Future: Onscreen Reading that feels like Print

This month The New York Times announced a stand-alone digital reader modeled on the printed newspaper. Developed jointly by the New York Times Company and Microsoft, the Times Reader uses Microsoft's new Windows Presentation Foundation technology and is available as beta software here. Times Reader attempts to provide an onscreen reading experience that is as familiar as the printed page, only more versatile and interactive.

The reader is expected to give newspapers and magazines a new alternative to digital publishing with the look and feel of the print. You can use any screen size or font size and the layout will automatically adjust itself to the size of the screen.

According to an article on Wired.com, those who have previewed the Times Reader find that on screen, artwork and photography run within the text as integral elements, not as floating afterthoughts. Navigation options are more paperlike than weblike; even the Times' proprietary body font has been ported over. The Navigation is impressive. Stories are presented clearly and with priority; artwork aids both design and context. Section heads are customizable, and clicking on them feels as natural as thumbing through the paper on the subway.

Both the application and the content are stand-alone. The Reader doesn't need to be constantly connected; the entire newspaper can be downloaded either according to a preset schedule or at the user's request.

Take the Times Reader Tour
Wired.com article: Old Gray Lady Dons New Clothes