Newsstand (software)

Last updated

Newsstand
Developer(s) Apple Inc.
Initial releaseOctober 12, 2011;12 years ago (2011-10-12) (iPhone 4S)
Final release
iOS 8.4.1 (12H321) / August 13, 2015;8 years ago (2015-08-13)
Operating system iOS 5–8.4.1
Platform iOS
Successor Apple News
Available inEnglish, Chinese, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish
Type Digital distribution
License Proprietary
Website itunes.apple.com

Newsstand was a built-in iOS application for the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. It was dedicated to downloading and displaying digital versions of newspapers and magazines. It was replaced by Apple News in iOS 9.

Contents

Features

An empty Newssstand on iOS 6, inviting the user to download magazines and newspapers through the App Store Apple Newsstand on iOS 6 on an iPhone 3GS.jpg
An empty Newssstand on iOS 6, inviting the user to download magazines and newspapers through the App Store

Newsstand was a visual shelf accessible directly on the iOS home screen, similar in style to iBooks. It emulated a newsagent's shop, with virtual shelves that held and presented each newspaper and magazine that had been downloaded. The Newsstand icon updated with images of the latest front covers, and displayed a notification indicator for new editions. [1] [2]

There was a Store button in the lower right corner that linked to the Newsstand category within the App Store. After a newspaper or magazine was downloaded from the App Store, an in-app subscription to the periodical could be purchased with an iTunes account, and the most recent edition of the publication would be automatically downloaded and delivered in the background. [1] [2]

Some of the largest and most popular printed newspaper and magazine names had published digital content specifically designed for mobile devices and tablet computers, and often included interactive content that was unavailable in printed form. [2]

After the release of Newsstand, newspaper and magazine brands had the option to move their existing separate iOS apps to be inside Newsstand. Previously, many brands had released their own separate iOS apps, and this gave them an option to either nest their existing apps completely within Newsstand only, or to optionally release a new version of their iOS app for Newsstand. This also enabled the app to be a part of the official Newsstand category within the iOS App Store, and to take advantage of various other features of Newsstand. [3] [4] One of the first apps to integrate with Newsstand when it was released was The New York Times, who moved their previously external iOS app to be inside Newsstand. [3]

Newsstand was available on iOS devices since iOS 5, and worked with iCloud for syncing and re-downloading magazines and newspapers. [2] Newsstand compatibility was determined by the boolean value "UINewsstandApp" in an app's info.plist file, which could be unauthorizedly edited on jailbroken devices.

App vs. Folder

While Apple referred to Apple Newsstand as an app, it was actually a unique kind of folder, with individual apps of newspapers and magazines inside. Until iOS 7, it was impossible to place Newsstand inside another folder on any iOS devices, but that functionality was later enabled. Apple expressed the intention to replace the file system with easier forms of knowing where documents are; iCloud is one example. In the iOS file system all documents remain within applications. [5] [6]

There had been some confusion about this from users who did not know it was already a folder, and thus found they could not easily add Newsstand into other folders they created on their devices, until many subsequently found a very specific folder creation method to bypass this deliberate limitation. However, as the operating system disallowed this, doing so could cause possible minor technical failures on the devices concerned and SpringBoard would crash. [7]

Apple addressed this with the release of iOS 5.1, which removes this bypass method, so Newsstand was then completely unable to be nested inside other folders. [2]

Many comments on Apple's own forums and many other technology websites showed that users of iOS devices wished that the Newsstand icon could be hidden or removed completely if they never intended to use it.

As of iOS 7, Newsstand could be placed into a folder. However, for the purposes of full-screen gestures, accessibility functions and app switching, it was still treated as a folder on the Springboard.

Prior to iOS 7, the folder appeared in the app switcher, despite being a folder instead of an app. However, the Newsstand folder was removed from the app switcher in iOS 7.

