By CLAIRE ATKINSON and KEITH J. KELLY
News Corp. launched its ambitious digital newspaper yesterday, The Daily, the world’s first iPad-only publication.
The paper, which features 360-degree photos and high-definition video with the usual mix of news, gossip and sports coverage, was designed in partnership with iPad maker, Apple.
The Daily costs 14 cents a day, 99 cents a week or $39.99 a year. News Corp. also owns The Post.
Not surprisingly, Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs was extremely involved in the product’s design.
“He really pushed the big clean design, for a very clear single visual statement,” one source close to project said. “He really got into details, like no borders around the pages.” The cover of the debut issue, which features a striking photo of a protester in Cairo atop a statue, is an example of Jobs’s vision, the source said.
‘The Daily is the first app in the iTunes App Store that has a subscription billed directly to subscribers’ iTunes accounts — although the model will soon be available for other publishers. Currently, other news outlets link to publishers’ own billing systems.
“The iPad demands that we completely re-imagine our craft,” News Corp. CEO Rupert Murdoch said at an event to roll out The Daily. Murdoch noted that the company had invested $30 million in the venture that is costing less than $500,000 a week to operate.
“It will be judged two ways — usability and elegance of experience — but primarily it will live and die on the content,” said Andy Chapman, head of digital trading at Mindshare North America, who has been reviewing the product for the past six weeks.
Newspaper analyst Ken Doctor said he was impressed at the way News Corp. has taken advantage of the iPad’s touch screen in a way that other publications haven’t. “I think they’ve set a new standard,” he said. “They’ve passed their first test.”
The Daily’s six sections also include opinion, arts and life, and apps and games. Readers can customize their editions with settings to receive news about their favorite sports teams.
Thirty percent of the subscription revenue goes to Apple. Advertisers in the first issue included HBO, Macy’s, Paramount, Pepsi Max, Range Rover, Verizon and Virgin Atlantic.
When asked about The Daily’s political leanings, Editor-In-Chief Jesse Angelo said, “I think in the editorial page we are patriotic. We believe in free ideas. People will be perhaps surprised.”
The Daily will eventually be expanded to all major tablets and could be redesigned for smartphones.
catkinson
View the Original article
