... iPad a bad deal for newspapers

boxcorner · 03-01-2011, 04:32 AM

Apple's slice makes the iPad a bad deal for newspapers
The Observer - 20 February 2011

"Compared with print, then, distributing and selling your iPad version of a £1 paper will cost only 3p or so less a copy – and you still won't know the names of those who are buying and reading you. Only Apple will be able to pluck fruit from that particular tree."

tubemonkey · 03-01-2011, 04:46 AM

Newspapers are caught between a rock and a hard place.

As for me, I only read free content.

boxcorner · 03-01-2011, 04:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

... I only read free content.

Likewise. That's how I read this article, free-of-charge, downloaded via Calibre's Fetch news option, to the Periodicals section of my Sony PRS-650.

tubemonkey · 03-01-2011, 05:04 AM

The internet is bad news for traditional content providers. If they can't adapt, they'll go the way of the dinosaurs.

I no longer read newspapers. I no longer read magazines. I no longer buy books. I no longer go to the library. I no longer watch TV news. I no longer buy CDs. I no longer buy DVDs.

All Hail the Mighty Net

Richey79 · 03-01-2011, 05:48 AM

Well, Murdoch is busy writing the manual on how not to adapt... .

I read more - and higher quality - news and commentary now, totally for free, than I ever did when I used to pay daily for print newspapers.

boxcorner · 03-01-2011, 05:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

... I no longer read newspapers. I no longer read magazines. I no longer buy books. I no longer go to the library. I no longer watch TV news. I no longer buy CDs. I no longer buy DVDs ...

I don't believe in cutting off the nose to spite the face. I'm happy to read newspapers and magazines that can be downloaded free-of-charge. I still buy p-books that aren't available as e-books and I enjoy using libraries for research. I use Livestation, so in that sense I still watch TV news - albeit not on a TV set. It's been a long time since I bought a CD, but I bought a DVD recently, as the bandwidth here makes downloading films impracticable. However, I prefer to use Linux and the masses of free software, so I get your drift.

tubemonkey · 03-01-2011, 06:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boxcorner

I don't believe in cutting off the nose to spite the face.

It's not that, but rather that I no longer need to. No need for television or radio or newspapers or magazines, since individual articles are available for free off of Google News or individual websites.

I stream music, audio, and videos from free sources, so I no longer need to buy them; and since I'm now able to read public domain ebooks for free, I no longer need to buy hard copies.

As to libraries, I see no need to physically visit them when they offer all the services I need online.

So really, the net is a godsend and the total information tool.

Lemurion · 03-01-2011, 09:20 AM

I take advantage of many of the free options out there, but I also buy content.

I buy newspapers when we go out for Sunday brunch - passing different sections of various papers around the table is part of the ritual.

I buy books, CDs, and DVDs because I want to support the creators. I can stream movies and tv on Netflix, but that's not the point.

pietrocrazy · 03-01-2011, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lemurion

I buy books, CDs, and DVDs because I want to support the creators. I can stream movies and tv on Netflix, but that's not the point.

Using Netflix does support the creators of content because Netflix pays for content.

rhadin · 03-01-2011, 10:13 AM

Iguess I'm the dinosaur in the crowd. I don't read newspapers or magazines online; I subscribe to the print versions and look forward to reading my local paper and the New York Times daily with breakfast.

I have print subscriptions to numerous magazines (e.g., The Atlantic, Smithsonian, The Economist, BusinessWeek, and at least another half-dozen more) and look forward to handling them and reading them daily.

The one thing I absolutely do not want to do is spend more time than I already spend in front of a computer screen. I feel it is enough that I spend my workday in front of the computer without spending all my leisure time there, too.

As for TV, I don't watch it. I much prefer to listen to an opera and read.

tubemonkey · 03-01-2011, 11:51 AM

I'd subscribe to Nat Geo, but their subscription plans aren't equitable. For $15, I can get it for my netbook; but the same thing would cost me $24 for my Nook Color. Why???

So I refuse to subscribe.

murraypaul · 03-01-2011, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

I'd subscribe to Nat Geo, but their subscription plans aren't equitable. For $15, I can get it for my netbook; but the same thing would cost me $24 for my Nook Color. Why???

Have you rooted your Nook color? If so then you could install Zinio, the subscription is $15 there.

[Because B&N want to take a portion of subscriber revenue for content sold to its device? Oh wait, only Apple is evil enough to want to do that

]

Lemurion · 03-01-2011, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by murraypaul

Have you rooted your Nook color? If so then you could install Zinio, the subscription is $15 there.

