Comments on: The NYT API: Newspaper as platform http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2009/02/08/the-nyt-api-newspaper-as-platform/ ... at the intersection of media, technology, business and the web Mon, 22 Mar 2010 04:41:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: mathewi http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2009/02/08/the-nyt-api-newspaper-as-platform/comment-page-1/#comment-374138 mathewi Wed, 11 Feb 2009 03:50:22 +0000 http://www.mathewingram.com/work/?p=4239#comment-374138 Thanks for the comment, Terry. I agree that the API is somewhat limited, but I do think that patterns can be discerned from even headlines and ledes (as well as the other fields that the API gives you access to). As far as the competition part goes, I'm not suggesting someone build a business around this API -- simply that it could be a very useful tool, in the same way that Google Maps is a useful tool. Thanks for the comment, Terry. I agree that the API is somewhat limited, but I do think that patterns can be discerned from even headlines and ledes (as well as the other fields that the API gives you access to). As far as the competition part goes, I'm not suggesting someone build a business around this API — simply that it could be a very useful tool, in the same way that Google Maps is a useful tool.

]]> By: Terry Steichen http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2009/02/08/the-nyt-api-newspaper-as-platform/comment-page-1/#comment-374137 Terry Steichen Wed, 11 Feb 2009 00:14:11 +0000 http://www.mathewingram.com/work/?p=4239#comment-374137 Mathew,<br><br>I think the new API is not quite "something that has the potential to fundamentally change the way that newspapers function" nor does it give access to "2.8 million news articles." And it does not give the capability to "become something quite incredible", at least in its present form.<br><br>The API allows retrieval of headlines and ledes, not the articles themselves. It allows the use of very rudimentary queries, quite a bit more limited than anyone can use with, for example, Google; these do not allow sophisticated discovery of patterns, etc.<br><br>And finally, if you do manage to figure out some really nifty use, you may discover the NYT is "coincidently" starting a beta test of the same thing. And if that happens, guess what? The TOS says you can't compete with them.<br><br>In general, I would be reluctant to make much investment in a business which depends on 3rd party cooperation under a TOS like that. Mathew,

I think the new API is not quite “something that has the potential to fundamentally change the way that newspapers function” nor does it give access to “2.8 million news articles.” And it does not give the capability to “become something quite incredible”, at least in its present form.

The API allows retrieval of headlines and ledes, not the articles themselves. It allows the use of very rudimentary queries, quite a bit more limited than anyone can use with, for example, Google; these do not allow sophisticated discovery of patterns, etc.

And finally, if you do manage to figure out some really nifty use, you may discover the NYT is “coincidently” starting a beta test of the same thing. And if that happens, guess what? The TOS says you can't compete with them.

In general, I would be reluctant to make much investment in a business which depends on 3rd party cooperation under a TOS like that.

]]> By: mathewi http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2009/02/08/the-nyt-api-newspaper-as-platform/comment-page-1/#comment-345611 mathewi Tue, 10 Feb 2009 21:50:22 +0000 http://www.mathewingram.com/work/?p=4239#comment-345611 Thanks for the comment, Terry. I agree that the API is somewhat limited, but I do think that patterns can be discerned from even headlines and ledes (as well as the other fields that the API gives you access to). As far as the competition part goes, I'm not suggesting someone build a business around this API -- simply that it could be a very useful tool, in the same way that Google Maps is a useful tool. Thanks for the comment, Terry. I agree that the API is somewhat limited, but I do think that patterns can be discerned from even headlines and ledes (as well as the other fields that the API gives you access to). As far as the competition part goes, I'm not suggesting someone build a business around this API — simply that it could be a very useful tool, in the same way that Google Maps is a useful tool.

]]> By: Terry Steichen http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2009/02/08/the-nyt-api-newspaper-as-platform/comment-page-1/#comment-345608 Terry Steichen Tue, 10 Feb 2009 18:14:11 +0000 http://www.mathewingram.com/work/?p=4239#comment-345608 Mathew,<br><br>I think the new API is not quite "something that has the potential to fundamentally change the way that newspapers function" nor does it give access to "2.8 million news articles." And it does not give the capability to "become something quite incredible", at least in its present form.<br><br>The API allows retrieval of headlines and ledes, not the articles themselves. It allows the use of very rudimentary queries, quite a bit more limited than anyone can use with, for example, Google; these do not allow sophisticated discovery of patterns, etc.<br><br>And finally, if you do manage to figure out some really nifty use, you may discover the NYT is "coincidently" starting a beta test of the same thing. And if that happens, guess what? The TOS says you can't compete with them.<br><br>In general, I would be reluctant to make much investment in a business which depends on 3rd party cooperation under a TOS like that. Mathew,

I think the new API is not quite “something that has the potential to fundamentally change the way that newspapers function” nor does it give access to “2.8 million news articles.” And it does not give the capability to “become something quite incredible”, at least in its present form.

The API allows retrieval of headlines and ledes, not the articles themselves. It allows the use of very rudimentary queries, quite a bit more limited than anyone can use with, for example, Google; these do not allow sophisticated discovery of patterns, etc.

And finally, if you do manage to figure out some really nifty use, you may discover the NYT is “coincidently” starting a beta test of the same thing. And if that happens, guess what? The TOS says you can't compete with them.

In general, I would be reluctant to make much investment in a business which depends on 3rd party cooperation under a TOS like that.

]]> By: Home Based Business Health http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2009/02/08/the-nyt-api-newspaper-as-platform/comment-page-1/#comment-345593 Home Based Business Health Mon, 09 Feb 2009 15:43:26 +0000 http://www.mathewingram.com/work/?p=4239#comment-345593 Somehow, a developers opportunity Somehow, a developers opportunity

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