New York Times Desktop App
First, the New York Times now has a desktop app running on the Adobe AIR platform. I downloaded it, and it's pretty cool. It's about as close to the real thing that I've seen as far newspaper websites and mobile sites go. The most intriguing thing though is the fact that this app isn't free. The Times plans to charge $3.45/week for full access - and for the first time, I think this is something people might actually pay for. The app provides such a rich experience that I think people will (literally) buy into it. If it works for the Times, I'm really curious to see if it works for other newspapers, and especially local newspapers.
MiFi
The other development that's kinda gaining a lot of buzz is mifi. The idea here is that you'll be able to split a 3G signal with a portable router = no more reliance on DSL, cable, T1 lines. You'll be able to pitch the mifi device in the middle of a park, or at the beach, and your friends can surf the web while catching rays. So far, I've seen plans for a Sprint device and a Verizon device. I'm hoping that once these things come out, my parents (who live in a rural area) will be able to break out of their dial-up funk and catch some wireless broadband.
2 comments:
Darren -As you know The Printed News Business has been dying for years. First us Baby Boomer's with our ADHD had less interest then our parents, our children have even less interest and then the final death sentance came along-the internet.
The NY Times is close to BK and needs a financial savior and one damn good killer app to save them from BK.
The greatest challenge is getting younger generations to be willing to pay a monthly fee. But if Boomer Steve Jobs could save Apple buy building a cool but expensive iPod when others building much cheaper MP3 players failed -then there is hope for the NY Times. But the News Paper Business needs a killer app and Jobs or Branson type power player to add marketing pazzass.
-From an old Lansing MI Boy.
-Bill
You know what - I've always been skeptical about fees for online news. But this app is pretty good. It's very rich, and you can run it off line. Anyone with a laptop can benefit. Basically, for around $15/month you'll be able to read the NY Times, and for people that do, that's a good deal. For me, I also like the idea of not having to waste the paper and recycling the stuff when I'm finished with it. Good stuff all around. I'm seriously considering subscribing.
But to me, the bigger question is whether or not the idea is successful, and whether or not other, smaller newspapers will follow. I'm staying tuned to see what happens.
It'll be rich application vs. RSS feeds. To me, the rich app is worth the dollars.
Thanks for the comment. :-)
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