http://www.fastcompany.com/blog/cliff-kuan...ine?partner=rss
I was watching the liveblog feed on Gizmodo yesterday of the new iPad (which looks very cool to me). Already magazine publishers are thinking about how to adapt their form to this device--and I'm thinking about how can we as creators of animated content create something where we can get paid for that content.
Is there an opportunity here for an animation magazine/cartoon network show? Lets talk about this? How does this change the game for digital distribution?
Full Version: iPad: opportunities for animated content?
I definitely see the iPad's potential as an eReader... the question is how many will pay for the content?
There was a story just a day or so ago... Newsday, the Long Island, NY paper decided to go behind a paywall on the web. $5 a week, or $260 a year. Three weeks later, a meeting was held and somebody asked how many people had bought a subscription. The number: 35! Their real-world circulation (at least in 2008) was 377,517.
Books could definitely be like music. If a book is cheaper for an electronic version that looks just as good, if not better... and I can carry around several of them, that sounds like a bargain. But would I pay for a digital subscription to a magazine that I don't already buy in the real world?
And why not catch up on the classics for free? Project Gutenberg has 30,000 FREE books!
There's much talk about comic books going the digital route. I think a display like this could be amazing for that... And if they were smart, they could sell their back catalogs. The traditional wisdom is that the low sales for comics are because parents aren't likely to take their kids to a comic shop... a place with a certain stigma that is usually located in a crummy part of town.
But what will the distribution options be for the independents? To make this work, Apple has to court the big publishers, but if they opened up the distribution channel to everyone, it'll be a nightmare for them to control content. They've had tons of problems with this with apps for the app store, and there's a built in filter there (you actually have to write an application.) Everyone who has a manuscript will want to get their digital files into the store. Does somebody have to read all of them to make sure they aren't offensive, libelous, or even illegal?
With the main store out of access, how do you get someone to come to your store... not to even mention how you get them to give you money.
There was a story just a day or so ago... Newsday, the Long Island, NY paper decided to go behind a paywall on the web. $5 a week, or $260 a year. Three weeks later, a meeting was held and somebody asked how many people had bought a subscription. The number: 35! Their real-world circulation (at least in 2008) was 377,517.
Books could definitely be like music. If a book is cheaper for an electronic version that looks just as good, if not better... and I can carry around several of them, that sounds like a bargain. But would I pay for a digital subscription to a magazine that I don't already buy in the real world?
And why not catch up on the classics for free? Project Gutenberg has 30,000 FREE books!
There's much talk about comic books going the digital route. I think a display like this could be amazing for that... And if they were smart, they could sell their back catalogs. The traditional wisdom is that the low sales for comics are because parents aren't likely to take their kids to a comic shop... a place with a certain stigma that is usually located in a crummy part of town.
But what will the distribution options be for the independents? To make this work, Apple has to court the big publishers, but if they opened up the distribution channel to everyone, it'll be a nightmare for them to control content. They've had tons of problems with this with apps for the app store, and there's a built in filter there (you actually have to write an application.) Everyone who has a manuscript will want to get their digital files into the store. Does somebody have to read all of them to make sure they aren't offensive, libelous, or even illegal?
With the main store out of access, how do you get someone to come to your store... not to even mention how you get them to give you money.
I agree--you've got to get the content into the ITunes store.
How is that done for movies?
What are the hoops to jump through for independent filmmakers?
How about serialized content in the form of short episodes?
http://www.apple.com/itunes/content-providers/
How is that done for movies?
What are the hoops to jump through for independent filmmakers?
How about serialized content in the form of short episodes?
http://www.apple.com/itunes/content-providers/
Hmm, that's interesting... so you just apply?
Serialization was the only way that I could think of going with animated content. It just takes so much time and effort to produce.
My thinking was that you release the episodes online with Flash video (and make use of YouTube and such) and then sell high quality DVDs of the finished story with bonus content not available online. Selling a high quality digital download could replace the DVD.
I was pondering the same thing about webcomics. If the iPad were to jumpstart the eBook market, that could force a different model for webcomics. Instead of selling books, you sell eBooks and then just use the website to promote that.
All of this would work great if you've already generated an audience, but getting that audience to begin with is still the boulder-sized stumbling block.
One of the webcomics guys explained it with a gag about the recipe for Grizzly Bear Soup. Step 1: Kill a Grizzly Bear, Step 2: add any old soup mix.
It's that first part that is so difficult.
Once you've got the audience, you can choose how you want to monetize it. But it doesn't work the other way around. Adding new distribution channels is great ...but only if you already have customers looking for your content.
Serialization was the only way that I could think of going with animated content. It just takes so much time and effort to produce.
My thinking was that you release the episodes online with Flash video (and make use of YouTube and such) and then sell high quality DVDs of the finished story with bonus content not available online. Selling a high quality digital download could replace the DVD.
I was pondering the same thing about webcomics. If the iPad were to jumpstart the eBook market, that could force a different model for webcomics. Instead of selling books, you sell eBooks and then just use the website to promote that.
All of this would work great if you've already generated an audience, but getting that audience to begin with is still the boulder-sized stumbling block.
One of the webcomics guys explained it with a gag about the recipe for Grizzly Bear Soup. Step 1: Kill a Grizzly Bear, Step 2: add any old soup mix.
It's that first part that is so difficult.
