by Jeff Sonderman

A couple weeks ago I predicted that Apple's virtual Newsstand for iPads and iPhones would provide "a little more convenience for the user, and a little more discoverability for the publisher -- but nothing here is a game-changer."

I stand by the first part of that diagnosis, but it's now clear there is something game-changing about Newsstand. Since Apple launched it last week in the latest version of its iOS operating system, its impact has been immediate and significant. Many Newsstand apps now rank among the top free apps overall, and magazine and newspaper apps are benefiting from a surge of downloads and subscribers.

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Being able to buy an issue or subscription on one device, and then access it across devices makes sense for device and app users. And, for the most part, it also makes sense for the makers of gadgets - Apple, Amazon, and others. However, it doesn't make sense for publishers looking to sell their own multi-platform subscriptions, paidContent's Staci Kramer wrote yesterday.

It is in the publisher's best interest to control their customer relationships and their brands across devices. Amazon announced its vision is to allow customers to "buy once, read everywhere" - a stance that could lead to content creators locking horns with device-makers.

Image via Melville House Publishing

For example, Kramer writes: "The NYT has invested considerable resources in an iPad app that eventually will be part of its metered plans. Selling subscriptions on the Kindle or Nook makes sense. Selling one that works on an iPad and competes with that, not so much."

Amazon has also said that in the future, it will allow users to lend e-books on the Kindle for 14 days, depending on the publisher's discretion, Retail Digital reported today.

Boston.com has chosen to deploy a content recommendation platform from Outbrain, a New York-based company to increase traffic and boost revenues on its news site, while enhancing readers' experiences, Editor & Publisher reported.

Through deployment of this new content recommendation tool, the news site will provide "related links" and automatically alert readers to additional stories that maybe of interest to them at the end of each article, according to a press release posted on MarketWatch.com. The Outbrain's technology uses complex set of algorithms to identify and serve up stories targeting different audience segments, while helping readers find relevant new stories at ease with simple related links.

"We're always looking for cost-effective and innovative ways to increase user engagement across our Web site while providing the highest quality experience for our audience," Vice President of Products Bob Kempf told E&P. "This is a sophisticated way to refer readers to content and enhance their experience on the site." Some paid recommended links from third-party publishers will also be available.

German tech corporation Neofonie GmbH announced the launch of an iPad "rival," The Associated Press reported yesterday. The WePad might be better, the corporation claims, because of its larger screen as well as USB ports to connect exterior devices.

Neofonie mentioned that the machine might interest publishers because it would permit them to sell content without forcing a customer relationship (like Apple's iTunes or Amazon's Kindle do) so as to preserve the "simple content supplier" status, the AP wrote.

The WePad is extensible as well as open, since its Linux alternative is compatible with Flash and Java while its "meta-store" allows access to Android Marketplace and other application stores, paidContent reported today. Gadgetvenue.com disclosed that the device will operate on Google's Android operating system.

Neofonie will include its digital newspaper WeMagazine and a magazine platform. German magazine publisher Gruner & Jahr hopes to feature its titles on the WePad and conversations are underway between Neofonie and prominent German publishing group Axel Springer, paidContent added.