Last weekend I got the chance to have a lengthy play with Apple’s latest must-have gadget, the iPad, thanks to a friend of mine recently buying himself one on a trip to Boston. I have to say, I was impressed. I don’t own an iPhone and have never been bowled over when I’ve used one, but the iPad was really easy to use, speedy, a handy size and it kept me entertained for quite some time while England failed to put the USA in its place in the team’s first match of the World Cup.
A couple of weeks ago Nick blogged about how he didn’t think the iPad could really compete with a newspaper, and I’d agree that while I think it’s a fantastic product, I’m doubtful it will have a huge impact. And I don’t think it will affect magazines to a large extent either. It’s great for general surfing of the internet, watching music videos or television episodes, and even fairly easy to type on, but I can’t see the appeal of reading a magazine on it.
In a recent article about eReaders, David Hepworth, the editorial director of publisher Development Hell, warned the publishing industry about getting ahead of themselves when embracing the technology.
“It’s not the case, as some people seem to be assuming, that magazines and newspapers will inevitably migrate on to screens,” he said.
We can’t deny that circulations are decreasing and are likely to fall further, but I wouldn’t hold this little gadget responsible.
Steve
19/06/2010
Mark Fletcher, the Australian Newsagency blogger, gives his early experience view here, http://www.newsagencyblog.com.au/2010/06/18/ipads-now-flowing-more-freely-in-australia.html. His final sentence is something we should consider:
‘A week on, I am more convinced than ever than this device has set the scene for a revolution the extent of which we can barely grasp today.’
Shumaila malik
01/07/2010
When I first saw the ipad about 2 weeks ago which my 10 year old son wanted for his birthday, I was absolutely blown. The technology was so adavanced but what I was most impressed with was how clear the graphics were and how easy it was to use. I believe this is truely a revolution in the way the next generation of people are going towards and that newspapers and magazines won’t even be a priority. You can simply glance at a newspaper on the ipad does’t necessarily mean you have to read it all, you can read half at your own lesuire and don’t have to pay for it. The way times and society is changing today I feel this is the way many people will be heading.
chander Hingorani
06/07/2010
Hi Shumaila
That is an excellent assessment but does it mean that in few years you will be selling ipad instead of News & magazines. It may not be optimistic but is realistic.