Once you've got the audience, you can choose how you want to monetize it. But it doesn't work the other way around. Adding new distribution channels is great ...but only if you already have customers looking for your content.
I don't think that is true.... a completely new venue, there is an empty frontier to settle. For example: the app, "Koi Pond" How many people have that on their iPhone, really because at first there weren't so many choices?
I agree that you have to have the content--but I think digital distribution is possible the greatest platform that has ever occurred for any artist or writer.
Some people have suggested to me that there is only money to be made in souveniers of your art, such as t-shirts and coffee cups. But I don't think that I agree with that...
ps. I love your grizzley bear soup recipe!
I agree that you have to have the content--but I think digital distribution is possible the greatest platform that has ever occurred for any artist or writer.
Some people have suggested to me that there is only money to be made in souveniers of your art, such as t-shirts and coffee cups. But I don't think that I agree with that...
ps. I love your grizzley bear soup recipe!
Mmmm. Grizzley Bear Soup!
I remember when celphones started having video screens we all thought there would be big demand for animated ringers and such- never really happened. About the best i can see from this is animated ads and eye catchers...like on the web. Digital magazines and book readers are nothing too new... I need to look at the iPad to see what it is all about...is it a phone too?
I was just looking at a digital mag before I read this...
http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/newbay/dv0210/
I remember when celphones started having video screens we all thought there would be big demand for animated ringers and such- never really happened. About the best i can see from this is animated ads and eye catchers...like on the web. Digital magazines and book readers are nothing too new... I need to look at the iPad to see what it is all about...is it a phone too?
I was just looking at a digital mag before I read this...
http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/newbay/dv0210/
At least as far as the webcomics business model goes, the t-shirts, cups, etc. that sell aren't so much souvenirs as original content that appeals to the type of people who wear t-shirts with slogans on them. Sometimes it's a gag from a strip, but the logo/character shot type merchandise aren't big sellers.
Yes, I have Koi Pond on my iPhone for that very reason, but that boat has sailed... there are 140,000 apps in the App Store now.
I think the only way to go the traditional pay-only way with content on the web is to have enormous advertising dollars or name-recognition. If your animated series had celebrity status, then you can put it all behind a pay window. For unfamiliar, untried content, that's a much harder sell. Not to say it can't work (and there are still adult-oriented websites that do make that work.)
And how much do you charge per episode, assuming they are going to be around 5 minutes long. 99 cents? What if only 35 people buy it?
Yes, I have Koi Pond on my iPhone for that very reason, but that boat has sailed... there are 140,000 apps in the App Store now.
I think the only way to go the traditional pay-only way with content on the web is to have enormous advertising dollars or name-recognition. If your animated series had celebrity status, then you can put it all behind a pay window. For unfamiliar, untried content, that's a much harder sell. Not to say it can't work (and there are still adult-oriented websites that do make that work.)
And how much do you charge per episode, assuming they are going to be around 5 minutes long. 99 cents? What if only 35 people buy it?
I think digital distribution is just changing the gate keepers, no?
It makes it easier than ever before to give your work away and not make money at it but to get people to pay you still need to be validated by some known power.
It makes it easier than ever before to give your work away and not make money at it but to get people to pay you still need to be validated by some known power.
I'm curious to know in what way the iPad is similar to the Cintiq.
If the iPad is as easy to draw on as I -imagine- it to be... going to want the thing.
If the iPad is as easy to draw on as I -imagine- it to be... going to want the thing.
QUOTE(Rodney @ Jan 28 2010, 02:24 PM) 
I'm curious to know in what way the iPad is similar to the Cintiq.
If the iPad is as easy to draw on as I -imagine- it to be... going to want the thing.
If the iPad is as easy to draw on as I -imagine- it to be... going to want the thing.
I've been wondering that too. I guess it runs the same sort of apps that the ipod touch runs. What are those painting apps like? Do you have to use your finger? No pen? Is there pressure sensitivity?
My understanding is that the iPad is simply a 10" version of the iTouch or iPhone (depending on which version of the iPad you have). Thats means the same content and same capability as the iTouch or iPhone but with a bigger screen and more RAM - BUT - a very much shorter battery life.....
The other major problem - Apple has total control over the content (other than what can be accessed via the web - ie through web pages) You ONLY get to see and hear what Apple will allow you to see and hear. This is already evident in iTunes. In the US you have access to so much stuff that we here in Australia (and possibly many other countries) CANNOT access. Why? because they haven't negotiated the content with local providers perhaps because the market isn't big enough or it's not cost effective enough.
Lets face it, the content is and will be limited from by it's money making ability only.
Cheers
The other major problem - Apple has total control over the content (other than what can be accessed via the web - ie through web pages) You ONLY get to see and hear what Apple will allow you to see and hear. This is already evident in iTunes. In the US you have access to so much stuff that we here in Australia (and possibly many other countries) CANNOT access. Why? because they haven't negotiated the content with local providers perhaps because the market isn't big enough or it's not cost effective enough.
Lets face it, the content is and will be limited from by it's money making ability only.
Cheers
I was surprised to read that the iPad can't view Flash content. Does that sound like a serious limitation for what's being discussed here? Anyone know if that will be remedied before the thing goes on the market?
I also saw an online petition taking Apple to task over DRM, which I always thought stood for Digital Rights Management, but for the purpose of the petition apparently stood for Digital Restrictions Management.
