The New York Times is not really something I look at allot. Heck I can say I have never even picked up a paper version of it ever. I didn’t start reading it until they came out with there iPhone app, and even then I just skim it unless I see something that catches my eye. So like many days when I wake up I sate down on the couch in the living room and opened the New York Times app on my iPod Touch and saw “The Times to Charge for Frequent Access to Its Web Site”. Then I proceeded to read it.
Apparently the New York Times is planning on trying to charge people for reading there site. Starting next year they will set a limit on how many story you can read before you have to pay a subscription fee. I should also note that every month the number will go back down to zero and you can read some story’s for free. If you already subscribe to the New York Times then this really wont effect you much all you will have to do is just login and your set.
Myself I almost never go to the New York Times Site, to me it just looks god offal. I can see what they were trying to go for, they wanted the site to look like a news paper. I for one think it is hard to navigate.
Luckily as of right now they have not said anything about this effecting people reading from the iPhone app. I'm sure it is just a matter of time before they do, but until they do I’ll keep skimming the Technology section.
All this will not take effect until early 2011. There is still time for the New York Times to come to there senses and not charge. If they do start charging that maybe the final nail in the coffin for the New York Times. I for one hope they can see the light of free and make it stay free some way.