Since iPad was just released, I decided to stick to this theme. Many (more or less) professionals are still wondering and trying to foresee iPad's impact on media production and consumption, but for now, we can only observe and discuss comments, published by early adopters. Ipad obviously has the potential to notably affect publishing industry, therefore, this week I will focus on potential changes iPad is about to bring to self-publishers and bloggers.
In his post, Paul Weinstein states:
that DigitalBeat Smashwords, a site that enables authors to publish their own eBooks, recently notified its authors via email that it has signed a distribution deal with Apple which allows writers to offer their works for sale to iPad owners. Smashwords already publishes eBooks for independent authors in nine formats and can distribute to a number of sites including Barnes & Noble and Kobo. So inking a publishing deal with Apple certainly makes sense and no doubt signals the beginning of numerous other independent and self-publishing services targeting the iPad's iBookstore.
Meanwhile, for bloggers and readers of various news feeds, Glasshouse Apps has developed what the Next Web called a “Gorgeous iPad RSS Reader.” The application, called The Early Edition, arranges stories on the screen just like newspaper, but allows the user to customize which news sources to pull from and where to place individual stories.
So Apple will take care of blog-loving customers, as well as those, who like to read books by independent authors. Since iBookstore enables users to buy books, but not for less than 10$, the price will surely affect the amount of books people will buy and especially affect the self-publishers, since iPad owners will be in position to decide 
what is worth publishing and how much it's worth. On the other hand, cosumers/ iPad owners will be able to store and access all their favorite books and other forms of media content in a small, user-friendly portable device.
Could this evolutions of publishing industry in turn affect the content of the medium? Could this mean that McLuhan was right, saying that “the medium is the message”?
In my opinion, iPad will affect the production and consumption processes, but I doubt that it could considerably affect the content, because the content of the message is in large part dependent on consumers' themselves, their interpretations, social contexts etc.
What do you think?
photo: www.apple.com
Interesting topic :) I believe that iPad will need some time to become widely used for reading the books. Why? I think that people who reads book are more traditional and respect the ritual of reading paper books. So this first drive about iPad is just too much optimistic. But I agree that can change the publishing process. But that already changed. Now we can buy books on internet before we even see them and now we can read them on Kindl and also iPad. Publishing companies must adopt to new technologies, no doubt, but they should not forget that only the "real" book is the real thing (oh, and did I mention that reading books on computer is not good for eyes :)))
OdgovoriIzbrišiIf any optician is reading my blog, I am sure he would love to post a link to his site right now :)
OdgovoriIzbrišiI agree that the fuss about iPad and all its possible implications should be considered with a great measure of criticism. Nonetheless some changes can already be seen: Publishers are making their books available in iBookstore, the NY Times has a special app for iPads, etc. But mostly we'll just have to be patient see what will happen in time. The cost is without a doubt an important factor that hinders wider use and acceptance of iPads.