I'm about a year away from finishing my graphic novel, "Sister Mary Dracula", and I imagine the iPad will be yet another game-changer for the publishing biz. Ideally I'd like to go for a real publishing contract vs. self-pubbing, but e-books may well be more viable a year from now. I have no idea how that will affect my plans.
I also saw an online petition taking Apple to task over DRM, which I always thought stood for Digital Rights Management, but for the purpose of the petition apparently stood for Digital Restrictions Management.
I'm about a year away from finishing my graphic novel, "Sister Mary Dracula", and I imagine the iPad will be yet another game-changer for the publishing biz. Ideally I'd like to go for a real publishing contract vs. self-pubbing, but e-books may well be more viable a year from now. I have no idea how that will affect my plans.
QUOTE(largento @ Jan 28 2010, 09:53 AM)
I definitely see the iPad's potential as an eReader... the question is how many will pay for the content?
There was a story just a day or so ago... Newsday, the Long Island, NY paper decided to go behind a paywall on the web. $5 a week, or $260 a year. Three weeks later, a meeting was held and somebody asked how many people had bought a subscription. The number: 35! Their real-world circulation (at least in 2008) was 377,517.
There was a story just a day or so ago... Newsday, the Long Island, NY paper decided to go behind a paywall on the web. $5 a week, or $260 a year. Three weeks later, a meeting was held and somebody asked how many people had bought a subscription. The number: 35! Their real-world circulation (at least in 2008) was 377,517.
Newsday's online pay wall may largely be intended to keep people buying the paper version, which costs $234 a year for 7-day home delivery.
QUOTE(higginsdj @ Jan 28 2010, 12:42 PM)
My understanding is that the iPad is simply a 10" version of the iTouch or iPhone (depending on which version of the iPad you have). Thats means the same content and same capability as the iTouch or iPhone but with a bigger screen and more RAM - BUT - a very much shorter battery life.....
From what I gather: ipad has no camera, cannot make phone calls, can not multitask (1 app at a time), battery not removeable (up to 10 hours on a charge, sit for a month on idle). Projected to go on sale in 60 days.
costs $500 - 16gb, $600 - 32GB, $700 - 64GB
3G adds $130 to each version
AT&T 3G service - $15/month (250mb data) or $30/month (unlimited data usage)
Prices will drop with the inevitable next versions I would imagine.
I don't know why my life would be better with one? But I selfishly appreciate all the cool-with-it-image-conscious-money-to-burn people supporting Apple, so that Apple can continue to feed Cupertino's coffers (biggest property tax payer in the city), and helping to keep the local real estate prices almost immune to the downturn.
This is an issue with which I am pouring serious thought over. What avenue to go down to be able to create a sustainable income?
I've check out iTunes. I dont' think this will be a viable course of action. This article was written on March, 2007 - http://blogs.zdnet.com/social/?p=103
I'm not sure what has changed over the last 3 years, if anything. I looked at the iTunes store for independent animation, there is none. It's all provided by major studios, ie. Simpsons, anime, etc. Podcasts seem to be free though.
There are other outlets to try, ie. www.hungryflix.com, Brightcove, streamburst, amazon unbox. But, I'm sure they all take cuts in revenue, ie. Unbox is 50/50.
Searching more I found this article from Nov 2009: http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/11...and_extras.html
It seems like with the new iPad, Apple may be ready to open up the iTunes store to more content. I'm not sure if independents can get in the door anymore than they could in the past.
Anyone know of any other articles or links to iTunes success for independents, please post them here. This would seem like a great avenue to go down if Apple could just see that many artists could make an income from their hard work by providing an outlet for them.
I've check out iTunes. I dont' think this will be a viable course of action. This article was written on March, 2007 - http://blogs.zdnet.com/social/?p=103
I'm not sure what has changed over the last 3 years, if anything. I looked at the iTunes store for independent animation, there is none. It's all provided by major studios, ie. Simpsons, anime, etc. Podcasts seem to be free though.
There are other outlets to try, ie. www.hungryflix.com, Brightcove, streamburst, amazon unbox. But, I'm sure they all take cuts in revenue, ie. Unbox is 50/50.
Searching more I found this article from Nov 2009: http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/11...and_extras.html
It seems like with the new iPad, Apple may be ready to open up the iTunes store to more content. I'm not sure if independents can get in the door anymore than they could in the past.
Anyone know of any other articles or links to iTunes success for independents, please post them here. This would seem like a great avenue to go down if Apple could just see that many artists could make an income from their hard work by providing an outlet for them.
I just watched this presentation by Seth Godin to the publishing industry:
http://toc.oreilly.com/2009/10/video-seth-...-new-media.html
I think that everything that he has to say about books is relevant to animation (as a product). Listen to what he has to say about how he marketed "The Idea Virus", "Purple Cow", etc and think about his idea of books as souvenirs. If the same idea applies to animated content--then YouTube may be the BEST place to publish animated content. So that it gets shared, passed-on, linked to, and SPREAD!
And then you sell the DVD,T-shirt,etc. to those fans as a souvenir.
