That magazine I came across was a digital version of a popular skateboarding magazine and it's interactive features included thumbnail navigation of the different spreads, zoom in/out capabilities, and the ability to 'grab and flip' pages with the click of a mouse. Companies like ZINIO.com seems to have digital publishing down. With over 50,000 digital books and magazines in 15 languages for portable devices like phones, laptops and the new iPads, they seem to be the largest 'online newstand.' They are on a mission to 'reinvent reading' while 'saving trees,' a clever strategy in my opinion. Some prices I saw were the same as you would pay for the printed versions, about $10 for 12 issues of a particular magazine, which seems reasonable enough.
One downfall that I did come across was that each issue is made available at $6 per issue! VIVmag says the time spent on one digital issue is about the same as an ordinary printed issue.
As technology advances, devices like the iPad will become more and more accessible as their prices become more affordable for the average person. Sooner or later everyone is going to be walking around with a device like this reading their newspapers, magazines and books. Students will be able to carry all their textbooks and notes in a single device all while having the ability to access the web, make phone calls, watch videos and listen to music!
In my opinion, a time where everyone uses an iPad-like device is soon to happen as the newer generations become increasingly dependent on mobile hand-held devices. But for now there are some of us that still resist these new types of innovating technologies.
Resources
- VCAB.com allows anyone to convert their pdf files into working interactive media. (Although I think you need to pay.)
- If you're familiar with Indesign CS4, export your finished publications as fully functional "page flipping" Flash interactive media with no programing experience necessary! (Here is an example I created after finishing an exercise in my publishing class 'The Tea Catalog")
No comments:
Post a Comment