Financial Times launches new independent app

[DMB]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/gree...cialtimes-apps

The Financial Times has introduced a new browser-based app for tablets, claiming it as "a major first by a news publisher."

The automatically updating app will enable readers to access its editorial content across a broad range of tablet and smartphone devices.

According to an article in today's FT, the app will bypass Apple's iTunes store and Google's android market.

It will therefore overcome the problem posed by Apple's reluctance to share detailed data on the identities and behaviour of users. Publishers have railed against that barrier.

Initially optimised for the iPad and iPhone, the app will be adapted for other tablets, including android-based devices.

[tubemonkey]

FT is an evil company. Don't they realize that Apple is entitled to a cut of all revenue generated on or by an iOS device?

Bad FT

[RockdaMan]

Funny, I was just checking that out: http://apps.ft.com/ftwebapp/?u


A lot of media are calling it 'sticking it to Apple' but not noting that plenty of other publishers have found working with Apple to be mutually beneficial and not difficult at all.

. “So, all the sudden, what was an insurmountable obstacle no longer is,” says Edmiston. No wonder “publishing executives say they are more confident they will be able to work with Apple to find out who their iPad readers are.”

http://blogs.forbes.com/jeffbercovic...-yes-to-apple/

Gregg Hano, VP-group publisher at the Bonnier Technology Group, which includes Popular Science and Popular Photography: Sales are moving along at a good pace. We're really happy with where we're at. Popular Science crossed the 16,000 threshold this past weekend and we're averaging between 150 and 200 new subscriptions per day.

Popular Photography is at 3,500 after about three weeks.

In both cases we're still also selling single copies -- Popular Science about 1,500 a month. For Popular Photography, we've got about 2,000 in less than month.

http://adage.com/article/mediaworks/...eaders/227531/

Condé Nast began offering in-app subscriptions for iPad versions of Allure, Glamour, Golf Digest and Vanity Fair on Monday. The publisher began offering The New Yorker iPad subscriptions just last week, marking the first time it has used Apple’s new in-app subscription system.

The New Yorker has been doing very well in the week it has been available. The app’s rating went from around two stars to nearly four stars since the update, which also brought free access for existing print subscribers. The New Yorker iPad app also was the top grossing iPad app for most of last week.

http://gigaom.com/apple/conde-nast-c...tive-response/

[sufue]

Now if only the Economist (part owned by Pearson, who own FT) would do the same - a direct app - I might actually buy a tablet to add to my smart phone, Sony PRS-300, and PDA...