Accessing the digital MEW using an e-reader

[Howard LyneParticipant @howardlyne10956]

I’ve recently converted to a digital subscription for MEW so that I no longer have to find space to store future paper copies. This is fine, but it would be nice to be able to read the digital version sitting in an armchair with an e-reader of some form rather than at adesk in front of the computer screen. Does anyone have any experience of this or even whether it is possible? I have read the specifications of the iPad and Kindle for instance and am still not sure whether they would do the job since I can’t determine whether the digital version is downloadable to these devices or whether I can access the website directly from them. I’m afraid I am simply not familiar with so much of the jargon employed in even the most basic descriptions of these devices. Despite being only black and white, I much prefer the Kindle on cost grounds. I don’t want to spend several hundreds of pounds on an iPAD when I won’t use most of its functionality (that’s one jargon word I do know the meaning of!)

 

Any help or advice would be most welcome

[Howard LyneParticipant @howardlyne10956]

[Jim GreetheadParticipant @jimgreethead]

A good thought. I have just purchased a Kindle as a book reader and the same idea crossed my mind.

But I don’t want an i Pad at great expense because the keyboard is on the screen and I can’t touch type on it. Also, it seems that I can’t connect an external keyboard or even a USB drive; so that’s out.

On the other hand, Kindle does not have colour which limits its ability as a magazine reader.

And lastly, while Ireally do want to dispense with the hard copy of the magazines, the digital editions are really not very good. Hopefully the publishers of the magazine will do a bit of homework and link into some modern technology that protects their investment while giving us a quality product.

[SteambuffParticipant @steambuff]

Hi

You need “adobe flash player” to be able to read the magazines.

 

Apple do not allow the use of flash on iphone or ipad (I think that this is still the case). I have just confirmed this on my ipad and iphone.

 

For the same reason I suspect that most e-readers will not be suitable.

 

A Netbook running Windows should be OK .. but you would need to check first.

 

Dave

 

[Gone AwayParticipant @goneaway]

Posted by Jim Greethead on 14/06/2011 14:33:59:

But I don’t want an i Pad at great expense because the keyboard is on the screen and I can’t touch type on it. Also, it seems that I can’t connect an external keyboard

 

You can use an external keyboard with an iPad. You don’t even have to “connect” it: Apple sells a wireless keyboard. They also sell a combined keyboard/dock.

 

And if Apple’s keyboard prices are too steep, there are plenty being offered on eBay (and possibly local stores).

(Although I suspect your iPad aversion is due to more than lack of keyboard).

 

But as Steambuff has pointed out, with the current Flash version of the MEW reader, it ain’t going to happen on the iPad anyway. Pity because I don’t think it would be bad – particularly as you can get the screen “right way up”. (You can read it on a Windows netbook as Steambuff said but if you’re stuck with the horizontal – and small – screen ….)

 

 

[Howard LyneParticipant @howardlyne10956]

Thanks everyone. The important thing is that the device needs to support adobe flash player which rules out the iPAD (but not some of its rivals such as Motorola’s Xoom). As far as I can tell this probably rules out the Kindle as well as this facility is not specifically mentioned as a feature in its specification. I guess I’ll have to continue reading MEW from the computer screen for the moment and wait for prices to come down or for older but adequate (for my purposes) devices to come onto the second-hand market.

[GeirParticipant @geir]

The Motorola Xoom and other android tablets are also ruled out as the flash application is not compatible with touch controls. There was mention of a new e-magazine format that would be ipad/android compatible in a recent thread. This other thread also discussed pdf printing of whole issues. Some large screen e-readers might be able to display pdf files.

[Howard LyneParticipant @howardlyne10956]

It looks if I will have to wait a little longer before being able to access digital versions with an iPAD or equivalent.

 

Thanks again everyone

[Gone AwayParticipant @goneaway]

Another possibility would be for MEW to use a third-party services such as Zinio which handles both Flash and iPad versions.

Edited By Sid Herbage on 17/06/2011 14:07:32

[SteambuffParticipant @steambuff]

Its swings and roundabouts …

 

With the likes of Zino, you actually download the magazine to your PC or ipad etc and you can access/keep any copies purchased during your subscription period … but you would have to purchase back/archive issues. (You can also buy copies if you have no subscription)

 

With the current provider, you can access all current and back/archive issues during your subscription period … these are not downloaded to your PC (unless you produce pdf’s page by page) … but if you terminate your subscription you have access to nothing. (Not even the ones issued during your subscription period). (I think I am correct there)

 

Dave

 

[Gone AwayParticipant @goneaway]

Just an update.

 

With the new MEW flash reader, I printed a copy to pdf and then transferred it to my iPad. iBooks opens it and it works fine. Nice way to read it actually – though I don’t think I’d want a much smaller screen.

[Howard LyneParticipant @howardlyne10956]

Thanks for the update Sid. I assume I have to get hold of some software to do this as all I can get the MEW Flash reader to do is print pages as .tif files. My computer struggles to do this anyway, possibly because of my ultra-slow speed broadband connection – one of the disadvantage of living in the country. I’ve been a bit slow in replying as my digital subscription ran out without any prior notification from MEW. A reminder only arrived after I renewed itI

[Gone AwayParticipant @goneaway]

Yes, you do need software to allow you to print-to-pdf. Such software installs itself as an addition to your list of printers. When you select <print> in the MEW Flash Reader, it opens the normal print dialogue on your machine and you select the print-to-pdf driver. It then asks for a filename/path and creates the pdf.

 

I use Adobe Acrobat (full) but there are a number of free versions that work well. If you check some of the other threads here concerning the digital issues you should find reference to one.

 

It will probably be a bit excruciating with a slow connection but if you select all pages at once for the print at a time when you can walk away for a few hours (visit the mother-in-law perhaps) it should be easier on you. If you do that, my own experience suggests that it’s more successful when the server is lightly loaded …. overnight perhaps – not evenings UK time and not immediately after the release of a new issue.

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