The very first publication has reportedly appeared on its virtual shelves

Oct 12, 2011 14:56 GMT  ·  By

Newsstand, the new iOS 5 function that automatically fetches new magazine and newspaper issues, has gone live. Newsstand is just one of many new services that Apple planned to launch in tandem with iOS 5 and iCloud.

iOS 5 has been designed by Apple so that it organizes a user’s magazine and newspaper app subscriptions in Newsstand. The service is basically just a folder that borrows key elements from the iBooks interface and lets you access your favorite publications on the fly.

The App Store also made room for a new section dedicated entirely to newspaper and magazine subscriptions. You can get any paper of magazine right from within Newsstand, a function that is reminiscent to the iBookstore (accessible through the iBooks app).

New purchases go directly to the Newsstand folder and they’re automatically downloaded in the background. The feature is now live, moments away from the big iOS 5 release.