NewspaperDirect (ND) is very please to announce the launch of a brand new Windows 8 App Builder Program for our global newspaper and magazine publishing partners.

From now until the end of June 2013, ND’s publishing partners can apply to ND to help them fast-track their app development and publish their app into the global Windows (app) Store and showcase their content on all Windows 8-based tablets, laptops, ultrabooks, convertibles and desktops.

Publishers who participate in the NewspaperDirect’s App Builder Program for Windows 8 will receive:

• A Windows 8 branded, native application powered by PressReader’s award-winning technology
• Early-to-market opportunities in the Windows (app) Store
• Opportunities for promotions and feature placements

The ability to stream Ads-in-Apps via the Microsoft Advertising Network and other valued-added marketing opportunities.

The growth in the popularity of Windows 8 reflects the shift in how people want to experience content across devices,” said Shane Davies , Director, Cloud Services Providers & Top Consumer Brands of Microsoft Canada. “Brands are already starting to get up close and personal with audiences in real time, on a global scale.  NewspaperDirect, a leader in magazine and newspaper applications, and their Windows 8 app will provide a platform for publishers to reach and engage their audience in compelling ways, and will provide consumers with a range of quality, brand name applications.

This program demonstrates ND’s on-going commitment to build multi-platform solutions for its publishing partners, ensuring their content is available across all devices, including the latest Windows 8-based tablets, laptops, ultrabooks, convertibles and desktops.

We’re seeing a new era in mobile and desktop computing from Microsoft and I have little doubt that Windows 8 devices will take a significant share of the tablet market,” said Alex Kroogman , CEO of NewspaperDirect.  “We’re in the early phases of mass-market penetration, so now is the perfect time for our publishers to ride the wave of what is soon to be the ubiquitous technology in the hands of a growing channel of business users and consumers.

Early participants in the program include the award-winning Spanish digital newsstand, Kiosko y más, and 12 publications from Edda Media of Norway, such as Drammens Tidende, Fredriksstad Blad and Moss Avis.

Publishers can take part in the Windows 8 App Builder Program by contacting publishing@newspaperdirect.com.

To our PressReader and Windows 8 Surface fans….

We’re happy to announce the release of the PressReader app for the Windows 8 Surface RT! It is now available for free download through the Windows Store.

With over 2,300 newspapers and magazines from 100 countries, Windows 8 Surface RT users can now read their favorite publications using PressReader’s advanced digital features you’ve come to enjoy with PressReader on iPads, Android, and BlackBerry devices, including:

• SmartFlow advanced reading technology, which enhances the traditional replica newspaper presentation by displaying articles as a continuous, horizontal stream of stories that flow across the Surface RT, maximizing readability and inviting exploration of related content a reader might otherwise miss.
• Instant switching between Replica/Page View and SmartFlow viewing
• Press and hold (i.e. Long Press) activation of contextually driven actions:
  • Share stories by email or on Facebook or Twitter using Windows’ “share charm”
  • Copy and paste articles into Evernote
  • Listen to articles using on-demand audio
  • Publicize your opinion by supporting or opposing a story
• Adjustable font sizing for optimum readability
• “Search charm” support for cross-title search
• Desktop thumbnails of the most recently downloaded publications for instant access to the latest issues
• Auto-delivery of favorite publications
• Authorization of PressReader with a PressDisplay.com subscription
• Supported in English, Chinese (China), German, Spanish, Japanese, French, Russian, Italian, Norwegian (Bokmål)

Check out PressReader for the Surface RT in the video demo below:

We would love to hear what you think of our new release! Please comment with any and all feedback!

Cheers!

-Dedy

The month of May saw 21 additional newspapers and magazines make their way to PressDisplay.com. Have a look at them online by clicking below or check them out on your favorite tablet, smartphone or eReader using PressReader.

Magazines

• Canada | CFSU Ottawa Directory 2012-2013
• Egypt | Nesf elDonia Special Supplement
• India | CRN
• India | InformationWeek
• India | NBM & CW
• Saudi Arabia | Ultratravel
• UAE | The National – Luxury
• UK | Irish Daily Mail – TVWeek
• UK | Irish Daily Mail – YOU

 Newspapers

• Australia | Brisbane Courier Mail – Boom
• Belarus | Zheleznodorozhnik Belorussii
• Finland | Abo Underrattelser
• Germany | Morgenpost Sachsen (Chemnitzer)
• Germany | Morgenpost Sachsen (Dresdner)
• Germany | Morgenpost Sachsen Sunday (Chemnitzer)
• Germany | Morgenpost Sachsen Sunday (Dresdner)
• Puerto Rico | El Nuevo Dia
• Qatar | Al-Sharq Baraha
• Qatar | Al-Sharq Cars
• Qatar | Al-Sharq Waseet
• Zambia | The Post (Zambia)

For a complete list of the titles available through NewspaperDirect’s publishing networks, please click here.

Enjoy!