In iOS 9, the Newsstand app was removed. It was replaced by News where it rolled out. [8]

See also

Related Research Articles

iPhoto Digital photograph manipulation software by Apple

iPhoto is a discontinued digital photograph manipulation software application developed by Apple Inc. It was included with every Mac computer from 2002 to 2015, when it was replaced with Apple's Photos application. Originally sold as part of the iLife suite of digital media management applications, iPhoto is able to import, organize, edit, print and share digital photos.

iWork Office suite of applications created by Apple Inc.

iWork is an office suite of applications created by Apple for its macOS, iPadOS, and iOS operating systems, and also available cross-platform through the iCloud website.

iOS Mobile operating system by Apple

iOS is a mobile operating system developed by Apple Inc. exclusively for its smartphones. It was unveiled in January 2007 for the first-generation iPhone, launched in June 2007.

SpringBoard is the standard application that manages the iPhone's home screen. Other tasks include starting WindowServer, launching and bootstrapping applications and setting some of the device's settings on startup.

MobileMe is a discontinued subscription-based collection of online services and software offered by Apple Inc. All services were gradually transitioned to and eventually replaced by the free iCloud, and MobileMe ceased on June 30, 2012, with transfers to iCloud being available until July 31, 2012, or data being available for download until that date, when the site finally closed completely. On that date all data was deleted, and email addresses of accounts not transferred to iCloud were marked as unused.

On Apple devices running iOS and iOS-based operating systems, jailbreaking is the use of a privilege escalation exploit to remove software restrictions imposed by the manufacturer. Typically it is done through a series of kernel patches. A jailbroken device permits root access within the operating system and provides the right to install software unavailable through the App Store. Different devices and versions are exploited with a variety of tools. Apple views jailbreaking as a violation of the end-user license agreement and strongly cautions device owners not to try to achieve root access through the exploitation of vulnerabilities.

iPad Line of tablet computers by Apple

The iPad is a brand of iOS and iPadOS-based tablet computers that are developed by Apple Inc., first introduced on January 27, 2010. The iPad range consists of the original iPad lineup and the flagship products iPad Mini, iPad Air, and iPad Pro.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Apple Books</span> E-book application by Apple

Apple Books is an e-book reading and store application by Apple Inc. for its iOS, iPadOS and macOS operating systems and devices. It was announced, under the name iBooks, in conjunction with the iPad on January 27, 2010, and was released for the iPhone and iPod Touch in mid-2010, as part of the iOS 4 update. Initially, iBooks was not pre-loaded onto iOS devices, but users could install it free of charge from the iTunes App Store. With the release of iOS 8, it became an integrated app. On June 10, 2013, at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference, Craig Federighi announced that iBooks would also be provided with OS X Mavericks in Fall 2013.

A .ipa file is an iOS and iPadOS application archive file which stores an iOS/iPadOS app. Each .ipa file includes a binary and can only be installed on an iOS, iPadOS, or ARM-based macOS device. Files with the .ipa extension can be uncompressed by changing the extension to .zip and unzipping. This is only recommended when editing the app itself. Some ipa's will not have a .app file.

iOS 5 2011 mobile operating system

iOS 5 is the fifth major release of the iOS mobile operating system developed by Apple Inc., being the successor to iOS 4. It was announced at the company's Worldwide Developers Conference on June 6, 2011, and was released on October 12, 2011. It was succeeded by iOS 6 on September 19, 2012.

iOS 6 2012 mobile operating system

iOS 6 is the sixth major release of the iOS mobile operating system developed by Apple Inc, being the successor to iOS 5. It was announced at the company's Worldwide Developers Conference on June 11, 2012, and was released on September 19, 2012. It was succeeded by iOS 7 on September 18, 2013.

iPad (1st generation) 2010 Apple tablet computer

The first-generation iPad is a tablet computer designed and marketed by Apple Inc. as the first device in the iPad lineup of tablet computers. The device features an Apple A4 SoC, a 9.7 in (250 mm) touchscreen display, and, on certain variants, the capability of accessing cellular networks. Using the iOS operating system, the iPad can play music, send and receive email and browse the web. Other functions, which include the ability to play games and access references, GPS navigation software and social network services can be enabled by downloading apps.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Notes (Apple)</span> Software application for Apple platforms

