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Apple's Tablet Effort Aiming to Redefine Print Media?
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That's the big question. Textbook printing is very expensive, especially for small run books (think how much your 300-400 series classes / gradschool texts cost)... I'd imagine they'd jump at the chance of making 50-60% of text prices (no printing, no used book marked)... like I said, if implemented properly, it is a win-win situation.
to be honest this doesn't sound like something jobs would do in terms of releasing an entirely new product segment. it strikes me more of what happened with the ipod
- music playing device only
then people started coming up with solutions (blank songs) to have it work as an address book and a small notes app. then people started combining rss feeds with mp3s and playlists to create podcasts. apple slowly started to add these features to the official list of capabilities and it was cool, but it wasn't the primary focus of the device.
again i think apple is releasing a ton of false rumors to obfuscate what's really happening. apple typically releases new products as answers to problems you didn't even realize existed and so far none of the rumors i've read do any of that.
to be honest right now microsoft's courier tablet is exactly what i want, and if i trusted microsoft to be able to translate awesome demos to awesome products (coughvistacough) then i'd probably buy one. as it is i'm hoping apple's attempt is even better.
- music playing device only
then people started coming up with solutions (blank songs) to have it work as an address book and a small notes app. then people started combining rss feeds with mp3s and playlists to create podcasts. apple slowly started to add these features to the official list of capabilities and it was cool, but it wasn't the primary focus of the device.
again i think apple is releasing a ton of false rumors to obfuscate what's really happening. apple typically releases new products as answers to problems you didn't even realize existed and so far none of the rumors i've read do any of that.
to be honest right now microsoft's courier tablet is exactly what i want, and if i trusted microsoft to be able to translate awesome demos to awesome products (coughvistacough) then i'd probably buy one. as it is i'm hoping apple's attempt is even better.
music, app store, book store
Yeah... I actually would NOT prefer to buy my text books from the apple store, but it would be very handy. I like physical print media, I find it easier to read.
That being said, I do most of my reading online. I would give an e-text a shot for sure, especially on a device it was tailored for. PDF texts on my macbook or even imac have never done it for me, but articles I read all day on the damn things. Creating textbooks like a newspaper would seal the deal on deep reading becoming a lost art, but could convey information very well.
Scholarship has just become as episodic as our other media, and apple is leading the charge. Still not sure how I feel about it, but I'll give it a shot if I get the chance.
Yeah... I actually would NOT prefer to buy my text books from the apple store, but it would be very handy. I like physical print media, I find it easier to read.
That being said, I do most of my reading online. I would give an e-text a shot for sure, especially on a device it was tailored for. PDF texts on my macbook or even imac have never done it for me, but articles I read all day on the damn things. Creating textbooks like a newspaper would seal the deal on deep reading becoming a lost art, but could convey information very well.
Scholarship has just become as episodic as our other media, and apple is leading the charge. Still not sure how I feel about it, but I'll give it a shot if I get the chance.
I disagree. Apple has the iTMS and App store already in place, so distribution is ready right now. That's the key to the device we're imagining... distribution. iPod was created before iTMS, iPhone prior to app store (but was iTMS compatible from the beginning, obviously)
This thing needs to be ready to go from the beginning... that includes content and distribution channels. We'll see, I guess. I'm imagining a Spring 2010 release, aimed at Fall 2010 classes. That will give companies all summer to get their texts up to the store, to have them ready.
Audacity
It's the same crazy notion of industry change. With ipods and itunes, they went to change the game of music. Today, we buy singles, online, for $1.29 with no DRM. Even 5 years ago, I'd say you were out of your mind to think that Apple would outsell Wal*Mart in music.
Then the iPhone. It's still years ahead of most phones, and while it's not doing any one thing that's all that unique, it has completely changed the mobile market from a smattering of smart phones to an expectation that your phone can use the internet reasonably. Remember number-key navigation? Yuck.
Now, I think it's all about being the book-reader's friend. It's an industry, and that's what Apple tackles. They are out to change print because they have a proven distribution method, ease of use, and the ability to sign large publishing houses, newspapers, and textbook makers based on the fact that those companies will finally have a distribution path.
The New York Times doesn't have a distribution path with the ability to reach as many readers as Apple. Think about that... thus, why not totally change the game in their favor? We own a Kindle, and it's a good device. Is it worth a damn when looking through the "store"? Hell no. And that is where everyone has missed, and Apple has gotten so right over the last 5 years.
It's not the e-ink. It's the ease that the device can ring up more sales after you own it. The iPod w/ iTunes is EASY to buy music, despite having so many "free" outlets. The iPhone is EASY to buy apps, despite having smartphones been around for so long, and now apple has over 90% rev of all mobile apps. Now, it's time for someone to make it EASY TO CONSUME PRINT MEDIA.
Thus, I'll be the first to present, the iBook.
