I’ve had my iPad 2 for about a month now and accumulated quite a few downloaded apps for it already. Most of the iPad 2 apps I use just provide another way of doing stuff that I might do on my big computer, some are to do with the special features of the iPad 2 – photography apps and things that make use of the touch screen, and some apps are a way of accessing rich media content that isn’t always available on the web for nothing. Apps that provide access to new ways of consuming magazine content are sometimes called ‘appazines’ and some think this is the harbinger to a revolution in publishing. I subscribe to the Guardian, the Economist and even the Metro through apps. It’s true that it does feel different to reading articles on the web. The touch screen doesn’t geta whole lot of use though, just for turning the pages which isn’t that different to mouse scrolling. One new appazine is called ‘The Collection’ so let’s have a look at that:
‘The Collection’ iPad Appazine
‘The Collection‘ is a revolutionary trendy Appazine, multi-lingual ( English, German and Chinese) with an intuitive user interface. Ringier, a leading Swiss media company, say they launched this global app for tablets with internationally relevant content and a highly intuitive user navigation system. The new app will be a monthly “appazine” exploring globally relevant topics intended to excite and challenge top-tier audiences. This is the first appazine to be published simultaneously in three languages. The first issue covers the Royal Wedding in the UK, but taking an original and entertaining slant on the celebrities involved. The experience of viewing the magazine content on the iPad is designed to guarantee surprises at every swipe, tap or rub of the tablet screen. As a media rich appazine, ground-breaking innovative interactive design is deployed to ensure a uniquely compelling and entertaining user experience, which you will certainly never have seen before. First-class articles, audio, photos and videos, interactive elements include panoramic photography, 3D digital animation, creative morphing, rubbing, X-Ray lens and more. Based on a completely new Made in Switzerland Content Management System, the technology allows for a very dynamic and intuitive navigation within the app, based on utilising the iPads native unique functionality. 
You can download the free version of the appazine from the iTunes appstore at http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/the-collection/id427145593?mt=8 and this allows you to watch a preview of the first edition in the form of a promotional video. The individual monthly editions of the interactive appazine content will then cost £2.99 each.
Andy Roberts is a writer who initiated DARnet. Contact me on aroberts@gmail.com or @aroberts on twitter
