The major news for publishers from Apple’s announcement of iOS5 was Apple’s magazine and newspaper ‘Newsstand’ which will launch in autumn 2011.
Newsstand is a folder on an iOS device, similar to iBooks, which automatically groups all of a reader’s publications together; replacing app icons with the latest issue cover. Unlike iBooks there is no set format for the content within, the only requirement is that the app includes the ‘Newsstand Kit Framework’. This means that there will not be significant re-programming for app developers who deliver content from their own servers already such as MagazineCloner.
As we understand, Newsstand will not be a shopfront, magazines will however have a category in the App Store - something which will aid ‘searchability’ of titles and prevent the need to compete with the ‘000,000s of games and utilities. The new development also allows apps to trigger downloads in the background once a new issue is released – removing the wait for users when they are downloading issues.
As far as we can tell this is an entirely positive development for publishers and considering the inevitable Apple buzz which will be generated around iOS5, iPhone 5 and the new ‘Newsstand’ we expect to see a further surge in sales in the Autumn.
MagazineCloner.com's apps are now iOS5 compatible and integration into Newsstand has already begun.
MagazineCloner.com is a London-based company with over 350 apps live already on the Apple App Store and hundreds now launching on Android. Their clients’ titles are also distributed through their online newsstand Pocketmags.com, with further agreements for regional affiliate newsstands shortly to be announced.