FieldJournals

The new Apple iPad is simply awesome.  What would it take to create the ultimate hunting app?  The perfect hunting app for the iPad should be slick and clean.  The first page should not contain clutter nor should it overwhelm the reader.  Keep the first page simple with the most important articles on the first page.  The second page needs to contain a list of all articles and should be directly linked to the article.  The app should contain the ability to share articles.  This would work very similar to a blog.  Before or after each article, have a button that provides the user the ability to share your article across social networks.

The pages of the app need to be interactive.  If there are forms in the app, give the user the ability to fill out the form and submit right from your app.  This is a great feature for those magazines that always have the individual cards inserted for readers to sign up or renew a subscription.  Also include video within your app.  Video is a great feature that will add the “wow” factor to your app.  Give users the ability to leave comments on your article.  It is always a good idea to interact with your audience as much as possible.  You can also have your advertisers provide short “commercials” for their products on your app for additional revenue.  Pictures should be of the highest quality and the maximum amount of pixels.

If you offer products like Cabela’s and BassPro, this is a great platform to sell your goods.  It will decrease production and delivery costs associated with the catalogs we receive almost every month.  Include a “search” feature so users can very easily find a product they are looking for.  Hunters would love to flip though your large catalog via an iPad.

If you own a magazine such as Petersen’s, Outdoor Life, or Field & Stream, Wired Magazine has set the baseline for all digital magazines.  This app is full of many features, unbelievable photos, quality videos, and great user interaction.  All magazine vendors need to use Wired Magazine as a model for their hunting iPad app.  Here is an overview of their app on the iPad.