Axel Springer Becomes Industry’s Latest Newsstand And Flipboard Clone

The latest Flipboard-esque print-like tablet aggregator comes from the publisher of the most read newspaper in the west.

Bild publisher Axel Springer of Germany has unveiled its MyEdition app in closed beta.

MyEdition eschews social network-derived content and so far includes articles only from 11 of Springer’s own titles, including Rolling Stone, Computer Bild, Musikexpress, Bild and metal Hammer.

If the app goes public, it will charge for content, reports Der Presseschauder.

At the same time, Axel Springer has updated iKiosk, a newsstand for replica editions of its own newspapers and magazines, to include over 100 other third-party titles.

Titles must be bought or subscribed to. Springer charges participating publishers a 10 percent commission, but that, of course, is after it gives up 30 percent to Apple.

This is, in effect, a newsstand parallel to Apple’s own Newsstand.

Springer was an early paid content bull, having started charging for mobile apps then websites in 2009. It recently reported strong take-up.