Magazine publishers are developing more mature products for iPhones now than when the industry first started making applications for smartphones, argues this article.
The apps were free, the features were a little weak compared to what independent developers could do, and the rich design of print didn’t translate to a touch screen.
But the iPhone edition that Esquire expects to release alongside its January issue will offer robust interactive features, and it won’t be free. The price, $2.99 a month, is small, but it is a big statement.
But can they use this experience to create better products for new tablet computers from the outset?