Thursday, January 14, 2010 by Adrian

News that digital magazine publisher, Zinio, have released an app for the iPhone and iTouch that allows a selection of their electronic publications to be read on the move is an early indication that the advances in digital publishing that we saw last year will continue to rocket forward through 2010. Perhaps another huge pointer to an imminent launch of an Apple iSlate, for which this app was almost certainly designed for.

This timely release by Zinio comes just over one month after The Wonderfactory and Time, Inc's Sports Illustrated video exploded over youtube, showing the world that digital publishers were ready with new formats and waiting to be embraced by new platforms. Again, this suggests Zinio's anticipation of the tablet/iSlate release, which many argue publishers are seeing as the lifeline that will allow digital publishers to keep content alive while cutting out the traditional costs of publishing. "In one fell swoop, Zinio is mobilizing the entire publishing industry and moving it light years ahead," said Rich Maggiotto, President & CEO, Zinio. "While many publishers are battling digital distribution with a platform-by-platform approach, Zinio has announced 'Unity' for consumers to explore and enjoy reading digitally -- regardless of their device -- from anywhere in the world." With a wide variety of publications such as Car and Driver, Marie Claire, Motor Trend, PC Magazine, Popular Science, it also makes sense that Zinio would wish to keep themselves ahead of the slate race.

However it could be argued that this being a release of an app for the iPhone comes a little late in the day for most Zinio subscribers. Only until now, the best option for reading Zinio's e-content was on a PC screen- not always a comfortable, and certainly not the most convenient experience.

These factors have clearly been worked on, and the new app boasts a re-sizable, fluid text-only reading mode, as well allowing publications to be read with the full gloss and content of the print edition pages. In some magazines it also offers embedded videos hyperlinks, article sharing, and other electronic capabilities that print cannot feature.

With such a highly attractive way of reading rich content, the free to download app is set to be a hit. It's just a shame Zinio haven't yet factored in getting the rest of the English speaking world hooked before the iSlate launch, as it is currently available to US readers only.

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