[Because B&N want to take a portion of subscriber revenue for content sold to its device? Oh wait, only Apple is evil enough to want to do that

]

Ahhh, I think you're missing a few points:

1) B&N's taking a cut of revenue for content sold through its infrastructure - not simply on its device.
2) B&N's not insisting that the content cost the same or less on its platform as it does elsewhere.

murraypaul · 03-01-2011, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lemurion

Ahhh, I think you're missing a few points:

1) B&N's taking a cut of revenue for content sold through its infrastructure - not simply on its device.
2) B&N's not insisting that the content cost the same or less on its platform as it does elsewhere.

But, like Apple, without rooting the device you can only buy apps through B&N's app store. And unlike Apple, B&N don't offer competing apps like the Kindle one.
So the issue doesn't arise, as you aren't allowed the option of having the competing content provider.
(And point 1 is also true of Apple, they have only ever said they want their 30% of in-app purchases. The argument has been around them forcing providers to offer the option of in-app purchasing alongside out-of-app purchasing.)

tubemonkey · 03-01-2011, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by murraypaul

Have you rooted your Nook color? If so then you could install Zinio, the subscription is $15 there.

[Because B&N want to take a portion of subscriber revenue for content sold to its device? Oh wait, only Apple is evil enough to want to do that

]

I didn't know Zinio was available on Android. Thanks

03-01-2011, 04:32 AM	#1
boxcorner »(°±°)« Posts: 826 Karma: 775629 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: divisive reader	... iPad a bad deal for newspapers Apple's slice makes the iPad a bad deal for newspapers The Observer - 20 February 2011 "Compared with print, then, distributing and selling your iPad version of a £1 paper will cost only 3p or so less a copy – and you still won't know the names of those who are buying and reading you. Only Apple will be able to pluck fruit from that particular tree."

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03-01-2011, 04:46 AM	#2
tubemonkey monkey on the fringe Posts: 45,858 Karma: 158733736 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Seattle Metro Device: Moto E6, Echo Show	Newspapers are caught between a rock and a hard place. As for me, I only read free content.

03-01-2011, 05:04 AM	#4
tubemonkey monkey on the fringe Posts: 45,858 Karma: 158733736 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Seattle Metro Device: Moto E6, Echo Show	The internet is bad news for traditional content providers. If they can't adapt, they'll go the way of the dinosaurs. I no longer read newspapers. I no longer read magazines. I no longer buy books. I no longer go to the library. I no longer watch TV news. I no longer buy CDs. I no longer buy DVDs. All Hail the Mighty Net

03-01-2011, 05:48 AM	#5
Richey79 mrkrgnao Posts: 241 Karma: 237248 Join Date: May 2010 Device: PRS650, K3 Wireless, Galaxy S3, iPad 3.	Well, Murdoch is busy writing the manual on how not to adapt... . I read more - and higher quality - news and commentary now, totally for free, than I ever did when I used to pay daily for print newspapers.

03-01-2011, 09:20 AM	#8
Lemurion eReader Posts: 2,750 Karma: 4968470 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Note 5; PW3; Nook HD+; ChuWi Hi12; iPad	I take advantage of many of the free options out there, but I also buy content. I buy newspapers when we go out for Sunday brunch - passing different sections of various papers around the table is part of the ritual. I buy books, CDs, and DVDs because I want to support the creators. I can stream movies and tv on Netflix, but that's not the point.

03-01-2011, 10:13 AM	#10
rhadin Literacy = Understanding Posts: 4,833 Karma: 59674358 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: The World of Books Device: Nook, Nook Tablet	Iguess I'm the dinosaur in the crowd. I don't read newspapers or magazines online; I subscribe to the print versions and look forward to reading my local paper and the New York Times daily with breakfast. I have print subscriptions to numerous magazines (e.g., The Atlantic, Smithsonian, The Economist, BusinessWeek, and at least another half-dozen more) and look forward to handling them and reading them daily. The one thing I absolutely do not want to do is spend more time than I already spend in front of a computer screen. I feel it is enough that I spend my workday in front of the computer without spending all my leisure time there, too. As for TV, I don't watch it. I much prefer to listen to an opera and read.

03-01-2011, 11:51 AM	#11
tubemonkey monkey on the fringe Posts: 45,858 Karma: 158733736 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Seattle Metro Device: Moto E6, Echo Show	I'd subscribe to Nat Geo, but their subscription plans aren't equitable. For $15, I can get it for my netbook; but the same thing would cost me $24 for my Nook Color. Why??? So I refuse to subscribe.