iPhone / iPod touch Digital Magazine Demo

This is Texterity's take on the whole "Magazines on iPhones" angle.

Nice usability features but doomed to failure in the UK thanks to our (current) availability of wifi

Zinio launches iPhone newsstand

Digital magazine specialist Zinio is offering iPhone and iTouch users their top selling titles to download for free. They have also launched a mobile newsstand, from which the users of Apple's gorgeous new products can get their magazines.

The Zinio reader will allow users to flip through pages as per the full PC version.

Kindle (no) surprise

And here it is... Amazon's new kindle portable ebook reader.

Utilizing a new high-resolution display technology called electronic paper, Kindle provides a crisp black-and-white screen that resembles the appearance and readability of printed paper. The screen works using ink, just like books and newspapers, but displays the ink particles electronically. It reflects light like ordinary paper and uses no backlighting, eliminating the glare associated with other electronic displays. As a result, Kindle can be read as easily in bright sunlight as in your living room.The screen never gets hot so you can comfortably read as long as you like.

James Patterson, author of You've Been Warned, says, "The screen is fabulous. You would expect that, with a screen, there would be a glare, it would be hard to read but it's not. There’s no glare. It's not backlit, which is kind of magical. I think people are going to be very, very surprised and delighted. This is a lot easier to read than a lot of books are these days."

Michael Lewis, author of Moneyball, added"I'm telling you, after five minutes I've ceased to think I'm looking at a screen. It's not like reading a computer screen. It's more like reading a piece of paper. I think it's actually clearer, easier on the eye than the printed word."

And the final word goes to sci-fi author Neil Gaiman, author of Stardust, "It's like paper and it’s very interesting. It’s very, very crisp. Very functional. Very readable."

I'm buying one next week so we'll see..

Amazon set to unveil EBook Reader

The Wall Street Journal says that Amazon is set to unveil its long awaited e book reader today in New York.

Industry speculation about the new Amazon device, reportedly named "Kindle," has occurred for the past year. Amazon has been preparing its digital book store for the launch of the new device by making inactive links to electronic books called "Kindle" editions available on the product pages of various books.

The Kindle device will connect users to Amazon's e-book store through a built-in Wi-Fi connection, and will likely retail for $399, according to reports.

It's not clear yet if/when this reader will be available in the UK.

Pay what you want, what you really really want

Inspired by the rock group Radiohead's idea of inviting fans to pay what they think they can - or indeed want to - for their latest realease, a US magazine has boldly followed suit.

Paste magazine, which covers the indie music scene, is offering readers the chance to "Price It Yourself" on their subscriptions.

“We were curious to know what our customers thought we were worth. And what better way to find out, than to let them tell us?” explained Paste President/Publisher Tim Regan-Porter. “While it’s certainly a bit unconventional, we also see it as a chance to get our product in the hands of people who could become lifelong fans. It’s been our experience that once people become familiar with Paste, they turn into loyal readers.”

To ensure this move doesn't result in a Hoover-type promotional disaster, Paste have set a minimum price of $1 a subscription and interestingly have incentivised readers to pay more than the standard price of $20 by homouring anyone who does in print.

There's no place for House & Garden

Sign of the times - Conde Nast has closed the 106 year old House and Garden magazine in the USA.

Here's the release -

House & Garden magazine will cease publication with its December issue, it was announced today by Charles H. Townsend, President & CEO of Condé Nast Publications. The website, houseandgarden.com, will also be shut down.
"House & Garden has a long and venerable history within Condé Nast," Mr. Townsend said. "This has been a difficult decision to come to but we feel it is one that must be made at this time. I would like to thank Dominique Browning and the entire staff for their award-winning efforts throughout the years. House and Garden's intelligent and graceful editorial attracted a loyal readership. We were proud to publish it.
"With the unexpected departure of the publisher of the magazine, we decided to take a serious look and re-evaluate the title," Mr. Townsend said. "Our investment in House & Garden throughout the years has been substantial and we no longer believe it is a viable business investment for the company."
Condé Nast will continue to be a leading publisher in the home and lifestyle category with magazines including Architectural Digest, Domino, and Vogue Living (which will increase its frequency in 2008).