Comments on: Why Publishers Should Treat iPad With Optimism – And Caution

By: milesgalliford

milesgalliford — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 09:44:27 +0000

Aidrian excellent article; one of the best I’ve read about the iPad and the implications to its stakeholders.

The jury is out about how well the book, magazine and newspaper publishing sectors will do. Having closely followed the iPodification of the music industry, I’m now watching the publishing industry making all the same mistakes – an obsession with DRM, looking for external scapegoats (Google), charging more for digital products than physical products, not evolving what they do for online consumers, creating proprietary formats and devices, and bullying law makers to protect them. 2010 will be their one opportunity to embrace digital content and networked distribution; if they fail they will kiss goodbye to control of their industry just as the record companies have done before them. The iPad maybe the catalyst that changes the culture…or maybe not.

By: Robservations

Robservations — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:15:18 +0000

Ashley has a strong point here. I would be more then willing to ditch my -18th century – newspaper subscription, especially when I get an iPad 4 free! It might be even attractive for publishers to get rid of their print versions all together and invest the money they save on paper, printing costs and distribution in creating more and better content.

By: Robert Andrews

Robert Andrews — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 17:24:05 +0000

Ohhh, great video on this same topic from Jason Calacanis, btw – http://www.mediabistro.com/baynewser/future_of_journalism/calacanis_to_sulzberger_if_you_sell_the_times_through_the_apple_app_store_you_are_an_idiot_150572.asp

By: Robert Andrews

Robert Andrews — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 17:04:23 +0000

One thing that occurred to me…
News publishers’ apps are successful on iPhone because they downsize desktop websites’ bloat for a device that’s in the palm of your hand.
But iPad users will have a lush, full-size web browsing experience.
eg. When you’ve got access to the full Guardian.co.uk in its full-size glory on a screen that can take it, why bother paying £2.39 for an app version?
I happen to think most people will be using their iPad on their sofa or otherwise in their home (on WiFi), rather than on 3G, so offline sync is largely unnecessary.

By: Ashley Norris

Ashley Norris — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:43:36 +0000

Very interesting read. So how do publishers get the iPad through to a critical mass? Well why not give them away for free with subscripstions to digital content? Publishers have been giving away stuff for ages and the iPad would be a very sexy giveaway as well as getting a device that shows publisher’s content in the best possible way, and also the way that would maximise ad revenues.

It could work like a mobile phone subscription with publishers recouping that outlay via decent ad rates and ultimately lower print costs.

There’s more here – http://ashleynorris.posterous.com/why-i-think-one-day-soon-you-might-get-an-ipa