I did make m think about the future though and how we are going to consume media. Rumor has it that Hulu and Netflix are developing apps for the product, two things I would love to have on my Touch. I love the idea of being able to just watch a TV show or movie on a mobile device the size of a small TV. Video game developers are also excited about the potential of the wider screen and the advancements in touchscreen technology. Comic books creators are going gaga over how sharp their products are looking on the Ipad. With digital distribution on the rise, the Ipad may very well change how comics are made and sold. Marvel released their own app on the day of the Ipad's release to show off the comics. As a comic book reader I don't mind reading well formatted comic readers on my Ipod touch and have even purchased several issues, at a ridiculously low price of .99, and am proud to know that I will have them forever.
In the long run is leaps in technology helping or hurting us financially and our ability to enjoy the media?
Movies/TV? A single movie can be torrented or streamed for free (illegally or legally) but you need something to watch it on, like a computer that cost a couple hundred dollars (minimum). The quality is often questionable. You can legitimately buy a digital copy of a movie for about $15 or digitally rent for $5. If you want a physical copy it's about the same. You can even buy a portable DVD player for about $50. TV shows are a little more expensive if you buy by the season but you usually get an individual episode for about .99, and that is of course without the extra cost of HD or BluRay.
Video Games? All 3 of the major systems cost a couple hundred dollars by themselves, that not including controllers and extra peripherals. Games are about $50. You can buy vintage games online for pretty cheap. I know you buy an SNES for about $10 on a Wii. You can get free games on your Ipod Touch or relatively cheap versions of them is you wish to upgrade.
Music? Record sales have been dropping since the introduction of Napster. Once a system of free music was introduced people realized they would never have to pay for music again. The SRP of most new CD's ranges from $15-20. Amazon has an amazing selection of CD's for $5. Apple has most of their CD's at 9.99 and individual songs at .99. Again, you'll need a computer or mp3 player to play the songs. You could go the old-fashioned way and find a cheap CD player.
Books/Comics- If a books in the public domain, a vast number of classics are, then you get a good number of books for your E-reader (Kindle, Nook, smart phone) free. If it's newer you're probably going to be paying between $5-10. Authors who self-publish will offer their books at a discounted price. Like I said before I've bought issues of comics for .99, while Marvel is offering their selection for 1.99. If you want a hard copy, most books run between $12-17 for a hardcover. Used book stores have deep discounts. You can also go to library and pick up a free copy.
Most of these industries are being threatened by technology and movements have begun to save these fledgelings businesses. Being retro is cool. As I contemplated the impact of the Ipad, I realized on of these has the best chance of surviving despite it's alleged label of archaic.
Books.
When it comes down to it, you don't need a hundred dollar device to read a book/magazine/pamphlet/comic. You don't need to plug it in for it to work. You grab it and go. You can't grab a copy of Mario Bros without having a DS, you can't listen to the new Gorillaz song without your mp3 or CD player, you can't watch an episode of Community without your video-abled Ipod. I don't need a special line of code to crack open a good book. Buffering is never an issue. No blue screen or pinwheel of death.
Just words. Words not enhanced or hindered by technology. Plus it's FUNdamental.
Just a thought.
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