iTunes for print?

mores · 10-05-2009, 10:23 AM

It's interesting that Apple is once again considered the driving force behind a "digital revolution". With a device that has not even been announced yet, no less.

Quote:

Traditional publishers -- concerned that Apple's anticipated tablet computer could affect their business the way the iPod disempowered music publishers -- are discussing possible strategies, including an industry-wide digital storefront where tablet users could buy digital issues or subscriptions without going through iTunes or the App Store.

Source: http://adage.com/mediaworks/article?article_id=139387

I sincerely hope all this will lead to iTunes-esque prices for eBooks.

JSWolf · 10-05-2009, 11:03 AM

This is yet again rather silly. Why are they talking about a device that doesn't exist and isn't even announced to even possibly exist? I think they've lost it big time.

mores · 10-05-2009, 11:13 AM

Well, you can say it's silly but I actually think it is a sign that they realize their product will go the way of the emm-pee-three and they want to prepare.

Which means they also realize there actually is a market for eBooks out there. I wonder why they only realize now.

But most of all I find it rather amusing, that a company can make a name for itself in such a way that even rumors can cause a panic in an entire industry.

(Might be far-fetched to call it a panic, maybe even more far-fetcheder to think it's an entire industry when it might, actually, just be one or two publishers.)

JSWolf · 10-05-2009, 11:17 AM

But the thing is, this so called tablet is not going to be an industry killer. It won't have good enough battery life. Would it last 8 hours? Not up to, but a full 8 hours? Apple products tend to have poor battery life (for the battery powered devices). So even if this went from rumor to real, it's still out of the running (IMHO).

M0zza · 10-05-2009, 11:23 AM

If the publishing industry is concerned at just the rumour of an Apple Tablet. It shows they may have learned something from the music industry and be working toward a digital revolution as opposed to being dragged toward it kicking and screaming.

rcuadro · 10-05-2009, 11:25 AM

If that us what it takes for them to come up with some kind of standard when it comes to publishing then let them be fearful of this so called tablet

mores · 10-05-2009, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Apple products tend to have poor battery life (for the battery powered devices)

This is not entirely true - look at the MacBook and MB Pro. I know, you're talking about the iPhone and iPod Touch.

Crowl · 10-05-2009, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

But the thing is, this so called tablet is not going to be an industry killer. It won't have good enough battery life. Would it last 8 hours? Not up to, but a full 8 hours? Apple products tend to have poor battery life (for the battery powered devices). So even if this went from rumor to real, it's still out of the running (IMHO).

It's not so much the device itself that might make some publishers panic enough that they actually do something sensible about ebooks, its the combination of a device that has to look more appealing than a kindle and itunes that has them worrying because they have already seen the influence amazon has had so far even without launching outside the states.

Hopefully if anything comes of this, they will accidentally do something about the issues that most annoy their current customers such as drm, pricing and regional restrictions, but the odds are they will either do nothing or only stuff to protect themselves.

Hellmark · 10-05-2009, 12:29 PM

I keep seeing things for "all day computing" out of mobile devices, people not happy with even the 6-8 hours out of some of the netbooks. I do really think we'll need something in line with how most MP3 players are, where it is somewhere like 24 hours use. Issue is, technology isn't to the point where we can really do that, and have the power to do what they want. It is doable with single use devices, but not general purpose, unless you want a big battery. I don't think people will want to have a battery as big as the rest of the device.

Nate the great · 10-05-2009, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mores

It's interesting that Apple is once again considered the driving force behind a "digital revolution". With a device that has not even been announced yet, no less.

Source: http://adage.com/mediaworks/article?article_id=139387

I sincerely hope all this will lead to iTunes-esque prices for eBooks.

I sincerely hope not. Itunes has the worst user experience of any major media managing software on the market. It does many wrong and unnecessary things.

mores · 10-05-2009, 01:46 PM

While I was talking about the prices, I wonder what negative experiences you have had with iTunes.
I mean, the store is, for me, sometimes hard to navigate, and I'd prefer to be able to open multiple items simultaneously (like tabbed browsing), but once I let go of the directory structure and just let iTunes handle it all, I must say it is one of the simplest programs there is.

Nate the great · 10-05-2009, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mores

While I was talking about the prices, I wonder what negative experiences you have had with iTunes.

Here:
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=58321

fugazied · 10-05-2009, 06:06 PM

It just prove publishers are terrified of the Internet and terrified of ebooks. For the most part they don't trust electronic transference/storage of books.

People who are avid readers are already jumping into the ebook market, the Apple device won't get those consumers. What the Apple device (if it exists) will do, is get people who buy the device for apps/music/movies a very very good ebook reader and suddenly another 20-50 million people have a high quality ebook reader and that's a lot more potential customers.

Many people are out of the 'habit' of carrying books around. The resurgence of tablet devices might get those people back into reading.

carlobee · 10-05-2009, 10:42 PM

I never really had that much problem with iTunes. although yeah. i would prefer being able to do something like tabbed browsing. but it's still ok.

