Keep taking the tablets
Jinfo Blog

By Dale Moore

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Digital subscriptions are on the increase by a considerable amount according to one report and the reason for this is the recent addition of the Newsstand app for the iPhone and iPad. 

This is clearly good news for publishers who have suffered from dwindling sales of traditional print magazines but will it last or is just the latest fad from the iCommunity? Time will tell I’m sure but for now, digital subscriptions to glossy magazines are on the increase. In fact, with the news of Amazon’s new Kindle (Fire) predicted to set the market alight - sorry - and the news of other tablets entering the fray, we’ll see if the sudden surge in popularity of digital content is because of Apple’s Newsstand or whether there is a genuine demand for digital content across all device platforms.  

Apple claims to be unconcerned by Amazon’s new device stating that it will merely lead to more Android fragmentation and drive people into the stable arms of iOS. There’s nothing quite like a bit of posturing and bold predictioneering before the launch of a potential new game changer but we’ll soon see as the Kindle Fire is set to launch in the US on 15 November. 

Amazon certainly seem to be on a mission to get their devices into as many hands as possible with the recent news that they would make Kindle books available in libraries across the US. In a press release back in September, Amazon announced that “… millions of Kindle customers can borrow Kindle books from their local libraries”. In an innovative move, Amazon further stated that, “normally, making margin notes in library books is a big no-no. But we're fixing this by extending our Whispersync technology to library books, so your notes, highlights and bookmarks are always backed up and available the next time you check out the book or if you decide to buy the book." This is a nice move which brings together edevices and cloud technology in a library setting.  

There’s a social element to this too. The press release goes to note that: 

• Facebook and Twitter integration allow you to share favourite passages with your social networks
• Popular Highlights show you what the community of Kindle readers think are the most interesting passages in your books
• Public Notes allow you to share your notes and see what others are saying about Kindle books. 

But all this got me wondering. Do information professionals use tablets in their work? In an interesting article published earlier in the year called, Tablet Computers: Enterprise Solutions for Information Professionals, the author considers the possibilities, pros and cons of using tablets in libraries and information environments.

It seems, we’re just getting started!

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