NYT launches expanded iPad app (that’s still free)

Apple chief Steve Jobs showed off how the New York Times would look on the iPad while unveiling the much-hyped device in January.

But until Friday, the Times still wasn't offering most of its content on the iPad, opting instead for an abridged "Editor's Choice" application. Now comes the paper's latest incarnation on the device: NYTimes App for iPad.

PaidContent's David Kaplan reports the app is currently free because subscription charges don't kick until the Times puts up a paywall early next year.

The Times plans to charge for content online but hasn't yet said what those subscriptions will cost for the newspaper across platforms—whether online, on the iPad or on other mobile devices. Times Senior Vice President Yasmin Namini told PaidContent that the company expects to offer several monthly and annual subscriptions.

"When we go to the pay model, there will always be something you can access without having a paid subscription," Namini said. "Whether it will be the free four sections you get without registering or something different, that's to be determined later. But to access everything in full, a paid subscription will be required."

So what else does the new -- still free! -- iPad app offer?

Instead of an abridged paper, there are now 25 sections available and about 50 NYTimes.com blogs. There are also full-screen photos and more features in the works.

The Times did pretty well with the first version, even if only in digest form. Executives told PaidContent that "Editor's Choice" was downloaded 650,000 times since it became available in April.

By comparison, the Times' iPhone app, available since July 2008, has now been downloaded more than 5 million times.