-Michael

We’re extremely pleased to announce that a brand new version of PressReader for iPad is now available from the iTunes App Store. In addition to the popular SmartFlow horizontal reading stream released in version 3.0, PressReader 3.1 now brings iPad 3 users full retina display support as well as translation and integration with Evernote!

With PressReader for iPad, users have the ability to read over 2,000 full-content newspapers and magazines from 95 countries in 54 languages. Check it out here:

The new iPad is a dream come true for people who enjoy the wealth of newspapers and magazines that PressReader has to offer. The breathtaking resolution of thMe new iPad Retina Display means that we can render razor-sharp text, at any zoom level,” said Alex Kroogman, CEO of NewspaperDirect. “Our new SmartFlow technology really shines at high resolution, and the integration with the best clipping applications like Evernote raises the bar for every other news app out there.

New features added in PressReader 3.1 include:

• Optimization for the new “Retina Display” resolution of the next-generation iPad. Pages, text views and images are rendered at 264 pixels per inch, resulting in amazing clarity, even when zoomed in.
• Instant translation of full publications in up to 12 languages is now possible when a title is opened. Or, a reader can choose to auto-translate all publications into a specific language with the ability to specify language exceptions.
• Clipping App integration enables any article to be captured and synced across devices. Articles can also be emailed or shared using Twitter or Facebook.

Clipping Web pages is one of the most popular ways of saving information in Evernote. PressReader does a beautiful job of extending this functionality, making it easy for users to read and clip newspaper and magazine articles on their iPads,” said Seth Hitchings, VP of platform strategy, Evernote. “The Evernote integration is seamless, and the clipped content can be searched and read in Evernote on any computer or mobile device. We recommend readers also try our Clearly app, which creates an optimal reading experience for articles, blog posts, and any other content you interact with online.

We would love to hear your comments on the new PressReader for iPad features!  Post a comment here or contact us at iphonesupport@newspaperdirect.com and let us know what you think.

Cheers,

Michael

These days it feels as if news content is more commonly consumed on the web or through newspaper apps designed for all the latest and greatest smartphone, tablet and eReading devices on the market. The reality however, is that millions of people around the world continue to enjoy the tactile sensation of reading newspapers the old fashioned way – in print, something not likely to change overnight.

For those out there who continue curling up with their favorite reads, Kooaba has developed a convenient mobile app that helps readers bridge the gap between the static printed newspaper format they hold near and dear to their hearts with the dynamic social sharing utilities that have become so commonplace, and perhaps almost necessary, in today’s tech ladened world.

Once downloaded onto an iPhone or Android smartphone, Paperboy as it’s aptly named, lets readers snap pictures of full pages or articles of interest in their favorite printed newspapers. The application’s powerful image recognition technology goes on to identify that page or article from NewspaperDirect’s extensive inventory of over 2,000 same-day, digital newspapers replicas – the very same inventory that drives PressDisplay.com and PressReader, the world’s largest digital newsstand and its companion reading application for iOS, Android, BlackBerry and Win 7 operated devices.

Once successfully matched within Paperboy, an electronic version of the page is returned which users are able to share immediately via Twitter, Facebook, e-mail or SMS or store for future reference on my.kooaba.com or Evernote. Just think, no more random newspaper cutouts lying around the house!

While the service is certainly exciting for readers, it’s beneficial from a publisher and advertiser point of view as content from their print publications, once destined for the bottom of recycling bins, can be shared instantly or referenced at later dates.

Newspaper content within Paperboy will roll-out over 4 phases with October 10, 2011 already seeing NewspaperDirect’s German, Swiss, Austrian and International titles available for recognition.  US, UK and Canadian newspapers will be available by November 1^st. Phases 3 and 4 will occur on November 15,2011 and December 1, 2011 respectively.

Kooaba’s Paperboy application without question adds a new twist to an old favorite.  If you’re a staunch print subscriber, what’s not to like about that?

Cheers,

-Michael

Scheduled for this September 29-30 in beautiful San Francisco, California, IntertechPira’s inaugural eReaders 2011 Conference will aim to unite all facets of the eReading industry to discuss the issues and opportunities currently facing the market.

Nikolay Malyarov, NewspaperDirect’s Vice President, Publishing and Legal Affairs will be among the 20 expert speakers/panelists attending the conference assessing market trends, technical development and application-related advances through presentations, question-and-answer sessions and panel discussions.

Nikolay’s presentation, Examining Catalysts for Publisher Priority Shifting, will focus on the emerging eReader market and its impact on the publishing industry today and into the future.

Key points within the presentation will include:

• Why/how will eReaders and tablets help stop the bleeding when newspaper websites failed?
• With news becoming a commodity, how can publishers leverage the eReading market to differentiate themselves?
• What re-thinking needs to take place by publishers to be successful in the growing trend towards mobile news consumption? Who’s doing it right today?  Who’s off track?
• What should publishers’ priorities be over the next 2 years in capitalizing on the eReading trends?

