The New York Times Company has launched a beta version of a new application, designed to more easily allow users to shift content between their computers and mobile devices. Using ShifD, users can save information such as notes and Web page links from any PC or mobile Web browser to a ShifD account. That .jpg "News Image")
information is then automatically updated on all the user’s registered devices. Users can save info via Web browser, mobile phone text message, mobile Web browser or by using the downloadable application on Adobe AIR.
For the beta launch, users can add and save content through ShifD in three categories: notes, links and places.
“ShifD is an experiment in giving users the power to bring their content with them by easily shifting it among all of their Web-enabled devices,” said Michael Zimbalist, vice president of research and development operations for The New York Times Company. “We see a future for device-independent media, with convergence around the user experience and not any particular delivery platform. Developing services that allow users to access content wherever they are and on whichever device they choose is an important part of our strategy.”
The application has nothing to do with the The New York Times, or its Website, but it was conceived and created by Nick Bilton, design integration editor and user interface specialist for The New York Times, and Michael Young, creative technologist, research and development for The New York Times Company, at the 2007 Yahoo! BBC Hack Day London competition. The application won the competition’s award for Best Overall Hack.
The beta is compatible with most handsets in the United States.
