The BMJ is on the iPad
BMJ 2011; 342 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.d283 (Published 19 January 2011) Cite this as: BMJ 2011;342:d283
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Please make the iPad edition free to BMA members.
It is unfair to charge twice. If it is available on the iPad, I can
cancel my print edition. BMJ will save on postage and printing charges, I
will have the journal with me at all times, the environment will benefit
from fewer plastic covers sheets and need to print pages using eco-unfriendly colour ink. We will all get a warm fuzzy feeling inside.
Please consider.
Competing interests: No competing interests
I like the journal in this format but as a member why do I have to
pay twice for it?
Competing interests: No competing interests
On 28th January I read with delight the article " the BMJ is on the
IPad " , great I thought, I will download it and get reading,and as i
have the ipad with me most of the time , probably sad, the opportunities
to keep unto date with my reading just increased so good news all round !!
So it was with a massive deflation of my expectations that I found that as
a BMA member I had to pay a considerable amount for the service and could
not swap from paper to iPad version . I went back to the article, did it
mention that this payment was involved having raised these expectations ,
no , why not ??why omit this important detail ? , it did ask for comments
so here's one - make your article clear and do not mislead your readers,
needless to say I have deleted this app
Competing interests: No competing interests
I'd like to introduce a third type of technology user to David Pogue:
those who demand usable technology that helps them get their work done
well and efficiently.
Many of the most sophisticated knowledge workers I know use an iPad
as one of their tools.
(Pogue D. Looking at the iPad from two angles. New York Times2010
March 31.
www.nytimes.com/2010/04/01/technology/personaltech/01pogue.html.)
Competing interests: No competing interests
I would be happy to choose either paper copy of the BMJ or the ipad
version but I won't be paying again for something I already receive. I was
very much looking forward to doing away with the paper copy I get in the
post each week, but for now will be sticking to this method of keeping up
to date. I have deleted the BMJ app from my ipad.
Competing interests: No competing interests
The BMJ iPad app is a further step forward to provide relevant and
timely information at the point of patient care.[1] The increase in
mobile smartphones and tablets goes hand in hand with cloud computing. The
research firm IDC predicts that in 2011, computing's third major
technology wave will become mainstream, non-PC devices capable of running
software applications will outsell PCs. Many companies have now started
running their applications through the cloud and allowing for easier
access. Doctors, nurses and administrators will use handheld computing
devices like iPads more and more for mobile access to health information.
The BMJ iPad app is leading the trend.
1.Payne D, Godlee F. BMJ 2011; 342:d283
Competing interests: No competing interests
I have a subscription to the print issue of the Economist. This
gives me FULL and FREE access to the Economist Ipad edition.
Why would I, or anyone else, want to pay ?120/year for access the to
Ipad edition of the BMJ? The Economist has solved the Itunes issues - it
is a pity that the BMJ cannot.
So I will not be accessing my BMJ on the Ipad.
Competing interests: No competing interests
Very nice app but a waste of time. I do not wish to pay twice for
the paper and electronic copies. Now if you were offering one or the
other with BMA membership that may be different. For now I have deleted
the app.
Competing interests: No competing interests
They cover the pricing issue. I hope these provide further clarity. We've also met with colleagues at the BMA to discuss members' concerns.
It would have been very hard for us to integrate the database with Apple's iTunes store. BMA members will, of course, continue to get access to both BMJ print and bmj.com, both of which are being redesigned this year to offer improved layout and navigation, and to showcase the growing library of multimedia content we have available.
Interesting point about Silicon Valley Way, David. A "lite" version wasn't on the agenda. We wanted to be the first general medical journal with an app, and for it to be a high quality one, and the reviews we've had to date have been positive about the functionality.
Competing interests: No competing interests
I look forward to seeing the Android version
I have an android tablet and would welcome the app on that platform.
Competing interests: No competing interests