9 ms·

Show HN: Create, publish and make money on your own iOS publication

39 points by holgersindbaek 13y ago

pgrote 13y ago
I am unfamiliar with Newsstand requirements. Are there quality review guidelines like the app store? As for payment processing, is everything published under the uninkd banner and then payments sent from there? If not, how does uninkd collect the fees?
- holgersindbaek 13y ago
  A newsstand app is very much like any other app. Expect for when it comes to quality, Apple also looks at the content of the app (the magazine itself). You will get your very own app, but it will be published under the Uninkd banner. The publishers name is writting in very small letters though :-). We collect all the fees and send them on to you. We'll never take more than $149.50 though. Publishing through us might not seem like a perfect solution for some, but it ensures that we can update and add new features very easily.
joeblau 13y ago
Pretty cool concept. I never really used Newsstand and I also didn't like that you couldn't remove it (although that's gonna change.) I think this could be an awesome tool to compete with publications like Flipboard especially if there is revenue tied to the model. The only challenge is getting those first users because I've never met one person with an iPhone that uses Newsstand.
- holgersindbaek 13y ago
  Hi Joe CTO and co-founder of Uninkd here... What did you mean by "You couldn't remove it"? We know the whole situation with newsstand, but magazines like - http://the-magazine.org http://the-magazine.org - have really managed to create a good deal of subscribers. I don't like most newsstand magazines either. Many of them seem like they have been converted from a pdf. I think we have managed to find a nice format to release your magazine on.
  - aaronbrethorst 13y ago
    > What did you mean by "You couldn't remove it"? I assume he means that Newsstand cannot be deleted or moved into another folder.
  - joeblau 13y ago
    Sorry, I meant you couldn't put Newstand in a group folder. I definitely think your publishing platform has great promise.
    - holgersindbaek 13y ago
      Haha ok. Would be surprised if I had made an un-removeable app :-). Thanks.
- k-mcgrady 13y ago
  >> "I also didn't like that you couldn't remove it (although that's gonna change.)" Not really. In iOS 7 Newsstand can be moved into a folder, it still can't be deleted or turned off.
aqme28 13y ago
Sounds awesome, but it looks like we broke your site.
- holgersindbaek 13y ago
  Haha.. damn. Just a sec.
- hex- 13y ago
  Yep, site is down for me too.
  - holgersindbaek 13y ago
    Back again. Sorry for the downtime.
EGreg 13y ago
I have a question ... are you allowed to make an app where people make in-app purchases of content, and you rev-share with the authors? Does Apple have anything in the guidelines that prevents you sharing the revenues and other people "selling" content through you?
- holgersindbaek 13y ago
  As long as Apple gets their 30%, they don't care where the money goes afterwards.
iwasakabukiman 13y ago
The pricing model is a bit confusing. Does the $99 fee cover just one issue or does it cover the cost to publish the app itself? What about issues after the first one? Do they cost an additional $99 per issue?
- holgersindbaek 13y ago
  Thanks for the feedback. The $99 release fee is a ONE TIME FEE. You pay it once you have a magazine online and want to release it to the app store. You can release as many issues as you wish after that.
  - iwasakabukiman 13y ago
    That's actually a really good deal then. Adobe charges something like $250-$500 per issue for their magazine apps.
    - holgersindbaek 13y ago
      It definitely is. You should give it a go ;-).
tylermac1 13y ago
Will Uninkd offer any sort of marketing capabilities? I can see problems arising since Uninkd essentially owns the app but is licensing use of the publishing platform. This leaves the author out of the various sales details and metadata that iTunes Connect offers. edit: I would also update your revenue calculator to factor in the various fees.
- holgersindbaek 13y ago
  Good question. We haven't looked so much into that yet, but we'd love to hear ideas. All your issues articles, are available online via uninkd as well. So when people share an article on Facebook or Twitter, they'll share a link to the online article. When it comes to analytics, we haven't implemented anything yet. It is something we want to do in the near future though and for now, we could give you access to and App Annie account where you can see all the analytics on the app you could wish for.
  - mmoriarty 13y ago
    Ah, yeah, that's the dealkiller for us -- we don't want our content duplicated online. Too bad, we were looking at it.
    - holgersindbaek 13y ago
      Code is not written in stone. Let us know what you're needs are and we'll see what we can do. We are still developing the product and we have been thinking about making it optional. Hit me with an email if you want to tell me more about what you need and how we could accommodate what you do - Holger@Uninkd.com
      - holgersindbaek 13y ago
        What's stopping people from doing it online, is that there is no one place where people can browse and read all of your issues and articles. There is no "directory" for your magazine. The reason we are not implementing a signup when reading articles, is that it would make it impossible for your magazine to be shared. People want to share what they read and they often have friends who are interested in the same things. Those friends are all potential subscribers and it would be a big barrier for them if they had to subscribe in the app before they could read a single article.
