This GodPad better have a headphone jack... and a at least 32 gigs of storage. ......................... plus 16 hour battery.
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Apple's Focus on Content and Possible eBook Pricing
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Many magazines already publish all of their content online for free. What makes the author think that people will pay money to buy it from apple when they are holding a device that is connected to the internet.
All in all, the author here seems to be wishing that apple revolutionized the print media market by adapting the same itunes/app store model that has worked in the past. That sounds fine to me, but I don't see how that makes a new device necessary. Sure, reading your favorite media on a large portrait tablet will be nice, but if I already own an iPhone and a MacBook that can both do that, will I shell out the $$$ to get a third device that can?
This thing better do something new.
(that being said, I do like the idea of leveling the pay-for print media distribution playing field, as iTunes did for independent music artists.)
All in all, the author here seems to be wishing that apple revolutionized the print media market by adapting the same itunes/app store model that has worked in the past. That sounds fine to me, but I don't see how that makes a new device necessary. Sure, reading your favorite media on a large portrait tablet will be nice, but if I already own an iPhone and a MacBook that can both do that, will I shell out the $$$ to get a third device that can?
This thing better do something new.
(that being said, I do like the idea of leveling the pay-for print media distribution playing field, as iTunes did for independent music artists.)
Remaking how content is delivered. This really could be big. The device as merely the vehicle for shaking up how an industry delivers its content to its customers.
I hear some people like to smell their books - but I'm guessing a lot of people would give up that ability for a book that is truly a multi-media experience. Hyperlinks to external content, embedded video, and sound. That'd be a mystery thriller with the ability to totally immerse you in the experience of reading the book.
Authors would need to be a lot more creative in putting together their content, but it would also un-tether them from the medium (to a degree anyway). Books would potentially get a lot more interesting.
The possibilities here are endless, and it would be the media itself driving the sales of the device. But the device would NEED to be something you could afford as a present (birthday/Christmas/whatever) and not just in the hands of gadget geeks, or people with a spare $1000 laying around. Otherwise the content would be too expensive to create with not enough possibility of sales.
I hear some people like to smell their books - but I'm guessing a lot of people would give up that ability for a book that is truly a multi-media experience. Hyperlinks to external content, embedded video, and sound. That'd be a mystery thriller with the ability to totally immerse you in the experience of reading the book.
Authors would need to be a lot more creative in putting together their content, but it would also un-tether them from the medium (to a degree anyway). Books would potentially get a lot more interesting.
The possibilities here are endless, and it would be the media itself driving the sales of the device. But the device would NEED to be something you could afford as a present (birthday/Christmas/whatever) and not just in the hands of gadget geeks, or people with a spare $1000 laying around. Otherwise the content would be too expensive to create with not enough possibility of sales.
What I am waiting for is to find out how the device is going to operate outside of media consumption. I think that if it is an $800-$1000 device that you consume media on then it is pretty limited, and short sighted. While these are good uses for a tablet type device I think it needs to do a lot more, crossing into the realm of the MacBook within it's limitations. This means running software that is not available for the iPhone OS right now like Word and Excel, and not just a viewer since if you are in a meeting and need access to your spreadsheet it would me great if you could make minor changes while you are there.
Another thing that will be interesting to see is if they will finally allow Flash on the iPhone OS. I think that without it this will be unnecessarily crippled as a web device. Even if they had their own solution to replace Flash it would take time for it to take hold in the market, and in the mean time Flash heavy sights would not be viewable.
Another thing that will be interesting to see is if they will finally allow Flash on the iPhone OS. I think that without it this will be unnecessarily crippled as a web device. Even if they had their own solution to replace Flash it would take time for it to take hold in the market, and in the mean time Flash heavy sights would not be viewable.
Save Print?
Funny and possibly ironic.
It will be interesting to see whether an Apple eBook product and the accompanying text media can be positioned and marketed as successful as iPod and iTunes to SAVE PRINT MEDIA. As everybody knows, newspapers are dying all over the country. Apple could very well save them by introducing an eBook that allows portability, subscription for a fee, and print like readability.
