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[meppi]

As a celebration for the launch of Newsstand on iOS5, you can download the October issue for free!

This goes for NGamer as well it seems, so it's possibly universal and covers Future's whole iOS magazine catalogue.
Read several articles in EDGE at work yesterday and I really like the approach they take with the magazine.
Was a bit expensive to subscribe in the past due to shipping etc, but on Newsstand it's even cheaper than picking up a magazine locally.
Really want to hit the subscribe button, but I wish I had an iPad already.
On an iPod Touch the magazines are perfectly readable, but as I'm getting a bit older, my eyes scream out for a bigger screen.

Can't wait to read the Zelda Skyward Sword special in NGamer in a couple of minutes.

Oh, BTW Zelda SS apearantly got a 10/10 from EDGE so I'm even more hyped. I think the magazine comes out in the next couple of days.

[KiwiArcader]

Yep ... got their Xbox, NGamer, Edge and PC-Format titles and all include a free title.

Honestly, the quality is just fine on the iPad.... they are very readable etc.

The only problem I have with the setup is there is no way to backup these in the event they take their shop/library down in the future. This is an issue that plagues all online distribution methods currently and is something the publishing houses need to come clean on if they want people to move away from paper based media.

[meppi]

Yeah, I think the magazines are optimized for iPad, as they should be.
I notice the pages resizing for a fraction of a second when I go to the next one myself. That probably won't be there on a iPad.

You can actually backup all your files.
I just did this with my apps this past weekend.
It's a little different on different setups, finding the correct folder and all, but not that hard to do.
Probably easiest to follow this page: http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1391

When you click the show in finder, or whatever it's called in Windows nowadays it should take you directly to the apps folder.
Just copy the ones you'd like to an external HDD and you have an instant backup.

[KiwiArcader]

I am not sure if that works for content purchased through the newstand or any other app where purchases are made via the app itself. I'd be keen to see if you do get your free NGamer issue showing up in your backup :-)

BTW ...there is a fraction of a second resizing going on in the iPad as well but it is fast and not an issue. Pages look great on the iPad.

The backup question is the main issue I have around ensuring you can retain access to purchased content without their suddenly deciding to stop and then deleting your purchased content..

[meppi]

Ah you're right.
Actual issues get treated as in app purchases, so only the actual app itself gets stored on your computer, while the magazines get downloaded straight to your iPad...

So I don't think a direct backup option is available.
But I did find this on the Apple website:

Redownloading an In-App Purchase

If you lose your In-App Purchases because apps were accidentally deleted, or if you had to restore your device without a backup, you may be able to download some of your in app purchases again for free. Not all In-App Purchases are eligible for free download again.

Replenishable In-App Purchases and subscriptions cannot be downloaded again for free, and must be repurchased. Examples include but are not limited to: extra ammo, additional health, extra experience points, or other one-time services.


Non-replenishable In-App Purchases and auto-renewing subscriptions can be downloaded again for free. Examples include: bonus game levels, a map/city guide, a daily news subscription, or other recurring services.


To download an In-App Purchase again, you must download it from within the installed app using the same iTunes Store account name for the original In-App Purchase.



Transferring an In-App Purchase

Subscriptions and replenishable In-App Purchase cannot be transferred or synced to another iOS device. Non-replenishable In-App Purchases  and auto-renewing subscriptions can be transferred to another iOS device authorized with your iTunes Store account. For example, if you transfer a game from an iPhone to an iPod touch, only the game levels will sync over, the extra ammo and experience points will not be transferred.

Since magazines are part of the auto-renewing subscriptions section, you should always be able to re-download them in the event you deleted them food whatever reason.
Still not optimal, but I guess that's what we have for now...
Unless you go for Zinio and buy from their site, in which case you might also be able to backup the files on your computer.
But I haven't tried it out enough to know exactly how that works.

[KiwiArcader]

Well ... there's a fudge to get Zinio content backed up onto your PC as PDF/pngs etc. Takes a little work and not updating to the latest Adobe AIR but it does work :-)

Personally, I'd prefer if Zinio/Future just made in app purchases available as standalone backup files then we wouldn't need to worry about the "take or money and take our paid for content away again" scenario cropping up in the future. Unfortunately this type of event has happened many times so it does make one wary of treading the same path again.

[meppi]

Well I don't think they are about to delete files from the apps you have on your device.

Unless you remove them to make space for other things and try to redownload them in the future and they end up not being available any longer.
So yeah, that certainly is a bit of a headache.
Same goes for all the digital content right now doesn't it?
PSN, XBLA, Steam, and God knows what else.

You just can't be sure if you'll be able to play your games in 10 or 20 years time...

[KiwiArcader]

Indeed.

Music and movie services have come/gone and licenses revoked for content that people paid for thinking they had purchased something for life. It tends to put doubts in people minds whether they will still have access to it if the company went bust for instance. Unfortunately most companies are silent on aspects such as these so it doesn't instill much confidence. It is getting better though with Valve advising that to sign up with their STEAM service a publisher must guarantee that they will make the game playable if they do go bust etc. If companies like Future were to make these sorts of guarantee's it would go a long way to encouraging people like myself to put my money down on their products.