For NPR, the iPad Means a New App–And a New Web Site
Like many media companies, National Public Radio is scrambling to prepare an app in time for the iPad’s April 3 launch.
But the standoff between Apple (AAPL) and Adobe has prompted NPR to take on another engineering project at the same time: It is building a version of its Web site designed specifically for the iPad.
So if all goes as planned, iPad users who want to listen to NPR programming will have a couple choices next month. They can:
- Download a free iPad-optimized version of the broadcaster’s popular (two million downloads) iPhone app. Or
- Use the iPad’s browser to visit NPR.org, which will detect that it’s being viewed with Apple’s device and serve up a custom-built site. This means no trace of Adobe’s (ADBE) Flash, which is used to power graphics and media on the site.
I’ve heard about a handful of other big publishers who are altering some but not all of their Web sites to create iPad-optimized versions.
That’s what The Wall Street Journal–like this Web site, the Journal is owned by News Corp. (NWS)–is doing, for instance: Visitors to the newspaper’s front page will see an iPad-specific, Flash-free page. But those who click deeper into the site will eventually find pages that haven’t been converted.
Kinsey Wilson, who oversees digital media for NPR, says he has been able to create a new version of his Web site–while keeping the existing one up and running for other visitors–because of the site recent redesign, which split up the data that powers the site from its presentation layer. In English, this means NPR can swap out the site’s facade while keeping its plumbing and foundation intact.
Just as important: NPR only runs a smattering of advertising, in the form of sponsorships it sells to a handful of marketers. This means it doesn’t have to worry about how to handle the Web ad ecosystem, which depends on Flash. Wilson says NPR has locked up a launch sponsor for both the iPad app and the custom site.
So what will the app and site look like? Alas, NPR won’t let me see a demo or look at mock-ups, i part, I gather, because the network is still building the things.
But here’s something to chew on until launch: Wilson says that while iPhone apps are a “very intentional experience”–you load the thing up and seek out specific content–he thinks the iPad will be a “lean back device.” That’s traditionally the distinction multimedia types use to differentiate between a computer and a TV. Intriguing.
Comments
I think this is the first of many similar stories that we can look forward to. The iPad may hasten the death of Flash. I'm not a programmer or computer scientist of any sort, but as a web consumer and iPhone and MacBook owner, I get kid of sick of Flash interfering with my internet experience (including broken plug-ins on my laptop). I sincerely hope that clean, open formats will emerge sooner rather than later. Go iPad! :)
Posted by demodave at March 15th, 2010 at 6:04 pmSounds great to me, let's move on with the total demise of flash and on to new and better web design… HTML5
Posted by garyt1948 at March 15th, 2010 at 7:58 pmGlad to see NPR moving on. Flash is dead, time to move onto better web design… HTML5
Posted by garyt1948 at March 15th, 2010 at 7:59 pmAny media organization or any company with digital assets should be in the position to simply benefit from distributing their content on a new device. It sounds like NPR are in a prime position to leverage this opp without it becoming a devil at the door that will potentially hurt their overall business, marketing and distribution model. For some organizations, the digital divide is eroding their traditional models, for others, the arrival of more devices such as a iPad is simply another opportunity to be at the forefront of interacting and connecting with your readers and listeners and growing brand awareness.
Posted by Conrad Buck at March 16th, 2010 at 12:39 amLast week I used my iPhone to contribute to my local NPR station' s fund-raiser, partly because the funds would be matched for the next few minutes.
The website performed very badly on iPhone to put it mildly. It took so long to figure it all out that I'm not sure I made the deadline for matching funds.
Do many people view the donations as impulse-driven? The 24×7 connection on smart phones makes a lot of impulse buys of music, video and apps possible. It would be nice if donations were similarly enabled.
Posted by walsellers at March 17th, 2010 at 8:59 pmI stumbled upon the first comprehensive explanation of several methodologies of how to make an iPad Website or Web App. It covers caching, Flash image swap, lightview popup, and all you need to know about building or porting a website for iPad.
http://www.combsconsulting.com.....e-example/
Posted by combs1945 at March 28th, 2010 at 10:58 pmwell there are some difference in view for a simple web client and an iPad client there is a need being placed for the designing of the website with respect to the iPad web specifications.
Posted by Online Printing at April 20th, 2010 at 6:23 pmiPad is a big breaking technology news that's why they come up with this plan of having its new website. Upon making a website for the iPad, I read that it will be a flash based design. Well my opinion is that flash is good but I guess it must be mix with a dynamic design too and not all the way that the site is being made as a flash based site because of the loading factor. Numerous sites which is made from flash are slow we all know that especially if you visit the homepage. Just mix a flash and a dynamic style for the site of iPad, then it will do good.
Posted by Naples web design at June 16th, 2010 at 7:02 amI agree with you and disagree too. I agree in the fact that some websites being build with flash is really slow especially when it comes to loading but nowadays there are now plug-ins that can make a flash based site to loads fast to any browser types and in that case I disagree too because of that plug-in. The iPad site must be made with flash including the plug-in for fast loading. iPad is innovative so as well as the site too and it can be done then by the use of flash.
Posted by RSA Online at June 18th, 2010 at 1:41 pmwell there are some difference in view for a simple web client and an iPad client there is a need being placed for the designing of the website with respect to the iPad web specifications.
Posted by yuregininsesi at July 1st, 2010 at 1:19 pmThanks for this great article you sharing with
Posted by Anonymous at August 5th, 2010 at 9:25 amus.
I agree with this. iPad’s view interface is definitely different from simple web client on PC’s.
Posted by website builder at August 7th, 2010 at 5:09 pmI HATE the new discussion group format! I was a manager of the group, but I’ve basically quit going to the group due to the difficulty in tracking new posts, following posts, tagging new topics, etc. The amount of discussion in our group has dropped tremendously as a result of the difficulty in the new format. Yeah, it has a lot more graphics, people’s pictures, larger and colorful fonts…but it doesn’t have the have “list look” that allows for quick manipulation. HATE it!
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