Newsstand Needs to Go Away ⇥ macworld.com

Jason Snell, Macworld:

Newsstand was one of iOS 5’s banner features when it was introduced back in 2011, but its time has come and gone. What was intended to be a special collection of apps has, instead, become a second-class collection. That’s why it would be better for everyone concerned — Apple, users, app developers, and publishers (including Macworld) — if Newsstand just vanished.

Newsstand solved a particular problem at a particular time in a particular way. The way (auto-updates and updatable icons) no longer exists, and the time is no longer relevant. The problem is now largely imaginary. In the past year or so, I haven’t seen a good argument for its continued existence. It’s time to get rid of it.