With the launch of the MagCloud iPad App 4.0 we’ve added support for iTunes In-App Purchase.  This means digital publications can be purchased directly within the MagCloud iPad app, automatically charged to the user’s iTunes account and instantly downloaded with a single tap. Readers will have the option to purchase new publications as a guest or sign-in with their MagCloud account for additional access to their existing on-line digital library.

Publications purchased while signed-in to the app will also be saved to a user’s Digital Library on the MagCloud website, allowing them to be read on all their other devices as well, either via the MagCloud Web Viewer or as a PDF download.

The new version of the the MagCloud iPad app also boasts faster performance when browsing, reading, downloading and switching orientations; on-device account management and sign-up; and various user interface improvements to make the app more intuitive.

For publishers this means another way to monetize and build awareness for your content.  If you have already opted-in to digital distribution as a paid digital publication, your publications will automatically be available for sale in the new version of the iPad app.  To accommodate Apple’s iPad-pricing model we will automatically adjust pricing on the iPad to match the nearest pricing tier (most often the nearest $X.99 increment).

Publishers can use our digital pricing calculator to see in real-time how your pricing and earnings will compare for publications you distribute on the MagCloud website and via the iPad app. Free digital publications remain the same. To learn more about MagCloud digital distribution see our FAQ.

Download the new MagCloud iPad app and let us know what you think in the comments below.

All month long, we’d like to see all your creative heart-themed Instagram photos. We’ll compile some of the best into a collaged poster that you could win!

Here’s how it works:

1. Follow MagCloud on Instagram (@HPMagCloud).
2. Take a picture of a heart. That’s it. Points for creativity.
3. Include the hashtag #MagCloudHearts to join the stream.
4. Add the hashtag #MCRightsReleased to have your photo considered for inclusion in the final design and officially release your rights for us to include the photo the printed poster.

We’re going to print up 100 limited-edition posters, including some of the shots from folks who’ve used the #MCRightsReleased hashtag, and we’ll overlay the username of each submission over their photo for a cool heart-themed piece of Instagram art.

Want a quick shout-out on the MagCloud blog? Include your Instagram username in the comments below, along with a link to your poster submission and we might include you in a future blog post!

Participating is really easy:

• Sign-in to your MagCloud account and share a link to a publication, a publisher profile, even a MagCloud web page via the MagCloud website, web viewer or iPad app.
• Your friend signs up from that link and becomes a new MagCloud member.
• They publish their first MagCloud publication.
• Then your friend buys or sells at least $25 of their own published content.
• You will receive a $10 cash credit for your referral.

You don’t need to sign up for our referral program all MagCloud members are automatically eligible.  Just start sharing links (while signed-in) from the MagCloud website or iPad app to participate.

For more information see our website or FAQs.

While we will always look back at 2012 with a smile thanks to our great MagCloud community and lots of cool new products and innovations, we are super excited about what 2013 will offer.

Here are a few 2013 resolutions from the MagCloud team:

• Provide more ways to create MagCloud publications with new web based authoring tools and templates to make creating publications a snap.
• Allow others to build applications and services on top of MagCloud, so they can tap into our printing and publishing and global distribution capabilities without having to reinvent the wheel.
• Introduce MagCloud subscriptions, making it easier for returning readers to get new editions of their favorite publications.
• Enhanced support for frequent MagCloud customers.
• More ways to discover and purchase publications via the web and our MagCloud iPad app.
• Introduce Perfect-Binding options for our Large Square and Tabloid products.

These are just a few of the things we have in mind.  Let us know what you think in the comments section below or share some of your own publishing related resolutions with us.

For your viewing pleasure, below are a few shots from our recent holiday meet-up at the Press Club in San Francisco. Be sure to follow MagCloud on Instagram to see the latest and greatest from our team. We look forward to seeing you at our next meet-up in the new year!

We also had a memorable Twitter Chat last week with Kyle Menard, editor of BRINK Magazine. There were quite a few inspirational tweets that we wanted to share with you. Below is a brief excerpt from the Twitter Chat – feel free to read our entire Twitter Chat via Storify.

