From AdAge: Full story here

Magazines and Newspapers Need to Build Better Apps

Viewpoint: Significant Glitches Trouble Too Many Publishers' Apps

Though it is still early in the migration process, Apple's iPad and other tablets appear to be a very good thing for the publishing industry, allowing publishers to monetize their content while avoiding the printing and distribution costs associated with traditional print vehicles. And they've proved to be very good for consumers, offering improved convenience and portability, not to mention the ability to read in the dark.

But there is a large problem that threatens to limit publishers' opportunity. Of the 5,000 magazine and newspaper iPad apps we've evaluated for McPheters & Co.'s iMonitor service since April 2010, far too many simply do not work well.

In the summer of 2010, about 45% of the apps we evaluated revealed significant malfunctions. That proportion is falling, but not quickly enough: Our analysis shows that about a third of all apps we have evaluated still have at least one serious shortcoming.

The biggest issue revolves around authenticating print subscribers. Authentication errors, in which the app fails to recognize existing subscribers, are reported for almost half of the publications that offer digital versions free to print subscribers.

But there are a host of other issues. Pages, video and audio can fail to load. Links may be broken. Audio sometimes won't turn off, leaving users the choice of closing the app or continuing to listen against their will. Spontaneous crashes are common. Downloads continue to be a problem with many apps, particularly when consumers want to download issues over a 3G network or without high-speed connections.

According to Mike Haney, chief product officer for Mag+, the responsibility for malfunctions can reside with the publisher, the development platform, or even the device if memory is constrained by too many apps running simultaneously. In the case of authentication issues, publishers' subscription fulfillment houses can also be to blame.

GQ's "Man of the Year" issue will be available for download through the IPhone App Store. What is interesting is that the download will include, not only all of the content but all of the advertising from the issue as well. Full story here

"As Condé Nast tries to move beyond its restructuring issues, the company is pushing ahead with several attempts to ramp up its digital business. In conjunction with the December GQ “Man of The Year” cover, the publisher will sell app version of the entire issue, including the same ads and articles, in the iPhone App Store, the company told paidContent.

Clearly, Condé Nast hopes that more than reproducing its magazine in digital form, it can reproduce the kinds of circulation and ad dollars that print has commanded for so long. So far, the GQ app has gotten the nod from the Audit Bureau of Circulations, which says that sales of the e-reader version qualify for the mags rate base. That means in ABC’s eyes, downloading the for $2.99 will count the same as a buying a $4.99 copy of GQ at the newsstand."