Tablets bring hope to print publications
Tablets are illuminating the troubled path of the print publishing business by promising to create new ways of monetizing the publication's digital efforts.
Magazines the likes of Sports Illustrated and Wired have been looking to the iPad and other similar devices to help them re-capture their subscriber base and re-generate their business through new revenue streams. This move would allow them to once again become the "middleman" between the advertiser and the consumer through the production of multimedia content.
The possibilities of the tablet delivering profitability certainly exist but we do not know how long it will take for readers to adopt the new platform en masse or if they will be willing to pay for delivery of this multimedia content. How subscriptions and tablets are marketed will define these questions. There is a definite "coolness" factor involved and if the right price is set for each publication issue, adoption can be as fast as technology companies roll-out new devices.
Production of tablet multimedia issues will demand investment in very specific editorial and design skill-sets. Work will either go to agencies or be produced in-house by select groups of content and navigation digiratis and multimedia experts. Intuitive navigation, true multimedia, radio, photography, etc., will be combined into one production that will merge fluid pieces with static content (issue per issue). Companies like The Wonder Factory are actively pitching concept applications for magazines while working with Time Inc. on their tablet projects.
We are living in exciting times for multimedia applications with 3D being introduced in theaters and homes with virtual and augmented reality applications. The iPad, tablets in general, games and other technologies will bring about a change in the media and entertainment industry in ways we have yet to imagine.
Wired on the tablet app:
http://bit.ly/cQIuFN
About Adobe AIR:
AIR 2.0 for Smartphones: http://bit.ly/aDRcYt
Adobe Mobile Experience Suite FAQ: http://bit.ly/aoCp7y
Adobe Digital Publishing: http://bit.ly/cQJhnd
Slider/Flex: http://www.mobilecontent.org/
Adobe and Wired Video Link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0D4avXwMmM
Sports Illustrated Tablet Demo:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntyXvLnxyXk
Peter Kafka on Conde Nast:
http://bit.ly/4ckXKV