adrianhon 13y ago
Looks neat. A few questions: 1) I'm not clear about how the web functionality works. The demo suggests that all articles will be available online. Are those freely available, or are they only free if people share the links? 2) Can I charge a subscription that effectively lasts forever (i.e. more like a one-time fee for readers)? 3) Do subscribers have access to all previous content? 4) Is this only for US citizens? I'm in the UK. (edit: added q4)
- holgersindbaek 13y ago
  Hi Adrian Thanks for the questions :-). 1. Seems like there's a bit of confusion on the web-functionality. There will be no "main directory" for your magazine, so people won't be able to browse all the content of your magazine, that they'd otherwise have to pay for through the app. In the app, you can share an article on Facebook or Twitter. More specifically, you'll be sharing a link to an online version of the article. So people can read THAT specific article, but there is no easy way for them to read the other articles in that issue. 2. All newsstand magazines must have a subscription. This can be a free subscription though, that does not necessarily provide access to any content. You can sell single issues as well, if that would be interesting. 3. That is the plan, yes. Let me know if that's a deal-breaker and how you would like to have it instead. 4. We need to transfer the revenues to a bank and we are using Stripe for that. As far as I know, Stripe requires you to have a US bank. Do you have an online magazine already?
  - tylermac1 13y ago
    For me, free access to previous issues is a deal-breaker. What would stop someone from waiting a few months after many articles have been released, signing up, and then receiving many months worth of articles at the price of only one? The lost revenue there is killer. Granted, this might be an edge case but is still cause for concern.
    - holgersindbaek 13y ago
      Hmmm. Another way to see it would be that having a few months of issues might be a plus and incentive for a person to subscribe, which he might not have done otherwise. I'm not sure what kind of magazine you are planning to release, but mostly when I buy magazines, I'm not that interested in the old issues. Hit me with an email - Holger@Uninkd.com - if you are planning to release a magazine, but this is a deal breaker.
weiran 13y ago
Are you publishing all these apps under one dev account? Because Apple have known to ban this practice in the past as they want the account owner to be the person responsible for the content.
- holgersindbaek 13y ago
  Good question. We have looked into that and as long as you provide unique content in the different apps and there is a reason they can't be one app, then it should be ok. Look at what ChowNow is doing for example: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/chownow/id553996348 https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/chownow/id553996348
kettlr 13y ago
Very similar to what I am currently working on, so I would say: superb idea ;) I would obviously love to ear updates along the way about how you guys are doing... The thing that is mainly taking me aback is your pricing. I had settled on a much higher one (kind of)... That would be one-time 300$ for publication and 5% revenue but without the cap. Although the cap is amazing for big publishers I would avoid it for the complexity added to the pricing model. There is great value there why is you guys's pricing so low? Is it because all the features are not yet developed, and are you then planning on increasing the pricing in the future? What are you thoughts about the pricing suggested above? (we used to sell copies of famous editing software thrice the price to individuals. Things are sure evolving!)
- holgersindbaek 13y ago
  Because we can would be the simple answer. The reason we have the cap on the percentages, is that we don't want to scare guys who already have a semi-established magazine away. I think even 5% (no cap) would scare a lot of more established magazines away. But that's just my guess.
callmeed 13y ago
Hey this is really cool. At APhotoFolio (http://aphotofolio.com http://aphotofolio.com) we've been tossing around similar ideas (we have a lot of magazine connections). I really like your approach. I would highly suggest adding either PDF support or a way to import from a blog's RSS feed. That will let you target smaller publishers. Also, have you seen kits like this? http://www.binpress.com/app/ipad-newsstand-pdf-starter-kit/1271 http://www.binpress.com/app/ipad-newsstand-pdf-starter-kit/1...
- holgersindbaek 13y ago
  We've been thinking about that. Think the whole technical side will become very clumsy and cumbersome, very fast, if we add RSS support. Can see where you are coming from with that idea though. We're not going to support PDF's either. We're not planning to at least. Seems like the result looks and feels clumsy. There are also solutions for that out there now (as you linked to). The problem with those kits, is that you still have to deal with all the technical stuff yourself. Setting up a server of some sort, opening a developer account, handling Apple certificates and so on. In other words, you will most likely still need an iOS dev, even though you bought the kit.
barrynolan 13y ago
Really nice site and execution. One of the real challenges with Newsstand apps is the conversion of users (downloaded the app) to paying subscribers (monthly, annually). I've seen conversion rates as low as 1% (not including churn) for some very established publications. So the challenge isn't just getting the eyeballs, its keeping and charging them to make a business. There are some techniques you can use that make an impact.

