More than six months ago, I did a review of a magazine’s iPad app (a TV-synopsis magazine called HUMO in Belgium) to show how print publishers are finding it hard to rethink their content presentation, sales and profit model, and marketing strategies since the advent of the tablet.

Since then, I have been on the search for the ultimate magazine iPad app to show you how magazines can, and should, devise great iPad app with great UX - AND make money out of the content. I-S magazine from Singapore emerges as a top winner in its own class.

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The London 2012 Olympics iPad app is a pretty nifty one. There is another app called Results but that is more for people checking out the results of each event. This app is entitled “Join In”, seems to be geared mostly towards people who are there in person. But it is done in a way that does not exclude the ordinary user who just want to follow the games at home (like myself). I will explain why later on.

Let me guide you through the app, and at each step, talk about the UI and UX of each category and in general. Once open, the app shows a clear menu bar at the bottom, with 8 categories: What’s On, Events, Map, Places, Buzz, Guide, My Games, Search.

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Come 31 July, IKEA will launch “its best product yet” - an augmented reality catalogue app, according to Gizmodo. Customers will be able to project how a piece of furniture will look in their room, whether the colour fits the wall etc, apart from browsing what is available. This will bring catalogue browsing to a whole new level! This is making full use of the technology available and putting themselves in the shoes of the customers and analyzing their needs. Will do a UX/UI review of the app when it is out. Can’t wait!

This is another uninteresting venture by print people in making iPad apps.

The Straits Times of Singapore fail to understand an app is not the tablet version of their website.

While I appreciate the choice of font and the clarity of it, you cannot zoom in or out, nor can you share the article on a social network. In many ways, this is worse than their website. FAIL.

Today, let’s look at the iPad app of a Dutch-language entertainment magazine dash TV guide in Belgium called HUMO.

The UI of this app is a classic example of how print people are trying to cope with the loss of revenue through the lower sales of printed publications and the rise of portable web-linked devices like the iPad or smart phones. It is also a classic example of how these people reign over the development of the iPad app rather than work side by side (aka on equal standing) with UX experts in iPad developments. I hope I sound subtle enough in my criticism.

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