“Apple is apparently preparing to launch a new e-publishing program in late January, tied in with the reported Apple media event,” AppleBitch writes.
“The program would be designed to get budding unsigned authors to use the new self-publishing platform to get their content on the iBookstore. If this takes off, then it is essentially an resource with which Amazon or Barnes and Noble could find it difficult to compete,” AppleBitch writes. “Certainly, one of the ways that Apple could help to drive this digital self-publishing platform is through tight integration of iWork software and the iBookstore.”
AppleBitch writes, “Of course, any muppet with a word processor can publish a digital book but Apple could be packaging this in a particularly friendly way. The new iWork/iBookstore partnership could be to authors, what the SDK/App Store was to developers when iOS was released.”
Read more in the full article here.
If so & why not that’d be another huge sonic boom from Apple heard all around the world! 😉 I bet Balmer would have something typically “Balmer-ish” to say about that! Lol
If its available in an iOS version look out Amazon!
I am a regular user of iWeb. I hope Apple retains and improves this app because I think there are a lot of users who would appreciate it. Any indication on what Apple plans to do with iWeb?
What are they doing with iWeb? Same thing they’re doing with the ringtones and sound effects in iOS. Nothing. It’s reached a level where it does what it needs to do. End of story.
Unfortunately. I use iWeb weekly to update my organization’s website. Though the site is OLD, I still get compliments on it from patrons and peers.
@Nerd…
I think you’ve got it right. To “upgrade” or “update” iWeb would mean adding all sorts of arcane bells and whistles that those who need them already have in the myriad of semi-pro web publishing apps out there (Sandvox, Rapidweaver…). iWeb as is fills an important niche. If it works for you (as it does for me), then all’s well and good.
i love iWeb but i think Apple is killing it slowly. It is a shame, because it doesnt need but a couple more easy features to be really good for amateur web designers. Nothing out there is as easy to use with as nice results. Rapidweaver, Freeway, Sandvox, all are a level or two worse in complexity and learning curve.
I create and maintain 2 low level websites (non-mobileme) , and fear I will be needing to find a replacement for iWeb soon with no good candidate in sight.
I agree iWeb is by far the easiest web production software available and its time efficiency is unmatched, I have done a number of simple commercial sites and my own in a fraction of what it took me in Freeway which itself is the simplist of the major software products. Rapidweaver was a big disappointment and the online alternatives which are probably the reason for its demise, are simply not as flexible and potentially expensive once you include add ons. A great loss, had even greater potential and I will stick with it as long as it is supported.
If true it could be something I’ve been waiting for. This could be great for authors and small publishers… if it is not tied to producing an endless revenue stream for Apple… beyond Apple’s typical revenue split, that is.
As a former small publisher, the major thing that has kept from returning to it these days has been Adobe and Quark’s insistence on turning their respective publishing programs into sources of endless revenue streams via subscription publishing template plans.
You’d think that Quark would have learned their lesson after InDesign swept the floor with them, but it appears not. And now it is clear that, after teaching a bully a hard lesson, Adobe has decided to take on the role of bully.
Their actions remind me of the story of the goose that laid golden eggs.
A good concept, but Apple hasn’t done anything with the desktop version of iWork in almost three years. I was beginning to wonder if iWork has just become a virtual side interest with the focus being largely on the iOS version.
If in fact, Apple takes this approach, it could bode well for iWork for the desktop, since I’m sure they would add some really outstanding features to it. I could well see myself utilizing the publishing component too.
“Certainly, one of the ways that Apple could help to drive this digital self-publishing platform is through tight integration of iWork software and the iBookstore.”
Which will drive success in Apple’s real goal of selling more hardware.
You can write your Great American Novel on any computer you like; even long hand or on a typewriter if so inclined. But to publish it, you’ll need a Mac. (Or maybe an iPad?)
Okay, let’s say they open up book publishing to the masses. What’s the cut? What cut is fair?
Will it be 70-30?
Anyone here a published author? How would 70-30 compare to what a publishing house would give you, or compare to Amazon or others?
I’d love to know.
Why does the cut matter? You first must have a product that sells. Second, you have to consider the alternative, how well would it sell without Apple? Without good content, the discussion is only academic.
I’m a published author. All of my novels (6) are available as MOBI and ePUB files on Amazon and B&N. The cut is 70% if you choose that route. I highly recommend it.
Nerd Beautiful,
They have similar compensation as Amazon, which is a much higher percentage than we get from publishers. And e-book sales are eclipsing physical sales (iBooks is e-book only). I sell tens of thousands of e-books for every physical book sold, so this is great news indeed.
But really, I don’t see how they can make it any easier. Pages ’09 already exports to ePub, and the iBooks publishing program is a snap to use. It takes me two minutes to turn a manuscript into a published book.
I’m just excited for a new version of iWork. It’s about time!!
cool. Thanks for the reply!
‘An resource’?
I think a grammar check is in order.