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THINKING ABOUT APPLE’S TABLET AND THE FUTURE OF MAGAZINES

by
in Filmmaking
on Dec 24, 2009

With the Financial Times reporting that Apple will announce their long-awaited tablet on Tuesday, January 26, it is time for all of us in the magazine business to think seriously about digital versions of our content. (Well, of course, the major publishers I’m sure have already done this — expect to see tablet-ready versions of a number of major publications announced alongside the device.) Filmmaker has offered a digital edition for about a year now, and it’s a great deal because for half the price you get every issue as well as all back issues through 2005. It mimics the print edition with turning pages while adding functions like search and translation. But what will Filmmaker 2.0 look like on the web? I’ve taken a look at two design comps linked to in this New York Times blog.

First, there’s Sports Illustrated.

And then there is this interesting and elegant set of design ideas from Bonnier.

Mag+ from Bonnier on Vimeo.

What are your thoughts about the coming digital magazines? Are you wedded to print or excited about switching? Are you interested in an experience that replicates the experience of reading print or one that adds more bells and whistles? Will you be an early adopter or do you expect to stay with print publications for a while? Or for the perhaps majority of you that read mostly online, is this new formulation of digital media something you are interested in?

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