Apple Tablet To Redefine Newspapers, Textbooks and Magazines

http://gizmodo.com/5370252/apple-tablet-to-redefine-newspapers-textbooks-and-magazines

Steve Jobs said people don't read any more. But Apple is in talks with several media companies rooted in print, negotiating content for a "new device." And they're not just going for e-books and mags. They're aiming to redefine print. Several years ago, a modified version of OS X was presented to Steve Jobs, running on a multitouch tablet. When the question "what would people do with this?" couldn't be answered, they shelved it. Long having established music, movie and TV content, Apple is working hard to load up iTunes with print content from several major publishing houses across several media.
Two people related to the NYTimes have separately told me that in June, paper was approached by Apple to talk about putting the paper on a "new device." The R&D labs have long worked on versions of the paper meant to be navigated without a keyboard or mouse, showing up on Windows tablets and on multiple formats using Adobe Air. The NYTimes, of course, also publishes via their iPhone application. Jobs has, during past keynotes, called the NYTimes the "best newspaper in the world."
A person close to a VP in textbook publishing mentioned to me in July that McGraw Hill and Oberlin Press are working with Apple to move textbooks to iTunes. There was no mention of any more detail than that, but it does link back to a private Apple intern idea competition held on campus, in their Town Hall meeting area in 2008, where the winning presentation selected by executives was one focused on textbook distribution through iTunes. The logic here is that textbooks are sold new at a few hundred dollars, and resold by local stores without any kickbacks to publishers. A DRM'd one-time-use book would not only be attractive because publishers would earn more money, but electronic text books would be able to be sold for a fraction of the cost, cutting out book stores and creating a landslide marketshare shift by means of that huge price differential. (If that device were a tablet, the savings on books could pay for the device, and save students a lot of back pain.)
Apple also recently had several executives from one of the largest magazine groups at their Cupertino's campus, where they were asked to present their ideas on the future of publishing. Several mockups of magazines were present in interactive form. It is presumed that more talks took place after the introduction and investigatory meeting. Some magazine company is also considering Adobe Air as a competing option for digital magazines, but without a revenue/distribution system that iTunes has, it seems unlikely.
I haven't heard anything about traditional book publishers being approached yet, but given the scope of the rest of the publishing industry's involvement, it's not hard to imagine they're on board as well. (If you know something, please drop me a line.) Update: Reader Tom reminds me of this Andy Ihnatko rumor, from several sources, that Apple is receiving truckloads of books at its HQ. It's a thin line to draw, but its something.
Another source corroborates that the January announce date others have reported is correct within the month, with this information heard from a high level.
Some I've talked to believe the initial content will be mere translations of text to tablet form. But while the idea of print on the Tablet is enticing, it's nothing the Kindle or any E-Ink device couldn't do. The eventual goal is to have publishers create hybridized content that draws from audio, video and interactive graphics in books, magazines and newspapers, where paper layouts would be static. And with release dates for Microsoft's Courier set to be quite far away and Kindle stuck with relatively static E-Ink, it appears that Apple is moving towards a pole position in distribution of this next-generation print content. First, it'll get its feet wet with more basic repurposing of the stuff found on dead trees today.

 

Im putting my kindle on craigslist.

 

Kindle's just dropped in price. Competition.

 

Until I actually see the iTablet I cannot comment completely, but I will say that if and when it does come out it will blow the Kindle out of the water.

Note: Seeing your photo JordanC, I take it you have the brothers beating a path to your door.

 

Barnes and Nobel just released their ereader called Nook. If anyone is interested you can go on their website and look. I am curious and will wait for it to be in their stores so I can take the Kindle and compare side by side.

I read B&N has a bunch more free books as compared to Amazon. Also, their site says it can function as a MP3 player also.

PSPgo is out also. I love gadgets and am so tempted. But I hardly use my PSP as it is and all my games and movies wont translate to the new one. So I got to just say no go for me.

 

I like gadgets a lot also fly girl!


I am waiting to see this Applet Tablet before I would consider buying it; I have never brought an Apple product before. However, I have also read and seen a prototype of a possible Microsoft Tablet (The Courier) Duel Screen, Color, with built in camera and Wi-Fi I believe. I will have to see how their Tablet develops if it is real and compare the two.


I am thinking about getting either the ipod touch 3G (wish it had a camera/video) or the Microsoft Zune HD or The Sony Walkman X Series. I haven't made up my mind yet I will decide in the next couple of weeks.



As far as the PSP GO is concerned I am not into gaming enough to make that purchase

 

I am on my way to Borders and just had an aweful thought...what if book stores go the way of record stores? I dont even know where there is a record store close to me anymore (since Virgins shut down a couple of years ago). I would really miss book stores. There are still books I buy in print form. Mostly my trash reading goes on the Kindle.

 

fly...thanks for the info...just had this conversation with a woman on the plane this morning...she was reading from her kindle...i don't have one...i had heard that apple was doing something similar...sony also jumped on...i am going to wait for a bit...i have been treating myself to too many new gadgets lately...i need a bigger bag to cart it all around in...lol...figure out what to do with all the old stuff...

 

Eventually maybe they can put all College text books on e-readers. Then Students would not have to carry around books on campus.

 

Its very likely.

 

I guess people that work at bookstores can kiss their jobs goodbye.
More money for Steve Jobs and Apple.

 

Nice deal on a Kindle DX with NY Times leather cover and 1 year subscription to NY Times on the Kindle...


http://kindle.nytstore.com/?id=1-GCARXB





Temptation is a bitch!

 

Too much money and electricity. Can they get photos from the newspaper? I doubt it.

 

My Kindle showing a pic from todays Huffington Post.....

 

I'm guessing they do black and white in the Kindle to give it an 'authentic' newspaper look?



I'd like to see these e-newspapers in color.

 

Yeah, its called e-ink and it is less stressful on your eyes. The primary purpose of the reader is reading and all the other little whistles are just add ons.

Now the apple table is a whole different creature all together from what rumors are going around. Its primary purpose will be an internet device and the reader function will be secondary.

Here is WWBM on my Kindle. Looks better in person. It is hard to take a picture of the screen. I personally wanted the Kindle for my newspapers. I read 4-6 a day. If I subscribe to the home editions, then they pile up and are dirty. Love getting them on the Kindle and I dont have to throw anything out and I can eat breakfast and read a paper without it making my hands dirty.

 

I am waiting to see the next gereration e-readers that will appear in 2010 possibly showing up at CES 2010 in January. The E-Book competition will really get going.


Example

The Asus E-Reader
Specs: Available details remain minimal, but I know Asus is working on two e-readers, one of which will have two touch screens that open up like a book.

Defining characteristics: The dual screen model will certainly interest me, especially with possible extra features such as speakers, a webcam and a microphone for Skype.