Another quiet revolution has occurred in the way I consume media. It started with the new iPad which, with its hi-res retina screen, is capable of resolving detail almost as capably as print. Couple that with Apple’s Newsstand app, which makes it easy to find and subscribe to publications, and you’ve got a powerful argument for accessing magazines digitally rather than in print.
In fact, in many ways the iPad experience is preferable to print:
- You don’t have to make a physical purchase.
- You save on the trees.
- You can carry around all the current month’s magazines with you wherever you go, plus (depending on how much memory you have) quite a collection of back copies.
- In the case of my Sound-on-Sound magazine, you can listen to mixing and mastering samples.
- And in the case of Practical Photoshop (I know, I’m sounding very geeky), you can see screencasts providing how-to demos.
Having said that, there are still some capabilities that I really miss:
- Because I’m on an iPad and not my Mac, I can’t immediately put into action everything I read. There is no Newsstand app for Mac/PC and there should be.
- I can’t copy useful material into Evernote where I can tag and store it. This is a major snag, because it means I’ve no easy way of finding stuff again other than hunting from cover to cover through back issues.
- I can’t link to an item in an issue as I can do on the web.
So, we’re still some way from having an ideal solution. On the other hand, we’re got far enough for me to consider cancelling all my other print subscriptions. Who’d have thought it?
So what is there not to agree with in your comments Clive? Not a lot really. But......the printed format is still an option. In I.T. training courses I run we find it difficult with just one screen to have electronic exercises whilst the user is working on the screen. Constantly flicking back and forth can be a pain.
ReplyDeleteTechnology is moving a a great pace and much of it is available to the masses but at a price. A magazine, book or publication quite often has articles that you may not pick out through a web search, yet draws you in and gives you knowledge that engages and surprise you.
Its in the blend is what I say. A mixture of the electronic world with some paper thrown in. Everyone is happy.
Always an avid tech user...but one you may not have mentioned. Just the feel and the smell of a new book. Love and miss that with an e-reader. Also, the fun of perusing the many book shelves at the library :)
ReplyDeleteI think we're just scratching the surface on this type of technology. I work with technology in education and it's been really fun to talk about possible ways to apply new tech in an educational setting. It's getting cheaper and cheaper all the time, too. I can't wait to see what the next five years will bring.
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