So what’s it like reading the mag on a tablet?
I like it a lot (iPad 3 here).
Can you download it over WiFi and read at leisure with no connection
Yes.
I’m considering the upcoming iPad mini and the Nexus7 I don’t want anything bigger/more expensive.
Mmmm… see I’d say both of those are a bit small for reading a magazine. For me I like to be able to read a whole page at a time, not have to pan about on little zoomed in bits, so I prefer a nice high-res screen that is close to A4 size.
So you’d be looking at a full size iPad (iPad 3 ideally for the Retina display) or the forthcoming Nexus 10.
What is/will be the point of the app, does it just have short cuts or is it a more mobile friendly way of viewing the site?
It’s not for viewing the site at all – just reading the mag. There are currently two ways to read the mag on iOS: download the PDF from the site and use your preferred PDF reader (iBooks, GoodReader etc) or use the Singletrack app.
I think the main point of the app is that it works with Newsstand – an iOS feature which keeps all your magazines/newspapers subscriptions in one app and automatically downloads new editions for your as they become available. It also lets them do slightly cleverer stuff with the digital mag, like embedded movies etc which can’t be done in a PDF.
The downside is the current STW app does not work with subs, so it’s only good for people buying mags through that app. That’s why they are working on a new version.
As an Android-using Premier member I don’t see why I should be subsidising the iOS crowd.
it’s because we’re better than you 😛