Introducing Smithsonian Magazine on the iPad
All the history, travel, science and culture you love in a new and exciting format
- By Joseph Stromberg
- Smithsonian.com, February 07, 2012, Subscribe
When reading Smithsonian’s Evotourism package, imagine taking in a high-resolution 360-degree panoramic tour of Kangaroo Island, Australia. Imagine watching footage of the 1980 explosion of Mount St. Helens while reading about the reforestation of the land surrounding the volcano. Imagine learning about the Orchid Olympics and simultaneously perusing dozens of stunning, detailed photos of different orchid species.
For the first time, all this is possible. This week will mark the latest stage in the evolution of Smithsonian in the magazine’s 41-year history: the introduction of the app for the iPad. Alongside the print version, Smithsonian is now offering an enhanced interactive version of the award-winning magazine. “This technology will change the nature of magazines in a fundamental way, while preserving the core experience of a magazine as curated content,” says Bill Allman, chief digital officer at Smithsonian Enterprises. “What’s great about these new tools is that they take a magazine like Smithsonian, in particular, to a whole other dimension.”
The app includes all the feature articles, departments and photography from the print edition, plus a number of app-only special features, like video, extra photos, supplementary interviews and interactive graphics. The entire magazine is viewable in both horizontal and vertical orientations, and has special menus for feature articles, departments and app-only extras.
“The app allows us to tell stories in a multimedia way,” Allman says. “We really have a whole new palette of tools—we can do sound, video, slide shows, interactive graphics, really anything.” Articles include many more photos than in the print version, helping to immerse the reader in the story. “Where you see one picture in the magazine, there might be three on the app that are equally as beautiful,” says Maria Keehan, Smithsonian’s art director.
Audio and video features are also used to enhance the app. “Some of the things are just flat out fun, like the motorcycle sound at the beginning of the Route 66 story,” Keehan says. “In our cover story on the Haleakala Crater in Hawaii, actually being able to hear a person’s voice—you can watch a video of Clifford Naeole chanting the traditional Hawaiian songs—is so incredible.” The app version of a story on the newly discovered “bark” of the red-bellied piranha includes the actual sound of the piranhas barking.
Interactive elements allow readers to dig more deeply into articles. “In the Evotourism package, for example, the Ashfall Fossil Beds story has a graphic of the fossils lying in the ground, and you can touch each fossil to see a graphic,” Allman says. “In a sense, the reader is now the author of that narrative, because they can go in any direction, and participate in the story in a way they couldn't before.” For “The Mystique of Route 66,” readers can tap on different spots on a map to see photography from each location along the legendary route.
Allman envisions countless possibilities for the future evolution of the app, such as integrating real-time features into articles—like Twitter feeds of figures in the story, updated continuously even months after the issue was published—or added customizable options, such as allowing readers to create their own archive of favorite articles. “This is a new way of storytelling that has heretofore been unavailable to us,” he says. “It’s as big of a shift as it was going from black-and-white to color.”
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Comments (20)
I downloaded the app and paid for digital subscription but cannot download. Smithsonian says contact itunes they say contact app developers. Could someone please either solve the problem or give me my $19.99 for a year back. Which by the way kinda stinks because while trying to find someone to contact I saw that you can get 11 print issues for $11.00. Thank you
Posted by Linda Altieri on December 8,2012 | 11:27 PM
I am a print subscriber, and have no iPad. There is a "Smithsonian Magazine App" in the Google Play Store. Is this also free for print subscribers, or just the iPad version?
Posted by Victor Starr on November 30,2012 | 02:02 PM
Isn't there a way to activate the digital option from the website via my computer so I can just simply sign in and download the next issue? Every time I try to activate it from the i-Pad, I tap "next" after entering my info and absolutely nothing happens.
Posted by Dan MacMillan on September 26,2012 | 11:01 PM
Smithsonian magazine is by far one of my favorite magazines and I think it's great that the digital edition is now offered. It would be even better if it were available on other devices in addition to the iPad. Please make that happen!!
Posted by Robyn on September 19,2012 | 01:44 PM
I would also like to see this available on the Kindle Fire. Fantastic magazine. It would be amazing to have this stored with all my other content on the KF.
