WWD reports today that Conde Nast, the company that has laid off a bazillion people this week, has launched a new iphone app for GQ.
Conde Nast says the app will not only make money, but is also vetted by the Audit Bureau of Circulations, the first of its kind to get the agency’s approval. That means sales of the app will count toward the magazine’s rate base. The memo goes on to read,
"The GQ application, which replicates the entire December issue, will be available on iTunes for $2.99, and will include touchscreen control, video, music and zoom features that make the screen easily readable. Users can buy music featured within the magazine through iTunes, and the application will include links to Web pages and phone numbers for brands listed in the fashion credits and interstitial advertisements that aren’t in the magazine."
Now that magazines are starting to catch up with technology, are readers going to adapt? I have always felt that print will never be dead-have you ever travelled on a plane or train? You can't read your ipod or Kindle when you're stuck on the runway for 2 hours due to minor technical problems. And you certainly can't read in a subway (yet), I also just like to look a big pictures right in front of my face, especially if they're fashion images.
Can both print and digital provide unique value that don't compete? Does print become more mass appeal and digital more niche?
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