What are your thoughts?
http://toc.oreilly.com/2009/10/video-seth-...-new-media.html
I think that everything that he has to say about books is relevant to animation (as a product). Listen to what he has to say about how he marketed "The Idea Virus", "Purple Cow", etc and think about his idea of books as souvenirs. If the same idea applies to animated content--then YouTube may be the BEST place to publish animated content. So that it gets shared, passed-on, linked to, and SPREAD!
And then you sell the DVD,T-shirt,etc. to those fans as a souvenir.
What are your thoughts?
The ipad is not a serious product - therefore it's sales will be limited, and it's potential for anything new in the field of animation or any content is very near zero. The limitations of the ipad are too numerous to count. The price is such that only the most naive will purchase one. As an e-book reader, it's the worst possible thing reader you could buy. There's nothing this thing does "best". Or even "good".
There is only one market for this device - people who literally don't know anything about technology. They will buy the shiny case, and not know what they're getting - and more importantly, what they're missing. Nobody - and I mean nobody - who knows even a little about computers will have any interest in this thing.
I'm sorry but there is nothing to see here.
There is only one market for this device - people who literally don't know anything about technology. They will buy the shiny case, and not know what they're getting - and more importantly, what they're missing. Nobody - and I mean nobody - who knows even a little about computers will have any interest in this thing.
I'm sorry but there is nothing to see here.
As far as e-books, e-comics, animated books etc, iPad wouldn't be my choice. Any publisher wanting to get content placed on the ipad has to go thru Apple, which is getting very, very persnickety over what will and will not be "approved" for distribution thru their app store. I for one would not any work of mine go thu an Apple censoring, only to give up the lions share to Apple. Plus it is simply too closed a distribution channel to be palatable for publishers (us/me).
The best model for e-books is Barnes and Noble with the Nook. It is far more open, capable of accessing a large range of available content formats. The problem with the nook is that it is not as good a graphical interface as the iPad is, so animation wouldn't work.
I had planned a web-based comic some ten years ago that would combine a traditional comic books style with animated panels. I don't really think that any e-book reader or the iPad is quite there yet to provide the platform needed to pull something like this off.
Some day it will happen, but not yet.
The best model for e-books is Barnes and Noble with the Nook. It is far more open, capable of accessing a large range of available content formats. The problem with the nook is that it is not as good a graphical interface as the iPad is, so animation wouldn't work.
I had planned a web-based comic some ten years ago that would combine a traditional comic books style with animated panels. I don't really think that any e-book reader or the iPad is quite there yet to provide the platform needed to pull something like this off.
Some day it will happen, but not yet.
This is interesting. Penguin Books giving a presentation on new books they are developing for iPad. The real amazing stuff comes later in the presentation as the books make use of the iPad's GPS information. Imagine a travel book that knows where you are ...and the big ooh-ahh comes at the very end.
Neat stuff.
Neat stuff.
QUOTE(largento @ Mar 9 2010, 04:34 AM)
This is interesting. Penguin Books giving a presentation on new books they are developing for iPad. The real amazing stuff comes later in the presentation as the books make use of the iPad's GPS information. Imagine a travel book that knows where you are ...and the big ooh-ahh comes at the very end.
Neat stuff.
Neat stuff.
Did that look like I thunk it did? Did they say you can hold the iPad up to the night sky and have it display a star map?
Yeah, that's what they were saying ...but the Penguin guy said they were "still working on that."
I would think if you have the GPS info, the date/time and the iPad's motion sensors, you could align the iPad so it was possible to do that.
I would think if you have the GPS info, the date/time and the iPad's motion sensors, you could align the iPad so it was possible to do that.
QUOTE(largento @ Mar 9 2010, 10:58 AM)
Yeah, that's what they were saying ...but the Penguin guy said they were "still working on that."
I would think if you have the GPS info, the date/time and the iPad's motion sensors, you could align the iPad so it was possible to do that.
I would think if you have the GPS info, the date/time and the iPad's motion sensors, you could align the iPad so it was possible to do that.
then I'd have to say that if Apple's policies were not as draconian as they are for the iPhone, then the iPad may be a viable platform for animation style e-books. But I'm afraid that Apple policies will get even harsher for the iPad.
I'd like to see some of the other iPad's come out and compete with the iPad, but have a more open policy for content...
Certainly something to keep an eye on.
At the CeBIT they just presented the
Archos Home Tablet
7 inch Touchscreen Display USB and MicroSCard slot , 7 hours for movies, 40 hours for music,
mobile internet W-lan with Android from google, so fast and easy start.
from April on with Flash!!!!
The best is the price 2Gig Ram with MicroSD card extendable just 149,-€, the 8 Gig version 179,-€
Its not as cool as the i-pad ,but for me its the price and flashsupport that counts
and I am pretty sure that companies like Samsung will follow sooner or later with Android Home Tablets
in better design and bigger monitors...
So better wait a while and see, how thing`s evolve.
Archos Home Tablet
7 inch Touchscreen Display USB and MicroSCard slot , 7 hours for movies, 40 hours for music,
mobile internet W-lan with Android from google, so fast and easy start.
from April on with Flash!!!!
The best is the price 2Gig Ram with MicroSD card extendable just 149,-€, the 8 Gig version 179,-€
Its not as cool as the i-pad ,but for me its the price and flashsupport that counts
and I am pretty sure that companies like Samsung will follow sooner or later with Android Home Tablets
in better design and bigger monitors...
So better wait a while and see, how thing`s evolve.
