As we reported this morning, Condé Nast Publications have implemented an in-app subscription service in eight of their publications that appear on iPad. Along with the new subscription options, they have also dramatically reduced the price of subscribing to the digital editions of their publications. I decided to take The New Yorker app on a test run to see how the new subscription options fare, and whether the app is worth the money and the effort. I was very pleasantly surprised.
Previously, I have been unimpressed with the quality of some of the magazine-to-iPad ports that have appeared since the launch of the device. National Geographic was a prime example of this with poor quality graphics and stability issues (not to mention price). However, The New Yorker app is a significant departure from this, which makes it a pleasure to read.
First, the cost. Using the in app subscription method, users can either purchase single issues for $4.99, a one month subscription (usually four issues) for $5.99 or a one year subscription for $59.99. This is great value and is enhanced by the fact that subscribers to the print edition of the magazine also get access to the digital edition meaning that you don’t have to pay for the two versions separately as before. The subscriptions are very easy to manage and can be cancelled when required with ease.
In terms of user interface, the app is clean, well-designed, stable and very easy to read. You navigate your way through each story in the magazine by swiping from right to left and you read the story by scrolling vertically. Nothing could be simpler and there is no pissing about zooming in and out of stories. The graphics are remarkably high resolution, the text is crisp and the app responds instantly (if only The Daily could take note).
Additionally, there are iPad enhanced features, like an introductory video by Jason Schwartzman which delicately introduces the New Yorker iPad app to the world. Excellent. Of course, the editorial content of The New Yorker hardly needs mentioning. If you aren’t a reader, then you are missing out. If you are a reader and don’t have this app on your iPad yet. Give it a spin. It’s fantastic.
The Name Fits The Bill…