I attended the Digital Magazine Forum yesterday to see if the big software companies were coming to the space. Yes, Adobe and Microsoft are now creating readers that you have to download the application. Yes! You need to download an application to receive digital magazines, books and newspapers. For the last two years all, I heard and all the vendors said a download will not work. Yet there are widgets being downloaded the millions. Now Adobe and Microsoft have new readers in beta with limited capabilities.
Does that mean Zinio, and 3Path on to some thing with a downloaded application? Why did Adobe and Microsoft go to downloaded application better controls, expand into other markets, metrics, real time delivery, portable (offline), additional marketing opportunities.
At first glance, Microsoft with the New York Times has the best methodology for what we need, a reader based on XML.
I hope all publishers are listening XML has to be your standard. It is time to start at the front of the process, write, and edit all articles in XML. This way we can build the magazines - newspaper – book – web pages – archive etc… with XML and really be delivering instant results. Yes XML can build your magazine using all the new tools available today automatically!
Let’s talk soon the future is moving fast and you need to present your content online and in many digital formats as possible.