I also hope that for this tablet, if it's coming, it will have cheap prices because it's in iTunes.

dmaul1114 · 10-06-2009, 12:56 AM

Yeah, any tablet device (apple or otherwise) wouldn't be any kind of industry killer. More a niche device aimed at academics (like me), the business crowd etc. that want something they can take notes on with stylus, mark up PDFs and other documents etc. Maybe down the road when better screen and battery tech are out. But even then I think there will still be a market for cheaper and smaller dedicated readers.

As for iTunes for books, most rumors have suggest apple doesn't have an interest in selling eBooks. I suspect any tablet to just access the Kindle store and/or other stores with apps--ala the iPhone/iTouch.

10-05-2009, 01:46 PM	#11
mores Guru Posts: 834 Karma: 102419 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Vienna, Austria Device: iPhone	While I was talking about the prices, I wonder what negative experiences you have had with iTunes. I mean, the store is, for me, sometimes hard to navigate, and I'd prefer to be able to open multiple items simultaneously (like tabbed browsing), but once I let go of the directory structure and just let iTunes handle it all, I must say it is one of the simplest programs there is. Last edited by mores; 10-05-2009 at 01:49 PM.

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10-05-2009, 11:03 AM	#2
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,975 Karma: 128903378 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	This is yet again rather silly. Why are they talking about a device that doesn't exist and isn't even announced to even possibly exist? I think they've lost it big time.

10-05-2009, 11:13 AM	#3
mores Guru Posts: 834 Karma: 102419 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Vienna, Austria Device: iPhone	Well, you can say it's silly but I actually think it is a sign that they realize their product will go the way of the emm-pee-three and they want to prepare. Which means they also realize there actually is a market for eBooks out there. I wonder why they only realize now. But most of all I find it rather amusing, that a company can make a name for itself in such a way that even rumors can cause a panic in an entire industry. (Might be far-fetched to call it a panic, maybe even more far-fetcheder to think it's an entire industry when it might, actually, just be one or two publishers.)

10-05-2009, 11:17 AM	#4
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,975 Karma: 128903378 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	But the thing is, this so called tablet is not going to be an industry killer. It won't have good enough battery life. Would it last 8 hours? Not up to, but a full 8 hours? Apple products tend to have poor battery life (for the battery powered devices). So even if this went from rumor to real, it's still out of the running (IMHO).

10-05-2009, 11:23 AM	#5
M0zza Geek... Apparently Posts: 211 Karma: 51260 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Herts, UK Device: Sony PRS-505 (Silver), ASUS Transformer TF300T, IPAD Air 2	If the publishing industry is concerned at just the rumour of an Apple Tablet. It shows they may have learned something from the music industry and be working toward a digital revolution as opposed to being dragged toward it kicking and screaming.

10-05-2009, 11:25 AM	#6
rcuadro Wizard Posts: 1,686 Karma: 874275 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Device: Kindle DX	If that us what it takes for them to come up with some kind of standard when it comes to publishing then let them be fearful of this so called tablet

10-05-2009, 12:29 PM	#9
Hellmark Wizard Posts: 2,549 Karma: 3799999 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: O'Fallon, Missouri, USA Device: Nokia N800, PRS-505, Nook STR Glowlight, Kindle 3	I keep seeing things for "all day computing" out of mobile devices, people not happy with even the 6-8 hours out of some of the netbooks. I do really think we'll need something in line with how most MP3 players are, where it is somewhere like 24 hours use. Issue is, technology isn't to the point where we can really do that, and have the power to do what they want. It is doable with single use devices, but not general purpose, unless you want a big battery. I don't think people will want to have a battery as big as the rest of the device.

10-05-2009, 06:06 PM	#13
fugazied Wizard Posts: 1,305 Karma: 1958 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: iPod Touch	It just prove publishers are terrified of the Internet and terrified of ebooks. For the most part they don't trust electronic transference/storage of books. People who are avid readers are already jumping into the ebook market, the Apple device won't get those consumers. What the Apple device (if it exists) will do, is get people who buy the device for apps/music/movies a very very good ebook reader and suddenly another 20-50 million people have a high quality ebook reader and that's a lot more potential customers. Many people are out of the 'habit' of carrying books around. The resurgence of tablet devices might get those people back into reading.

10-05-2009, 10:42 PM	#14
carlobee Fanatic Posts: 535 Karma: 972 Join Date: Jul 2009 Device: The new iPad	I never really had that much problem with iTunes. although yeah. i would prefer being able to do something like tabbed browsing. but it's still ok. I also hope that for this tablet, if it's coming, it will have cheap prices because it's in iTunes.

10-06-2009, 12:56 AM	#15
dmaul1114 Wizard Posts: 2,300 Karma: 1121709 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Amazon Kindle 1	Yeah, any tablet device (apple or otherwise) wouldn't be any kind of industry killer. More a niche device aimed at academics (like me), the business crowd etc. that want something they can take notes on with stylus, mark up PDFs and other documents etc. Maybe down the road when better screen and battery tech are out. But even then I think there will still be a market for cheaper and smaller dedicated readers. As for iTunes for books, most rumors have suggest apple doesn't have an interest in selling eBooks. I suspect any tablet to just access the Kindle store and/or other stores with apps--ala the iPhone/iTouch.

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