Way to go Apple. Newspapers have the best reporters in the business and we can't afford to lose them to shoddy diatribes by uneducated and opinionated bloggers out there.
Funny and possibly ironic.
It will be interesting to see whether an Apple eBook product and the accompanying text media can be positioned and marketed as successful as iPod and iTunes to SAVE PRINT MEDIA. As everybody knows, newspapers are dying all over the country. Apple could very well save them by introducing an eBook that allows portability, subscription for a fee, and print like readability.
Way to go Apple. Newspapers have the best reporters in the business and we can't afford to lose them to shoddy diatribes by uneducated and opinionated bloggers out there.
eBooks
There are a couple of issues to take into consideration when discussing an all encompassing ebook reader that will replace print media.
1. Format, novels and narrative publications can work well with an ebook format as they already tend to share the same size formats and aspect ratios due to cost and legibility of the text. Any other type of book such as - text books, art and design, photography have the benefit with physical media to be designed with the content in mind. Ebooks with a set physical size, aspect ratio do not allow this to be done.
2. Cost savings - true that the novel market will benefit from cost savings in production of ebooks but this is the only area that would. Publishers who are providing books using more than just type set blocks of text with photographs, diagrams and expressive type treatment will now be expected to provide additional multimedia content. This will increase costs drastically in terms of production and design so the end user will see no reduction in prices of these publications if anything you may see the digital editions carrying a price premium.
3. Revolution? - if this device is to set a standard for replacing print it must be as flexible as the technology it is replacing. It is not, it requires power, it ties publishers into a set format, you can only look at one page at a time - gone are the days of the spread. It is to be based on a web standard (HTML5) that has not actually be standardised.
Do we really want print publishing to look more like the web and loose all the flexibility that it already has over ebooks?
Did the computer replace pen and paper?
There are a couple of issues to take into consideration when discussing an all encompassing ebook reader that will replace print media.
1. Format, novels and narrative publications can work well with an ebook format as they already tend to share the same size formats and aspect ratios due to cost and legibility of the text. Any other type of book such as - text books, art and design, photography have the benefit with physical media to be designed with the content in mind. Ebooks with a set physical size, aspect ratio do not allow this to be done.
2. Cost savings - true that the novel market will benefit from cost savings in production of ebooks but this is the only area that would. Publishers who are providing books using more than just type set blocks of text with photographs, diagrams and expressive type treatment will now be expected to provide additional multimedia content. This will increase costs drastically in terms of production and design so the end user will see no reduction in prices of these publications if anything you may see the digital editions carrying a price premium.
3. Revolution? - if this device is to set a standard for replacing print it must be as flexible as the technology it is replacing. It is not, it requires power, it ties publishers into a set format, you can only look at one page at a time - gone are the days of the spread. It is to be based on a web standard (HTML5) that has not actually be standardised.
Do we really want print publishing to look more like the web and loose all the flexibility that it already has over ebooks?
Did the computer replace pen and paper?
Apple has too many reasons to keep Flash out of their App Store devices. I wouldn't hold my breath for Flash.
I think people need to get a dose of reality when it comes to price. Take a look at how the iPhone was initially priced, and its features (particularly software) compared to today.
My point is that it is not the case that the starting price will determine whether this device is a FAIL or not. If Apple are backing themselves, they are in for the long haul, and are happy to sell to a few early adopters at a high price while the kinks are being sorted out (S/W, H/W, content). It will be a staged rollout, with ever more attractive pricepoints and features.
It could still be a FAIL, but the launch price is unlikely to be the reason, even if it is very high.
And ties all these news providers into a third party private network and distribution system, that sounds like a sure fire way to make sure there is press freedom and good reporting.
The question is can there be a subscription/ad revenue business model that can "save" magazines and newspapers when we as consumers want and are used to getting that content online for free?
I agree with you though, it would be good to find a way to put real reporters, writers, editors, designers, proof readers, and other publishing professionals back to work who have lost their jobs. This could help in doing that if the publishers can make money off their content.
