The future of reading, magazines and books

[Tom]

Fortune Magazine 'celebrates' the launch of the iPad with a review article and interviews with pundits. See
http://money.cnn.com/2010/02/09/technology/tablet_ebooks_media.fortune/index.htm
http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2010/fortune/1002/gallery.future_reading.fortune/index.html

A range of opinions is expressed and led me to the following conclusions
1) the technology works and even if people can obtain comparable content (or identical content) elsewhere on the web they will be willing to pay subscriptions for the hassle-free experience of reading high quality up-to-date edited content
2) advertising on eReaders and Tablets maywell provide a revenue model to rival Adsense. The two types of ad could end up being related like classified and display adverts - and it has been the display ads which, in the past, have had the lion's share of the revenue.

Fortune is of course wrestling with the problem itself. Most of their content is available free online but they do not make it very easy to find or read.

[kae101]

This relates wonderfully to my essay, now on the blog, about Magazine publishing and the web...

http://www.websitearchitecture.co.uk/blog/?p=779

KA

[Tom]

I think a lot of websites and blogs have 'magazine-type' content and they may well find they can produce a better product and generate more revenue if they deliver this content in eReader format - so many of us should be taking decisions which are compatible with this development.

[kae101]

Now I am not sure, because that suggests people liked the layout beyond the content. Whereas I think people are happy and ready to adjust to a new way of viewing magazines that is more than just an electric version of the old layout. I think people like features, and are happy to allow css and javascript based sites to present them these features.

I certainly won't be getting an e-reader and can't think of any reason why I ever would.

KA

[David]

I certainly won't be getting an e-reader and can't think of any reason why I ever would.

My feeling is that in the future, some content will only be published in eReader format because it is cheaper than paper publishing. Before the web, most people couldn't concieve of reading on a screen, now there is plenty of copy available only on screen. The thing that will push the adoption is access to content and not user preference.

[kae101]

I think people don't mind reading on screen because it is presented in an entirely different way (aka websites with magazine content), whereas e-readers are just making what we already have, electronic. After a quick panel from the keen readers in my office, they are not interested in this. Books have weight, page turning is a pleasure and at no point has any one had to charge up a book, or get it fixed because its crashed.

You could argue that musice has made the transition, but music is different, its has evolved quickly in its history, whereas books and the act of turning pages has not. To me an e reader seems a gadget, not a genuine alternative for the future and trying to force it with 'e-reader only' books will cause outrage not compliance.

Surely office people get sick of looking at a screen all day!?

KA

[kae101]

And just to back up my point

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-03-17/wheres-the-bailout-for-publishing/full/

If it ain't broke, don't fix it

:D

KA

[David]

I agree that as an activity, book reading is far superior to eReader reading - that was not my point. My point is that there will be commercial pressure to deliver ONLY electronic versions of some publications because of the cost savings and (in partnership with hardware manufacturers) as a way to promote their products. I honestly don't think consumers have a say in the matter. Sure, paper books will survive but increasingly, new publications will become electronic only. The choice is then to avoid the hardware and miss out or to conform and bow to commercial pressures.

[philipjcowan]

I think the debate web/hardcopy debate is becoming somewhat sterile, as it is failing to recognise that different formats can exist and thrive alongside one another. Television did not destroy cinema and radio failed to destroy newspapers.

Take, for example the strong growth in audiobooks (which I have enjoyed for many years) eg: Based on a 2007 survey of audio book publishers, the Audio Publishers Association estimated the 2007 audio book market at $923 million, up 6% from 2006 (you can see an article on this here (http://www.smartcomputing.com/editorial/article.asp?article=articles%2F2008%2Fs1909%2F16s0 9%2F16s09.asp)).

In short, different formats can co-exist and indeed can expand demand for a product (such as books) rather than replace the same product in other formats. This means the web and ebooks can grow while books continue to thrive too.

[Kris M]

Hey guys,

I've got lots of great info for you in today's presentation on Newspaper publishing and the web. I'll do the presso first and then post my thoughts and predictions! Stay tuned.

Kris

[philipjcowan]

Press Gazette (http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/section.asp?navcode=157), the business magazine for journalism, has confirmed some of what we discussed on Wednesday, namely that print media is under pressure but magazines circulation falls are much slower than newspapers (1.3% per year, compared to about 5% a year for newspapers).

[Kris M]

Hey guys,

For any non ipad believers... they're being snapped up in the US at a rate of 10K a day!!! See article:

http://www.macworld.co.uk/ipod-itunes/news/index.cfm?newsid=3217802&pagtype=allchandate

[Tom]

It's the first Apple product I have been tempted to buy - but I plan on resisting the temptation!

[kae101]

I refuse to believe!

KA

[philipjcowan]

MacWorld is hardly an objective source, and none of the numbers is definitive. One of Apple's strengths is hubris.

[Stewart]

iPad is simply one of many products - its tablet PC pure and simple not some new technology which is going to change the world - the growth of netbooks is probably a more significant a trend in terms of volume. Just because everyone loves apple and they create nice designs doesn't mean the world is going to change based on a single product - can we please get some perspective !

[Tom]

I have heard the iPad described, by impartial observers, as a Kindle Killer. It won't change the world - but it could deliver heavy blows to the printers (not the publishers) of books and magazines.