Comments on: Work in progress http://thedigitalist.net/2008/07/work-in-progress/ a blog by the digital team at Pan Macmillan Tue, 15 May 2012 05:14:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Ryan Chapman http://thedigitalist.net/2008/07/work-in-progress/comment-page-1/#comment-3500 Ryan Chapman Mon, 27 Oct 2008 18:20:20 +0000 http://thedigitalist.net/?p=190#comment-3500 Great discussion! There are valid points all around, and the "publishers are not software developers" concern will ultimately fall to how much interest the corporate parent has in becoming a media company versus a traditional book publisher (not a bad thing). I think there needs to be a cross-publisher app developed (downloading a separate app for each title is ludicrous). This could take several forms to gather revenue, from free first chapters (with extras like video, interviews, etc) with an option to buy for the rest, or a subscription-based service. The loss to the publisher, of course, is that we're then paying for a middleman. Just as Hulu.com was a joint NBC and Fox venture which, after its success, began to host competitor's content, an enterprising UK/US publisher can do the same here. Disclosure: I work for Macmillan's U.S. operations in Internet Marketing. Great discussion! There are valid points all around, and the “publishers are not software developers” concern will ultimately fall to how much interest the corporate parent has in becoming a media company versus a traditional book publisher (not a bad thing). I think there needs to be a cross-publisher app developed (downloading a separate app for each title is ludicrous). This could take several forms to gather revenue, from free first chapters (with extras like video, interviews, etc) with an option to buy for the rest, or a subscription-based service. The loss to the publisher, of course, is that we’re then paying for a middleman. Just as Hulu.com was a joint NBC and Fox venture which, after its success, began to host competitor’s content, an enterprising UK/US publisher can do the same here.

Disclosure: I work for Macmillan’s U.S. operations in Internet Marketing.

]]> By: La Feuille » Archive du blog » Les éditeurs doivent-ils développer des applications logicielles ? http://thedigitalist.net/2008/07/work-in-progress/comment-page-1/#comment-1442 La Feuille » Archive du blog » Les éditeurs doivent-ils développer des applications logicielles ? Tue, 22 Jul 2008 07:12:25 +0000 http://thedigitalist.net/?p=190#comment-1442 [...] depuis le lancement des applications pour lire son livre sur un iPhone, notamment TextOnPhone, explique Sarah Lloyd. “Quelle sera la plus populaire application de lecture ? Y aura-t-il une plateforme pour [...] [...] depuis le lancement des applications pour lire son livre sur un iPhone, notamment TextOnPhone, explique Sarah Lloyd. “Quelle sera la plus populaire application de lecture ? Y aura-t-il une plateforme pour [...]

]]> By: A lost chance by publishers? « Booklishing http://thedigitalist.net/2008/07/work-in-progress/comment-page-1/#comment-1300 A lost chance by publishers? « Booklishing Mon, 21 Jul 2008 11:30:11 +0000 http://thedigitalist.net/?p=190#comment-1300 [...] how book publishers missed the chance to take part in the iPhone launch. That was followed by a reaction from Sara Lloyd, Head of Digital Publishing at Pan Macmillan, defending the publishers’ [...] [...] how book publishers missed the chance to take part in the iPhone launch. That was followed by a reaction from Sara Lloyd, Head of Digital Publishing at Pan Macmillan, defending the publishers’ [...]

]]> By: Bill Janssen http://thedigitalist.net/2008/07/work-in-progress/comment-page-1/#comment-784 Bill Janssen Fri, 18 Jul 2008 01:59:35 +0000 http://thedigitalist.net/?p=190#comment-784 I think you're right, in that there's no big advantage to being the first app out there, but perhaps wrong in thinking that there's time to wait. Perhaps you've seen <a href="http://pubfrontier.com/2008/07/07/ebooks-and-the-iphone/" rel="nofollow">my analysis on pubfrontier.org</a> of the costs of iPhone ebooks versus, say, Sony Reader ebooks. And the payback to the author for self-publishing. I think there's probably an advantage to the first couple of publishers who establish an iPhone "imprint", and help their authors get their works out there as "first-class" Apps, instead of being hidden behind the publisher's store/reader App. I think you’re right, in that there’s no big advantage to being the first app out there, but perhaps wrong in thinking that there’s time to wait. Perhaps you’ve seen my analysis on pubfrontier.org of the costs of iPhone ebooks versus, say, Sony Reader ebooks. And the payback to the author for self-publishing. I think there’s probably an advantage to the first couple of publishers who establish an iPhone “imprint”, and help their authors get their works out there as “first-class” Apps, instead of being hidden behind the publisher’s store/reader App.

