Another iPad article...

Apple, the great masters of technology, have recently unleashed their latest creation – the iPad. This light-weight tablet computer weighs only 1.5 pounds, and measures in at 9.6” by 7.5”, making it perfect to use as an e-reader. Although the iPad is yet to be released in the UK, it has made an impact in America, and its arrival here is eagerly awaited. But how will this “magical and revolutionary product”, as Apple describes it, affect the way we read our books and magazines?

The iPad could result in an increase in readership levels – as the cost of printing and delivering is not applicable for e-books or e-magazines, then the consumer should find themselves paying a reduced cost for the finished good. Lower prices should lead to an increase in demand – and anything that encourages people to read is a desirable effect. The device also offers incentives for those who are already avid readers – the ability to store numerous books or magazines in a portable manner. It will enable people to own a wide choice of reading material that is easily accessible, making those long commutes much more enjoyable. Although other e-readers also offer this, the iPad has a screen larger than other models, resulting in a more comfortable read.

One other aspect that will be affected by the iPad is advertising, which could actually target individual people, much like sites such as Facebook offer at the moment. Adverts placed in e-magazines or e-newspapers can be specifically chosen to appeal to individual readers. The iPad has GPS, meaning adverts for particular areas can be directed to people in these locations, not to mention information that can be gathered from your choice of applications, reading material, age, and so on. This is not simply beneficial for the advertising agencies, but also for the consumer; specifically aimed adverts are a bonus for the reader, as they target their relevant interests.

However, the iPad certainly isn’t cheap, with rumours suggesting that models in the UK will range from £429 to £699. With books and magazines costing considerably less than this hefty price tag, will the benefits weigh up against the fact that a minimum of over £400 is necessary to acquire them? If this cost is deemed worthy, there is still a whole realm of problems facing the publishing companies themselves. As the internet provides constant and up-to-date information, the magazines that are normally monthly will have to compete with these instantaneous updates. Even if they do manage to match the online information, would people be willing to pay for something they can view on an iPad when they can also browse similar, and free, websites, on an iPad? Whilst paper newspapers and magazines are still purchased currently, despite the internet, the concept of viewing these through an e-reader means they lose the unique paper and ink aspect that currently means they sell.

Newspapers have already been keen to jump on the iPad bandwagon - the New York Times are offering a free Editor’s Choice application, that will offer a daily selection of the newspaper's top stories and articles, as picked by the editors. Closer to home, The Times are planning on bringing out a similar paid application – although current subscribers will not have to pay for access. Interview magazine have also managed to produce a successful iPad application, that not only offers content found in the magazine, but also offers exclusive video and audio content – revealing another aspect of the iPad revolution, in terms of the journalism found in forms other than writing.

Simon Allen, former President of the Publishers’ Association, believes that, “the iPad is not necessarily a game-changer, but it certainly gives publishers a great opportunity to get all their titles delivered in electronic form, in a very convenient and flexible way. It certainly provides exciting opportunities for the publishing industry”. So, will the iPad completely change the shape of journalism forever? I suppose all we can really do is wait and see...