Richard McManus provides an early synopsis in ReadWriteWeb on the climate for newspaper innovation as iPad applications emerge. His conclusion: More work ahead.

What McManus found isn't surprising: Newspapers often want the iPad app to emulate the experience of the newspaper, in no small part because these are early days for the tablet and our understanding of the experience it provides.

With news that News Corp. has set its sights on an iPad national newspaper (reportedly named The Daily Planet), McManus found that to date the newspapers aren't creating anything technically new on the tablet. He found Flipbook and Newsy, two made-for-iPad apps, far more in line with what's likely needed to succeed in the space.

He suggests interactivity and personalization need to be features to provide depth and different experiences.

Next Issue Media released a study today indicating the U.S. periodical business can recognize $3 billion in interactive revenue by 2014. It's a prediction predicated on some challenging assumptions --- lots of devices, lots of familiarity, touchscreens and colour --- but the Oliver Wyman study identifies some major gains ahead for 230 periodicals:

1. Higher renewal rates of subscriptions if an interactive edition is available --- 64% instead of 55%.
2. Greater revenue from bundled print/interactive packages, something consumers so far like.
3. Bill-me-later interactive editions heavily reduce churn rates to 25% from 45%, again yielding greater revenue.
4. Cross-selling advertising through recommendation engines through the editions will drive revenue from other products.
5. Availability of interactive editions will triple uptake from non-subscribers to the print periodical, to 15% from 5%.

The study nevertheless indicates some immense challenges for publishers: devices need to be encouraged, archival material made available, workflows changed, partnerships established, among other things.

At the moment, Apple is selling more iPads than Macs in the United States as the device emerges in the market.

That consumption curve isn't necessarily going to last, but a new study suggests media tablets will remain hot commodities in the years ahead.

The IDC study suggests the 7.6 million units in play this year will grow to more than 46 million by 2014 in the U.S. Compounded that's more than 57% annual growth.

They will move to nice-to-have devices to essential consumer products, the bullish study indicates.

A key will be development of applications unique to tablets to differentiate them from smartphones and PCs. The implications for the news business are significant as that market grows.