Magazines on the iPad have generally been a bore. Not anymore - Wired rocks this machine! Extremely rewarding read, looking forward to the next issue.

Hoping that the subscription model makes this application worth my while vs. having the issues delivered to my door for $1 an issue. Until then, I like the navigation within the app, and the interactive features are pretty slick. Kudos to the WIRED team!

THE GOOD... Like others have said, this is what digital magazines should all aspire to be...slick UI...eye candy throughout...easy to navigate...and lots of elements that obviously cannot be replicated in print media, taking full advantage of the iPad's features. If you're an advertiser, I can see the biggest benefits going in their direction. The publisher can now work with the advertisers to integrate videos into their ads and display multiple panels within a single ad (although 10 screens within the Fidelity ad is a bit much I think). The Mercedes ad is one good example of integrated video. Doesn't get forced on you, but is there if you want to check it out. Nice. Navigation is straight-forward and easy to use. Although the layout of pages may take time to get used to it as it isn't very intuitive that some pages have vertical scrolling for the rest of the article...otherwise if you press the next button or drag across the page you'll skip the rest of the story. You have to keep an eye on the gray vertical scrollbar to see if there is more content on the current panel. Text is very easy to read, even with my less than average eyesight. THE BAD... With that said, I gave it 4 stars because although there is obviously extra production work involved to convert the print edition to the digital format, the price really needs to come down a bit for the masses to comfortably consume. With the print version available at 83 cents each (12 issues for 10 bucks), and many of the features easily accessible for free on Wired's web site, a single issue in the digital format should not cost the equivalent of 1/2 year's subscription rate, especially since the duplication cost is near null -- a far cry from the cost of paper/ink/distribution/postage of the printed format. You would think some of their savings would be passed down. If nothing else, I think if you purchase the printed copy and want the digital version for your iPad's travels, then there should be some sort of discount eligibility. I found myself trying to zoom by pinching the screen, but the UI offers an icon to click that provides a nice way to zoom out to see thumbnails of the pages and/or an easy index of the articles, so pinching isn't really required. An issue more with the iPad OS than anything else, if you click any links that launch Safari, you obviously have to close the browser, and re-open the digital magazine each time. It's a good thing it remembers the page where you left off. Finally, at over 1/2 gigabyte for this premiere issue, one could quickly fill up the 16GB iPad as you watch the green Apps bar grow in size with syncs of future editions. Obviously the videos are the culprit here and maybe an option to offload them would be nice. But...all the videos and multimedia elements are definitely what makes this stand apart from the print version -- so owners of the larger capacity iPad's probably won't think twice about it. BOTTOM LINE: One of the best digital magazines out there yet.

I am completely in awe. It feels like I'm reading a Harry Potter newspaper. Complete magic.

Totally redefines what a magazine can be.

Wow very cool, there are a ton of interactive things that aren't always obvious. Definitely a show piece for your iPad.

This was one of the many reasons I bought the iPad. I saw a video on how they were developing this app. It's great and worth the price!

Wow! Now i wish they would offer subscription rates soon.

I have seen the future of print journalism, and this is it. Nothing short of amazing. Be sure to check out the perfectly executed orientation switching (particularly on the front cover.) If you're a magazine publisher, and you don't start stealing ideas left and right from this app, you'd better hope your 401k is ready to pay for an early retirement.

I dare you to download this magazine and not be impressed. Every page (ads included) are formatted to work in both Landscape and Portrait. A must-have for first time iPad users. Design at it's best.

Loved the interactive components such as the 360 mars infographic. The article about the iPad was philosophical BS though. I'm a hardcore geek and I don't get people who don't get the iPad. It's spearheading a new computing paradigm which if it were not, this Wired issue wouldn't be.

fantastic app. GQ, Time, Popular Science and all the rest should take note. they should also be embarrassed. THIS is how a digital magazine should be. way more than being a glorified PDF like the others.

Just what a digital magazine should be. Love it!

absolutely brilliant period