Apple introduces Safari Reader in Safari 5 addressing reader experience
Safari Reader removes annoying ads and other visual distractions from online articles. So you get the whole story and nothing but the story.
Does this mean we won’t see those awesome, oops I mean annoying Apple banner ads on New York Times anymore?
Also, could the plan eventually be to display iAd advertising when a person is viewing content within Safari Reader? I suppose Apple could help save journalism by then giving a small % of the revenue to the publisher?
The full pitch for this new feature:
Safari Reader
Safari Reader removes annoying ads and other visual distractions from online articles. So you get the whole story and nothing but the story. It works like this: As you browse the web, Safari detects if you’re on a web page with an article. Click the Reader icon in the Smart Address Field, and the article appears instantly in one continuous, clutter-free view. You see every page of the article — whether two or twenty. Onscreen controls let you email, print, and zoom. Change the size of the text, and Safari remembers it the next time you view an article in Safari Reader.
I think of three things:
1) Firefox has offered plug-ins to block ads for a long time. But it does require a little bit of set-up and maintenance. Apple looks to have it streamlined now with Safari Reader and are promoting it. Other browsers will surely follow the lead. It’s not a matter of if, but when. (Also, the Readability bookmarklet has been around a while and appears to be what Apple was going for.)
2) Not all advertising is annoying. A lot of it can be informative and useful. How can a user be sure that Safari Reader is only blocking “annoying” ads? (Trick question, sorry.)
3) Currently, banner ad revenue is part of MinnPost’s business model. We’re experimenting with non-banner ads by developing RealTimeAds.com, a new ad platform (no, it’s not done yet). And we have a membership program for people who want to support us.
I welcome the challenge to build a sustainable business model for journalism that does not include “annoying” or “visual distractions”. If Safari Reader pushes this to happen sooner than later, lets get it done already.
One other ‘non-advertising’ thought: It looks like Safari Reader changes the layout of the page. How do web designers feel about this? Is Safari Reader getting all the “Annoying Article Web Design” out of the way, too?
Update: MinnPost.com in-article ad survives Safari Reader!
Some articles I am seeing on the subject (I’ll post more here as I see them):