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Popular Science magazine comes to the iPad



The Mag+ digital magazine concept was first previewed in December, six weeks before Apple announced the iPad. Looks like their awesome concept just needed the right tech. Now Bonnier has released Popular Science+, the iPad edition of Popular Science magazine. Not content with just porting an issue's pages over to the iPad, Bonnier collaborated with BERG, a London-based design studio, and created Popular Science+ based on six design principles that rule their Mag+ philosophy.

Their rules do a terrific job at explaining the difference between a magazine and a web page and what readers expect from a magazine that they don't expect from the web (magazines have a defined beginning and end, they have fewer distractions than the web, and are delivered on an issue-basis). The video above does a good job in showing how art directors are going to have to think outside the box to successfully transfer a print magazines to devices like the iPad.

Popular Science+ for iPad is available now for $4.99.

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Mag+ live with Popular Science+ from Bonnier on Vimeo. The Mag+ digital magazine concept was first previewed in December, six weeks...
 

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bzurg

WOW..serious? How do you figure I'm a fool? I'm just expressing my opinion, which is what you're doing...so, by your logic. you must be a fool too!

April 13 2010 at 11:49 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
bzurg

This guy's voice makes me want to slit my wrists. If you're going to present something new and exciting, at least make it sound like you're interested and excited!!!

April 04 2010 at 12:02 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jeff

I agree with Joe. One of the problems iPad app developers had was they were basically working in the dark. No iPad to develop on and no contact with other developers. This app uses a lot of new navigation schemes. Not that they're necessarily bad just different from our iPhone experience AND different from other iPad apps.

I'm hopeful that now that the device is out a more standard set of nav schemes will take hold so that we can learn how to use apps across the board.

April 04 2010 at 8:32 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
CitySlicker

There has to be a reasonable pricing model that will work for publishers and readers. Stunning they thought it would be $5

April 04 2010 at 6:33 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
sergioj

I can't get this app to work. It crashes everytime even after an ipad restart.

anyone else have this problem?

April 03 2010 at 11:24 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to sergioj's comment
Adam

I am having the same problem and I don't know what to do

April 28 2010 at 7:01 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Frank

The magazine companies definitely have lots to learn and Apple is just the company to teach it to them.

April 03 2010 at 10:21 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Joe

I think that looks horrible. There seems to be no flow. I don't want 2 different speed images scrolling at once. I want to read an article not flinch as the background violently changes.

I'm all for changing the norm. But this is more like Mag- not Mag+. It's a step in the wrong direction. Periodicals are linear and work great as such. As you reinvent the wheel, at least keep it round. Keep it a linear experience.

April 03 2010 at 9:59 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Joe's comment
jebz

What I'm thinking is - why reinvent the wheel when you can invent the flying car. The reason people feel compelled to resist change is because we get very set in our ways.

I'm not saying that this is the perfect solution. And it is very costly per issue. But I like the way they are thinking about solving the digital version of printed material.

April 04 2010 at 10:57 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Bill Waggoner

But it's 5 bucks AN ISSUE! I'm very interested but not at $60 a year. Time has theirs out too, also five bucks an issue which makes it two-hundred fifty dollars a year. Sorry ...

April 03 2010 at 7:41 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
3 replies to Bill Waggoner's comment
jebz

This app makes me want to buy the iPad. I love when people rethink the norm and start from scratch. Don't play it safe and do the same old thing. ReImagine!

April 03 2010 at 6:52 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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