And Apple when then, magically, awesome, amazing, become a newspaper and magazine publisher over night? Get real.
No, Apple becomes the facilitator for every group of 3 talented people to have a product with an equal distribution power of Time Magazine without all the encumbrances of Time Magazine.
Apple (and Amazon) will be the dominant force and will be able to dictate even more terms than they can now. They are in this position because they did what the publishing industry should have done a decade ago. So just like Apple ate the lunch of the music distribution industry, and then Apple (now along with google and shortly MS) ate the lunch of the phone industry, they will eventually eat the lunch of the publishing industry. My point is that the publishing industry is so full of idiots, that they will deserve it.
Newspapers and magazines are traditionally NOT in the software development business, and they do NOT want to change that. They want an electronic platform that does not require them to change the way they work and do business.
yep, that's their problem. No vision. But you're right, this might make it easier for them, because then they can focus on content and shed all that infrastructure that weighs their industry down. But you know what that means? They have to drastically downsize their operations and be a pure content company, and I really, really doubt they are ready for that.
Just like the record industry, that now has largely had the duplication and distribution piece of their pie taken away from them, still can't grasp the fact that this means they should be SMALLER. BUt all they do is bitch and moan about growth projections falling. They need to face the music. They are now glorified banks for risky investments and marketing/publicists. THAT'S IT. No one needs them to press records anymore, or to ship them around the country on trucks.
If Apple cannot provide them this platform, Apple will be out of business and somebody else will do the job. Amazon, maybe?
the iPad could be the worst failure in the history of failures and not drive Apple out of business.
I wonder who will become the Slate provider for Playboy, Penthouse, Hustler & Co. Since Apple, prude Americans that they are, have no problem with violent computer games but die of a heart attack when they see a naked breast, won't work with them, somebody else will have to do it. And whoever it is, he/she/it will quickly become the most important Slate eMagazine platform.
Can't argue with that one, you're probably right.