Fairfax launches iPhone apps but no sign of promised iPad offerings
Fairfax has today launched an app for the Apple iPhone based on its digital news mastheads, but there is no sign of the iPad app that the company said would launch by the end of this month.
The iPad apps – priced at $2.49 per month – are based on the web content of the smh.com.au, theage.com.au, WAtoday.com.au and brisbanetimes.com.au.
In a press release,the publisher said:
“Fairfax Media today paves the way for publishers to effectively monetise content with a range of new iPhone apps set to revolutionise how consumers interact with content online. The innovative apps for the smh.com.au, theage.com.au, WAtoday.com.au and brisbanetimes.com.au, let consumers completely personalise their news experience, with a range of additional features and increased breadth of coverage.
Good on them for delivering it but I refuse to pay for an app and still be served ads. And a monthly cost? Never, Especially when I can get many syndicated stories from other mobile sites or apps (e.g. AP app, iphone.news.com.au, mashable app,)
Plus, personalisation is good but Google News does it for free.
I have sent my feedback through the app.
Hopefully they are prepared to adjust it.
Fairfax “paves the way for publishers to monetize” WTF?
web based smh is already great on the iphone – the app would surely just slow this down?
What exactly do I get for my $2.49 a month that I cant get from m.smh.com.au or google reader for free?
I like the fact that you can choose your own sections and do away with the stuff that you don’t want to read. I want sport, business and entertainment and now I can get it without clutter and not many ads.
Ho hum. Apps are so 2009. I’ll be sticking with google news and the mobile web…
If Fairfax start charging for their web mastheads then I plan to read the free news at http://www.abc.net.au; news which we are already paying for indirectly with our taxes anyway, why pay twice?
iPads are coming I’m sure as part of a new subscription model.
You get a subsidised device if going on a 24-month contract (rings a bell?), weekday editions are available as App only and weekend still delivered to your house.
What do you guys think?
Rog – sounds like a promising subscription offer as long as you can opt out of the weekend paper. Otherwise they’ll need to include a wheel barrow with the subscription so I can get Saturday’s Herald to the recycling bin!
Pricey? It’s $2.49. Per month. The printed paper costs ~$2 per day.
Honestly, when did everyone’s arse retract so far up their intestine?
I do have a bit of an issue paying for an app and also getting served with ads.
Having played with the app pre-release, my biggest beef remains just how buggy and slow it is. Experimenting with paid-for content is welcome and necessary, but there’s not much point when the way it’s delivered is so appalling. It’s hard enough to persuade people to part with subs money without making the delivery mechanism sub-standard.
Glad you like it anonymous 3.13pm. Do you think you should have mentioned that you work at Fairfax though, as your IP address seems to indicate that you do?
Cheers,
Tim – Mumbrella
The Inspiration Room (TIR) has launched an iPhone App free of charge which is getting featured next to SMH.
http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/tir/id391989368#