Jake, imitators are guaranteed. The iPhone's been around for less than 3 years and just about every phone that comes out looks like it now.
Paul,
Unless this is just apple-bashing on your part (in which case, I do not wish to invest any of my time in a my daddy can beat up your daddy game), I think we don't know what you're positing to be true. We do not know if books will be limited to the iTunes Book Store. I can't imagine that will be the case.
Just as you can rip your own CDs and add the music to iTunes (same with video), I'm sure you'll be able to download PDFs and eBooks from other sources. As it stands now, you can offer video for sale on your website that is formatted to be played by iTunes and thus by an iPod, iPhone, iPad. Nothing is standing in the way of your doing this.
You might have to do it on your PC/Mac first and then load it into iTunes to sync with your iPad, but I don't even know if that will be the case with books.
Applications will always have to have a stricter review process, since Apple quite justly doesn't want iPads riddled with viruses.
Getting on the iTunes Book Store will definitely be a plus, though ...and unless you are trying to submit pornography or something that can be used to void the user agreements, you should be able to.
Paul,
Unless this is just apple-bashing on your part (in which case, I do not wish to invest any of my time in a my daddy can beat up your daddy game), I think we don't know what you're positing to be true. We do not know if books will be limited to the iTunes Book Store. I can't imagine that will be the case.
Just as you can rip your own CDs and add the music to iTunes (same with video), I'm sure you'll be able to download PDFs and eBooks from other sources. As it stands now, you can offer video for sale on your website that is formatted to be played by iTunes and thus by an iPod, iPhone, iPad. Nothing is standing in the way of your doing this.
You might have to do it on your PC/Mac first and then load it into iTunes to sync with your iPad, but I don't even know if that will be the case with books.
Applications will always have to have a stricter review process, since Apple quite justly doesn't want iPads riddled with viruses.
Getting on the iTunes Book Store will definitely be a plus, though ...and unless you are trying to submit pornography or something that can be used to void the user agreements, you should be able to.
QUOTE(largento @ Mar 9 2010, 02:09 PM)
Paul,
Unless this is just apple-bashing on your part (in which case, I do not wish to invest any of my time in a my daddy can beat up your daddy game), I think we don't know what you're positing to be true. We do not know if books will be limited to the iTunes Book Store. I can't imagine that will be the case.
Unless this is just apple-bashing on your part (in which case, I do not wish to invest any of my time in a my daddy can beat up your daddy game), I think we don't know what you're positing to be true. We do not know if books will be limited to the iTunes Book Store. I can't imagine that will be the case.
No, not Apple bashing. I'm making more of a reference to the restraints being placed on iPhone apps. Take a peek here at this article for a sense of what I am referring to. I don't know if it will go this way or not for the iPad, merely stating that it might, and if it does then it sort of limits the kind of content that could be seen on it.
that s'all folks.
>Take a peek here at this article for a sense of
<That kind of censorship is really really bad
and a strong warningsign not to give these kind of "closed systems" too much power
by buying their stuff.
So it seems one more reason for me, why Android and open internetacssess with Flash will be the better choice.
<That kind of censorship is really really bad
and a strong warningsign not to give these kind of "closed systems" too much power
by buying their stuff.
So it seems one more reason for me, why Android and open internetacssess with Flash will be the better choice.
I don't agree with the Censorship tag. A company has the right to have standards. If I tried to buy an advertisement in Time Magazine that included graphic nudity, they have the right to refuse my business (and they would.)
Censorship would be if they accepted your app, went in and removed anything they found offensive and offered it for sale.
People will just have to use the Safari browser to view their porn on the iPad. :-)
Apple's been very clear that they won't include Flash support on their mobile devices until it stops being a battery drainer.
Censorship would be if they accepted your app, went in and removed anything they found offensive and offered it for sale.
People will just have to use the Safari browser to view their porn on the iPad. :-)
Apple's been very clear that they won't include Flash support on their mobile devices until it stops being a battery drainer.
QUOTE(fae_alba @ Mar 9 2010, 02:29 PM)
....I'm making more of a reference to the restraints being placed on iPhone apps. Take a peek here at this article for a sense of what I am referring to. I don't know if it will go this way or not for the iPad, merely stating that it might, and if it does then it sort of limits the kind of content that could be seen on it....
Just checked on the app store and "Wobble" is back! I read a rumour somewhere that Apple purged the sexy apps prior to creating an new Explicit category, but I don't know if that is true... I just checked and there is a "lifestyle" category which seems to have adult content.
How about a German Roll-up?
I don't know if this is real, it's just an animation, but yikes! There's a ton of other cool stuff on their website but it's unclear if any of it is real, at least the electronic/motorized stuff.
I don't know if this is real, it's just an animation, but yikes! There's a ton of other cool stuff on their website but it's unclear if any of it is real, at least the electronic/motorized stuff.
A company has the right to have standards. If I tried to buy an advertisement in Time Magazine that included graphic nudity, they have the right to refuse my business (and they would.)
I agree - the iTunes store is not the internet, its "the company story" and they are liable for what they sell. period. So if you want their stuff you have to play their game.
I agree - the iTunes store is not the internet, its "the company story" and they are liable for what they sell. period. So if you want their stuff you have to play their game.
