to read within the item. Though your mention of pagination is a good one--our eyes are used to following text that is fixed in place. I keep meaning to implement such an app as soon as I get a few spare weeks.

Are you working on developing one yourself?