It's the same crazy notion of industry change. With ipods and itunes, they went to change the game of music. Today, we buy singles, online, for $1.29 with no DRM. Even 5 years ago, I'd say you were out of your mind to think that Apple would outsell Wal*Mart in music.
Then the iPhone. It's still years ahead of most phones, and while it's not doing any one thing that's all that unique, it has completely changed the mobile market from a smattering of smart phones to an expectation that your phone can use the internet reasonably. Remember number-key navigation? Yuck.
Now, I think it's all about being the book-reader's friend. It's an industry, and that's what Apple tackles. They are out to change print because they have a proven distribution method, ease of use, and the ability to sign large publishing houses, newspapers, and textbook makers based on the fact that those companies will finally have a distribution path.
The New York Times doesn't have a distribution path with the ability to reach as many readers as Apple. Think about that... thus, why not totally change the game in their favor? We own a Kindle, and it's a good device. Is it worth a damn when looking through the "store"? Hell no. And that is where everyone has missed, and Apple has gotten so right over the last 5 years.
It's not the e-ink. It's the ease that the device can ring up more sales after you own it. The iPod w/ iTunes is EASY to buy music, despite having so many "free" outlets. The iPhone is EASY to buy apps, despite having smartphones been around for so long, and now apple has over 90% rev of all mobile apps. Now, it's time for someone to make it EASY TO CONSUME PRINT MEDIA.
Thus, I'll be the first to present, the iBook.
An LCD/LED type screen is fine for brief reading sessions such as reading a five page news story, a magazine article, etc.
For actual book reading an LCD/LED screen is really a horrible way to go. Reading for several hours on such a device causes severe eye strain, headaches and general irritation in most people.
The Kindle has a lot of shortcomings, but it makes for a fantastic way to read a novel without having to purchase the physical book and cart it around.
I think that at some future point in time we will see hybrid displays that will function as E-Ink for easy reading but will have the speed and performance of LCD.
That time is not now though, so I don't expect to be buying any books for a new Apple Tablet.
For actual book reading an LCD/LED screen is really a horrible way to go. Reading for several hours on such a device causes severe eye strain, headaches and general irritation in most people.
The Kindle has a lot of shortcomings, but it makes for a fantastic way to read a novel without having to purchase the physical book and cart it around.
I think that at some future point in time we will see hybrid displays that will function as E-Ink for easy reading but will have the speed and performance of LCD.
That time is not now though, so I don't expect to be buying any books for a new Apple Tablet.
so, you mean like a webpage or a widget?
reading a magazine online, that would be like magic!
Honestly, That is pretty much what I think about this tablet craze.
Many are used to getting their news from a web page already. If this tablet does not come with a web browser and a PDF reader, it is dead in the water and regulated to a niche market right up there with the Kindle and the other e-books.
If Jobs thinks he can move the now, very compromised Associated Press subscriber media outlets into a digital format with a high entry fee to keep alternative media off this new tablet, the whole product idea is in big trouble.
In a way he may be trying to rescue the legacy media as he tried with record labels by introducing iTunes.
The Genie is already out of the bottle guy!
Comics
As someone who works in the comic-book industry, and who's been VERY resistant to the idea of digital comics so far, I'm curious to see if such a tablet might finally change my mind. It would be portable enough to read comics in bed or on the subway (something I really don't want to do with a laptop or iPhone), and a decent size.
The only advantage print comics would still have is the double-page spread, though...
As someone who works in the comic-book industry, and who's been VERY resistant to the idea of digital comics so far, I'm curious to see if such a tablet might finally change my mind. It would be portable enough to read comics in bed or on the subway (something I really don't want to do with a laptop or iPhone), and a decent size.
The only advantage print comics would still have is the double-page spread, though...
Id like to see comics and so on, on this device. Similar to the app called Alex which is on the iPhone at present. It from the Daily Telegraph and its basically a send up of the credit crunch and bankers but the way its presented is top notch.
I saw it coming!!!
not that i am such a genius, but MONTHS ago i posted here that the tablet would also be designed as a kindle killer.
not that i am such a genius, but MONTHS ago i posted here that the tablet would also be designed as a kindle killer.
Aha! The first rumor that specifies a target audience for the device beyond gadget heads, and apple-philes.
I'm pretty sure I wouldn't bother with one, although it would make for a nice replacement for a portable DVD player and the 4 books I generally take on vacation. Apple would need to place this in the $300 range, especially considering most of the media I would place on it, I would need to purchase in addition to the device.
A mix between a book and interactive media (like you would find on many web pages today) would be pretty compelling from an author's standpoint. I think it would be more interesting than a book turned into a movie where the original author's vision could quite easily be entirely lost. But including video and atmospheric audio along with the text would be pretty cool. It could even get interactive linking to content on the web if you wanted to drill down into something without losing your place in the book.
In a few years, after enough multimedia content was made available by some enterprising authors, I could see myself wanting one of these.
