iPad What will iPad do for e-books?

[kjk]

Originally Posted by Steve Jordan

Now that the genie is out of the bottle, soon we can expect a competing device that will have more flexibility than Apple, like an Android device, and people will get their desired apps anyway.

How did the genie only get out of the bottle yesterday? Why do you think its only now we can soon expect such a device?

[DawnFalcon]

Never mind

[ahammer]

Originally Posted by kjk

How did the genie only get out of the bottle yesterday? Why do you think its only now we can soon expect such a device?

like this http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/m...atently-ignor/


that is much better use of 500$ then the apple product I think.
its got things.. like mutitasking/flash soon/ open evro/usb slots
that make it more usfull to me.

[Steven Lyle Jordan]

Originally Posted by kjk

How did the genie only get out of the bottle yesterday? Why do you think its only now we can soon expect such a device?

I only meant that Apple's announcement now confirms the iPad's actual configuration, and therefore exactly what everyone else will be competing against. Like it or not, competitors and customers will be measuring other devices against the iPad.

The reason I said "soon" is because I know competitors are already working on devices of their own. Now that they'll see iPad's strengths and weaknesses, we can expect some of them to directly address those points.

[dmaul1114]

Originally Posted by Kali Yuga

OK, but why would you pay for an electronic version of a magazine, when you're walking around with a fully functional web browser, and can access the periodical content -- and competing content, like blogs -- for free?

It may be easier to read periodical content on an iPad, but I'm not convinced that a lot of people are going to pay extra for the privilege -- or at least, not enough to "save" the industry.

Yeah I don't think it would save the industry.

But I'd probably do it. For instance I had a Newsweek sub last year. I read every issue pretty much cover to cover. I've tried reading online since it ran out (will probably renew soon) and I barely read a 10th as much. It's just not the same experience, you can't find every article as easily as you can just reading front to back as the site has so many layers and there aren't that many stores linked to on the front page of the site etc.

I agree though, that people who won't pay for paper subscriptions won't pay for electronic subscriptions in great numbers either, so I don't see it saving the industry.

[dmaul1114]

Originally Posted by Steve Jordan

I only meant that Apple's announcement now confirms the iPad's actual configuration, and therefore exactly what everyone else will be competing against. Like it or not, competitors and customers will be measuring other devices against the iPad.

The reason I said "soon" is because I know competitors are already working on devices of their own. Now that they'll see iPad's strengths and weaknesses, we can expect some of them to directly address those points.

I think it's a good thing. Especially that the iPad touts a 10 hour battery life, a $499 price tag for the basic model, has a great screen etc.

There are lots of things that need added for me to by one--stylus writing, multi tasking, maybe a screen ration closer to 16:9 to be better for movies than 4:3 etc.

But Apple has set the bar high with what this tablet can do for $499, so I'm really eager to see what competitors put out. If they want to have a chance against Apple's market and following, they'll have to match it and add improvements without driving up price or driving battery life down.

[kjk]

Originally Posted by Steve Jordan

I only meant that Apple's announcement now confirms the iPad's actual configuration, and therefore exactly what everyone else will be competing against. Like it or not, competitors and customers will be measuring other devices against the iPad.

The reason I said "soon" is because I know competitors are already working on devices of their own. Now that they'll see iPad's strengths and weaknesses, we can expect some of them to directly address those points.

Yeah, I'm hoping a lot of these companies are and have been working on their own "magical" experiences, and won't let what Apple showed yesterday change their vision. (Although the price thing will definitely resonate).

[thename]

Originally Posted by krischik

Why do you think so? Apple dropped DRM from iTunes - why should they introduce DRM into iBooks?

Martin

Same reason Amazon rolled out their music store DRM free (complete with anti-authoritarian t-shirts!) and then locked their books to the Kindle.

As others have pointed out, they're rolling DRM on their books and not offering ADEPT support. That is a giant step back for e-publishing and may be the biggest ripple this causes (on the relatively small market to which all those on these fora subscribe, anyway).

[krischik]

Originally Posted by Yoshi 1080

After all, Apple is new to the market and has to play by their rules.

Indeed a good point - and I expect so as well. Only it does not warrant the word "draconian" as used in the original post.

Of course I hope they go to use ADE. Not because it is cracked but because it already almost standard for everybody ∉ Amazon corporation.

But I read the first posting that this might not be the case .

Martin

[krischik]

Originally Posted by thename

As others have pointed out, they're rolling DRM on their books and not offering ADEPT support.

We can only hope it is hacked quickly so we can exchange our ePUB freely. That's freely among my devices, not freely as in piracy.

Martin

[Kali Yuga]

Originally Posted by Steve Jordan

The problem with accessing the web content is that you need to be online to do it, and that is not always possible (or desirable). Downloadable and save-able content is preferable to online content....

Seems to me the whole point of this device is to be connected a fair amount of the time. Since GQ's estimated circulation is close to 800,000 -- and 7,000 paid downloads @ $3 each is only around $21k in revenues, some of which goes to Apple -- those aren't exactly impressive numbers, certainly not enough to declare the industry as "saved." I'd imagine that browsing a magazine via Safari etc on the iPad will be much more satisfying than on an iPhone. And magazine publishers will be SOL if Instapaper actually catches on. (It might not though, since that is a somewhat geeky extra.)

Newspapers saw dollar signs when the Kindle DX came out, but I think they've gotten a little more down-to-earth since then. The only substantial way to entice users to subscribe en masse is to erect paywalls on the website, which presents its own series of difficulties.

[John Bailey]

Originally Posted by kjk

You've benchmarked the processor already?

Don't need to. I can read technical articles. The shiny new processor is basically an ARM Cortex A9 system on a chip with a slower graphics system than Nvidia provides for the Ion. . Basically a cell phone processor. So slow. No matter how much you want to twist and turn. It's still slow.

Another reason it can't be anything but slow is the fact that it uses a nine point something IPS LCD panel. Very nice, but a bit power hungry. And excluding some incredible new battery technology that Apple invented and kept to themselves, a 10 hour battery fitting into a device of that size demands that the rest of the machine be as power sipping as possible. So no big powerful processor, no huge storage, no large amounts of memory, no big graphics subsystem.

So tell me.. Why would I need to read a benchmark on a device with already published specifications.

People have been discussing the merits and drawbacks of an ARM based sub netbook for months. Most are saying it will be too slow to be worth using. Now they can find out. Before they fill that gigantic 16 gig of storage on a single tasking system.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by delphidb96

Student textbook readers and homework devices. Yep. A school district could make them mandatory for all students from grade school up.

Derek

And the blind will sue.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by kjk

Amazon's stock didn't seem to mind the announcement. I'm guessing maybe its more a validation than a threat, at this stage.

But B&N's stock took a dive for some reason.

B&N just doesn't get it is why.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Moejoe

I rescind all my earlier predictions. This thing will do absolutely nothing for ebooks, not a single damned thing. I doubt it'll do anything for tablets either, or Apple. Too much sizzle and not enough steak

I think the iPad will harm sales of the Kindle DX big time. Other large screen readers are going to be in trouble too.