Time turns page on iPad subscriptions
The Xbox Live app takes a baby step toward SmartGlass, tweets get beefier, and Time sells subscriptions on iPad after previously criticizing Apple's policies.
- Bridget has spent over 18 years as a consumer tech reporter, hosting daily tech news shows and writing syndicated newspaper columns. She's often a guest on national radio and television stations, including ABC, CBS, CNBC and NBC.
Skype's got ads, Vizio's got PCs, and we got issues (a whole Newsstand full of 'em):
Time Inc. has had a change of heart with Apple and will now begin selling magazine subscriptions through iPad's Newsstand app. Previous apps for Time Inc. magazines, like Sports Illustrated, only allowed for one issue to be purchased at a time. It also gave print subscribers free access.
Last year, Time Inc. opposed how Apple handled subscriptions, such as taking a 30 percent cut of sales and not releasing data on subscribers. But since then, Apple has lets readers opt-in to share their subscription data with publishers. And Time Inc.'s new chief executive pushed to make iOS subscriptions happen.
It's a sign that being on the iPad is vital for today's magazines. But despite Apple's dominance, publishers have been innovative in delivering subscriptions on their own terms. Take for example the app called Next Issue, of which Time is one of the five publishers involved. It's a Netflix model for magazines: pay a monthly price, and get unlimited access to dozens of titles. It's now on Android, but promises to be coming soon to the iPad.
In other news, Skype is adding display ads during free calls made on Windows computers. It's just for audio calls, not video chats.
Twitter is adding story previews when you click to display more information on a tweet. Some tweets will show the first few lines in a story as well as images.
Cellphone maker Nokia is in trouble. It has to cut 10,000 jobs by the end of next year.
Vizio, which is known for its televisions, is unveiling details about it's dive into computers with a new line of all-in-one desktops and laptops. The desktop can also be used as a television. We got a first look at the devices from the Consumer Electronics Show in January.
The My Xbox Live app for iOS just got a new twist. You can use the app as an Xbox remote. The controls let you load up recent games, skip through video and music files, or just poke around to navigate through content. And like before, you can still use it to check out what your friends are up to.
It's like a baby step toward the Microsoft SmartGlass platform. Much like Apple's Airplay, it will let you play content from your mobile device and send it to the television using the XBox 360.
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