It has been a really long time since I used the Wired application on my iPad, but I recently fired it up and bought an issue to peruse. The experience could not have been more frustrating!

First, after I paid for the content, I wasn’t able to download it because my iPad’s storage was full. I use the option in iTunes to fill empty space with music. I had to go delete a movie to make room for a magazine. Somehow a magazine is as big as a movie?

Wired magazine issue 19.01 downloading in an iPad app, showing 19.1 MB of 368 MB downloaded with Cancel and Pause buttons

After deleting, the download starts. 368 MB of data. This takes forever. Even on a good, fast Internet connection. About 15 minutes later I still see the bar filling up.

Wired magazine issue 19.01 downloading in an iPad app, progress bar showing 308.9 MB of 368 MB complete, with Cancel and Pause buttons

Still waiting. Finally it finishes, and I think I can now finally take a look at what I bought. Oh wait, I guess we have to “Install” this too?

WIRED magazine issue 19.01 shown in an iPad app with an Installing progress bar and Cancel and Pause buttons visible

About 20 minutes after I started I could browse through far too many advertisements. Don’t think I’ll be repeating this process any time soon.