Click here to download the free HP MagCloud Magazine and Publication Reader for the iPad from the App Store

For the latest on any delays USPS and FedEx maybe experiencing due to holiday traffic or weather conditions please check their websites.

USPS Mail Service Updates

FedEX Service Delays

New Sharing Features

Our enhanced features allow you to share a link from the publication details page or the publication itself with most popular social networks or via email.  You can also like, tweet, +1 or comment on a page or publication.

Share publications directly from our web-based viewer and the latest version of our iPad app.  While reading from with in the web viewer you can share a publication to your favorite social network, send via email, or  grab a link and/or embeddable widget to include on your website or blog.

On the iPad you can choose to share a page or the cover and send via Twitter, Facebook or email directly to friends and colleagues.

Improved Storefront

We’ve also made it easier to browse and discover the tens of thousands of publications available publicly in the MagCloud storefront.

The redesigned storefront makes it easy to find and read free and purchased  digital publications directly from the website.  You can browse both print and digital publications by popularity, recommendation, category or search.

Let us know what you think of the new sharing functionality and improved storefront in the comments section below.

Now publishers can upload a single PDF file and immediately distribute as a free or paid digital publication, in print, in a web browser, via the MagCloud iPad app or as a PDF download.

The web viewer delivers an immersive reading experience for users. Simply click the “read now” button and the publication launches within the web viewer. Readers can page forward and back, rotate, zoom in and out, and enter full-screen mode. Pages can be viewed individually or as a spread, and are easily navigated with thumbnail and all-pages views. Additionally, users can buy a printed copy, download a PDF version or add to their Digital Library for viewing later or in the MagCloud iPad app.

The web viewer supports all HP MagCloud publications, regardless of format, on any desktop or notebook computer running a modern web browser.

The web viewer technology also offers hyperlink support, benefiting publishers and users by allowing you to link from your catalog of products back to an ecommerce site, link directly to advertisers’ web pages, allow customers to draft emails to an address listed in your brochure just by clicking on it or provide information about the author.

Publishers can also monitor how well their readers engage with their online publications via the Stats section in their account.  You can see important web viewer reading information including the number of total readers, how often your publication was read, pageviews, shares, hyperlinks clicked, click through rates etc. for all your collections or a single publication.

Publishers and readers can promote their favorite publications by sharing publications they like with friends and colleagues via email or social media channels or embedding a badge or link that launches  the web viewer directly from their own website or blog.

All publishers who currently have digital distribution turned on for their publications will automatically have web viewer versions available on the MagCloud website. To turn digital distribution on simply select Sell Online (after uploading your PDF and selecting your binding). This is where you will add any markup to your print version, and will have the option to opt-in to digital distribution.  Opting-in to digital distribution is a one time setting that instantly gives readers digital access via the web viewer, iPad app and PDF download.

What do you think of the new MagCloud web viewer?  Let us know in the comments section below.

We’re excited to announce August’s randomly selected winner is Mandie Rainwater! See how Mandie plans to use MagCloud for back to school:

I am a senior in college about to be a “real” teacher! I would use MagCloud to provide incoming students with an idea about who I am, what to expect for the year, and a place for them to make notes. Also, it could have some resources that they may need to know about, as well as fun, safe places they can go. I also plan on running a project all school year that invites all students to interview a senior in their neighborhood/ life and write a story, maybe even provide some pictures. Then compile all essays into a memorabilia magazine that they can keep forever. Not to mention that the stories might excite others to subscribe to the magazine and it possible make enough to keep the copies to students free. If not, I would pay for them. Encourage the writing, share the stories, excite the students. That’s what MagCloud will do for me.

Mandie won a special MagCloud branded Rickshaw messenger bag, join us in congratulating her! We will be in contact this week to arrange delivery of the prize.

If you didn’t win in August – don’t worry— another giveaway is coming soon, so stay tuned for your chance to win.

Thanks again to all who participated and good luck with the new school year!