Developer: Time Inc.
Price: Free, $4.99 per issue
Version Reviewed: 2.0.0.6
Reviewed on: iPad

iPhone Integration Rating: ★★★★☆
User Interface Rating: ★★★★☆
Re-use Value Rating: ★★★★☆

Overall Rating: ★★★★☆

TIME is one of the first newsweeklies to hit the iPad. The in-app purchasing mechanism in the TIME app is much better designed than that in Popular Science+, and makes purchasing a new issue a visually appealing experience. TIME offers previews of each edition before you buy it, with the ability to peruse a table of contents before purchasing. Like Popular Science+ and WIRED, this app includes the familiar vertical and horizontal reading mechanism. I’m still not sure why the three apps chose the same reading mechanism as I’m not sold on its usefulness. The usual Table of Contents is present here along the bottom with a simple touch, but TIME also includes a touchable Table of Contents within the magazine. Everything that seems like it should be clickable is within the application, though it’s lacking the multimedia and sophistication of other apps I’ve previously reviewed.

Time's Newsfeed

TIME begins the issue with a Help Guide, which is a terrific addition for new users that other apps would do well to include. They instruct users about how to navigate stories, deal with multimedia, and look at the magazine in either vertical or horizontal view. The key differentiator here is the integration of content from Time.com. Along the bottom toolbar, Time includes a “Newsfeed” link that leads to a well designed setup with Time.com’s top stories, including those from their Politics, World, Business, and Science sections. Interestingly enough, much of this content is in the magazine, making the Newsfeed an interesting addition to the magazine itself, which differs little from its paper counterpart.

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