Can Apple’s tablet save publishing?

“Nowhere is next week’s launch by Apple of its new tablet device more breathlessly awaited than in the executive offices of traditional publishing houses. For the tablet – or the iSlate or the iPad as it may become known – is regarded as a possible saviour for newspapers, magazines and textbooks,” Ian Burrell reports for The Independent.

“There are electronic reading devices in existence already, such as Sony’s e-Reader and Amazon’s Kindle. But, publishers hope the unquestioned design talents of Apple will ensure that its latest product is the vehicle that enables them to transform their business models,” Burrell reports. “After all, the iPod has converted millions to the idea of paying to download songs and, to a degree, has revived the music industry, becoming the world’s largest music retailer in the process. The iPhone has created a culture of acquiring apps for ‘just about anything,’ many of them paid for.”

Burrell reports, “Newspaper content is already being widely consumed on smart mobile phones but mostly for free. With a touch screen of 10-11 inches, the Apple tablet presents publishers of all kinds with the opportunity to create an entirely new reader experience, one that consumers might be persuaded to pay for.”

“Jobs and his team are in talks with Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp, the New York Times Co. and magazine publishers such as Conde Nast and television networks including CBS and Disney,” Burrell reports. “The New York Times this week announced that it would be demanding payment for access to its website and industry observers say that the newspaper publisher is discussing with Apple whether it could begin charging for news through iTunes.”

Full article here.

[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Fred Mertz” for the heads up.]