iTouch the Newspaper

Unlike Zeit Online newspaper, only very few newspapers took the time to optimize their website. This is just amazing how iPad can actually change things to be so easy to use and so enjoyable.

Here comes an article from Information Architects called News on iPad, the Obvious Way, which will explain you everything.

Today our first news project for iPad went online and we are proud like kids. Technically, it’s “just” an HTML5optimization, but it has been a demanding design process to get to the point of simplicity where it’s at right now. Unlike most news launches on iPad the response from its readers so far has been overwhelmingly positive. This does not come as a surprise: While many like our surface design—which, of course, makes us happy—, the main reason why people love our iPad design for ZEIT ONLINE is that it’s optimized to run on the killer content app No1: The browser. What is somewhat astonishing is that, so far, only very few newspapers took the time to optimize their website.

Of course, we all know why news organizations focused on the app store instead of the browser version: Print publishers got excited about apps because they finally opened a door to charge for content. Experimenting with new technology and finding way to monetize content is without any doubt crucial for any news organization. Many news organizations have been successful selling their product in the app store. iA has designed two iPad news apps (currently in production) and we have even created our own writing app—and it sells like pancakes which is awesome.

But, however exciting the app store might be—there is no rational reason to neglect the most obvious iPad news platform: The website. The chance that you sell your app will only rise if your have a strong presence in the browser—given, that it’s worth the money. Developing an HTML based news app is not just cheaper and faster, it also gives you more editorial and technical control over your contents. More importantly, HTML-apps are in many ways more convenient for the user: They’re easy to use, they’re more medium appropriate and in that sense: more appealing and—they’re free. No long downloads, no “how do I get to…”, no weird crashes, no trouble to share, copy, paste, comment, tweet, link to. They just work.

Finding the right shape for news on iPad has not been an easy task, and while it is only the first version, we are delighted with the results. The quality of text and pictures delivered by ZEIT ONLINE is one of a kind. Without the editorial power of ZEIT ONLINE, our design would never look as it looks. Working with the tech savvy core team around Wolfgang Blau, Fabian Mohr and Nico Brünjes has, as always, been a great pleasure. And this also shows in the product

Source: iA

Author: Oliver Reichenstein

 Published: on November 18, 2010

Link: http://www.informationarchitects.jp/en/news-on-ipad-the-obvious-way/