Make sure to catch the compelling talk on Day 1, Thursday, September 29^th, 2011 at 1:45pm.

Cheers,

Michael

Hey there PressReader fans!

We’re happy to announce that PressReader for Android Honeycomb OS has been released and is now available for free download through the Android Market.

PressReader for Honeycomb, compatible with 3.0/3.1 Honeycomb-based tablets, brings readers over 1,800 full-content newspapers and magazines from 95 countries in 48 languages available through www.pressdisplay.com.  Available on tablets such as the Asus Eee Pad Transformer, the HTC Flyer, the Motorola Xoom, and the Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 and 10.1, PressReader for Honeycomb takes advantage of the larger screen sizes and hardware acceleration offered by the Google Android Honeycomb platform.

Key features of PressReader for Android Honeycomb include:

• Support for on-board hardware acceleration on Honeycomb-based devices
• A more immersive reading interface, customized for larger screen sizes
• Automatic daily download of user-selected titles
• High-performance navigation using thumbnails or tables of contents
• Intuitive reading experience: flip, pan, rotate and zoom articles and photos
• Support for full-graphic page views or easy-to-read text views of articles
• On-demand narration of news stories
• Sharing of articles by email or by posting on social network sites

Check out PressReader for Honeycomb in the video demo below:

As always, we’d love to hear your feedback, comments and suggestions! Feel free to send us a note through PressReader’s email utility, located under the Settings option, or by sending an email directly to androidsupport@support.newspaperdirect.com.

Enjoy!

Michael

Vision. Innovation. Now!

Simple but powerful, these three words represent the theme of the 81^st Annual INMA World Congress being held in New York City, May 15-17, 2011.

This year’s congress will aim to provide a vibrant platform for publishers to plan their newsmedia company’s audience, advertising and brand growth strategies through 2014 mixing practical strategies and case study-based best practices from the world’s leading media companies.

Following our recent success at past INMA World Congress events, NewspaperDirect will once again be represented by Nikolay Malyarov, Vice President of Publishing and Legal Affairs and Igor Smirnoff, Vice President, Digital where they will look showcase and discuss how NewspaperDirect’s unique ePublishing solutions work in a technology driven publishing market that’s evolving faster than ever.

Make sure to visit them at their stand in Networking Area 3 to learn more on how you can develop a high-performing cross-platform distribution strategy for zero-operational cost! Or email us at: publishing@newspaperdirect.com.

Cheers,

Michael

Hosted by Newspapers Canada in partnership with the British Columbia and Yukon Community Newspapers Association (BCYCNA), the 2011 edition of Ink + Beyond will focus on innovative online strategies and new directions in print publishing.

Being held on April 29th and 30th in Richmond, BC, Ink + Beyond 2011 will feature speakers, seminars and presentations covering a broad range of topics for daily and weekly newspapers including NewspaperDirect’s Nikolay Malyarov, VP of Publishing and Legal Affairs, sharing best practices and success stories in mobile applications and NIE.

Make sure to catch Nikolay at the following sessions:

Friday April 29, 2011 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM

Readers on the Go: Mobile Models for Success – Panel

All your mobile questions will be answered during this fast-paces session – everything from social media messaging to news content and ad campaigns.

Saturday April 30, 2011 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Reaching Young Readers: NIE Success – Breakout

Newspapers in Education programs are being revolutionized with the advent of eEditions. Learn how to deliver a NIE program that boosts circulation and reaches readers of all grade levels.

If you would like to learn more about NewspaperDirect and how we can help you develop a high-performing cross-platform distribution strategy for zero-operations cost, make sure to visit us at our Ink + Beyond booth or email us at publishing@newspaperdirect.com.

Cheers,

Michael

The motto for Earth Day 2011 is a simple one: Pledge an Act, Save Our Planet.

As we all know, we share a very delicate relationship with the world we live.  Unfortunately, this relationship is one mankind has and continues to abuse.  And although we’ve all come a long way in the last several years, we have to keep in mind that every eco-friendly effort or act we make and commit to will have a profound positive effect on the environment moving forward.

This year, Earth Day organizers have set a lofty but attainable goal asking for 1 billion green pledges.  Whether this pledge is as simple as turning off the lights in your house when they’re not needed or as complicated as reducing the number of times you fly per year, every act of green helps!

Are you looking for some green inspiration?

Well, if your favorite newspaper is still being delivered to your door each and every day, then why not make this the year you go digital with PressDisplay.com or PressReader! In doing so, you’ll immediately reduce your carbon footprint provided you turn your computer off when it’s not being used or unplug your favorite device when it’s not being charged.  It’s a pretty unique pledge if you ask me.

See what others from around the world have pledged this Earth Day by visiting http://act.earthday.org/ and don’t forget to submit your own act of green.  Again, every act large or small plays a significant role.

Pledge an Act, Save Our Planet!

Happy Earth Day to all.

Michael