Digital revolution

Just as Apple on Feb. 15 broadened its terms of service to allow publishers to offer subscriptions to digital publications through the iTunes Store, WORLD's iPad app is out of development and submitted for Apple's approval. As soon as we receive a thumbs-up from Cupertino, iPad owners will be able to go to the iTunes store and download the inaugural digital edition of WORLD.

This is phase one of two initial phases. The first is a free sample issue-meant to introduce WORLD to readers who have never heard of us before, and to provide WORLD print readers a glimpse of the digital future. Phase two will provide a subscription-based iPad magazine that will contain all the content of our print editions, with digital extras like HD image quality, photo galleries, audio, and video, and without the analog frustrations of postal delays and, for some, difficult-to-read text.

Hundreds of hours of sometimes difficult but mostly joyful work went into the production of WORLD's iPad app. It is not merely a miniaturized print edition. We designed it to take full advantage of the technical capabilities of new tablet technology. And we have plans to roll out new editions for new platforms to reach new readers wherever they are with biblical worldview journalism. We're not lessening our commitment to print-but the digital revolution has changed publishing forever, and, we think, for the better.