The problem is that there are too many people who expect to pay less and get the same or more out of the product. They may save on printing costs, but now you need web developers (HTML 5, Javascript, multi-media [Flash?]) and those jobs are going to add to the production cost which will eat away at the savings gained from the lack of physical media.
No, actually, it's shortsighted of you. That layout, design, editing, publishing and advertising would happen anyway. The printing, other manufacturing, packing, storage and distribution costs are gigantic compared to the extra 5% that the publisher might have to spend in order to perfect the content for this format.
Well yes, OK, I'm prepared to pay extra for that of course. But I would like to have the option not to do so.
Now THIS is true... for you.
To be honest I suspect it's true for a lot of people. My reason for not buying music from the iTunes Store, for example, is that it comes in a proprietary, lossy format - in effect, it's inferior to buying the CD. Admittedly this is slightly different (you can't copy a book to a digital format) but I'm sure you appreciate my point.
And ties all these news providers into a third party private network and distribution system, that sounds like a sure fire way to make sure there is press freedom and good reporting.
I think I'd be more likely to get my content from a central third-party distribution system than searching on the web for a newspaper I might like.
If things stay the way they are, there will be about 3 newspapers left standing. Making their content available online for free isn't a sustainable business model (even with online ads). Having most print content available for sale/subscription in one place might be.
great, will the tablet have revolutionary new feature where you can feel leather on it
I could see a flip open portfolio style reader, like the one Microsoft is working on, wrapped in a leather case selling well if it has a screen that isn't eye straining.
The iPod made it easy to carry and listen to all our music because it is something you do without having to focus on. Earbuds/headphones and you are free to go about your business.
Reading, has not been an issue. I am not likely going to be reading 10-12 different books at once. I also like putting books on my shelf, the feel of paper and their smell. If I am reading a book, I can carry it around just fine. Newspapers or magazines are the same. And material I like online, looks fine on my laptop. I doubt typing on a screen is as fast as replying to this forum.
My other big issue is the possibility it is going to make it's way into schools. As much as I love the idea of low cost textbooks, I don't think digitizing them is a cost effective solution. The real problem with textbook prices is the publisher. Having worked with two of my professors on publishing textbooks, I can tell you they make little to no money off of their work, while the publisher makes a massive profit. This profit comes while schools struggle to keep their books updated for learning children. Kinda despicable if you ask me.
I still see the tablet as a showcase for fun technology, possible gaming platform, and toy. I do not see this replacing anything I currently own, and I definitely do not see myself adding it onto a cell data plan. They already rape me now for a phone, I don't need to give them more reasons to bend me over.
Same here - until iTunes music is lossless and costs less than physical media from a bricks and mortar outlet with an expensive retail and distribution operation to support, I'm not interested. Thing is though, there are a very large number of of people who are prepared to pay over the odds for an inferior product, with music. Perhaps there are also lots of people who are prepared to pay over the odds for books too.
Jason Calacanis has already tweeted that the price points will be $599, $699, and $799, respectively. The models will differ by RAM and screen size. Future prices drops will depend on how well they sell. Also, these are unsubsidized prices, so I'm assuming if you go w/ a sub you can get these half price. Of course you are locked into another $60/mo contract then too.
And that's a fact is it? Some of the other stuff attributed to him didn't have much credibility.
And ties all these news providers into a third party private network and distribution system, that sounds like a sure fire way to make sure there is press freedom and good reporting.
Comcast, Charter, Dish, DirectTV, (or for that matter CBS, NBC, FOX) and other media distribution sources/networks are owned in the private sector (and publicly traded like Apple).
The major benefit of the Apple eBook newspaper distribution option is that instead of a predominant political perspective (like networks project), all variants of the political spectrum would be represented.
As for "good reporting"? That isn't a factor of the distribution method, it's the integrity and character of the reporter (and editor for that matter).
