The iPad, Newspapers, and Publishing
It has been nearly seven years since I stopped taking our local newspaper. Not because I didn’t like it, but because finding the news I want on the Internet is better and faster for me. In fact, every now and then I still enjoy going through the newspaper, just to see what’s up in my neck of the woods.
The new iPad gave me an idea. It must be pretty expensive to print and deliver a newspaper. I have no idea the cost, but if it was 50 cents a day, that would be well over $150 a year. If my newspaper called me and said I could get the new iPad from them for $199 plus $9.95 a month, and I got their newspaper on the iPad as well, I would do it, and I would understand why I would have to make a two year commitment.
I read a ton of books, and almost all of them are recommended to me by friends, or by an authority I trust. I follow about ten different bloggers and writers on the Net, and when they recommend a book, I pay attention. How cool would it be if the iPad had a feature where I could list my favorite “experts,” and then it automatically told me what books they were reading on their iPad? What if I could click an author’s name and then see where that expert “underlined” something in a book (actually seeing the page of that book), and then link to their comments on their blog about it?
Of course, if I liked what I saw I could click the expert’s affiliate link and get the book instantly, and automatically join the iPad book community for that book. Now that I think about it, why doesn’t a big publisher call me and offer to sell me an iPad at $199 plus $9.95 a month just like the newspaper? I am waiting…
9 Responses to “The iPad, Newspapers, and Publishing”
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Son of Zig Ziglar and CEO of Ziglar, Inc. I love writing and speaking about the Ziglar Pure and Simple Philosophy, and nothing makes my day more than hearing about how our message has made a difference in the personal, family, professional, or spiritual life of someone we have touched. I believe everyone can achieve success, but that there are no shortcuts, and you can’t do it for the long term without honesty, integrity, and faith. I enjoy social media like blogs, Twitter, Facebook, etc., and am still amazed when I correspond with people from all walks of life from all over the world. My goal is to help both individuals and organizations succeed by giving them truthful and transparent Pure and Simple answers to their toughest questions.
I am happily married to Chachis, my wife of 23 years, and have a beautiful 15 year old daughter, Alexandra. However, the one who rules the house is Max, our 8 year old Bichon.
The cell phone model for newspapers is a brilliant idea. I do sill love the feel of a book in my hands. Poetry from the 1800s must be read from a suede cover, linen page book; it is a pleasure not suited to the electronic iPad.
Kindest Thoughts and Wishes,
Lee
What a great idea, Tom! I think someone should be able to jump on this and do it!
Good stuff Tom. You’re slightly ahead (or it seems) of the Personal Growth technology department. Keep thinking and dreaming…it’s good stuff!
James
http://www.IWasBornToWin.com
Great idea above. Can I ask what 10 bloggers do you follow?
I watched the video from apple last night and firmly believe that the iPad is going to impact the magazine and newspaper publishing market in a big way. I’m a long time mac user and a printer so it good and bad for me, but I’m excited about the iPad. I think there is another whole marketing possibility there. The future is bright.
I love your tweets and have been a long time follower of your dad. Thanks to both of you for changing my life.
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The cell phone model for newspapers is a brilliant idea. I do sill love the feel of a book in my hands. Poetry from the 1800s must be read from a suede cover, linen page book; it is a pleasure not suited to the electronic iPad.
Kindest Thoughts and Wishes,
Lee
I watched the video from apple last night and firmly believe that the iPad is going to impact the magazine and newspaper publishing market in a big way. I’m a long time mac user and a printer so it good and bad for me, but I’m excited about the iPad. I think there is another whole marketing possibility there. The future is bright.
I love your tweets and have been a long time follower of your dad. Thanks to both of you for changing my life.
The elephant in the room is that the publishing industry see e-publishing as a way of charging more and delivering less, which is why it has not caught on.
When I purchase a book, I can lend it out, give it away, burn it or donate it to a library to be enjoyed by others. But when I buy an e-book format, none of that applies; I am pretty much stuck with it. When you add the fact that electrons are cheaper than paper, it is obvious that an e-book is worth far less than a paper one – about half the cost of a paperback.
It is a shame that the publishing industry does not see things that way, even though an e-book is about as close to pure profit as you can get. You can bet that a newspaper in electronic format would be priced similarly to the paper version. This mentality is like that of the banks and utilities that exhort you to “go paperless” while offering you nothing in return (they save millions on expenses while you get a vague green feeling).
So why is it so hard to find e-books under $5? Why do publishers insist on pricing e-books so close to retail?
Sorry for the rant, but I have been following the e-book “industry” for over a decade now and it a subject that is dear to my heart.