Zinio for Android just got a huge performance boost if you're using a Tegra 2 powered Honeycomb tablet. The app harnesses the GPU and uses full OpenGL ES acceleration for page turning animations, page panning and zooming, and to deliver high resolution scalable page images instead of downsizing them for your tablet. The video of Zinio in action (see it after the break) shows this in a side by side test of the old versus the new.
This was accomplished partly because the folks at Nvidia were given access to the Zinio source code, where they integrate their own code that takes most of the heavy graphical work off the CPU, and putting it all on the GPU. This is what an open platform is all about -- developers working together to deliver a superior product, with no restrictions on the build environment or code compilers. We've seen it in Tegra optimized games, and it can make a huge difference. Drop these optimizations on an already great cross-platform app that gives access to excellent content (there's tens of thousands of magazines available through Zinio), and syncs across multiple devices and you have the recipe for success. Toss in free single issues of ESPN, Harper’s Bazaar and Popular Science for new Android users and it's something you need to take a look at.
Of course, even without the Nvidia tweaks it's still an excellent app, they just make it that much better. You can find the download link (Android 3.x, free), the full press release, and the aforementioned video after the break.
More: Nvidia
Youtube link for mobile viewing
Zinio Brings Faster, Optimized Reading Experience for Android 3.0 and 3.1 Tablet Users
Tegra™ 2 super chip fuels speed, enhances app features
SAN FRANCISCO, June 22, 2011 – Zinio today announced that its newsstand for Android 3.0 and 3.1 tablet devices just got a whole lot faster.
Through close collaboration with NVIDIA, Zinio has brought advanced hardware acceleration capabilities to its Zinio for Androidapp, for all Android 3.0 and 3.1 tablets with the NVIDIA® Tegra™ 2 super chip. The hardware accelerated version of the Zinio for Android app is now available for free download on the Android Market, exclusively for Tegra-powered Android 3.0 and 3.1 tablets.
Consumers will experience greatly increased performance capabilities and smooth page turning, zooming and panning. This new performance supports Zinio’s ongoing efforts to provide users with the most engaging reading experience available today.
Consumers with Tegra-powered Android 3.0 and 3.1 tablets can enjoy substantial improvement in the performance of the standard Zinio app. Among these devices are high-resolution tablets like the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, ASUS Eee Pad Transformer, Motorola Xoom, T-Mobile G-Slate by LG, LG Optimus Pad and Acer Iconia Tab A500.
“Zinio has an extensive collection of rich and interactive magazines,” said Neil Trevett, Vice President of Mobile Content at NVIDIA. “By optimizing performance for Tegra-based tablets, Zinio and NVIDIA are delivering an amazing reading experience.”
“We’re always looking for ways to improve the Zinio user experience, and integrating NVIDIA’s incredible graphics processing capabilities was a no-brainer,” said Rich Maggiotto, Zinio President and CEO. “Close cooperation between the two companies harnessed the power of Tegra to provide incredibly smooth page turning, zooming and panning capabilities for our Android users.”
Currently, tens of thousands of magazines from every major publisher are available through Zinio on Android 3.x devices. Unique to Zinio, its UNITY™ platform allows readers to simultaneously store, read and engage with their personal newsstand across all of their devices and operating systems including Mac, PC, laptop, iOS, Android and soon webOS, Windows 7 and BlackBerry.
All Android users who download Zinio will automatically be given – for free – three of the latest issues of favorite magazinesESPN, Harper’s Bazaar and Popular Science.