Regardless if his information is true, I am worried that many features will not be available unless you have a contract with some provider. In other words, I fully expect to be able buy an unsubsidized version I am just worried I will still need a service to get full use of it. (as in this feature requires a contract with X)
Very valid points.
"free" is relative of course. They might not be paying for the news, but the website they're visiting is getting paid (usually) - banner ads and such.
If i was running the show, i would introduce paid ads before each article. A quick 5sec "Buy Tide" or "Drive an Audi" ad just like you'd see when thumbing through the WSG. This would bring revenue without charging customers.
It doesn't do anything for the jobs related directly to the print process but it does keep the reporters and editors working.
Those Jason Calacanacis posts are clearly made up, so why bother commenting on them?
We'll know in four hours what Apple is going to be offering today. (UK times)
6.05 Steve On Stage
6.10 Steve Does The Sales Graphs and Self Congratulations.
6.20 Steve Announces iPhone OS 3.2 / 4.0 and does demos, etc
6.40 Steve Moves Onto The Tablet Device, demos, software software software, few hard technical specifications beyond physical aspects
7.20 Ends, Singer/Songwriter Performance
We'll know in four hours what Apple is going to be offering today. (UK times)
6.05 Steve On Stage
6.10 Steve Does The Sales Graphs and Self Congratulations.
6.20 Steve Announces iPhone OS 3.2 / 4.0 and does demos, etc
6.40 Steve Moves Onto The Tablet Device, demos, software software software, few hard technical specifications beyond physical aspects
7.20 Ends, Singer/Songwriter Performance
I know i'm not the first to ask the question, but i'm at work and I don't have to search the whole forum so:
Can we watch the keynote live, or do we have to look at transcripts like last time ? If that's the case, do anyone know if the keynote will be on Apple.com after ?
Thanks
Can we watch the keynote live, or do we have to look at transcripts like last time ? If that's the case, do anyone know if the keynote will be on Apple.com after ?
Thanks
This work is done but the format is different, so the design may have to change to accommodate the device reader. Then there are the products, like books, which will need to be produced in both formats for at least a number of years. This could add to the cost due to the potential complexity of the workflow and training. Another additional cost to production is accessibility, see http://www.section508.gov/.
I'm not saying that the publishers won't save some money, but they still need to make a profit and they have not been as successful at that with their current pricing. This could be a boon to them and help an industry that has seen a lot of layoffs over the past 4 years, but if they need to be able to make a profit at it to hire people back, and I would hope that they can make enough to employ people where they are publishing their products rather than sending the work to India or the Philipeans.
I'm not even suggesting that the device itself would be a FAIL whether or not it is priced at $1000. I'm only stating that it could not be a game-changer for the "print" industry (magazines, books, newpapers, whatever) unless and until it (or other devices like it) become mass-affordable. Netbooks might be considered to be mass-affordable, but would they have the features needed? If they did, then the cost of Apple's device may not matter as much.
Certainly their will be low-cost devices that could interact with the new medium and high-cost devices that could interact with the new medium. Apple will likely produce devices on the high end of that spectrum. But unless and until low-end devices are produced, there won't be enough of a market for these "interactive-multimedia print" publications to drive the industry beyond niche status.
That would be a shame.
hmmnn...
Agree with your notable points but Apple will most likely make adjustments along the way. And in doing so they will probably kill off Kindle unless the latter quickly creates at least a similar experience.
Haven't heard about email but hope this device carries that too. Expect some nifty touch features that will blow folks' minds. There's no way Apple is going to release this without some innovative interaction (gestures) between the user and the device IMHO.
But I do hope the wifi version is closer to $500 than $1,000. Hoping....
Agree with your notable points but Apple will most likely make adjustments along the way. And in doing so they will probably kill off Kindle unless the latter quickly creates at least a similar experience.
Haven't heard about email but hope this device carries that too. Expect some nifty touch features that will blow folks' minds. There's no way Apple is going to release this without some innovative interaction (gestures) between the user and the device IMHO.
But I do hope the wifi version is closer to $500 than $1,000. Hoping....