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December 09, 2011

Google Getting Set to Launch Digital Magazine

By Oliver VanDervoort, Contributing Writer

Google (News - Alert) is well known as the largest search engine in the world, but the company has been taking steps to be known for several other accomplishments in the high tech world. Google’s main competition has long been Apple (News - Alert) and the rivalry is starting to look like the Hatfields and the McCoys these days. 



The computing giant has recently revamped YouTube in a rather obvious way to take on the Apple TV. Google has also launched an Android Music service that will directly compete with iTunes.

Of course, even when Google is competing for customers with Apple, they sometimes have to join forces in order for both companies to do well. Google’s next big service is the launch of a new digital content that is wrapped up in a magazine like format. This particular digital magazine has been named “Currents” and will be viewable on mobile devices produced by Google as well as Apple.

While publishing a digital magazine is certainly a pretty good idea, Google has come a little late to this particular party. Currents will be not only competing with the ultrapopoular iPad app Flipboard (News - Alert), but also a similar app that Yahoo released earlier this fall. Yahoo’s digital magazine, Livestand, has already become known as a supporting player in the digital magazine business and even that app will be tough to beat for Currents.

Google seems to think that their particular digital magazine can work because they have had over 150 publishers come on board in order to provide content. Forbes, Huffinton Post, PBS and AllThingsD are just some of the publishers that are apparently gearing up to devote content to the magazine. The Daily is just one of the daily digital magazines that have not fared particularly well in this market. 

That app was actually produced by both Fox Corp. and Apple but had a real problem catching on. Currents might be able to succeed where Apple failed in this particular department because their content will apparently be offered free of charge.

Google did not announce how the ad revenues will be distributed once Currents gets off the ground.






Edited by Jennifer Russell
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