Publishing software developer Woodwing and local distributor Creative Folks, which sponsored the Publishers Australia event on Tuesday (4 May), brought along a number of the devices.
Woodwing managing director Remco Koster gave an insight into the company’s work with Time magazine in the US, which uses the developer’s Digital Magazine Solution tool for the iPad version of its title.
Koster pointed out that Time was among the top ranked magazines in the iPad charts, while still charging US$4.99 per copy – the same as the printed version.
Publishers Australia’s Philip Jenkinson told ProPrint that this pointed to the iPad as complementary to print.
“Publishers are starting to charge the same for iPad subscriptions and individual copies as they do for the printed version. So it doesn’t lower the overall value,” said Jenkinson.
“It has been touted as a game-changer. My feeling is it doesn’t spell the end of print – far from it. It’s just opening up a new way to migrate things into a new format,” he added.
Mark Mina, business development manager for mail at Geon, said: “As a marketer, I see the iPad as just another channel. All communications need to be integrated.
“Unfortunately or fortunately – depending on what side of the fence you are on – there are an increasing number of channels. It’s great news for the consumer, but it will come at the expense of some printing,” he said.
Mina added: “It’s an evolution and it has to happen. It’s an opportunity for Geon because we are able to send out e-books in iPad format.”
Mike Griffiths, manager at pre-press specialist Pure Colours Digital Imaging, told ProPrint the move to electronic content delivery could be a boon for the bureau sector.
“It’s a big opportunity for us. I welcome the technology. It’s a new step for us as traditional pre-press to keep up with the electronic media.”
“It’s another thing to offer our customers, and lets us get back to the traditional bureau offering, making digital print just one of our services,” he added.
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