6th January, 2012

The Guardian iPad edition has been downloaded more than half a million times since it launched in October 2011, with 23,000 downloads on Christmas day alone.

From January 7th, the app will include the Guardian's Weekend magazine for the first time. The new weekly section, accessible from the app's top navigation bar, will feature content from the Guardian's award-winning magazine supplement, including columns from Tim Dowling and Lucy Mangan, letters, fashion and beauty, blind date, recipes from Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Yotam Ottolenghi and Dan Lepard and Alys Fowler's award-winning gardening column.

Merope Mills, editor of the Guardian Weekend magazine, said: "Weekend magazine's stunning photography perfectly suits the form and the clean, modern design of our app on iPad. From tomorrow, readers will be able to enjoy a leisurely read of our award-winning longform journalism, flick through the galleries of 'Your Pictures' or watch our brilliant fashion and beauty correspondents Jess Cartner-Morley and Sali Hughes, as they guide readers through the latest lifestyle trends."

The Guardian iPad edition, sponsored by Channel 4, launched on 13 October 2011 with a three-month free trial. The trial ends on Friday 13 January 2012, at which point users will be able to sign up for a monthly subscription through Newsstand on the App Store. Guardian six- and seven-day print subscribers will continue to receive free access to the app after the three month period via their current subscription. Users who download the app after 13 January will receive a week's free trial before signing up for the monthly subscription.

The Guardian iPad edition mirrors the Guardian's Monday - Saturday paper, and is available now on Newsstand. Guardian subscribers receive new issues automatically on their iPad, with the latest issues and most recent cover art appearing in their Newsstand.

Features of the app include:
• Full offline reading for all articles and pictures
• The ability to share stories via Facebook, Twitter and email
• Instapaper compatibility
• Swipe to navigate between sections or stories
• Related web articles, which open in an in-app browser
• Stunning photojournalism and in-article galleries
• Related video content
• Interactive advertising slots