Interesting Code on New York Times Site- reference to Tablet??

[iDeclare]

If you view the page source on the new york times skimmer site http://www.nytimes.com/timesskimmer/ you see a lot of commented out code for "big bulldog template"- I know this is pure speculation (but hey- mac rumors are fun) but could this be the framework for a larger viewing experience- ie- tablet?

Posted a screenshot of the page source here: http://trunc.it/4u21y

 

[TheBritishBloke]

What would 'Big Bulldog' have to do with anything? :S

 

[shrimpdesign]

No one knows anything about the tablet, certainly not web designers at the NY Times.

 

[Gav2k]

The times seems to be a fave of apples when showing off the speed of the iPhone and full page views etc so it's possible they have asked the times to do something. That said though there is really no need for a website to be altered in any way to be viewed on the iPhone. Given the tablet will either run an os half way between the iPhone and osx or a slim chance of osx why would they need the times to do anything?

 

[iDeclare]

No one knows anything about the tablet, certainly not web designers at the NY Times.

Only reason I brought this up is that rumors have been swirling around that some content providers (like large newspapers, magazines, etc) might be looking to find a way to charge for content as the traditional print business is dieing out (look at the kindle for example- people spend $5 monthly to have the nytimes formatted and delivered daily to their devices).

I don't think it would be unheard of to have a version of the site up and running prior to a tablet announcement- especially if apple is planning on partnering with large publishing houses, newspapers, etc.

Also - many sites have been known to have pseudo-code out prior to announcing a new product. The Flip did the same for the Flip Mino (ie, the html code was set the night before and could be viewed prior to the press embargoes being lifted- ie, pogue/mossberg talking about it).

Pure speculation guys - thought it was interesting .

 

[Tilpots]

Pure speculation guys - thought it was interesting .

It's very interesting. Especially given the fact that Apple is rumored to have talked to the print industry about creating Tablet content AND Apple is also rumored to have asked app developers to make higher rez apps.

Wouldn't be surprised to see this page next Wednesday...

 

[Tilpots]

Nevermind, a little googling found this:

Entry from December 20, 2004
Bull Dog Edition
"Bulldog edition" is the earliest edition of a Sunday newspaper. It's been recorded from 1907.

It's not known what "bulldog" exactly stands for. Yale? It's also not known where the term comes from (New York? Chicago?), but it is believed to have originated in New York.

(Oxford English Dictionary)
bull-dog edition, the earliest edition of a daily or Sunday newspaper. U.S.

1926 Nation 13 Oct. 342/2 This story got into the bull-dog edition of one of the papers before he could finish his midnight rounds.

9 October 1910, Chicago Daily Tribune, pg. G7:
In all events I advise you to run off a couple of thousand extra of the bulldog edition, and be ready for another call after that.

January 1911, The Bookman, "The SHort Story Famine" by George Jean Nathan, pg. 538:
Write it for quick consumption, just as you would dictate it to a telegraph operator if you were a newspaper reporter "covering" a late night story and had to rush it into your office from out of town in time to catch the "bulldog" edition.

29 February 1912, New York Times, pg. 11:
A "Bull Dog" edition of "The Truth Wagon," the newspaper play that is now at Daly's Theatre, will be run off next Sunday morning for the benefit of workers on morning newspapers. In some newspaper offices the first edition of the Sunday paper is known as the "Bull Dog," hence the appellation of this special performance.

12 January 1914, Los Angeles Times, pg. I2:
Unlike its local contemporaries The Times does not publish a "bull dog" edition, or predate or misbrand its editions, and it is the only Los Angeles newspaper which regularly publishes a sworn statement of its daily and Sunday circulation.

24 January 1915, Washington Post, pg. B4:
Two blind newsboys who station themselves at Thirteenth and Market streets at midnight to sell the "bulldog" editions of the various morning newspapers, are furnishing a spectacle that would call forth from Billy Sunday some choice Sundaygrams.
(From the Philadelphia Record - ed.)

28 August 1915, Chicago Daily Tribune, pg. 10:
NOW, scholars, remember that most football games are played on Saturday, and that the bulldog edition goes to press at 6 Saturday night.

15 December 1955, Chicago Dqaily Tribune, pg. 20:
Q. - What is the bull dog edition of a morning paper? - B. S., SKokie, Ill.
A. - Usually the first edition.

 

[iDeclare]

wow, great find tipilots! much more plausible