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| I-Pad I |
The publishing industry called it the savior or the Jesus tablet, because they expected it to save the industry from declining sales and profits, by giving them an incentive to raise prices, which had been driven to crazy low of $9.99 by Amazon. The speculation was that I-pad will have its own prices and force Amazon to raise bars and hence allow other publishers to join hands with Apple and bring e-books to masses.
The whole concept was that with Kindle being only portable e-book reader (Laptops being bit cumbersome), Amazon was monopolizing the e-book business by buying books from publishers and selling at very low prices. With I-Pad, the hope was that publishers could self-publish their books on internet and reach readers on their own(without the agents like Amazon). Hence it was called "Jesus tablet".
And it indeed has been revolution in E-books and helping publishers in getting back on track. But main concern was comprehending to Steve Jobs's agency models, where E-book providers like Amazon and Apple were to act as agents between Publishers and Customers on commission basis. Amazon did not work this way, and if biggest 6 publishing houses agreed to Apple's terms, Amazon would had to switch their whole policy.
In the same article, Amazon’s Russ Grandinetti, however mentioned that real competition wasn't between books and e-books it was between reading, TV, movies, videos and other modes trying to attract customers' time and interest. he emphasized that they were making mistake and had to consider themselves to be in multimedia business not just books and take advantage of opportunities.
References : Ken Aulleta (April 26, 2010). Publish or Perish. The New Yorker. Retrieved from http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/04/26/100426fa_fact_auletta
Hi Monica,
ReplyDeleteIt is evident that the competition is on to providing the most appropriate tool to read eBooks. This is an indication that the eBook’s future is full of promise. Apple’s iPad has created an avenue for publishers to directly make their books available to readers. In addition, I agree with Amazon’s Russ Grandinetti, the real competition is between reading, TV, movies, videos and other modes trying to attract customer’s time and interest. There really is no competition between books and eBooks. It is a matter of choice and affordability.
This is further evident by the article, iPad Mini launch: why Steve Jobs thought 7in tablets would fail
, written by Charles Arthur in The Guardian. Two years ago, Ken Aulleta, was discussing Steve Jobs comments at the launch of iPad. One of the Jobs had made was “7in tablets would fail” Two years later, even Apple is bringing out a 7.85in “iPad mini”. Jobs is no longer here, however Apple’s executives now have the responsibility to reply to his statement, “tablets this size were tweeners”. Jobs had a lot to say regarding the competition, such as the use of Android software, the question of apps, and lastly pricing. Taking all these into consideration, the final outcome is that it may not be the biggest market, but there is a market for the 7in tablet.
As time goes by, there will continue to be new developments. Competition amongst the various players is alive and it is one of the main factors that drive the industry. Once there is a need it will be fulfilled and customers and developers will be provided with many choices. As a result current readers will continue to read and new readers will be encouraged to read. The eBook lives on.
Reference:
Charles Arthur (October23, 2012). iPad Mini launch: why Steve Jobs thought 7in tablets would fail. The Guardian. Retrieved from iPad Mini launch: why Steve Jobs thought 7in tablets would fail
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/oct/22/ipad-mini-steve-jobs-7in-tablets