Publishing
The announcement of the Apple iPad this week delivered probably exactly what everyone expected – a large version of the iPod touch.
Now the dust has settled on the announcement, the significance of the launch is becoming clearer – certainly insofar as the implications for authors and publishers – and for that matter app developers like me.
In short, the future is bright – and very bright. Let me explain why.
Firstly, it’s not time to write off other technologies based on e-ink like the Amazon Kindle, the Sony Reader and the excellent and often unsung Cool-er.
If all you want to do is read, they are brilliant – with two weeks of battery life, a screen readable in sunlight and sub £200 and falling, they are both a bargain and a must-have gift.
At 2.5 million Kindles sold and rising and the ability for authors to submit their books free up to the Amazon DTP platform, the sales opportunities cannot be ignored.
Why should authors embrace the iPad?
Even as a technophile, I didn’t and won’t buy an eReader. Why? I’m a writer and I need an e-writer. I want to be able to capture and reproduce my thoughts, musings and ramblings.
With iWork and probably an external Bluetooth keyboard, with an iPad you get an ereader you can write on – admittedly though, it will probably need recharging every day.
Furthermore, the stuff I write often has associated assets like audio visualisations and Mind Mapping exercises. So, with an iPad iBook, you can generate a book which is truly interactive and immersive including such multimedia elements, web content and launching other applications.
If you are a travel writer, imagine a book with geo-coded, up to date information like latest reviews and even the ability to make a reservations straight from the book.
Why should publishers embrace the iPad?
The iPad will run iPhone apps so if you produce a book that works on the iPhone, you get access to the 10 million existing iPhone users, the 20 million predicted iPhone users this year and a couple of million predicted iPad users.
… and this is for existing and new titles.
So an iPad is definitely on my shopping list for the year – but don’t take my word for it … here’s some more points of view …
- Video: Apple unveils iPad
- iPad vs. Kindle: It’s go time!
- Why iPad is not automatically a Kindle killer
- Exhaustive A-Z Coverage of Apple’s iPad Announcement
- Do iPad or do I Kindle?
Some interesting numbers:
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This post was mentioned on Twitter by NRGnetworks: @thebookwright blog Is the iPad a good thing?: http://bit.ly/dd0ZlB...
im loving the ipad personally. what do you think of it now? was it upto your standards?
Not got one yet – waiting for 3G in UK and for hype to abate somewhat – busy on new book at the mo anyway
[...] apps for authors By thebookwright, on April 7th, 2010 As I mentioned in my earlier blog – Do iPad or Do I Kindle? – the iPad delivers something very specific for authors that ereaders don’t – [...]
[...] I mentioned in my earlier blog – Do iPad or Do I Kindle? – the iPad delivers something very specific for authors that ereaders [...]