]]> By: Links of Interest (At Least to Me) 17/07/2008 « Eoin Purcell’s Blog http://thedigitalist.net/2008/07/work-in-progress/comment-page-1/#comment-771 Links of Interest (At Least to Me) 17/07/2008 « Eoin Purcell’s Blog Thu, 17 Jul 2008 22:43:41 +0000 http://thedigitalist.net/?p=190#comment-771 [...] hosting them for sales. More on this next week when i think it through properly. Here, Here, Here, Here, Here and [...] [...] hosting them for sales. More on this next week when i think it through properly. Here, Here, Here, Here, Here and [...]

]]> By: peter http://thedigitalist.net/2008/07/work-in-progress/comment-page-1/#comment-768 peter Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:20:59 +0000 http://thedigitalist.net/?p=190#comment-768 I'm sure you've seen Lonely Planet's announcement that they've made audiobooks (phrasebooks) available for the App store, including a free Mandarin one until the Olympics opens? http://www.thebookseller.com/news/63332-lp-offers-phrasebooks-to-iphone-and-ipod-users.html As a publisher that also has an API (irrespective of the fact that you can't really do anything with it) I think LP wins some kind of prize for, you know, putting their money where our mouths are. (Or aren't.) Good debate all. I’m sure you’ve seen Lonely Planet’s announcement that they’ve made audiobooks (phrasebooks) available for the App store, including a free Mandarin one until the Olympics opens?
http://www.thebookseller.com/news/63332-lp-offers-phrasebooks-to-iphone-and-ipod-users.html

As a publisher that also has an API (irrespective of the fact that you can’t really do anything with it) I think LP wins some kind of prize for, you know, putting their money where our mouths are. (Or aren’t.)

Good debate all.

]]> By: Rich Holman http://thedigitalist.net/2008/07/work-in-progress/comment-page-1/#comment-684 Rich Holman Wed, 16 Jul 2008 18:55:15 +0000 http://thedigitalist.net/?p=190#comment-684 Interesting points about publishers as software developers, no I don't think they should be/are software developers - publishers should concentrate on what they do well, content. But that's not to say they shouldn't work with software developers to ensure that software is developed with publishing models in mind - software can be a blank slate, better to have a bespoke application that addresses certain use cases unique to publishing. Disclaimer: I worked in publishing for a number of years and now work in web/application development Interesting points about publishers as software developers, no I don’t think they should be/are software developers – publishers should concentrate on what they do well, content.

But that’s not to say they shouldn’t work with software developers to ensure that software is developed with publishing models in mind – software can be a blank slate, better to have a bespoke application that addresses certain use cases unique to publishing.

Disclaimer: I worked in publishing for a number of years and now work in web/application development

]]> By: Sara Lloyd http://thedigitalist.net/2008/07/work-in-progress/comment-page-1/#comment-683 Sara Lloyd Wed, 16 Jul 2008 12:01:32 +0000 http://thedigitalist.net/?p=190#comment-683 Well said, James. Kassia, consumers *are* excited by the iPhone, but not because they see it as a great e-reader! I think that perception might build over time but the shift is still going to be slow, it will take time for the best applications to rise to the top. Just as publishers have not become printers, neither are they likely - at least for some time - to become software developers. Well said, James. Kassia, consumers *are* excited by the iPhone, but not because they see it as a great e-reader! I think that perception might build over time but the shift is still going to be slow, it will take time for the best applications to rise to the top. Just as publishers have not become printers, neither are they likely – at least for some time – to become software developers.