I am unfamiliar with Newsstand requirements. Are there quality review guidelines like the app store? As for payment processing, is everything published under the uninkd banner and then payments sent from there? If not, how does uninkd collect the fees?

holgersindbaek 13y ago
A newsstand app is very much like any other app. Expect for when it comes to quality, Apple also looks at the content of the app (the magazine itself). You will get your very own app, but it will be published under the Uninkd banner. The publishers name is writting in very small letters though :-). We collect all the fees and send them on to you. We'll never take more than $149.50 though. Publishing through us might not seem like a perfect solution for some, but it ensures that we can update and add new features very easily.

joeblau 13y ago

Pretty cool concept. I never really used Newsstand and I also didn't like that you couldn't remove it (although that's gonna change.) I think this could be an awesome tool to compete with publications like Flipboard especially if there is revenue tied to the model. The only challenge is getting those first users because I've never met one person with an iPhone that uses Newsstand.

holgersindbaek 13y ago
Hi Joe CTO and co-founder of Uninkd here... What did you mean by "You couldn't remove it"? We know the whole situation with newsstand, but magazines like - http://the-magazine.org http://the-magazine.org - have really managed to create a good deal of subscribers. I don't like most newsstand magazines either. Many of them seem like they have been converted from a pdf. I think we have managed to find a nice format to release your magazine on.
- aaronbrethorst 13y ago
  > What did you mean by "You couldn't remove it"? I assume he means that Newsstand cannot be deleted or moved into another folder.
- joeblau 13y ago
  Sorry, I meant you couldn't put Newstand in a group folder. I definitely think your publishing platform has great promise.
  - holgersindbaek 13y ago
    Haha ok. Would be surprised if I had made an un-removeable app :-). Thanks.
k-mcgrady 13y ago
>> "I also didn't like that you couldn't remove it (although that's gonna change.)" Not really. In iOS 7 Newsstand can be moved into a folder, it still can't be deleted or turned off.

aqme28 13y ago

Sounds awesome, but it looks like we broke your site.

holgersindbaek 13y ago
Haha.. damn. Just a sec.
hex- 13y ago
Yep, site is down for me too.
- holgersindbaek 13y ago
  Back again. Sorry for the downtime.

EGreg 13y ago

I have a question ... are you allowed to make an app where people make in-app purchases of content, and you rev-share with the authors? Does Apple have anything in the guidelines that prevents you sharing the revenues and other people "selling" content through you?

holgersindbaek 13y ago
As long as Apple gets their 30%, they don't care where the money goes afterwards.

iwasakabukiman 13y ago

The pricing model is a bit confusing. Does the $99 fee cover just one issue or does it cover the cost to publish the app itself? What about issues after the first one? Do they cost an additional $99 per issue?

holgersindbaek 13y ago
Thanks for the feedback. The $99 release fee is a ONE TIME FEE. You pay it once you have a magazine online and want to release it to the app store. You can release as many issues as you wish after that.
- iwasakabukiman 13y ago
  That's actually a really good deal then. Adobe charges something like $250-$500 per issue for their magazine apps.
  - holgersindbaek 13y ago
    It definitely is. You should give it a go ;-).

tylermac1 13y ago

Will Uninkd offer any sort of marketing capabilities? I can see problems arising since Uninkd essentially owns the app but is licensing use of the publishing platform. This leaves the author out of the various sales details and metadata that iTunes Connect offers. edit: I would also update your revenue calculator to factor in the various fees.

holgersindbaek 13y ago
Good question. We haven't looked so much into that yet, but we'd love to hear ideas. All your issues articles, are available online via uninkd as well. So when people share an article on Facebook or Twitter, they'll share a link to the online article. When it comes to analytics, we haven't implemented anything yet. It is something we want to do in the near future though and for now, we could give you access to and App Annie account where you can see all the analytics on the app you could wish for.
- mmoriarty 13y ago
  Ah, yeah, that's the dealkiller for us -- we don't want our content duplicated online. Too bad, we were looking at it.
  - holgersindbaek 13y ago
    Code is not written in stone. Let us know what you're needs are and we'll see what we can do. We are still developing the product and we have been thinking about making it optional. Hit me with an email if you want to tell me more about what you need and how we could accommodate what you do - Holger@Uninkd.com
    - holgersindbaek 13y ago
      What's stopping people from doing it online, is that there is no one place where people can browse and read all of your issues and articles. There is no "directory" for your magazine. The reason we are not implementing a signup when reading articles, is that it would make it impossible for your magazine to be shared. People want to share what they read and they often have friends who are interested in the same things. Those friends are all potential subscribers and it would be a big barrier for them if they had to subscribe in the app before they could read a single article.

