Josh Ong
Next Issue Media, which has been labeled "Hulu for magazines," plans to begin offering app versions of seven magazines to Android users on Thursday, MediaMemo reports.
The service, however, is still in the "early preview" stage, as only Samsung Galaxy tablet owners on the Verizon network will be able to buy the apps at launch. The apps will be available from the Vcast application store.
Next Issue had announced plans last year to debut a service by early 2011.
Four of the consortium's five main partners will begin selling titles this week: Esquire and Popular Mechanics from Hearst; Fitness and Parents from Meredith; The New Yorker from Conde Nast; and Fortune and Time from Time Inc. The fifth partner, News Corp., doesn't publish any print magazines.
According to Next Issue CEO Morgan Guenther, magazine publishers will get "at least" as much as the 70 percent available on Apple's platform, while device-makers or carriers will split the remaining share with the consortium.
Unlike on Apple's App Store, publishers will get "full access" to subscriber information from Next Issue's apps. Apple Vice President of Internet Services Eddy Cue confirmed last week that roughly half of iPad users voluntarily share their personal information with publishers.
After Apple announced the terms of its in-app subscription service, many publishers and developers balked. Publishers particularly took issue with Apple's control of subscriber information, the company's 30 percent cut and rules that require in-app pricing to at least match deals offered outside of the app. Apple also banned links to out-of-app purchases, prompting speculation that Amazon's Kindle store would be forced to change.
In recent weeks, however, several major publishers, including Bloomberg, Condé Nast and Hearst. Time has begun offering the iPad edition of its magazines free to print subscribers, but has yet to reach an agreement to sell digital subscriptions on the iPad.
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Andrew Orr
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38 Comments
Don't they offer an option to opt out of info sharing ?
Don't they offer an option to opt out of info sharing ?
Dont know, but apparently it's not such a big issues in the iOS space as fully half are prepared to give up that info. As long as there's full disclosure you can choose whether or not you wish to participate in the scheme. That's the real issue, right?
Is the reason why free iPad app with print editions are offered a way to get around the 30% fee?
Seriously,
Will these guys be thrilled when Apple offers their own Maps and Search Services?
Seriously,
Will these guys be thrilled when Apple offers their own Maps and Search Services?
What original works has google created and kept except the original search engine and streetview. There is a lot of money in cloning. Just ask any windows box name brand.
That said, this isn't a google product from the tone of the article so let's not beat em up. It would seem fair enough that magazine owners should want to make an electronic newsstand, it is their core business after all.
What original works has google created and kept except the original search engine and streetview. There is a lot of money in cloning. Just ask any windows box name brand.
Off the top of my head there's Google Sky, Google Body, Chrome Browser, Chrome OS, Google Voice. . .
These are all Google originals as far as I know. I'm sure there's others. And in effect they "invented" the free software market. Look how effective Google Apps has been at impacting Microsoft's Office products. Throw in Google Labs and Google Ventures and I think they're quite inventive.
While Apple may have a much higher profile (and more profits!) with their incredible consumer products and well-developed software programs, Google's no slouch in creating and/or backing technological advances.
Sure they've seen products that they've felt they could do better than the original. So has every other big corporation. Apple's iPod wasn't an original idea, but they thought they could do it better than Sony and they were right. Turned out to be the product that rescued Apple financially and allowed them to do what they do today.