The Apple iPad launch (read our Hands on: iPad review) in San Francisco this week was watched with nervous anticipation by the whole of the publishing world, hoping the Jobs and co had created something which could give the industry a much-needed shot in the arm.
To get a UK perspective of what the iPad - and tablets in general - mean to the UK publishing sector, TechRadar spoke to Janine Gibson, Editor of guardian.co.uk about the device and asked her what she really thought about Apple's tablet and, if any, what plans the Guardian had regarding the device.
TechRadar: What are the Guardian's first impressions of the Apple iPad?
Janine Gibson: I think, like everybody, that it doesn't live up to the massive expectations. We expected something more multi-functional from them, as that is what we have come to expect from Apple since the iPhone.
There had been a lot of discussion about what it could potentially do, so everybody was quite surprised by what is a relatively simple device.
TR: Is the device a game-changer for the newspaper industry?
JG: Personally, I'm a bit sceptical that any one device at this point could be a game-changer.
But the thing Apple has done is set the direction of travel and set the expectations for the tablet market, rather than [the iPad] being the answer to life, the universe and everything.
It is not going to transform newspaper or magazine publishing in itself, but what it will do is set about the idea of tablets to consumers.
TR: Will we see an iPad version of the Guardian?
JG: We're not overly locked in on being first on anything, we'd rather be best. So, for instance, our iPhone app we took our time with and made sure it was absolutely the best in class and worth the money. And that is a strategy that has really paid off for us.
The strategy for the tablets so far, and obviously it is early days, is that we create something which is the best thing possible.
The Guardian wants to be everywhere, on all devices, but we do need to figure out how this is going to make a better experience for our readers before we commit to anything.
We have the iPhone app and that is a fantastic start for us. We wanted that app to be a complete leap forward and that is what we would want to do with the Guardian on a tablet.
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janinegibson
January 29th 2010
3. Hi
Agree with both commenters above -- I was trying to emphasise our iphone app to show that a) we have a product which will function on the iPad, but also as @tech90 says that it may be the app is not the ideal experience for iPad and time and thought will tell us more about what might be.
My speculation is that this might well be the moment for publishers to start to wonder about how to use their feature and magazine content more effectively - either through browsing or a different sort of app (because of the bespoke - ie non-browsing -- experience that offers.
Of course that *would* be a change for the publishing industry as at the moment feature and magazine content are I think somewhat under-utilised online.
And just to clarify what I said on micro payments - I believe there is a consensus developing around micro payments ON MOBILE. This is quite an important point. Most people seem, I think, to be quite happy to pay for increased functionality and utility in apps.
I think the guardian's position on open and free online without paywalls is pretty clear...
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watcherzero
January 28th 2010
2. Since iPhone apps work on the iPad, your guardian app will work on it too.
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tech89
January 28th 2010
1. I bought the Guardian App, It's very good.
I do wonder if many people will buy news apps on the ipad, seeing as the ipad allows full size web browsing - people might just go to the websites instead. Apps were needed for iphone because of the screen size being small, however screen size on ipad is much larger.
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