Amazon Working on New Magazines Deals with Publishers

[DMB]

If I could read the magazines I wanted to on an Amazon 10-inch tablet it would probably sway me towards buying one.

[tubemonkey]

I've pretty much given up on magazines for my tablet because of pricing. I'm waiting to see what Amazon comes up with before making a final decision.

[kennyc]

The only mag I've subscribed to electronically (directly, not through a publisher) is the trade magazine Locus, it's delivered in PDF form and works well on my Xoom or computer using Adobe reader. Price was reasonable compared to print.

http://www.locusmag.com/

[Graham]

I just subscribed to the music review magazine Uncut on Zinio, with an app for the Touchpad promised imminently. I was impressed with how good it looks on my desktop PC, and also how the review columns are very readable on my Galaxy S phone in the Android app.

I'm quite pleased with this on price, as without the cover CD I'm paying nearly £3 less for each issue (and I can usually dig out the music through my Napster subscription if I fancy it anyway).

That's a direct switch to digital for me for a magazine I've been buying most months for the last three years in print. I can see myself getting a sub to New Scientist through Zinio as well if the Touchpad app hits the mark.

Graham

[joenunya]

Glad to read Amazon is working toward better magazine selection. I was hunting there last week and found nothing in my areas of interest. A few of fringe interest but not enough to make me want to part with cash.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by Graham

I just subscribed to the music review magazine Uncut on Zinio, with an app for the Touchpad promised imminently. I was impressed with how good it looks on my desktop PC, and also how the review columns are very readable on my Galaxy S phone in the Android app.

I'm quite pleased with this on price, as without the cover CD I'm paying nearly £3 less for each issue (and I can usually dig out the music through my Napster subscription if I fancy it anyway).

That's a direct switch to digital for me for a magazine I've been buying most months for the last three years in print. I can see myself getting a sub to New Scientist through Zinio as well if the Touchpad app hits the mark.

Graham

I've looked at Zinio, but I just don't like that 'locked in' feel. I want to be able to copy the file(s) to any and all of my devices without having to use a propitiatory app(lication) to read them.

[Graham]

Originally Posted by kennyc

I've looked at Zinio, but I just don't like that 'locked in' feel. I want to be able to copy the file(s) to any and all of my devices without having to use a propitiatory app(lication) to read them.

Fair enough. I meant to extend my post to make it more relevant to this thread, by saying that Amazon's move is welcome as tablets do seem to be well-suited to reading magazines and more options are great.

Briefly off topic, you can print from the Zinio app to a pdf print driver, though you get a small diagonal watermark of your email address across each page, so the content is extractable to read with other apps if necessary - the watermark is initially annoying but doesn't really affect you. It would be dreadful in a book, but not too bad for 'throw-away' magazine content.

Graham

[tubemonkey]

As with other competing content apps, Zinio is not to be found in Amazon's Appstore.

[kennyc]

Thanks Graham. I guess my "fear" is that Amazon will come up with some kind of 'locked in' app as well.

Still though the more e-magazines we can get in the mix, the sooner we can get a standardized across-the-board implementation available on all devices.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by kennyc

Still though the more e-magazines we can get in the mix, the sooner we can get a standardized across-the-board implementation available on all devices.

That would be nice. Right now, my biggest problem is seeing digital versions selling for more than print versions. WTH???

• Nat Geo - print = $15
• Nat Geo - Zinio = $20

[murraypaul]

Originally Posted by kennyc

Thanks Graham. I guess my "fear" is that Amazon will come up with some kind of 'locked in' app as well.

Still though the more e-magazines we can get in the mix, the sooner we can get a standardized across-the-board implementation available on all devices.

I think we will see the same split we have with eBooks.
There will be an Apple iNewstand for magazines on iOS only, a B&N app for their magazines, an Amazon one for theirs, and Zinio across multiple platforms.
For magazines just sold as protected PDF, they should be readable on any app, but they will be less capable than 'interactive' magazines inside the specialist apps.

[stonetools]

I use The Atlantic app on the iPad, which I use for frreee because I subscribe to the print version. THe app is buggy and a little slow, though. Not really a fan. If I can use B&N or Kindle's version, I might go with their implementation of the Atlantic.

I would say, that hands, down, the best way to read digital magazine content is to use the Flipboard app on the iPad. It just takes the presentation of digital magazine content to another level. They get content from many different magazines as well. I'm a bit worried about their business model, though.There are now ads in Flipboard, but they are tastefully done interstitials. Hopefully, they won't become any more instrusive.

According to the owner, Flipboard could be coming to the Amazon tablet. If it does, download it. You're in for a great magazine reading experience.

FORBES INTERVIEW

[stonetools]

Originally Posted by murraypaul

I think we will see the same split we have with eBooks.
There will be an Apple iNewstand for magazines on iOS only, a B&N app for their magazines, an Amazon one for theirs, and Zinio across multiple platforms.
For magazines just sold as protected PDF, they should be readable on any app, but they will be less capable than 'interactive' magazines inside the specialist apps.

You can sign up for magazine subscriptions for Amazon and B&N on the web, and read them on with their apps on Ios devices. I subscribe to Isaac Asimov's SF magazine through B&N and read it on the iPad with the Nook app. That was one of the concessions the booksellers won from Apple in the negotiation over subscription policy earlier.

Not sure I'm going to continue the subscription, though. The magazine content is unexciting and the presentation is even more so.

[Graham]

Originally Posted by stonetools

I subscribe to Isaac Asimov's SF magazine ...

Sadly, that's the only thing I'm still buying from Fictionwise. No DRM or territorial restrictions.

I'd be buying F&SF too, I guess, but I've got way behind with those issues.

Graham

[DMB]

I have a subscription to New Scientist (print version). Living as I do in Switzerland, I get it about 10 days after it comes out in the UK. I assume that if I had a tablet subscription I'd get it straight away.