Is iPad the print publishing killler we been waiting for?

[Tech]

I just finished reading the latest issue of 'Popular photography', as far as I know one of the biggest photography related magazines in the US. There is so much advertising in it, its reviews are so shallow and the tips & tricks are so plain stupid that I think this is one piece of print that actually deserves to die... and that goes for some other publications as well.

We may have seen the number of books and magazines double of quadruple over the past 10 years but a lot of it is trash. Now that free web garbage becomes easily accessible with devices like the iPad, let's hope it is the quality print stuff that survives.

I think the problem with hoping "quality" will save printing/publishing is at best just a hope. Once end users' perceptions changed, you can't make them go back. The real question is how long will it take to change those views.

[Van]

Now that the ipad is here it seems to be more of a laptop killer than print killer although I'm sure ebooks will have a niche. This publisher has a very clever video that says not so fast to the end of print:

YouTube - The Future of Publishing - created by DK (UK)

[Gregg]

Now that the ipad is here it seems to be more of a laptop killer than print killer although I'm sure ebooks will have a niche. This publisher has a very clever video that says not so fast to the end of print:

YouTube - The Future of Publishing - created by DK (UK)

I saw this video a while back. It is so well done.

I work for a book publisher, and this video circulated around the office quite quickly.

[ajr]

Its early days yet for the Ipad look how long its taken from the ipod to evolve into the iphone. Dont forget the younger generation will demand this technology and expect. Goodbye to books, newspapers magazines it wont be long.

Ajr

[Gregg]

Its early days yet for the Ipad look how long its taken from the ipod to evolve into the iphone. Dont forget the younger generation will demand this technology and expect. Goodbye to books, newspapers magazines it wont be long.

Ajr

I don't think books will ever go away. Perhaps reference books/manuals will go completely digital. That would make sense, since the information in those books could be easily updated.

There will be people who still prefer printed books, and not just "old-folk".

Nonetheless, even if print runs start to get smaller, and certain books are straight to digital, stories still need to be published. There are still stories to be told. Whether or paper, eInk, or on a fancy back-lit iPad screen.

What about the going-green notion? Do you think printing can get to a point where it is more green than the production/energy usage of all of these new devices?

Here's an interesting article in the NYT.
Op-Chart - How Green Is My iPad? - NYTimes.com

[Van]

Books are still easier to read than a computer screen for any length of time. My teenagers still read books and magazines while they continue to have facebook and myspace pages, cell phones, watch tv etc.

It looks like digital editions won't be quite the same as a paperback book:

Wired Magazine’s iPad Edition Goes Live | Magazine

Animation, videos and music:
Animated 360° images show readers every side of Iron Man and let them explore the history of Mars landings.

Four editorial videos including an exclusive clip from Toy Story 3. All video is embedded into the app allowing for automatic load, display in HD and access without a connection.

Music to enhance story telling, including an exclusive listen inside Trent Reznor’s recording studio.

Advertising in the issue is also enhanced. Nine advertisers took advantage of premium sponsorships in Wired’s June digital edition, allowing them to incorporate interactivity and enhancements including 360º images, slide shows and videos.

The Wired app is available now for $4.99.

[Tech]

I have been giving this more thoughts lately, the interesting part about iPad's success isn't that it can replace netbooks or laptops or other ebook readers. Apple/Mr Jobs cleverly created a product that has the capabilities to do all those things and maintain the portability without sacrificing too much performance [it can only get better].

When I started the thread, I wanted to gauge the print community's reaction. Some of you kept an open mind while some rejected the idea print can be replace. Publishing changed a lot in the last century and I expect our industry to forge ahead faster than ever before. In the last 15-yrs along, I went from working with rubber cement and paper to 8+hrs a day in front of a computer... I wonder what will happen in the next 15-yrs or will I be out of a job?

Granted, even if iPad does become a global success [as it appears to do so right now]... the promises for ebooks and ezines are still limited to publisher's visions, developer's abilities and how far they are willing to invest in this unproven consumer format.

We can disagree on readability-legibility of ebooks vs print materials [or going green, this is a different can of worm] but what we don't need to argue about is that ebooks/ezines are easier to update. From a production cost point of view, I would be surprise publishers are not taking this into account especially during this harsh economy.

I think it's easier to argue that we are not ready for change rather than trying to forge ahead and really explore the possibilities. What Wired magazine is doing can prove the viability of e-format over their print edition or in fact, readers are not ready for change yet. At least they are experimenting and providing the options to their readers. Ultimately, success of e-format will be decided by consumers, their dollars and iPad is just a stepping stone.

[Gregg]

From a publisher's standpoint, look at how much focus has been put on books lately. Certainly, it is mostly eBooks, but when you have seen books get so much coverage? Look at the Sony eReader ad that has Payton Manning and Justin Timberlake talking about how many books eBooks they have read.

We have many eReader devices at our office. We have numerous Kindles, we now use these to circulate manuscripts (before it was stacks and stacks of paper). We also have a Sony eReader, a Nook, and an iPad.

In my opinion, the iPad wins, hands-down. Reading the books as actual spreads (with cool page turning, too) is what did it for me - not to mention color artwork. As far as portability, I actually like the Nook. It's pretty compact and feels solid in your hand.

[Van]

According to Print in the Mix:
Two-thirds (67%) of consumers surveyed feel that e-readers have their place, but prefer the experience of holding a print magazine.

Nearly nine out of 10 (87%) say they will continue to favor their print magazine subscriptions.

More than none out of 10 (92%) of magazine subscribers receive their magazines in a printed format. When asked about delivery channel preference, 90% indicate they prefer the printed magazine to the e-reader or online version. With this said, 24% predict they will eventually migrate to digital delivery.

Thirty percent of respondents said they have been surveyed for their insights and preferences as how to best deliver content and promotions to them -- yet 67% of readers said they would participate in such a survey if it meant the delivery of more relevant, targeted content and promotions.

Eight out of 10 (78%) consumers state that relevant, personalized content and promotions would increase their loyalty.

Print in the Mix: Fast Fact - Magazines: Consumers Prefer Print; Hesitant to Embrace E-Reader Advertising

[prepressguru]

Hey can you pass me the paper when you are done.... oh wait... you have a ipad.. and well I don't... dam...

ipad, is and interesting device.. but do we really need this when it is all said and done? Seems more distraction then real purpose. I do like how the iphone and ipad does a majority of computer chores and can fit within most persons computer needs rather then a honkin huge computer on your desk. That is the real story, I believe.

p