And I really don't think that you can only put stuff on your iPad that you buy through the iTunes Book Store. I read a story yesterday that Barnes & Noble is going to have their own eReader application and access to their bookstore on the iPad. Not to mention the other reader apps that already exist for the iPhone.
Well not to dredge up a near dead link, but I just found this article...thought you might be interested
Comic Book App
Comic Book App
I think the HP slate looks much better overall than the iPad, the iPad I think is essentially an oversized iTouch, it seems quite limited in its capabilites
The problem I'm hearing is that Marvel Comics is petrified of ticking off the comic shop retailers and so they aren't offering new comics as they are released. I think I read that there's even a part of the app that will show you the nearest comic book shop.
Until they wise up and start offering digital comics as same-day releases, people are going to continue to steal them via bit torrent.
I don't know if this will kill the comic shops. I'd like to think it wouldn't. I'd like to think that it will lead to a larger audience for comics and special print-only promotions could bring new business into the shops.
I was liking the trend of releasing whole series collections on DVD, but I think the licensing on that has expired and I don't believe they are releasing new titles. I bought a few of them (Mad Magazine, X-Men and Fantastic Four) and thought they were decent. Even if the Mad Magazine one used the same lower-rez scans from the old CD-ROM collection.
I've already given some thought to putting together a .cbr version of our comics that could be read with the ComicBookLover app and offer it for sale. I can't control it once it's in a customer's hands, but I think the iPad would be a great way to get to read them.
Until they wise up and start offering digital comics as same-day releases, people are going to continue to steal them via bit torrent.
I don't know if this will kill the comic shops. I'd like to think it wouldn't. I'd like to think that it will lead to a larger audience for comics and special print-only promotions could bring new business into the shops.
I was liking the trend of releasing whole series collections on DVD, but I think the licensing on that has expired and I don't believe they are releasing new titles. I bought a few of them (Mad Magazine, X-Men and Fantastic Four) and thought they were decent. Even if the Mad Magazine one used the same lower-rez scans from the old CD-ROM collection.
I've already given some thought to putting together a .cbr version of our comics that could be read with the ComicBookLover app and offer it for sale. I can't control it once it's in a customer's hands, but I think the iPad would be a great way to get to read them.
If you ask me, the IPad is totally overhyped.
There are equal, less expensive and even better "touchscreen-pads" out there from Archos, HP and other manufactures.
The IPhone is the only real "one in a million" thing there.
IPod-Touch is a fine device, but there were other equally equipped (or in some situations better equipped) media-players / internettablets out there. The Archos 5 IMT for example was a nice device (so I have to admit before Android the firmware was in some cases a bit buggy). Archos offered there a better screen with higher resolutions, bigger size and a better video-performance (in addition to being able to play as good as any videoformat, including Flash 9-Videos even embeded in Websites (Youtube or any swf/flv-file available, etc.). Internet is very well too: It has Opera Mini on it and due to the big screen and the fast processor and a fine dsp it was very fast and gave you the full internet). Today that may not seem as something much better, but this device is a few years old.
The new Archos 5 IT (Archos 5s) has Android on it. You get the Apps from the android-market, which is the second big player next to Apples Apps-Market and rising fast.
I got the new Archos 5 IT and I highly recommend it. I like it very very much. It is open, it has very good multimedia-possibilities, the OS is very solid and so on. One thing it misses is the Flash-support that was available on the "older" device so. Android will have Flash-support in the near future, but till now you are not able to play these videos.
Archos has several other tablets like the 7" and 9" (this is an IPad competer...). I know it doesnt have that much vitamins on it (since there is not "apple" on it...) but anyone who is willing to pay the kind of money apple is charging for a device that isnt better than others (sometimes even less good) just because of the apple-sign is just stupid. (this is although true the other way round... it depends on what you want from the device... if you are after video-playback / multimedia-playback: Get the Archos 5 IT. If you are not and you want to get a full featured phone, get the iphone. I dont see any good reason to buy a IPodTouch or an IPad so.
*Fuchur*
There are equal, less expensive and even better "touchscreen-pads" out there from Archos, HP and other manufactures.
The IPhone is the only real "one in a million" thing there.
IPod-Touch is a fine device, but there were other equally equipped (or in some situations better equipped) media-players / internettablets out there. The Archos 5 IMT for example was a nice device (so I have to admit before Android the firmware was in some cases a bit buggy). Archos offered there a better screen with higher resolutions, bigger size and a better video-performance (in addition to being able to play as good as any videoformat, including Flash 9-Videos even embeded in Websites (Youtube or any swf/flv-file available, etc.). Internet is very well too: It has Opera Mini on it and due to the big screen and the fast processor and a fine dsp it was very fast and gave you the full internet). Today that may not seem as something much better, but this device is a few years old.
The new Archos 5 IT (Archos 5s) has Android on it. You get the Apps from the android-market, which is the second big player next to Apples Apps-Market and rising fast.
I got the new Archos 5 IT and I highly recommend it. I like it very very much. It is open, it has very good multimedia-possibilities, the OS is very solid and so on. One thing it misses is the Flash-support that was available on the "older" device so. Android will have Flash-support in the near future, but till now you are not able to play these videos.
