Murdoch confirms WSJ coming to iPad, device kept 'under padlock and key'
By Donald Melanson 
posted March 3rd 2010 2:26PM
posted March 3rd 2010 2:26PM
It only came at the tail end of an announcement of a new New York metro section for The Wall Street Journal, but Rupert Murdoch has finally confirmed that the paper will indeed be heading to the iPad. The really interesting bit, however, is that not only is the company now being allowed to work on an iPad, but that Murdoch says it's kept "under padlock and key," and that "the key is turned by Apple every night" -- a bit of hyperbole, maybe, but then again, maybe not. In other newspapers-going-digital news, Murdoch also said that the WSJ would be heading to half a dozen or more other devices within a year, although he didn't name any specific devices.
@Lord Vader
Dont be too proud of this technological terror you've constructed. The power to display a newspaper on a large multi-touch screen is insignificant next to the power of the Flash.
Now that the new is out, expect several waves of nerd boltcutter assault coming to wsj building.
Snarky but funny!
I call shenanigans! With the iPad SDK you get an iPad simulator that lets you test your code on a virtual device.Since I believe there is a WSJ app for the iPhone, maybe they are going down this path. If the WSJ journal is destined to be an offering from the iTunes/iBookstore, then there is even less need for a hardware prototype since no real development needs to be done (ePub). If they are going to make WSJ available on the Web, then there is also no reason to have an iPad in house except for bragging rights.
@Edgeknight
It's pretty much a new form-factor. I think it's pretty essential they have the device for testing
@pukerocket
How about an iTouch with a large magnifying glass?
Holy Moses, readin' a newspaper, in a mobile device!? Ne'er before! them gizmos are A-mazin!
@Beastage
you beat me to it : /
How much better are newspapers going to be on the iPad than on a regular laptop? What, are the the advertisements going to be flying around like butterflies and you have to swat them with your hand?
They say "Oh well it's going to integrate video into the articles!" Well a lot of newspaper already do that. People make it sound like this is the first time newspapers are going to be a on a computer.
@Virus Cannon Maybe for some of the same ergonomic reasons why people prefer reading from an e-reader compared to a laptop ( not talking about the screen technology, but the form factor). Also it's very intuitive to touch and scroll vs. clicking arrows or sliding scrollbars to move around a page.
And Rupert Murdoch says he's ready to sue Google! http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10461255-93.html
Jobs and Murdoch turning each other's keys, k-i-s-s-i-n-g
@Lord Vader
These aren't the Droids you're looking for - they are in fact the iPhones that you were looking for, installed with WSJ, but WSJ will probably be installed on Droids and other devices later ...
Hey Engadget! Remember when you implemented that feature which blocked Apple articles?
Could you implement a feature which blocks all the pathetic whining from jealous idiots who flood this place with pointless Apple bashing?
Can someone explain what was stopping them from offering such a setup that could have been read on all tablet devices?
Gimping it for one company's product is just asinine from a business standpoint seeing that they are using Adobe AIR to make the darn things.
i really want the Ipad to fail. Not because i'm some Apple hater, but because I want them to be forced to make a tablet device that is at least as useful as it is pricey.
the whole "spend a lot of money on a device so you can spend a lot more to use it" model CANNOT succeed.
@mhunterjr You're right, for example no one buys PS3 or Xbox consoles because after you buy the unit, you *still* have to buy games for it!
@darksharpie right, but the content you buy for your console 1) cannot be found anywhere else for free (legally), unlike these ad supported news papers 2) you own a physical copy of and can liquidate
if you see value in purchasing something that is more expensive and offers less value that other available options, so be it. But i hope that most people do not so that Apple will offer something more valuable.
@mhunterjr But why wouldn't I be able to get free content on the iPad? Is there some new feature that blocks web pages, movies, PDFs, and music from being used on the iPad? It might lack the capability to view every *format*, but that's not the same as saying you're somehow "forced" to pay for anything.
@darksharpie i never said i was forced to buy anything. The point i'm trying to make is that the iPad as it is too expensive to be my device of choices for free content, and the paid content it offers i can get elsewhere from somewhere else.
Because of these issues, i hope the markets response to its release will push apple to create a product that addresses these concerns and add value to the device.
@darksharpie sorry for the double post, but i really butchered that.
correction: i never said i was forced to buy anything. The point i'm trying to make is that the iPad, as it is, is too expensive to be my device of choices for free content, and the paid content it offers i can get elsewhere for free. Not to mention, apple blocks/doesn't support alot of the free content that comparable devices offers.
Because of these issues, i hope the markets response to its release will push apple to create a product that addresses these concerns and add value to the device.
Padlock? Really?
IT'S A TRAP!
Here is the problem, people don't buy magazines and such as much as they used to because they can get most of the information online for free.
Why would they pay a subscription to use these on the iPad?
Will the average consumer pay 3-4 monthly magazine subscriptions on this device?
@Sharuk personally i would love a tablet device which would allow me to get all my Photography subscriptions easily every month. being able to pick up the tablet and scroll thru my mens Health,Maxim and Digital Photogrpahy mags on the train would be great. Archiving all these can get messy and i can find a tutorial or article easier on a tablet then trying to find the article in a mag.
but with all that im not just looking at the Ipad..Ill take any device that will allow me to do that. Epub,PDF,adobe Air..i dont care who supplies it just give me easy access to my digital subscriptions.
@Sharuk 'cause you can rotate products in the ads duh!
@Sharuk Average consumer don't know, me (providing there is enhanced content) absolutely. FHM, Stuff, Economist, New Scientist get them out there and i'll be happy.
Not just lock and key, padlock and key. You know, because a normal lock isn't good enough for apple.
somebody's gonna have to explain to me WHY THE HELL i would want to buy an ipad to see the wsj instead of using one of the 3 22" screens i already have.
@obobo
Actually all somebody has to do is explain to you that nobody is forcing you to buy an iPad to see the WSJ. Maybe that will help you out.
@obobo 1) I don't think anyone would buy a tablet *just* to read the Wall Street Journal
2) must be a pain dragging that 22" screen everywhere... I guess you could put the UPS and minitower in a little wagon though.
This just in: who cares.
@lerxst
You do, obviously.
@Jack Still don't. But I like to comment on things that defy logic. For example; the iPad.
Will these magazines/newspapers download to your iPad or will it require an internet connection to read them? There's no way I'd purchase a subscription if I had to always be connected to the internet just to read it. At that point I'd just stick with the free website - actually, I'd stick with the free website regardless. Unless it's just "scary" compelling.
And hey Engadget, fix your stupid ass site so it'll work with IE 6! Yes, I know you are cool and hip and all, but a lot of us try and look at your site at work and most major companies are still on IE 6. I had no problems before you implemented this crappy new design!
shouldn''t it be under iPadlock and key?
Throw up a sandbag around iPad; Murdoch is a monopolist that needs to be isolated.
I just don't' see businessmen and stockbrokers and such walk around with an ipad, it's not gonna happen it's too dinky and lame and inconvenient.
But perhaps it's for the little kids that they so far seemed to aim at with the ipad, in which case I learned that kids now read the wsj, who knew?