adrianhon 13y ago

Looks neat. A few questions: 1) I'm not clear about how the web functionality works. The demo suggests that all articles will be available online. Are those freely available, or are they only free if people share the links? 2) Can I charge a subscription that effectively lasts forever (i.e. more like a one-time fee for readers)? 3) Do subscribers have access to all previous content? 4) Is this only for US citizens? I'm in the UK. (edit: added q4)

holgersindbaek 13y ago
Hi Adrian Thanks for the questions :-). 1. Seems like there's a bit of confusion on the web-functionality. There will be no "main directory" for your magazine, so people won't be able to browse all the content of your magazine, that they'd otherwise have to pay for through the app. In the app, you can share an article on Facebook or Twitter. More specifically, you'll be sharing a link to an online version of the article. So people can read THAT specific article, but there is no easy way for them to read the other articles in that issue. 2. All newsstand magazines must have a subscription. This can be a free subscription though, that does not necessarily provide access to any content. You can sell single issues as well, if that would be interesting. 3. That is the plan, yes. Let me know if that's a deal-breaker and how you would like to have it instead. 4. We need to transfer the revenues to a bank and we are using Stripe for that. As far as I know, Stripe requires you to have a US bank. Do you have an online magazine already?
- tylermac1 13y ago
  For me, free access to previous issues is a deal-breaker. What would stop someone from waiting a few months after many articles have been released, signing up, and then receiving many months worth of articles at the price of only one? The lost revenue there is killer. Granted, this might be an edge case but is still cause for concern.
  - holgersindbaek 13y ago
    Hmmm. Another way to see it would be that having a few months of issues might be a plus and incentive for a person to subscribe, which he might not have done otherwise. I'm not sure what kind of magazine you are planning to release, but mostly when I buy magazines, I'm not that interested in the old issues. Hit me with an email - Holger@Uninkd.com - if you are planning to release a magazine, but this is a deal breaker.

weiran 13y ago

Are you publishing all these apps under one dev account? Because Apple have known to ban this practice in the past as they want the account owner to be the person responsible for the content.

holgersindbaek 13y ago
Good question. We have looked into that and as long as you provide unique content in the different apps and there is a reason they can't be one app, then it should be ok. Look at what ChowNow is doing for example: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/chownow/id553996348 https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/chownow/id553996348

kettlr 13y ago

Very similar to what I am currently working on, so I would say: superb idea ;) I would obviously love to ear updates along the way about how you guys are doing... The thing that is mainly taking me aback is your pricing. I had settled on a much higher one (kind of)... That would be one-time 300$ for publication and 5% revenue but without the cap. Although the cap is amazing for big publishers I would avoid it for the complexity added to the pricing model. There is great value there why is you guys's pricing so low? Is it because all the features are not yet developed, and are you then planning on increasing the pricing in the future? What are you thoughts about the pricing suggested above? (we used to sell copies of famous editing software thrice the price to individuals. Things are sure evolving!)

holgersindbaek 13y ago
Because we can would be the simple answer. The reason we have the cap on the percentages, is that we don't want to scare guys who already have a semi-established magazine away. I think even 5% (no cap) would scare a lot of more established magazines away. But that's just my guess.

callmeed 13y ago

Hey this is really cool. At APhotoFolio (http://aphotofolio.com http://aphotofolio.com) we've been tossing around similar ideas (we have a lot of magazine connections). I really like your approach. I would highly suggest adding either PDF support or a way to import from a blog's RSS feed. That will let you target smaller publishers. Also, have you seen kits like this? http://www.binpress.com/app/ipad-newsstand-pdf-starter-kit/1271 http://www.binpress.com/app/ipad-newsstand-pdf-starter-kit/1...

holgersindbaek 13y ago
We've been thinking about that. Think the whole technical side will become very clumsy and cumbersome, very fast, if we add RSS support. Can see where you are coming from with that idea though. We're not going to support PDF's either. We're not planning to at least. Seems like the result looks and feels clumsy. There are also solutions for that out there now (as you linked to). The problem with those kits, is that you still have to deal with all the technical stuff yourself. Setting up a server of some sort, opening a developer account, handling Apple certificates and so on. In other words, you will most likely still need an iOS dev, even though you bought the kit.

barrynolan 13y ago

Really nice site and execution. One of the real challenges with Newsstand apps is the conversion of users (downloaded the app) to paying subscribers (monthly, annually). I've seen conversion rates as low as 1% (not including churn) for some very established publications. So the challenge isn't just getting the eyeballs, its keeping and charging them to make a business. There are some techniques you can use that make an impact.