The Digital Reader

The Wall Street Journal is reporting:

At Hearst Corp., a handful of employees are cranking out what the media company hopes will add up to the next big thing.

Hearst, best known as a publisher of magazines and newspapers, is jumping into the business of developing software applications, or “apps,” for use on Apple Inc.’s iPhone. Hearst is focusing its apps on what it knows best: information, mainly in the realms of sports teams, players and celebrities, but also hobbies and topics, like coffee, Barbie and cupcakes.

Hearst eventually expects to offer thousands of apps that pull together news and photos about narrow slices of information. Dozens of applications already are available from Apple, with more expected to roll out over the next year. The apps sell for 99 cents and up for fans of the New York Yankees, Red Sox and other ball clubs, as well as for Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Coldplay and other musicians.