The days when you heard the thud of the newspaper on your porch and the rustle of turning the page with your coffee balanced in one hand might soon become a happy memory. With technology becoming an integral part of our daily lives, and the launch of devices such as smartphones and the iPad, newspaper and magazine subscriptions are opting to go digital. What does this mean for the readers? Will it benefit them?

It is certain that 2011 is going to be a very interesting year for digital subscriptions with phone browsing getting better and better.

Reality check

The premise behind digital subscriptions is that the digital format is eco-friendly compared to the print medium. Let us not forget that millions of printed magazines end up in landfill sites and switching to the digital medium has advantages that one cannot argue with. To name just a few:

• Digital subscriptions carry exactly the same content as the print medium. Rather, it offers more interaction as it is possible to click on links to get more information.
• Digital subscriptions eliminate the expense of resources such as paper, ink, chemicals and printing. No trees are cut and a lot of energy is saved as there is no printing process. Besides, there is no waste material generated. In the print medium, production usually exceeds sales.
• The distribution of print media alone is a massive logistics exercise. Digital subscriptions require no transportation either in terms of materials or finished product.
• Digital subscriptions are easier to create. All it takes is one set of PDF format files that are uploaded online and this can be accessed by an unlimited number of subscribers.

Yet while the newspaper industry might set their hopes on devices like the iPad, converting the print content into a digital format alone won’t work. There has to be a totally new approach in content delivery.

The current buzz is over the New York Times digital subscription, whose pricing received mixed reactions. NYT’s goal is to increase revenue by charging for content. Users will be able to access 20 articles per month for free. More than that will be paid subscription. Three types of subscription packages including deals for smartphones and tablets such as iPads have been announced. The service will stay free for the home delivery subscribers. Users will also be able to read NYT’s articles via search engines. Take a look at some FAQ on NYT’s digital subscriptions here.

As the debate goes on about what constitutes a link in the NYT digital edition, iPad and iPhone users can subscribe to the Times via in-app purchasing, besides the Times website. Interestingly, this means that Times will also be handing over a 30% commission to Apple for any digital subscriptions that are bought through the apps. Apple announced that it wants 30% cut of all subscriptions bought via iOS devices and this includes providers of music, video, newspapers and magazines. While the major publishers may have hassles with this, this can be good news for small publishers who don’t have to pay content royalties.

That said, there certainly IS a case for digital subscriptions. Take Zinio, for example. Founded in 2001, this highly successful digital newsstand and bookstore has revolutionized magazine reading. Zinio offers hundreds of the best digital titles via its e-stores, besides the ability to read, share and save digital content in 23 local newsstands at any location globally. Top sellers such as Cosmopolitan, Fairlady can be accessed here. Another major subscription shop My Subs offers a variety of publications in the digital format. Magazines.co.za offers a huge selection of South African and Imported magazines.

The point is not whether the iPad or smartphone with the large display will win over print media. Obviously these devices are going to be used by a lot of people in the years to come. Also, newspapers and magazines will not be the only ones going digital; they will have to compete with television, other online companies, music giants and so forth for the subscribers’ cash. What is your take on digital subscriptions? Share your thoughts in the comments section.

When Steve Jobs made it to the launch of the iPad 2 despite being on medical leave, he must have known it would be a winner. The powerful 3D hardware of the iPad 2 bring users some seriously sophisticated virtual content. It redefines the concept of interaction by taking it to a whole new level and opening up a world of amazing possibilities. The much awaited iPad 2, complete with big screen and twin cameras allow users to experience the joy of Augmented Reality (AR) apps.

Augmented Reality basically requires a display screen and a camera combined with location awareness. It first came to smartphones as a novel concept. The lightweight iPad 2’s large screen display is easy to hold so that the user can make optimal use of its front and rear cameras. Because of its form factor, the iPad 2 scores over its competition, Motorola’s Xoom and HP’s TouchPad. The iPad 2’s graphics capabilities are far above those of its competition, delivering real-time video processing with 3D graphics overlays.

In spite of the iPad 2’s larger size, iOS developers Germany’s Metaio are convinced that users will find augmented reality too exciting to worry about the size of the iPad 2. Ideal for playing games and shopping, the iPad 2 has got developers at Augmented Minds busy working on their Zombie Shooter game.

What makes the iPad 2-augmented reality combination so great?

Augmented Reality is expected to quickly become integrated into our professional and personal lives. Just a few of the business benefits envisaged are: Interactive training, service support and maintenance, product demonstrations, live instructions and so forth bringing major cost savings to companies. For instance, support via installing an application on the iPad 2 makes more sense than support via the phone. Metaio’s Junaio Augmented Reality browser app will shortly be available on the iPad 2 and this will enhance its potential in relation to social networking and dating apps.

Total Immersion, an augmented reality expert, developed AR Magic Mirror which integrates the virtual and real world with real-time interactive 3D graphics via its proprietary technology into live streaming video. This app allows users to try on a variety of hairstyles, glasses and accessories virtually with the help of facial recognition and the application of 3D enhancements through AR. It is predicted that the facetracking app on the iPad 2 could be leveraged as an essential makeover tool with retail beauty products. A video on their website demonstrates how.

Here are some interesting examples of what the iPad 2 – augmented apps combination can do for business travellers and the travel industry:

If you were on a flight headed somewhere and pointed your iPad 2 downwards, you would see the landscape under you in real time, thanks to augmented reality and Google Maps satellite imagery.

Another scenario would be something like this: You are waiting in the lobby of your hotel trying to decide where to lunch, and point your iPad 2 south for instance. Your AR app tells you that there are at least four restaurants nearby that you can choose from. When you touch one of the superimposed images related to a particular restaurant, you can see more images of this restaurant along with the menu, know whether it has a wi-fi connection and if there is a vacant table.

If you have experienced the magic of the iPad2 with AR apps, do share it in the comments section!

As Facebook makes the shift from its proprietary FBML to iFrames for fan pages, there’s mixed reaction on how it will impact Facebook users and marketers.

Facebook announced the upgrade for custom pages from FBML, a version of HTML to iFrames on 11 February 2011. They informed users that effective 11 March 2011, pages would not be able to add the Static FBML app or create new FBML apps.

Static FBML, a Facebook app enabled users who were not HTML or CSS savvy to create custom tabs for their fan pages. The change to iFrames will mean that these fan page owners must educate themselves about how to use iFrames and PHP if they want to continue adding customised tabs to their fan pages. Sure enough, there are development companies such Wildfire and Involver, ready to help users create iFrame apps and fangating through free tools.

The question is will existing tabs built with FBML continue to function?

While Facebook assures users that this is possible, FBML will be phased out sooner than later. For those who are not keen on learning the ins and outs of iFrames, there are plenty of third-party tools available. Facebook users can also benefit from a series of tutorials on how to add iFrame apps to the Facebook page from HyperArt, a web development company.

While Facebook’s move from FBML to iFrames will mean more exciting apps and better engagement along with a more integrated fan page with the business’s main website, the DIYers will have a difficult time adjusting to the change since marketers must quickly find a provider who will help them build and host the iFrame. For third party app developers, this means more business. It also means that more Facebook users will be exposed to malware. When a new Facebook page is set up with a default landing tab including an app with an iFrame that has JavaScript, it can easily redirect the user to just about any site of its choice, including those that can harm the user’s system and crash it.

Still, in spite of the issues perceived, the outcome will be positive for regular users, marketers and consumers alike. After all, iFrames brings on the full potential of HTML and more. Let us know your thoughts in the comments.