"The Economist" Comes to the iPhone & iPad [VIDEO]

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Full versions are available to current digital and print subscribers at no additional charge; single issues can be purchased for $5.99 within the app.

The Economist's apps for iPhone [iTunes link] and iPad [iTunes link] are designed to deliver the news magazine's content in a convenient, accessible way. Both replicate the print version of the magazine as closely as their respective formats allow, devoid, somewhat unfortunately, of many of the bells and whistles — such as interactive graphics and video — users have come to enjoy in other print publications' iPad apps.

It does, however, include a full audio version -- great for those who prefer audio books or want to digest articles on-the-go -- and allows readers to download each issue for offline viewing.

While we find both apps elegant and useful, they are missing three essential things:

Selectable text. Users cannot highlight, copy or bookmark favorite pieces of content for later reference.

Sharing. There is no way to share content, neither through e-mail nor social networks. In fact, the iOS editions do not acknowledge that they exist on Internet-connected devices at all; there are no links to the web, not even in advertisements.

Video. No video content is embedded in any of the issues I have looked at, although it appears in the apps of almost every other major news and magazine publication.

Still, readers of The Economist who want a more convenient way to digest their favorite content on-the-go should be well-pleased with the app.

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