]]> By: James Long http://thedigitalist.net/2008/07/work-in-progress/comment-page-1/#comment-682 James Long Wed, 16 Jul 2008 09:33:09 +0000 http://thedigitalist.net/?p=190#comment-682 Hi Kassia, Unless they picked up the SDK in March and built and tested something, using their fully resourced software development department with full infrastructure, that integrates with their digital repository and ecom system in 3-4 months, most publisher simply aren't in a position to capitalise on the launch excitement. And I don't think that matters. The iPhone market will keep growing and I think it is more important to enter this new market in a coherent, stable, usable and sustainable way, able to offer a full selection of your best content, glitch free. Furthermore, there is clearly a bit of turmoil with the App Store itself, in terms of pricing and categorisation, and I think it is better to let things settle down and then inject your content into a stable category that most consumers will recognise and therefore be able to quickly find your content within. In addition, until Apple openly recognise that the iPhone is now an ereader too and begin to market that function through iTunes (i.e. as they have done for music/iPod and films/Apple TV), book content will be limited to a position one degree removed from the mainstream iTunes/iPod/iPhone experience. So, in summary - nope, I don't think publishers are/should be software development houses... yet... and nope, I don't think the the iPhone launch was a real missed opportunity. Thanks for your comment. James Hi Kassia,

Unless they picked up the SDK in March and built and tested something, using their fully resourced software development department with full infrastructure, that integrates with their digital repository and ecom system in 3-4 months, most publisher simply aren’t in a position to capitalise on the launch excitement.

And I don’t think that matters. The iPhone market will keep growing and I think it is more important to enter this new market in a coherent, stable, usable and sustainable way, able to offer a full selection of your best content, glitch free. Furthermore, there is clearly a bit of turmoil with the App Store itself, in terms of pricing and categorisation, and I think it is better to let things settle down and then inject your content into a stable category that most consumers will recognise and therefore be able to quickly find your content within.

In addition, until Apple openly recognise that the iPhone is now an ereader too and begin to market that function through iTunes (i.e. as they have done for music/iPod and films/Apple TV), book content will be limited to a position one degree removed from the mainstream iTunes/iPod/iPhone experience.

So, in summary – nope, I don’t think publishers are/should be software development houses… yet… and nope, I don’t think the the iPhone launch was a real missed opportunity.

Thanks for your comment.

James

]]> By: Kassia Krozser http://thedigitalist.net/2008/07/work-in-progress/comment-page-1/#comment-680 Kassia Krozser Wed, 16 Jul 2008 03:46:12 +0000 http://thedigitalist.net/?p=190#comment-680 Sara -- Thanks for the disagreement! DRM isn't *the* only issue, but it's certainly one. I'm really interested in the discussion about authors and agents and rights because there is so much education to be shared (remind to tell you about a very sad audio/accessibility discussion I once had). I did want to circle back to one thought you had because it mirrored our Friday night debate at BS HQ -- the idea that publishers need to be software developers. In the most basic sense, what you sell is software. It's weird to think of books in that way, but your mention of software development -- and we were talking specifically about how important it is for publishers to get into the development game on some level rather than waiting for someone else to come up with the cool stuff -- reminded me that publishing is all about software development. Do I really think the industry needed a flashy toy to coincide with the launch of the new iPhone/software? Yeah, sort of. If not a toy then maybe a strong statement that we too are part of the entertainment industry. I'm pretty big on going where the consumers are, and right now they're excited about the iPhone/Touch/mobile. It makes sense to me that capitalizing on this excitement -- now -- is a good idea. Sara — Thanks for the disagreement! DRM isn’t *the* only issue, but it’s certainly one. I’m really interested in the discussion about authors and agents and rights because there is so much education to be shared (remind to tell you about a very sad audio/accessibility discussion I once had).

I did want to circle back to one thought you had because it mirrored our Friday night debate at BS HQ — the idea that publishers need to be software developers. In the most basic sense, what you sell is software. It’s weird to think of books in that way, but your mention of software development — and we were talking specifically about how important it is for publishers to get into the development game on some level rather than waiting for someone else to come up with the cool stuff — reminded me that publishing is all about software development.

Do I really think the industry needed a flashy toy to coincide with the launch of the new iPhone/software? Yeah, sort of. If not a toy then maybe a strong statement that we too are part of the entertainment industry. I’m pretty big on going where the consumers are, and right now they’re excited about the iPhone/Touch/mobile. It makes sense to me that capitalizing on this excitement — now — is a good idea.

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