The Boston Globe has announced that it has begun publishing a new digital version called GlobeReader, reports Editor & Publisher. The GlobeReader can be read both online and offline and will replace the preview edition that has been available at no charge from the Globe's website since this summer.

The new web version is designed to retain the look of a newspaper but includes the ability to zoom in and out, change the font size, and watch videos and use interactive additions to stories through Boston.com. The new edition also includes comics, sports scores, weather, and the daily crossword puzzle, all of which were not present in the preview edition.

The newspaper is downloaded to the user's computer daily as a PDF.

A subscription costs $4.98 per week but is available free for all 7-day Globe subscribers. There is also a special package that allows for 7-days of the GlobeReader as well as delivery of the Sunday Globe within the Boston Metropolitan area for the same price.

The Globe, which is owned by the New York Times Company, was recently taken off the market after talks to sell the 137 year old paper did not pan out.

The digital paper was built with Adobe Flex and Adobe AIR and runs on Windows, Macintosh, and Linux.

Is this the solution to charging for online content without using pay walls? Recent surveys have shown that there are missed feelings towards pay walls and charging for online content, though there is heaps of potential income there- could this digital edition be the new solution? Additionally, will people pay for the GlobeReader when the Globe's website still provides free access to news?

Source: Editor & Publisher, Media News International