The iPhone edition of The Asahi Shimbun's English-language e-paper AJW (Asahi Japan Watch) is a value-added package of news, features and analysis presented in an attractive and easy-to-use format with many visual elements. AJW offers stories under the following headings News/Features, Business, Views, Cool Japan and Sports.
AJW provides an in-depth look at politics, business and culture to help readers grasp the implications of current affairs.
The News/Features category focuses on a wide range of Japanese political and social affairs. Its extensive coverage of China and the Korean Peninsula, especially politics, diplomatic maneuvering and analytical content, is without parallel.
The Business category follows business trends as well as macroeconomic developments, not only in Japan but also in China and the Korean Peninsula.
In the Cool Japan category, AJW focuses on cutting-edge subculture trends as well as the latest in the world of anime and manga. This section also offers info and tips on fun events and places to visit in Japan. In the Sports section, look for features on sumo, baseball and profiles on outstanding athletes.
The AJW has an archive function that offers access to any story that has run over the past 30 days. With the monthly calendar, readers just tap a given date and all stories on that day will appear. Given Japan's position in the world, this function should prove to be a very useful tool for readers seeking more background on particular news items.
AJW is published from Monday through Saturday except for press holidays.

● The latest AJW app version is 1.3. If you use version 1.3 version, it automatically installs in the Newsstand. If you upgrade the old app to version 1.3 version, your app icon disappears from the home screen and shows up on the Newsstand bookshelf.
● June 20, 2011, the monthly subscription price will be raised to 250 yen ($2.99) with the end of the six-month discount campaign period.
On the same day, we will release AJW mobile app ver. 1.2 and launch a new pricing system. Users will have three subscription options: One week for 85 yen ($0.99), 30 days for 250 yen ($2.99). A 30-day subscription represents a 25% savings over a weekly subscription.
All three models feature an automatic subscription renewal.
We recommend that readers who use ver 1.1 switch to ver. 1.2, but if they choose to continue using ver. 1.1, they will be required to renew their subscriptions every 30 days and pay 250 yen (2.99).
If you sign up for a 30-day subscription before June 20, the price will still be 85 yen ($0.99) until the subscription period expires.

--Downloading the AJW app is free. You will be offered the choice of subscription period: one week for 85 yen ($0.99), one month for 250 yen ($2.99). Compared with the cost of a one-week subscription, subscribing for one month offers a 25% discount and for one year, a 35% discount.
--Payments will be charged to your iTunes account after confirmation of purchase.
--Your subscription is automatically renewed, unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period.
--Users can download the new version in the middle of a subscription period based on version 1.1. But the subscription rate of $0.99 applies until that subscription period ends.
When that subscription period ends, a notice will appear on your iPhone that offers three different subscription periods: one week; one month; or one year.
Users cannot actually sign up for a subscription based on the 1.2 version in the middle of a subscription based on 1.1. This prevents users from having two subscription contracts--and being charged twice--for the same period.

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