Tools | mag's 'n ad's blog

by Valto

September 13th, 2008

Inspired by the LinkedIn question by Dash, I finally got this post done.

I want to share some of my own thoughts on the future of publishing. Being a little of a geek always using the latest tech toys (visit one of my other blogs; Mobile and Internet), I think I have some idea of what’s coming in future. Also It’s important to understand that even if the change is coming, it does effect so many people that it will be some what slow…

First of, I think it’s very import not to bundle everything into one. The Magazines and Newspapers are very different. Newspapers focus on News and Magazines mainly to very different and variety of topics.

I think that the main factor that is and has been important for Newspapers is moving to other channels and that is the News. If you want your news fresh (like many do) then newspaper (in paper format) is not your source anymore.

Therefore I think that Newspapers are in different category than Magazines in this matter, since Magazine content is not so “time sensitive”

Will both die? Yes and no, I imagine some dying and others surviving, majority will change format away from paper, but obviously not all at least not for a long time.

The main factor for me (nearly) never to read news on paper, has been my iPhone and the reason I still read magazines, is because I like to read longer articles on paper. I also like the ad’s & overall visuals better on Magazines.

When iPhones, ereaders and similar achieve right specifications to give the feel and experience of the magazine (with professional layout etc.), the traditional paper format will start to really go away.

As I’m an avid RSS reader about 500 posts/day via google reader from various blogs etc. I can say that the visual experience is quite boring compared to magazines. Even if there is really good looking blogs, they are still the same looking from day to day & week to week…

What I like about online based content, is that it’s fresh and it’s easy to get various versions from same news, fast and with different viewpoints, not just one…

So depending on the content I use the following:

News (RSS from main media sources & blogs)
Topic related & short content (RSS & Blogs)
Longer articles and when I have more time, I still enjoy Magazines, particularly while I’m eating by myself..
While on the move Podcasts & RSS

What do you think and how do you consume your reading content?

More »

Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite

.yuduBeta, even more like YouTube for print*

by Valto

September 6th, 2008

It’s now been almost 4 months when I first posted about YUDU. Yesterday I got an email from them, inviting me to their new private Beta.

Dear YUDU Freedom User,

We’ve been listening to your feedback ever since we launched YUDU Freedom and now we’re ready to bring you even more amazing online publishing benefits. Log in for a sneak preview to our new site using the details below, to find your publications and try out all the new features on offer!

You wanted to be able to upload your Word and PowerPoint documents; You wanted a place to display, promote and share your publications; You wanted privacy options for your creations; And you wanted a place to sell them.

GREAT NEWS!….You’ve got it…we’ve done it all!! We’ve gone and developed a whole new website for you – even bigger and better than before!!

As a valued YUDU Freedom user, we’re giving you an extra special sneak preview and login to the BETA site, before we let the rest of world see it!

What’s so special about our new site? It’s no longer just about free publishing… it’s an ePublishing application, Marketplace and eLibrary that gives you the freedom to express, the power to create and the tools to sell your publications - so if you liked YUDUFreedom.com, you’ll love YUDU.com!

So that pretty much says it all. Today I was testing their new beta service and I must say I’m impressed. Their solution looks professional with clean design.

This will be one of the very needed solutions for print publishers to extend their publications life and readership. Publishers can also set up their publication to be private or public, and free of paid version.

For many smaller publishers this will be a great way to market and store their publications online. This will also extend the visibility of their advertisers.

On top of new document formats like PowerPoint, Word.doc, etc., with this new beta you can also publish your websites, audio files and photos too. So that’s pretty much everything else but video.

YUDU is currently in private beta, but not to worry, it will only be for few days. The public beta will be opened next Monday, 8th of September.

More »

Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite

.thisblog is now Cooliris enabled*

by Valto

August 25th, 2008

If you are not using Cooliris (formerly PicLens) yet, you REALLY should. Cooliris is a powerful plug-in for your web browser. If you are browsing images for any reason anytime, this simply is the best way to flow trough hundreds of images in no time.

Doing Google image search with Cooliris is probably 10 times faster. You really need to try it to understand it. I have written about cooliris (PicLens) before on my other blog, so you may want to read that as well.

I just installed Cooliris plug-in to this blog, even if I don’t (yet) have that many images. If you have your own website or blog and it’s run on wordpress you should install this plug-in, specially if you are photographer or graphics designer with lots of images.

For other than Wordpress there are other solutions to enable Cooliris as well. Read more at their website or do some googling with cooliris + (your CMS) or PicLens + (your CMS).

RSS

Archives

Tags

Categories

News And Updates