Zinio Launches New 'AIR' Reading App With National Geographic Magazine's First-Ever Interactive 'Water' Issue

SAN FRANCISCO, March 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Zinio, the global leader in digital publishing technology and services, today announced the launch of Zinio Reader 4 (zinio.com/reader4), built using Adobe AIR.  In combination with Zinio's latest product launch, National Geographic celebrates World Water Day with a free download offer of its interactive April 2010 "Water" issue, using Zinio Reader 4 and "UNITY" platform.

Zinio's newest digital reading application enables a seamless, online or offline reading experience across the Company's global offering of over 2,000 top consumer magazines.  Zinio Reader 4 was built using Adobe's AIR framework, optimized to power a cloud-enabled library, specifically tailored for interactive magazine and book content experiences.  This latest release from Zinio is another addition to its continued focus of offering ubiquitous access across PC, Mac, netbook, touch-screen and tablet devices, including the iPhone, iPod touch and the upcoming iPad from Apple.  An extension of Zinio's pay-once-read-anywhere "UNITY" platform, Zinio Reader 4 is supported on Windows, Mac and Linux operating systems, in its initial beta release.  This new application introduces enhanced features enabling consumers to access their favorite interactive magazines and books worldwide, online or offline, in a more optimized and enjoyable way.

Zinio Reader 4 features allow readers to:

• Enjoy dynamic, interactive articles and advertisements
• Bookmark a page or clip and save to favorites
• Share, post and send to friends across hundreds of social-media networks
• Seamlessly read online, or download and read anytime
• Explore pages and navigate in new ways
• Search and sort collections in Library view
• Read easier with consistent capabilities, online and offline

National Geographic magazine's April 2010 issue is the first title to be showcased on the Reader 4 platform.  "Water: Our Thirsty World" highlights the challenges facing one of the world's most essential natural resources.  Since the National Geographic Society considers the concerns highlighted in the single-topic issue so important, it's offering it free of charge through April 2, 2010.  Available for free download at nationalgeographic.com/freshwater, this dynamic edition of National Geographic magazine presents complete content from the print edition, plus extra photo galleries, rollover graphics that animate features such as maps and timelines, video profiles of photographers who contributed to the issue and other interactive features. 

"We are excited that National Geographic – one of the most iconic brands in publishing – has embraced dynamic design and made it real, encouraging readers to enjoy their favorite titles in an entirely new way," said Rich Maggiotto, President & CEO of Zinio.  "Leveraging our global infrastructure and 'UNITY' platform, Zinio has established an incredibly compelling and useful reading product to engage both new and longtime fans.  The ability to explore the new Reader 4 functions, in partnership with National Geographic magazine's stunning content, is a win-win for everyone."

"National Geographic Society is among the most innovative, creative and richly visual content providers, across multiple platforms, beginning with a revolutionary concept in magazines, to books, TV and film, cable, radio, online, mobile and games.  Now, with the launch of our digital publications on the Zinio platform, we can offer an unprecedented interactive reading experience," said Paul Levine, EVP, Interactive Platforms Group for National Geographic Global Media.  "Zinio's dynamic approach will integrate National Geographic's award-winning storytelling and rich media content with the best of what a digital-publishing pioneer can offer our readers."

With Zinio Reader 4 complementing the pay-once-read-anywhere "UNITY" platform, content is accessible to consumers on whatever device they have, paying for it only once.  Through subsequent announcements revealing additional partnerships in design, distribution and device, Zinio will continue to empower the digital reading experience with ongoing product announcements and partnerships throughout 2010.

About Zinio:

Zinio, the world's newsstand, is revolutionizing reading.  Through digital products and services, the Company creates better ways for people to discover published content, get more of it and do more with it.  Zinio works closely with publishers worldwide to reinvent reading.  For consumers, Zinio enables the ability to shop for, search inside, read, share and save digital content in new ways and on many devices.  With over 50,000 digital magazines and books, and e-stores localized in 20 languages, zinio.com is the largest newsstand in the world.  Founded in 2001 and privately held, Zinio is headquartered in San Francisco and has offices in New York, London, Paris, Barcelona and Taipei.

About National Geographic Society:

The National Geographic Society is one of the world's largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations.  Founded in 1888 to "increase and diffuse geographic knowledge," the Society works to inspire people to care about the planet.  It reaches more than 375 million people worldwide each month through its official journal, National Geographic, and other magazines; National Geographic Channel; television documentaries; music; radio; films; books; DVDs; maps; exhibitions; live events; school publishing programs; interactive media; and merchandise.  National Geographic has funded more than 9,200 scientific research, conservation and exploration projects and supports an education program promoting geographic literacy.  For more information, visit nationalgeographic.com.

SOURCE Zinio