Technology
01.06.10
Tablet Wrap-Up from CES
With CES 2010 kicking off on Thursday (1/7/10) there are high expectations and will be lots of news about Tablets and e-Readers all with the mission to "save magazines and newspapers."After the jump: Developments in days leading up to CES and news from the tech trade show:
QUE proReader
Engadget reports in about a market-ready QUE e-reader from Plastic Logic's CES press event.
Skiff Reader
With a 11.5-inch (flexible) touchscreen, this Heart-driven e-ink reader should challenge the Amazon Kindle and Sony Reader for a better magazine and newspaper experience. More about the Skiff here.
CourseSmart
As reported by WSJ.com, this eTextbook publisher is looking forward to a mythical 10" (amazingly iPhone-like) touch screen tablet. More about the app here.
Watch this demo (complete with creepy digital finger):
Also: Stay tuned for news on the rumored Apple tablet to be announced at the end of January.
[Updated: 01.10.10]
Pleasantly surprised by how elegant the Hearst Skiff reader is. Considering they aren't a hardware company, I wasn't expecting much, but the simplicity and flexibility is impressive.
I know it's a grim time in the media business, but these devices really give me hope there can be a future home for high-end, professional content. Magazine-style content isn't for everyone, I get that -- but this craft doesn't deserve to disappear just because of the lousy economics of printing and distribution. There's still an audience who wants relaxed, long-form reading and elegant information design. Hopefully these devices can bring that to them, even if the printed page disappears.
Of course, if this means I can get UK magazines instantly and with cheaper subscription fees, all the better. :)
Great update Josh.
Like Mike I'm optimistic that in the long run high quality editorial content will remain viable across these new technologies once this age of mediocrity wears on consumers psyche enough for the demand to strengthen. As a creative working on the web it's clear to me that the economics (sales) behind these new technologies needs to adapt faster to keep up pace with the technology. Designers can make all kinds of Blue sky scenario prototypes however in the end we need a good size budget to produce high quality content week after week after week.
Advertisers online simply do not want to pay anything close to the rates traditional magazines have been able to charge over the last decades. Further if the metric continues to be page views we are in big trouble...that metric has to change otherwise good design and user experience will continue to take a back seat to clicks. For the record I believe this metric will change, it has too. Time on site for instance is a compelling metric.
Inn a related note the company I work for (CBS) has recently severed ties with all third party advertising partners in an effort to keep more profits in house and the ad rates high enough to sustain our stable of high quality content sites.
This model is one I hope more large corporations adapt as it is crucial to the future of our industry and the future of high quality content.
You make a really good point Jeremy.
We all remember wave one for magazines online: Regurgitated magazine content or stuff that didn't fit in print ("For more, put down this magazine and go to your computer and type in this URL.")
It wasn't until publishers invested in teams dedicated to telling stories, curating photo galleries, and creating videos and interactive pieces, that magazine titles really saw success online. Some of these titles then invested in creating smart apps for mobile phones like the iPhone.
Yes, I'm excited about this new technology—it really could be amazing. The SI prototype looks cool. I'd probably use it, and I'll probably be first in line on day one when Apple releases their Tablet. However, I ask anyone working at a magazine now: Are your Edit, Art and Sales departments set up to produce fully interactive content that utilizes this new technology on regular basis? Or as the "traditional" web has shown, is this going to require a new development team?
On a separate note, its amazing how Apple has made several manufacturers show their hand at CES. Tons of noise this week. There will be dozens of side-by-side tablet comparisons. Then the following week after all the hype has died down: BOOM. Apple steals the show.
Time will tell.
Ditto this, from Mike: "Of course, if this means I can get UK magazines instantly and with cheaper subscription fees, all the better. :)" a THOUSAND times.... Please, magazine gods. Please.
From PCWorld.com:
Tablets Steal the Show at CES
(a photo gallery of 13 tablets)
http://www.pcworld.com/article/186361/tablets_steal_the_show_at_ces.html
Are Tablet PCs Destined to Flop?
http://www.pcworld.com/article/186488/are_tablet_pcs_destined_to_flop.html
"On the Media" had a feature on the Apple Table/Slate this weekend, too:
http://onthemedia.org/transcripts/2010/01/08/03
and more about how Apple leaks/*does not* leak their info:
http://onthemedia.org/transcripts/2010/01/08/04
Seems like... a long wait until the end of the month now.
One e-Reader not mentioned yet: ALEX...
http://www.springdesign.com/us/index.action
the countdown to Apple's announcement continues.
What do you want to see in the mythical Apple iSlate? wi-fi? cellular connection? full OSX? video conferencing? Flash support? 3D TV?
I want a wireless HD projector that works with the iTablet and will project my working screen up on a wall as big as I want and then I want the iTablet itself to operate as my Wacom tablet while the iTablet can also have the option of projecting a keyboard wherever I want.
Of course the Tablet can operate as a keyboard I just want the option to project for flexibility in my workflow.
I want it now, please!
:)