vjoon today announced that integration partner Managing Editor Inc. (MEI) provided the production software behind the brand-new Us Weekly iPad app, now available in the iTunes store. Wenner Media, publisher of Us Weekly and other entertainment magazines including Rolling Stone, is producing the app with the vjoon K4 Cross-Media Publishing Platform integrated with the AdobeDigital Publishing Suite. To streamline the iPad app-production process, MEI developed a custom solution that automatically exports tablet content from vjoon K4 that’s ready for upload to the Adobe server. MEI is the exclusive distributor of vjoon K4 in the Americas and the leading Adobe DPS reseller worldwide.

Us Weekly was the first Wenner title to go live with vjoon K4 when the publisher purchased the editorial system in 2008. The magazine’s staff was quick to master the software, making a complete transition after just two issues, and had developed a powerful, streamlined InDesign/InCopy print workflow over the years.

With the Us team’s expertise in the Adobe tools, adopting vjoon K4 and DPS for tablet production was a logical evolution, requiring very little extra time and manpower. vjoon K4’s collaborative database features allow designers and editors to manage all the elements of their tablet issues in an efficient and intuitive workflow. Users can access content locally and make changes just as they would for print, with the added benefit of Adobe DPS for implementing interactive features.

Along with vjoon K4’s robust management of cross-media content, a custom-built MEI tool streamlines the final stages of Us Weekly’s app-production process. This solution uses the K4 XML Exporter module and a custom script to bulk-export finished layouts and their DPS metadata prior to uploading to the Adobe server.

“The Us Weekly team had a comfort level using Adobe InDesign, InCopy and vjoon K4 that made it really easy to integrate an all-new channel into their production process,” said Craig Roth, senior vice president of sales at MEI. “And thanks to our custom development, we’ve made it possible for them to save even more time by automating the folio-building process.”

Us Weekly’s app is designed and optimized exclusively for the iPad, including the third generation. It features the same content as the magazine’s print version presented in a dynamic and user-friendly way. “MEI’s custom development was a crucial part of this project’s success,” said Paul Leung, system administrator for Wenner Media. “The time we’re saving on production by integrating vjoon K4 and Adobe DPS will allow us to focus on building future issues and exciting, interactive content.”

Download Us Weekly from the iTunes App Store:
itunes.apple.com/us/app/us-weekly-magazine/id518667393

For further information please see www.vjoon.com and www.maned.com