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I promised Jestre in the comments below our Digital Subscriptions FAQs that I’d check out how the June issue looks on the iPad. So when I got home, I downloaded the issue directly to my iPad, and was able to read it, no problem – though the navigation wasn’t ideal (I had to scroll down through the pages rather than going right to the page I wanted).
But after importing into iBooks, I’m sold (metaphorically speaking…I admit that I got it free). It looks great, I can navigate by page across the bottom of the device, or can I go to a 6-up view for an overview of a section, then click on the page I want, and there it is in full color.
But one thing I didn’t think of, that we’ll try to implement in time for the next issue (and it was a really bone-headed thing to overlook, I’m ashamed to say), is to hotlink the Online Extras page noted at the end of every story, so you could simply click on it, and have your reader take you right to (in this case) the /jun11 page.
Honestly though, I don’t know enough about the various types of eReaders. I’m familiar with the iPad, and I’ve used a Kindle (which I don’t think will work for an image-heavy book/magazine). So, if we provide (semi)enhanced PDFs for future issues, will those be of value to non iPad eReaders? I know they’d work on a computer. Let me know what you think – this is a work in progress, and I want it to work well for you. So if we can do things to make it better (within our time, talent and software constraints) we will.
p.s. Did you know we also sell single-issue PDF versions of the magazines (in case, say, you’re missing the first cover project I built, in February 2008…with a lot of help from Glen Huey). And, we even sell single story PDF downloads (you might want to build Glen’s Pennsylvania Blanket Chest RIGHT NOW and don’t have time to dig through your magazines – or your Boy Scout needs a birdhouse plan and it has to be done by morning).
p.p.s. So I’m writing this blog post on a MacBook about a product I looked at on my iPad and the pictures were taken with my iPhone (while the iPad was on my lap…and apparently I have shaky knees – sorry!). I think Apple owes me a free iTunes download.
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When I started looking at eReaders, I opted for the Nook Color over a Kindle because a) the screen was larger and b), well, it was COLOR rather than black and white. I keep wondering why it is, though, that magazines such as y’all’s seem to automatically assume that everyone has a Kindle or an iPad . . . I am currently considering a table but I probably won’t go with an iPad because, once again, I can get a larger screen and more compatability with my phone (yup, it has an Android OS 😉 by going with an Asus tablet.
So, how about considering the Android OS and Nooks in the future? 😉
From: Joseph Harra Oshkosh, Wisconsin
Here is a process to keep from wasting sandpaper; time (in the long run) etc.
Use packaging (clear) to tape your boards before you glue them. Tape right up to the edge of the board. The tape will seal the wood and keep the glue off the edges. This might radical but it works. It takes some extra time to get all this tape just right but after you are done with the clamp and glue process it is amazing when you pull the tape and all that glue mess is gone! You will have some tape stick left which can be removed with turpintine. This takes time but the saving in not having to sand all that glue is well worth it. You can cover the whole rest of the board with paper if you really want to get messt with the glue. I have never heard of anyone but me using this process. It really works. Thank You From Joseph Harra of Oshkosh Wisconsin
I purchased the digital June issue and uploaded it to my Kindle. It worked pretty well despite the smaller screen. I had to tweak the contrast a bit and the font size, but the end result reminded me a lot of reading the old Woodworking magazine. Everything is in black and white. It’s not as user friendly as the ipad, mostly because you have to use a navigation key instead of a touch screen, but neither is it that much extra work. The content shows up on the screen nice and sharp. Sometimes there was a small delay when “turning” several pages in a row, but otherwise it worked fine. It probably would be even better on the larger Kindle DX.
It looks great on my iPad as well. I have one request. Please use higher resolution photos, so when we zoom in to the picture, we’ll get greater detail. By the way, how did you import the pdf into iBooks?
re: iPad and on-line extras –
Will the lack of Flash support become an issue for the iPad and on-line extras?
And it just occurred to me, can Google Sketchup run on the iPad/iPad2?
Also, I sent a couple pages to a Linux user to test out, and here’s his response:
“I loaded the PDF on my Linux laptop and it worked fine. The images looked correct; search worked, as did copy-and-paste from the text. In case it helps anyone else: the particular PDF reader I’m using is Okular (v0.11.2) which is the default PDF reader with Kubuntu v10.10 (and most KDE-based Linux distributions).”
I just gave it try on iPad too. It looks great! This might be the way I’ll go now.
Thanks,
Mike