Archos has several other tablets like the 7" and 9" (this is an IPad competer...). I know it doesnt have that much vitamins on it (since there is not "apple" on it...) but anyone who is willing to pay the kind of money apple is charging for a device that isnt better than others (sometimes even less good) just because of the apple-sign is just stupid. (this is although true the other way round... it depends on what you want from the device... if you are after video-playback / multimedia-playback: Get the Archos 5 IT. If you are not and you want to get a full featured phone, get the iphone. I dont see any good reason to buy a IPodTouch or an IPad so.
*Fuchur*
Well, no one is forcing anybody to buy one. :-)
You are certainly welcome to an opinion, but I can state the fact that I've been using Apple products since the '80s and I've never purchased one because of the logo. :-)
You are certainly welcome to an opinion, but I can state the fact that I've been using Apple products since the '80s and I've never purchased one because of the logo. :-)
Man, I need to get out of the office more, stop playing with somebody else' enterprise apps and get to playing with the cool stuff. I seriously didn't know the comic book app has been around; I thought it was a new thing! Gosh, I feel so old, and incredibly pigeon holed.
It's a pretty cool experience. The one I use is mac-only (ComicBookLover from bitcartel.com) and it's nice because it is like iTunes for your comics. You can put them into playlists and browse them in cover view. One of the key reasons I bought my Macbook a few years ago was to read comics with. The app could sense when the laptop was turned and would turn the screen so that one page filled up the sideways screen.
The comics themselves are just compressed folders of images or PDFs.
When I was big into it, I was downloading hundreds of comics at a time. I downloaded a torrent of Batman comics that except for some missing issues went from #1-#600.
It's a great way to read comics without worrying that you are decreasing their value. And to be honest, for me, it's annoying having boxes and boxes of comics these days. I like the idea of reading them online or in a digital format. If it comes directly from the source, then you don't have to lose the quality of color in the printing process.
The comics themselves are just compressed folders of images or PDFs.
When I was big into it, I was downloading hundreds of comics at a time. I downloaded a torrent of Batman comics that except for some missing issues went from #1-#600.
It's a great way to read comics without worrying that you are decreasing their value. And to be honest, for me, it's annoying having boxes and boxes of comics these days. I like the idea of reading them online or in a digital format. If it comes directly from the source, then you don't have to lose the quality of color in the printing process.
From Seth Godin's blog:
QUOTE
Secrets of the biggest selling launch ever
Apple reports that on the first day they sold more than $150,000,000 worth of iPads. I can't think of a product or movie or any other launch that has ever come close to generating that much direct revenue.
Are their tactics reserved for giant consumer fads? I don't think so. In fact, they work even better for smaller gigs and more focused markets.
1. Earn a permission asset. Over 25 years, Apple has earned the privilege of delivering anticipated, personal and relevant messages to their tribe. They can get the word out about a new product without a lot of money because one by one, they've signed people up. They didn't sell 300,000 iPads in one day, they sold them over a few decades.
2. Don't try to please everyone. There are countless people who don't want one, haven't heard of one or actively hate it. So what? (Please don't gloss over this one just because it's short. In fact, it's the biggest challenge on this list).
3. Make a product worth talking about. Sounds obvious. If it's so obvious, then why don't the other big companies ship stuff like this? Most of them are paralyzed going to meetings where they sand off the rough edges.
4. Make it easy for people to talk about you. Steve doesn't have a blog. He doesn't tweet and you can't friend him on Facebook. That's okay. The tribe loves to talk, and the iPad gave them something to talk about.
5. Build a platform for others to play in. Not just your users, but for people who want to reach your users.
6. Create a culture of wonder. Microsoft certainly has the engineers, the developers and the money to launch this. So why did they do the Zune instead? Because they never did the hard cultural work of creating the internal expectation that shipping products like this is possible and important.
7. Be willing to fail. Bold bets succeed--and sometimes they don't. Is that okay with you? Launching the iPad had to be even more frightening than launching a book...
8. Give the tribe a badge. The cool thing about marketing the iPad is that it's a visible symbol, a uniform. If you have one in the office on Monday, you were announcing your membership. And if it says, "sent from my iPad" on the bottom of your emails...
9. Don't give up so easy. Apple clearly a faced a technical dip in creating this product... they worked on it for more than a dozen years. Most people would have given up long ago.
10. Don't worry so much about conventional wisdom. The iPad is a closed system (not like the web) because so many Apple users like closed systems.
And the one thing I'd caution you about:
1. Don't worry so much about having a big launch day. It looks good in the newspaper, but almost every successful brand or product (Nike, JetBlue, Starbucks, IBM...) didn't start that way.
A few things that will make it work even better going forward:
1. Create a product that works better when your friends have one too. Some things (like a Costco membership or even email) fit into that category, because if more people join, the prices will go down or access will go up. Others (like the unlisted number to a great hot restaurant) don't.
2. Make it cheap enough or powerful enough that organizations buy a lot at a time. To give away. To use as a tool.
3. Change the home screen so I can see more than twenty apps at a time (sorry, that was just me.)
As promised, the folks at Vook made their deadline and were ready on launch day. It's early days, but it's pretty clear to me that the way authors with ideas will share them is going to change pretty radically, just as the iPad demonstrates that the way people interact with the web is going to keep changing as well.
[It turns out that Modern Warfare 2 did far better in its launch than the iPad. Thanks Jon, for the update].
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Apple reports that on the first day they sold more than $150,000,000 worth of iPads. I can't think of a product or movie or any other launch that has ever come close to generating that much direct revenue.
