While the digital age has made most forms of shopping much easier, with online alternatives allowing us to avoid sale crowds and make purchases from the comfort of our own homes, some forms of shopping just aren’t the same in virtual form—namely, shopping for reading materials. Browsing through magazines on a physical stand allows customers to sample titles they may have never picked up before, and flipping through the pages may pique their interest enough to make a purchase. But with most online book stores, this process became very limited—until now.

Backed by the power of HTML5, YUDU has released a new browser-based tool designed to engage readers on mobile devices with high-resolution reading. The tool, called PageTiler, simulates a physical magazine stand, where consumers can browse through pages of a magazine ahead of making a single issue or subscription purchase. Companies with free magazines or promotional marketing materials can take advantage of the new app as well, by featuring materials on PageTiler to gain both new digital and print readers.

To use PageTiler, publishers upload their magazines and other reading materials to YUDU Publisher, which then provides a live link which can be shared across social media. In this way, publishers can increase online exposure to their offerings, and marketers can boost branding.

One advantage to using tiling technology is that PageTiler can handle even the most complex images with high-quality resolution on all devices, including those with retina screens. Making clear, sharp sample page images available to customers can encourage new readers to take the plunge and try something new, which is great for publishers struggling to make headway in the growing area of ebooks and digital readers.

“This is the right product at the right time,” said Richard Stephenson, CEO of YUDU, who spearheaded the launch of PageTiler. “The passionate magazine fan wants an app, but the occasional reader needs instant access with no need to install anything on their device. Today’s rule is for digital magazines to be available everywhere, so PageTiler is designed to reach the 40 percent of mobile device users who use the browser in preference to apps.”

HTML5 enables PageTiler to be universally accessible across devices and can be used by casual and serious readers alike. While the app market is increasingly saturated and many mobile device users may be reluctant to download yet another app, this offering requires no installation or download by remaining a browser-based solution.

Compared with competing venues for sharing magazines in a browser, PageTiler has the added advantage of strategic control, by offering users full statistics and data collection services. This type of information sharing and analysis will give publishers the background data they need to augment future publishing strategies. Overall, the use of HTML5 was a savvy choice with YUDU, and it’s sure to turn heads—and pages.