Zinio Magazine reader Android app now available

Magazines and newspapers have been one of the iPad’s key selling points, as publications both new and old are using the tablet to make journalism come to life and as iPad owners are keen for yet another reason to whip theirs out on the morning commute.

Up until now there’s been very little love shown towards Android, thanks largely to its fragmentation and differing screen sizes. Zinio, the online magazine reader has looked to change that, having just landed on the Android App Market.

The reader is available for free on Android 2.2, 2.3 and 3.0 (Honeycomb) devices, at which point you’ll be able to buy a subscription to one of your favourite titles. The subs are usually more expensive than their print counterparts – which is Zinio’s major downfall – but the app is launching with an offer to foot the bill for the newest issues of 24 of its titles, including Esquire, The Economist, T3 and Rolling Stone.

It’s not quite at the level of The Daily, Rupert Murdoch’s iPad-only digital publcation, but it’s a start for a much-overlooked platform. Will you be downloading the Zinio Android app? Let us know on the Gadget Helpline Twitter feed.