Are their tactics reserved for giant consumer fads? I don't think so. In fact, they work even better for smaller gigs and more focused markets.
1. Earn a permission asset. Over 25 years, Apple has earned the privilege of delivering anticipated, personal and relevant messages to their tribe. They can get the word out about a new product without a lot of money because one by one, they've signed people up. They didn't sell 300,000 iPads in one day, they sold them over a few decades.
2. Don't try to please everyone. There are countless people who don't want one, haven't heard of one or actively hate it. So what? (Please don't gloss over this one just because it's short. In fact, it's the biggest challenge on this list).
3. Make a product worth talking about. Sounds obvious. If it's so obvious, then why don't the other big companies ship stuff like this? Most of them are paralyzed going to meetings where they sand off the rough edges.
4. Make it easy for people to talk about you. Steve doesn't have a blog. He doesn't tweet and you can't friend him on Facebook. That's okay. The tribe loves to talk, and the iPad gave them something to talk about.
5. Build a platform for others to play in. Not just your users, but for people who want to reach your users.
6. Create a culture of wonder. Microsoft certainly has the engineers, the developers and the money to launch this. So why did they do the Zune instead? Because they never did the hard cultural work of creating the internal expectation that shipping products like this is possible and important.
7. Be willing to fail. Bold bets succeed--and sometimes they don't. Is that okay with you? Launching the iPad had to be even more frightening than launching a book...
8. Give the tribe a badge. The cool thing about marketing the iPad is that it's a visible symbol, a uniform. If you have one in the office on Monday, you were announcing your membership. And if it says, "sent from my iPad" on the bottom of your emails...
9. Don't give up so easy. Apple clearly a faced a technical dip in creating this product... they worked on it for more than a dozen years. Most people would have given up long ago.
10. Don't worry so much about conventional wisdom. The iPad is a closed system (not like the web) because so many Apple users like closed systems.
And the one thing I'd caution you about:
1. Don't worry so much about having a big launch day. It looks good in the newspaper, but almost every successful brand or product (Nike, JetBlue, Starbucks, IBM...) didn't start that way.
A few things that will make it work even better going forward:
1. Create a product that works better when your friends have one too. Some things (like a Costco membership or even email) fit into that category, because if more people join, the prices will go down or access will go up. Others (like the unlisted number to a great hot restaurant) don't.
2. Make it cheap enough or powerful enough that organizations buy a lot at a time. To give away. To use as a tool.
3. Change the home screen so I can see more than twenty apps at a time (sorry, that was just me.)
As promised, the folks at Vook made their deadline and were ready on launch day. It's early days, but it's pretty clear to me that the way authors with ideas will share them is going to change pretty radically, just as the iPad demonstrates that the way people interact with the web is going to keep changing as well.
[It turns out that Modern Warfare 2 did far better in its launch than the iPad. Thanks Jon, for the update].
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Will,
yup, that's good advice; and when you get right down to it, basic marketing sense. How many of us have had great ideas, but ran out of steam before getting it to market (I'm raising my hands on that one). Worse yet, how many of us actually launched a product, and couldn't let it go when it didn't do well in the market (raising my hand again).
Now; let's take this advice and apply it to film making, shall we? For sh#% and grins I'd like to see a thread here that provides that kind of advice for making A:M / projects that could make it to the marketplace. Perhaps a kind of thinktank/incubator where production info could be provided for those great ideas that we all have. Let's get these 10,000+ members from the enthusiast stage and into the film maker stage.
yup, that's good advice; and when you get right down to it, basic marketing sense. How many of us have had great ideas, but ran out of steam before getting it to market (I'm raising my hands on that one). Worse yet, how many of us actually launched a product, and couldn't let it go when it didn't do well in the market (raising my hand again).
Now; let's take this advice and apply it to film making, shall we? For sh#% and grins I'd like to see a thread here that provides that kind of advice for making A:M / projects that could make it to the marketplace. Perhaps a kind of thinktank/incubator where production info could be provided for those great ideas that we all have. Let's get these 10,000+ members from the enthusiast stage and into the film maker stage.
We've already seen Steve Jobs' philosophy and work ethic applied to making animated films. The company is called Pixar.
And as we all know, Pixar films are successful because people want closed system films that make them feel like part of an elite tribe. (?!)
Pixar's films are so incredible for the same reason Apple's products (under Jobs' watch) are so incredible. He doesn't accept less than incredible from the people who work on them. He also can recognize talent and innovation, foster it and demand results.
How many other animation studios are there that ignore talent and innovation and are just focused on how they make them faster and cheaper?
And as we all know, Pixar films are successful because people want closed system films that make them feel like part of an elite tribe. (?!)
Pixar's films are so incredible for the same reason Apple's products (under Jobs' watch) are so incredible. He doesn't accept less than incredible from the people who work on them. He also can recognize talent and innovation, foster it and demand results.
How many other animation studios are there that ignore talent and innovation and are just focused on how they make them faster and cheaper?
QUOTE(fae_alba @ Apr 9 2010, 09:40 AM)
.... I'd like to see a thread here that provides that kind of advice for making A:M / projects that could make it to the marketplace.....
http://www.animationoptions.com/blog/category/advice/
Advice from Kevin Geiger--must read(should have read)
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