Back issues are available for many titles. You can keep them as long as you like or delete them from your account when you're done with them. There is no limit to the number of magazines you can check out. How do I return a magazine once I have checked it out?.How do I read magazines on my tablet or phone?.How do I read magazines on my computer?.Can I get magazines in other languages?.The RBdigital app (to download and read magazines offline on your tablet or phone).An account at RBdigital (library card and email address required).Give it a shot - the app itself is free and comes with three free issues to read.RBdigital gives you access to current issues of popular magazines to read on your computer, tablet, or phone. It's a little frustrating to watch the application's introduction video, but the app itself is worth the wait. It's definitely not a finished effort, but it's among the furthest along that I've looked at. Zinio has been in the business of digital magazines for a while, and this app shows their commitment. The table of contents are clearly and thoughtfully laid out, and even include a zoomed out set of pages for the user to review. Zinio does, however, offer a terrific 'text' and 'page' feature that allows users to see magazines laid out as they are in paper form - as a 'page' - and in simplified text form that's easier on the eyes.

It's hard to rate the application itself on its interactivity as it depends on the individual publisher. Zinio's store includes tons of magazines, each with varying degrees of interactivity. The cost savings shouldn't be lost on any readers - it's cheaper than you'd find in independent apps like Newsweek or TIME. The Economist, for example, costs $6.99 per issue or $126.99 for 51 digital issues. That's right - Zinio offers subscriptions! That's something we haven't seen in other magazine applications. They are each available for download through Zinio's in-app store for varying prices and subscriptions. Among them are popular publications like BusinessWeek, The Economist, National Geographic, MacWorld, iPhone Life, and Car & Driver. Zinio has partnered with an impressive list of publishers and magazines to deliver their content. The iPad is a natural fit for Zinio - I'm sure the company is thanking Steve Jobs for giving it the perfect platform on which to display their content. They have offered desktop readers for a while, and have had an app for the iPhone as well. Zinio has been an established player in digital magazines for a while.

Zinio magazine app