Google Propeller and Yahoo Livestand to clash

Two tablet-oriented web readers, Google Propeller and Yahoo Newsstand, could launch within days of each other. New leaks pointed to Yahoo's offering coming November 2, with Google coming either that week or shortly afterwards. The AllThingsD tip added that Propeller will have a "plethora" of media deals and expected both to equally support Android and the iPad.

Either skips the need for a native app and instead use modern web code like HTML5 to replicate some of what a native app could do while supporting multiple platforms and without having to use Flash.

Both are aiming at a market virtually created by Flipboard's iPad app, where news from the web is curated and optimized for the touchscreen. Google and Yahoo see it as a monetization opportunity and could run ads against articles as well as strike special content deals.

Google is rumored to have tried to buy Flipboard in what would likely have taken the app cross-platform and given Android tablets a much-needed app in a category dominated by the iPad. Flipboard was reportedly warned that Google would come out with a competing service if the takeover was turned down, which ultimately led to Propeller.

By Electronista Staff