Designing magazines for tablets is no easy feat. (At HOW, our art director is currently at work on an iPad version of the magazine.)
I received a Kindle Fire from Adobe to check out some tablet-optimized magazine apps that were created with its Digital Publishing Suite. (For a little more details, check out this flow chart of how the suite works with other Adobe products.)
Of the 10 magazine apps on the device, my favorite by far was the Wired app. (And not just because I’ve got a history with the magazine.) The November 2011 issue’s use of animation (sparingly, but to great effect), navigation (subtle and integrated into the design really well) and video (very high quality), really made it feel like it was designed for a tablet—not like print-optimized pages shrunk to fit a 7-inch screen.
Amazon’s iPad competitor, which has a 7-inch touch screen and goes for $199, just started to ship in November, but one expert estimates 3.9 million Kindle Fires will sell by the end of the year. It runs on a customized version of the Android Gingerbread operating system and uses a proprietary browser, Silk. At about 15 ounces, it’s lighter than an iPad but still has heft to it. Macworld’s review of the Kindle Fire is great; it doesn’t mince words but also takes a pragmatic approach to the $199 tablet:
“The Fire isn’t nearly as fluid and responsive as the iPad” is a perfectly valid complaint; “But it’s more than just ‘good enough’ for what it’s meant to do, and it’s just 40 percent the cost of the iPad” is also a perfectly valid response.
If you want to try out these magazines yourself, you’re in luck: You could win a Kindle Fire preloaded with 10 titles! (Note: The Kindle Fire is only available in the United States, so this giveaway is only open to US residents.) Here’s how to enter in two easy steps:
- Write a comment on this post (signing up for a commenting account is free!), telling us which tablet(s) you own already, if any (iPad, Touchpad, Galaxy, etc.).
- Follow us on Twitter @HOWinteractive if you don’t already.
That’s it! Super simple. Just enter before 11:59 p.m. EST on Monday, Jan. 2. We’ll select a winner randomly on Tuesday, Jan. 3, and that lucky person will start off 2012 with a shiny new toy. Good luck!
Thanks to everyone who entered! The winner has been selected.
Just signed up for an account – hoping to win a Kindle Fire… I have a iPad currently
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no tablets yet
…though I have tried a lot of them
Hoping to win the Kindle fire since I don’t own a tablet
I don’t have a tablet yet, but the Kindle Fire tops my Christmas List, actually it’s the only thing on my Christmas list.
I don’t own a tablet, but I was waiting for something in the performance and price range of the Kindle Fire to buy my mom. So when it popped up for pre-order I jumped on it and she got an early Christmas present.
I’m hoping to win so i can try this kindle fire out! i have an ipad.
I own an iPad. It’s great, but I don’t have the 3G version which was a mistake. I’d use it more if I did.
I’d really love to see how things work on the kindle. I’ve created apps and layouts for mobile devices, including wireframes, art, etc. and the thing that struck me as needing the MOST creativity is the gestural navigation. I’ve seen some really interesting navigations but nothing that’s truly groundbreaking. It was awesome working on the projects but I’d really love to push the envelope.
Currently I don’t own any tablets, just an android phone and an ipod. I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to win this Kindle! Thanks HOW!
I would love to win a Kindle Fire and be able to try it out. I currently do not own any tablet but am in the market for one:) Thank you for the giveaway!
I’ve been wanting to get a tablet, but put it off due to the cost of the iPad. Now researching the Kindle Fire, to see if it will satisfy my needs. As a designer, I feel it’s important to be familiar with this medium.
I don’t have a tablet at the moment…hopefully that will change soon
I’d love to win a Kindle Fire! I own an iPad.
I’m dying to get my hands on a kindle fire. My birthday is on the 6th so now would be a great time to win one.
I’d absolutely LOVE a Kindle Fire!! I have a iPad (version 1) right now!!
I unfortunately do not own any tablets! I can’t afford them & I’ve been trying to win one for forever!
No tablets right now! (Let’s change that, shall we?)
Just purchased an iPad 2 for the holidays & looking to snag a Kindle Fire. I’ve heard wonderful reviews.
No tablet yet. Will really benefit from one though.
Hubby and I each have an iPad2, but we would love to give my mom the Kindle Fire for her birthday. It’s this Sunday!
My mother just got an iPad for Christmas that I’ve been playing with, but so far I don’t own any tablets myself. Hope to buy an iPad someday, but a Kindle Fire would be nice, too!
I do not currently own or use a tablet…but would love to change that!!!!
Use an iPad for work, would love a Kindle Fire to share with my family.
No tablets. Help a sister out?
I don’t have a tablet, but I’d love one!
Following on twitter @tennesseev
I don’t have a table, but I have been wanting a Kindle Fire!
I had an iPad, my roommates have a TouchPad and a Kindle Fire. And hopefully after this i will have a Kindle as well.
Just signed up for an account – I have a iPad currently, 1st generation. Entering to win a Kindle Fire!
Got a galaxy, typing this on it roght now.
I would ❤ a Kindle Fire. I’ve been unemployed for a long long time and this would cheer me up as I can’t afford to get one for myself.
Please let me be the winner. Pretty Please?
Would love the Kindle Fire since I have no tablet now.
No tablets as of now!
I’ve been debating between the ipad and the fire as random as it sounds, only because I do most of my work on a laptop or on a desktop so I may not need a ipad completely. But the fire sounds lovely!
Oh pick me! Pick me! Thanks!
I don’t have a tablet.. Yet
Don’t have any tablets right now (I did give one for xmas though).
no tablet…YET!
No tablets are being owned by me!
I don’t have any tablets. I could sure use one!
I’m too indecisive to commit to a decision on which tablet is best, as a result, I still don’t own one. Here’s crossing my fingers that you make that decision for me.
Don’t have a tablet yet.
I don’t own a kindle fire yet… I hope to win one soon! My husband has a kindle and loves it.