It’s a familiar question. Whether the iPad or any other tablet will really be the “savior” of the publishing industry, as some have said, is unclear. What is clear, however, is that consumers aren’t likely to be friendly to publishers who don’t provide content optimized for their preferred digital media devices–be it tablet, e-reader, mobile phone, or even desktop computer.

Some publishers already appear to be taking the tablet route. Wired Magazine is currently developing a gorgeous app for the iPad, and other publishers appear to be moving in similar directions. We recently put senior analyst Paul Verna in the hot seat to ask some questions about his new report, “Paid E-Publishing Content: Books, Newspapers and Magazines” to really find out what’s moving and shaking in the print-gone-digital space. (Read more…)

Wired Magazine just released a video promoting their upcoming app for the iPad, and it looks gorgeous. We’ve all heard about how large-format e-readers such as the iPad and Amazon Kindle DX can deliver a truly immersive experience, but this video gets that point across visually. I was especially struck by interactive features embedded in the ads – something we haven’t heard much about because we’ve been understandably focused on editorial content. Delivering this type of rich media advertising experience will be crucial for publishers threatened by a sluggish economy, competition from other forms of entertainment, changes in consumer behavior, and the inexorable march of technology. (Read more…)