Recent announcements from publishers detailing plans for optimization of their web-based content for the iPad are a clear indication of Apple's clout. Publishers who distribute content in digital formats have been conditioned to anticipate the launch of new Apple devices with deferential trepidation. This time it's the print industry's turn and, as a whole, the industry seems determined to keep pace with the perceived shift in consumer behavior the device is expected to bring.
At the same time, agencies and their clients are increasingly creating unique content as a way of keeping websites fresh and staying relevant to communities that have formed around their brands. The push toward content creation has aligned the concerns of dedicated publishers with content producing brands. Both want to be sure that their content will be accessible on new platforms as they are made available.
We know that The Financial Times, The WSJ, Wired and doubtless many more publishers are looking for ways to deliver high-fidelity experiences on the iPad or at least to make sure what they've already got is accessible from it.
In practical terms this means two things. Developing a Flash-free version of their website optimized for the iPad and finding an alternative to Flash... Read more
Archive for Dan Neumann 
App Development Strategies for a Fragmented Market
eReader Adoption: What will it take?
As someone who makes a living in the advertising industry, I have a vested interest in seeing the adoption of emerging platforms, like the eBook Reader, reach levels that make them attractive to big brands. Right now, there are too few devices in the hands of consumers to attract any of our clients.
In the interest of tenable analysis, this post will focus on end-to-end reader platforms with persistent connectivity supported by a publishing and distribution platform. No one knows exactly how many eBook readers have been sold, but reputable sources peg Amazon as having sold somewhere north of 3 million Kindles and Barnes & Noble at 70,000 Nook(s or i?). At the time of publication, Apple has sold zero iPads.
Stay informed. Dan Neumann will be taking the stage at ad:tech San Francisco, where he will be presenting on Advertising in the New Connected Appliances. Join him at ad:tech, April 19-21. Learn more.
Publishers are thrilled by the iPad because it gave them leverage to negotiate with Amazon. Using that leverage they negotiated 'agency' pricing which means higher prices at launch that go down when paperbacks get released. This means that they've bet heavily... Read more