I'm pretty sure I wouldn't bother with one, although it would make for a nice replacement for a portable DVD player and the 4 books I generally take on vacation. Apple would need to place this in the $300 range, especially considering most of the media I would place on it, I would need to purchase in addition to the device.
A mix between a book and interactive media (like you would find on many web pages today) would be pretty compelling from an author's standpoint. I think it would be more interesting than a book turned into a movie where the original author's vision could quite easily be entirely lost. But including video and atmospheric audio along with the text would be pretty cool. It could even get interactive linking to content on the web if you wanted to drill down into something without losing your place in the book.
In a few years, after enough multimedia content was made available by some enterprising authors, I could see myself wanting one of these.
just release the thing already...
I am starting think we are really getting one...
The rumor is over!... or is it???
I am starting think we are really getting one...
The rumor is over!... or is it???
just release the thing already...
I am starting think we are really getting one...
The rumor is over!... or is it???
Not having any inside knowledge of Apple at all and therefore no information or guarantee that what im going to say is evenly slightly accurate or correct i forecast that this is real and will be released next june
I'll state my opinion about the killer feature the itablet needs to succeed, but first point out the key market.
Young college age students-Nearly 15 million people in higher ed.
Now give apple the challenge to redefine a niche and I think the next move is books, with the initial target textbooks. Apple redefined the music market with the iPod (with the walkman laying the foundation). People don't listen to music like they used to.
I believe Apple has its sights set on the education market and redefine how textbooks are used. As this article states the books will become more interactive and incorporate multi-media. Text books have been trying this for awhile with weblinks in books and multimedia CD's but but from my experience students don't use them. Make a textbook interactive and let the students move through them like a website and now you have a market and a product students are readily familiar with.
In talking with textbook reps they see this is where textbooks are going. They are seeing some adoption of the e-texts, but it is slow because of the portability and interactive issues. Students want to be able to interact with the text still. This will give them that chance.
Anyway my bet is on a tight association with textbook publishers, for other reasons I well that I have pointed out before.
Young college age students-Nearly 15 million people in higher ed.
Now give apple the challenge to redefine a niche and I think the next move is books, with the initial target textbooks. Apple redefined the music market with the iPod (with the walkman laying the foundation). People don't listen to music like they used to.
I believe Apple has its sights set on the education market and redefine how textbooks are used. As this article states the books will become more interactive and incorporate multi-media. Text books have been trying this for awhile with weblinks in books and multimedia CD's but but from my experience students don't use them. Make a textbook interactive and let the students move through them like a website and now you have a market and a product students are readily familiar with.
In talking with textbook reps they see this is where textbooks are going. They are seeing some adoption of the e-texts, but it is slow because of the portability and interactive issues. Students want to be able to interact with the text still. This will give them that chance.
Anyway my bet is on a tight association with textbook publishers, for other reasons I well that I have pointed out before.
You are definitely on the right path....
"Kindle Killer" & 3G wifi is a market opportunity in itself - I think Apple is headed towards this. Anywhere internet will really make me buy... let's hope the 3G plans are a decent price...
Verizon can sell these...
Major issue, in my opinion
Interesting concept. I think, however, that some things should be higher in Apple's priorities, such as more distribution deals for their video content. If the tablet, with regards of content, goes the way of the AppleTV (only a handful of countries do actually benefit of the device's full potential) then these new "content driven devices" are destined to fail in the eyes of the consumer.
Sales of the device should be in high numbers, to avoid it becoming a hobby, and this implies contacts with publishers worldwide and both books and magazines, as well as school books publishers, maybe also TV (news, documentaries, featured programmes). Such a thing is not easy to do. Apple managed do achieve it with music but failed with video and movies. I think it is crucial for the device's success, as well as for a possible AppleTV reiteration, that deals are in place first. And that these are worldwide, or at least in a great number of countries. That will determine if this device is successful more than the actual amount of pixels per inch or the Ghz of the CPU (in my opinion at least). I think that this aspect of content wasn't highlighted enough in commentaries up to now
Interesting concept. I think, however, that some things should be higher in Apple's priorities, such as more distribution deals for their video content. If the tablet, with regards of content, goes the way of the AppleTV (only a handful of countries do actually benefit of the device's full potential) then these new "content driven devices" are destined to fail in the eyes of the consumer.
Sales of the device should be in high numbers, to avoid it becoming a hobby, and this implies contacts with publishers worldwide and both books and magazines, as well as school books publishers, maybe also TV (news, documentaries, featured programmes). Such a thing is not easy to do. Apple managed do achieve it with music but failed with video and movies. I think it is crucial for the device's success, as well as for a possible AppleTV reiteration, that deals are in place first. And that these are worldwide, or at least in a great number of countries. That will determine if this device is successful more than the actual amount of pixels per inch or the Ghz of the CPU (in my opinion at least). I think that this aspect of content wasn't highlighted enough in commentaries up to now