Tablet Prototype of Ensign Tests Possibility of Interactive Magazines
Contributed By Heather Whittle Wrigley, Church News and Events
Article Highlights
- A prototype tablet version of the November 2011 Ensign is available for the iPad and Android tablets.
- The interactive version includes optimized navigation and additional elements the printed version cannot support, such as audio, video, links to ChurchofJesusChrist.org, and extra pictures.
- The app is available for free download through Apple's App Store and the Android Market.
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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released a prototype of a tablet app on December 16 that features an enhanced digital version of the conference issue of the Ensign, the Church’s monthly English magazine.
The prototype is based on the November 2011 issue of the Ensign magazine. Its primary purpose is to assess the publishing platform and get users’ feedback on their experiences with it in this format.
A collaborative effort through the Church’s Curriculum, Media Services, and Information and Communications Systems Departments, the interactive magazine includes audio, video, links to ChurchofJesusChrist.org, and extra pictures not available in the printed version. It is available for download through Apple's App Store for the iPad and for Android tablets such as the Motorola Xoom and the Samsung Galaxy Tab through the Android Market. To find the free app, search for “LDS Ensign” and look for the blue icon shown below.
In the digital version of the issue, when a user taps on a portrait in the organizational chart of Church leaders, biographies of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will appear.
Enhanced navigation allows individuals to jump to specific talks and enlarge pictures at the touch of a finger. Several other navigation options provide quick access to the contents, including a thumbnail view of the magazine pages and a miniature table of contents that can be accessed throughout the issue.
Embedded video highlights and audio of entire talks also create an interactive experience. Once the magazine has been downloaded, no Internet connection is required for those embedded features.
For those with a wireless Internet connection, links within the interactive magazine refer users back to the ChurchofJesusChrist.org conference page or other sites such as youth.ChurchofJesusChrist.org, which Elder Bednar referenced in his most recent general conference talk. Other links are provided in the news section at the back.
The decision on how to proceed with the interactive magazine will be based on feedback and assessment of this prototype. Users may offer comments through a link available at the top of the issue’s contents page.