Newsweek’s mission was to reveal the big ideas behind the big headlines, share unique insights and opinions and illuminate your week ahead. So, it was no surprise that Steve Jobs had personally reached out to Newsweek to ask us to develop an app, before the iPad had ever been announced.   Our mission, to create an iPad experience for the consumer who craved a deeper understanding of what’s happening in the world around them.

Upon launch, the app was hailed as a revelation and quickly became noted for its beautiful user interface, intuitive navigation and rich original reporting. It also quickly became a significant new revenue stream.

In addition to a large back-catalog and weekly and real-time updates, those who downloaded the app received Newsweek’s first-ever free, and first-ever digital, special issue “Politics in the Age of Obama: Cartoons, Photos, and Perspectives” presented by FedEx.