Posted by tb on July 6,2012 | 04:11 PM
I echo the Kindle Fire request.
Posted by Matt on June 6,2012 | 09:47 AM
App won't work for me. I keep getting a message telling me to restart the app and try again, which I have done repeatedly. I'm disappointed.
Posted by Sheryl Swilling on April 21,2012 | 11:53 PM
I'm a very long time Smithsonian subscriber and member. The app isn't working for me. I go through both options for letting existing print subscribers sign up; either through account number or full address. Neither work; they always say that the account can't be found. I've tried calling the number; the woman mentioned some email invitation that needs to be received first. That isn't mentioned in any other documentation.
Posted by David Clemans on March 29,2012 | 11:48 PM
Is there a way to transfer a subscription from Zinio to this app? Zinio tells me that purchases made through Apple are non-refundable.
Posted by Erik on March 8,2012 | 02:23 PM
If I download the Smithsonian app, will I continue to receive the print copy also?
NOTE FROM SMITHSONIAN: Yes, you will continue to get the print magazine. Print subscribers get their regular print copies PLUS free access to the digital editions of those issues.
Posted by Sandra Sewell on February 23,2012 | 11:27 PM
Can we just get the iPad app and not get the print magazine?
NOTE FROM SMITHSONIAN: Yes, you can. Please call customer service at 1-800-642-4037. They can switch your subscription from “print plus digital” to “digital only”.
Posted by John on February 17,2012 | 03:23 PM
I'm glad to see Smithsonian on the iPad. I find the navigation within an issue to be smooth and intuitive, and the articles and photography great as always. The audio and videos are a welcome addition. Downloading an issue has worked flawlessly. This app, in my opinion, compares favorably to other iPad magazines such as the New Yorker and National Geographic. Of course, Smithsonian magazine's content stands on its own.
Nice work, Smithsonian!
Posted by Bob on February 14,2012 | 07:50 PM
I may just get an iPad after learning my favorite magazine is now available on it.
Posted by Cleve Gray on February 14,2012 | 01:10 PM
Cannot get iPad app to work. Stuck on updating library. Kicks itself out immediately. Can't even remove the app. Frustrating.
NOTE FROM SMITHSONIAN: Please call customer service at 1-800-642-4037 and we’ll help you.
Posted by Pat williams on February 11,2012 | 11:33 PM
Will there be a version for the Android OS?
NOTE FROM SMITHSONIAN: Hi Brian: Thanks for asking! We hope so, but it is not scheduled yet.
Posted by Brian on February 11,2012 | 10:58 PM
I have an iPad and I'm a long-time subscriber. I've checked the website, but I'm unclear if I still have to pay for ongoing access via the app. Please explain what I would get if I download the "free" app, if there would be any future charges, and if so, what I'd have to pay to get what. Thanks
NOTE FROM SMITHSONIAN: Hi Drew: Access to Smithsonian magazine app is truly free for existing US print subscribers. Download the free app from the store. Tap the upper right to set up your id and password. Tap the upper left to sign in. Then download your free issues.
Posted by Drew Oman on February 11,2012 | 09:55 AM
When will it be available in iTunes' international stores? It's currently only available in the United States store. I know us overseas subscribers are probably in a massive minority, but we do also have iPads!
NOTE FROM SMITHSONIAN: Hi Mark: Thank you for reading Smithsonian! While we hope to be available internationally, we expect it to take some time. We do not have a date set at this time. Many apologies for the inconvenience.
Posted by Mark on February 11,2012 | 09:27 AM
A PDF version of Smithsonian magazine is available on Kindle Fire. You can buy it through Amazon. The Kindle version is not free with your print subscription. We hope to evolve in that direction, but there are some technical hurdles.
The ipad app we just launched is our first. The Kindle Fire screen is smaller, so our app would have to be redesigned before it could launch on Kindle Fire. We are considering this project, but it has not been scheduled at this time.
Posted by Customer Service on February 10,2012 | 01:43 PM
Is it available on Kindle Fire? And if so, is it included if we are already paper magazine subscribers?
Posted by kelley on February 8,2012 | 10:19 PM
When will you have an app ready for Kindle fire?
Posted by Cathy on February 8,2012 | 02:29 PM