The Boston Globe announces preview edition of GlobeReader

04 Jul 2009

The Boston Globe has announced the launch of the 'preview edition' of GlobeReader, a new digital version of The Boston Globe newspaper that can be read offline or online.

Through GlobeReader the content of the Globe is downloaded daily to a subscriber's desktop, laptop or netbook, in a format designed to resemble the look and feel of the print version of The Boston Globe. Currently the preview edition is available to Globe subscribers exclusively. Plans for further expansion are in development.

''The introduction of the preview edition of the GlobeReader gives our home delivery subscribers access to new and exciting ways to read The Boston Globe both at home and on the go,'' said Chris Mayer, SVP circulation and operations.

Susan Hunt Stevens, SVP digital, added, ''GlobeReader is another important step toward our goal of being able to publish The Boston Globe on whichever platform our readers and advertisers value, and builds on the success we've seen with other platforms such as mobile devices and Kindle.''

GlobeReader is organized into sections familiar to existing Globe readers. Navigation is easy and clear and scanning for stories or photos is fast. The articles are set in the same typeface as the print edition and the page design is understated and clean with readability features that include adjustable type size and screen size.

The Globe's new digital newspaper was built with Adobe Flex and Adobe AIR, key components of the Adobe Flash Platform. While online, GlobeReader users can search Boston.com for expanded features such as slide shows, videos, interactive graphics and more.

"Leveraging Adobe AIR, the new GlobeReader showcases the future of digital publishing and helps The Boston Globe to deliver a highly readable experience with a closer, more consistent connection to subscribers regardless of what computer operating system they use," said David Wadhwani, general manager of the Platform Business Unit at Adobe Systems.