Notes is a notetaking app developed by Apple Inc. It is provided on the company's iOS, iPadOS, visionOS, and macOS operating systems, the latter starting with OS X Mountain Lion. It functions as a service for making short text notes, which can be synchronized between devices using Apple's iCloud service. The application uses a similar interface on iOS and macOS, with a non-textured paper background for notes and light yellow icons, suggesting pencil or crayon. Until 2013, both applications used a strongly skeuomorphic interface, with a lined, textured paper design; the Mountain Lion version placed this inside a leather folder. This design was replaced in OS X Mavericks and iOS 7.

iPad Mini 2 Tablet computer made by Apple (2013–2017)

The iPad Mini 2 is a tablet computer produced and marketed by Apple Inc. It has a nearly identical design to its predecessor, the first-generation iPad Mini, but features internal revisions such as the use of an A7 system-on-a-chip and a 2,048 x 1,536 resolution Retina Display. Internally, the second-generation iPad Mini has nearly the same hardware as its sibling device, the iPad Air. Apple released the second-generation iPad Mini in space gray and silver colors on November 12, 2013.

iOS 9 2015 mobile operating system

iOS 9 is the ninth major release of the iOS mobile operating system developed by Apple Inc., being the successor to iOS 8. It was announced at the company's Worldwide Developers Conference on June 8, 2015, and was released on September 16, 2015. It was succeeded by iOS 10 on September 13, 2016.

iOS 10 2016 mobile operating system

iOS 10 is the tenth major release of the iOS mobile operating system developed by Apple Inc., being the successor to iOS 9. It was announced at the company's Worldwide Developers Conference on June 13, 2016, and was released on September 13, that year. It was succeeded by iOS 11 on September 19, 2017.

iOS 11 2017 mobile operating system

iOS 11 is the eleventh major release of the iOS mobile operating system developed by Apple Inc., being the successor to iOS 10. It was announced at the company's Worldwide Developers Conference on June 5, 2017, and was released on September 19, 2017. It was succeeded by iOS 12 on September 17, 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Files (Apple)</span> Mobile file management application developed by Apple

Files is a file management app developed by Apple Inc. for devices that run iOS 11 and later or iPadOS. Discovered as a placeholder title in the App Store just prior to the company's 2017 Worldwide Developers Conference, the app was officially announced at the conference shortly thereafter. Files allows users to browse local files stored within apps, as well as files stored in cloud storage services including iCloud, Dropbox, OneDrive, and Google Drive. It allows for the saving, opening and organization of files, including placement into structured folders and sub-folders. iPadOS and recent versions of iOS are able to drag-and-drop files between Files and other apps, while iOS versions before iOS 15 are limited to drag-and-drop inside Files itself. Further organization can be done through the use of color-coded or custom-named tags, and a persistent search bar allows for finding files inside folders, though not inside other apps. A list view enables different sorting options. The app offers the exclusive playback of high-quality FLAC audio files, and also offers support for viewing text files, images, "Music Memos", and Zip archives, as well as limited support for video.

References

  1. 1 2 "Inside iTunes – Newsstand provided a home for magazine and newspaper subscriptions". Apple. Retrieved March 8, 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Covert, Adrian (October 12, 2011). "iOS 5's Newsstand Is More Awesome than it Seems". Gizmodo . Gawker Media . Retrieved May 4, 2012.
  3. 1 2 Darrell Etherington (October 12, 2011). "iOS 5: Newsstand". Gigaom. Archived from the original on January 2, 2013. Retrieved May 24, 2012.
  4. ↑ Jeff Sonderman (October 4, 2011). "Apple introduces Newsstand today at iPhone event, available Oct. 12 with iOS 5". Poynter. Archived from the original on May 7, 2012. Retrieved May 24, 2012.
  5. ↑ "Apple reinventing file access, wireless sharing for iPad". AppleInsider . January 30, 2010. Retrieved March 14, 2012.
  6. ↑ "Apple Developer – File System Programming Guide". Apple. Retrieved March 14, 2012.
  7. ↑ Gordon, Whitson (October 21, 2011). "Hide iOS 5's Newsstand App in a Folder With This Trick". Lifehacker . Gawker Media . Retrieved May 4, 2012.
  8. ↑ Wong, Raymond (June 9, 2015). "iOS 9 comes with 2 more apps you can't remove from your iPhone". Mashable. Retrieved June 26, 2016.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.