iOS's News app to incorporate some subscription-only content - report
Apple will soon reportedly allow publishers to offer subscription-only articles through iOS's News app, gating some content behind paywalls normally reserved for separate apps or the Web.
The move is an attempt to cope with publisher complaints that Apple is sharing too little data about the people reading articles, sources informed Reuters. Apple's strict approach to privacy has been a complaint not just about News but about other services like iAd, since many companies depend on detailed demographics for advertising.
The sources didn't say, however, how subscribers might be authenticated in News, or whether Apple might offer in-app subscription options and claim a cut of revenues. Apple takes a 30 percent cut of the subscription revenue for third-party iOS apps, even though it doesn't produce or host any of the content.
Some publications that do have paywalls are already in News, but get around the lack of subscription barriers by offering just a selection of articles for free, or redirecting people to websites where readers have to log in.
Another unknown is how or when Apple might update News with subscription support. The technology is missing in betas of iOS 9.3, which would likely leave an update months away at best. Another possibility is that Apple might wait even longer to fold the feature into iOS 10.
The move is an attempt to cope with publisher complaints that Apple is sharing too little data about the people reading articles, sources informed Reuters. Apple's strict approach to privacy has been a complaint not just about News but about other services like iAd, since many companies depend on detailed demographics for advertising.
The sources didn't say, however, how subscribers might be authenticated in News, or whether Apple might offer in-app subscription options and claim a cut of revenues. Apple takes a 30 percent cut of the subscription revenue for third-party iOS apps, even though it doesn't produce or host any of the content.
Some publications that do have paywalls are already in News, but get around the lack of subscription barriers by offering just a selection of articles for free, or redirecting people to websites where readers have to log in.
Another unknown is how or when Apple might update News with subscription support. The technology is missing in betas of iOS 9.3, which would likely leave an update months away at best. Another possibility is that Apple might wait even longer to fold the feature into iOS 10.
Comments
As much as I want to like Apple's news app, I can't. When I open the app, I get old news. Right now, for example, I see a headline about Julian Edelman & The New England Patriots getting ready for this weekend's game. HELLO! That was last weekend. ...then after a while, the page updates with current news.
That's terrible design. And it's not like I'm using an old slow phone. I'm on a 6 Plus.
Even the icon for the news app looks poor.
On the issue of paid content: what the app needs is a universal, global subscription, like Apple Music, but without the annoying local copyright holders demanding a cut and limiting content. It might even save the print media.
Strangely, I find myself agreeing with "sog35." The advertising within the apps makes almost all news aggregator apps basically worthless to me. Even iPad apps like BBC News, CBC News, which are otherwise at the top of the heap in terms of this kind of thing, are full of annoying advertising. Absolutely disgusting. Je Refuse.
There has to be a better way, and in response to "sandor," there have actually been many times when newspapers provided news without advertising betwixt each and every story. It was actually more the rule before about 1970 or so for most major newspapers. The ads were mostly at the back, they didn't take up the full page, and the majority of the newspapers income was from the wanted ads. The full page car and perfume adverts, the interstitial adverts between every story, and the concept of putting more adverts on the more popular stories ... those are all relatively new things.
For NEWS on the Drudge Report, I would suggest Flipboard. Right now, the most recent article is a day old.
Personally, I prefer Flipboard over News.
However, keep in mind, there is a difference in typing in a search term and hitting Enter or selecting on the "TOP RESULT" verses clicking the primary "TOPIC" button.
For example, entering NHL in the search box, you get "TOP RESULT NHL by JACOB PAINTER". Under that, TOPIC and a section of buttons, i.e., NHL, NHL DRAFT and NHL ALL-STAR GAME. Clicking NHL results in a broader selection of all, and best of all more recent news.