The Church has released a digital version of the November 2013 conference issue of the Ensign magazine for iPad users. (Note that this is a separate app from the Gospel Library mobile app. This app does not allow you to highlight and annotate using the Notes and Journal features.)
The issue is free as part of the LDS Ensign mobile app from Apple’s App Store. To find and download the free app, use this direct link, or search for “LDS Ensign” and look for the magazine cover shown above. If you have already downloaded the app, you can get the latest November 2013 issue.
The interactive Ensign includes these features:
- Audio clips, video clips, and additional images and photographs not found in the printed version of the magazine. Watch a video or listen to a talk while you read it.
- Easy navigation. Find content with the thumbnail view of each page and a miniature table of contents.
- Tap on a portrait of a Church leader in the organizational chart of Church leaders to see a biography.
- Jump to a specific talk or enlarge a photo with the touch of a finger.
- Links to related content on LDS.org.
Once you download the November issue, you don’t need an Internet connection to play the embedded audio files. If you are connected, you can play videos and link back to pages on LDS.org, such as general conference, youth.lds.org, or news.lds.org.
In December 2011, the Church released the first prototype of the Ensign magazine for iPad based on the November 2011 conference issue of the Ensign. The app now offers 3 conference issues and the October 2011 special Ensign about the Book of Mormon. (Although the app was originally released for Apple iOS and also for Android, the Android version has not been updated with the November 2013 Ensign.)
The latest release is part of the Church’s ongoing efforts to assess the digital publishing platform. The Church welcomes your feedback with this interactive magazine. Your comments and suggestions will help the Church determine how it will use digital publishing with Church magazines and other products. To comment, please use the link at the top of the issue’s contents page.
Learn more in the article “Church Releases iPad Version of November 2013 Ensign” on Church News & Events.
What about the Android App? It doesn’t work at all, but they still leave it in the Google Play Store. It’s been that way for years. More people use Android than iOS. I’m not saying that the update to the iOS app is a bad thing. I just think that the Android app should have been a higher priority.
Please make an Android App!
Try being a Windows 8 user. The desktop/tablet app is practically useless and months and months behind on content. No sync, no notebook, no marking/highlighting. And the Windows Phone 8 app is months behind with content and little functionality. Frustrating doesn’t cover it. At least Android gets updated regularly.
Just a note, it doesn’t have the blue Moroni icon at the app store – it’s a thumbnail of the magazine cover. Might confuse some people. It did me.
Where’s the Windows app? Do you guys think only Apple users deserve the gospel? So here’s the iOS secret combination, huh?
Shawnie,
Thanks for the heads up. It used to be the icon of the blue Moroni, but they apparently updated it now with the cover of the magazine. I’ve now updated the wording in the article above.
Larry
This is the first time I’ve tried out the app, so I don’t know what’s new in this most recent update compared to previous versions, but I have to say that I am very impressed! It’s a very enjoyable experience to scroll through the Ensign and I like that they didn’t take all the print-layout formatting out of it like Gospel Library does. The app is great and I hope it continues to receive new content as new Ensigns are published.
The one thing that keeps it from being a full-fledged study tool is the lack of annotation tools. If the app is deemed successful, I’m sure these tools will be added in the future.
Very cool!