Siri and the Resurrection of the Semantic Web
Siri may be many things — cool feature, Google killer, source of amusement — but it is perhaps the ultimate expression of the semantic Web. And it’s still in beta.
Can Amazon and Apple Peacefully Coexist? Probably, But As for Google…
The Google Era isn’t over by a long shot, but initiatives from Apple and Amazon reveal that the search giant is open to disintermediation by some clever and large-scale commercial tactics.
From 1987 to 2011 — Apple's Prototype Prediction Is Eerily Prescient
It seems Apple underpredicted the future they’d make. Facetime, Siri, iCloud, iPhone, and other innovations have made this prediction of the future seem almost old-fashioned.
The Kindle Changes Books Again — With Kindle X-Ray
“Historians may look back on September 28, 2011, as the day the book lost its bookishness.” – Nicholas Carr. When you throw in a smaller feature on the more disruptive basic Kindle — X-Ray — Carr is probably right.
iOS: The Evolution of an Agile Business
Looking back, it’s clear Apple’s development of iOS and its device strategy has taken them down paths they didn’t expect — a true sign of agility.
The iPad 2 — This Time, It's a Keeper
Thinner, lighter, faster, better — this time, I think we’ll keep it.
Inkling: Another Digital Textbook Approacheth, But This Time, It Has Friends
A new app for textbooks on the iPad has a lot of backers, and there’s a lot at stake.
The Vexed Problem of Libraries, Publishers, and E-books
The recent brouhaha about HarperCollins’ policy of restricting ebook circulation in libraries misses the larger point that libraries and publishers can work toward satisfying their respective interests.
Customers Move Online = Bad News for News in the Internet Age
Online news increases in popularity, online advertising grows, and an iPad newspaper pure-play exists — why does this all seem like bad news?
The Tablet Wars Are On, With Big Stakes for Publishers
The tablet wars are on, with special significance for STM publishers.
Providers vs. Platforms — Why Must We Move?
Apple’s apparent abuse of its platform dominance may signal a basic incompatibility between providers and platforms.
E-books and Their Containers: A Bestiary of the Evolving Book
Books take the shape of their containers, and the containers in turn shape the kinds of books we create. The new ebook containers have different affordances, which must be studied to develop a successful ebook program.
Howard's Pick for 2010: The Tablet Enters the Information Fray
Four days with the iPad became 8 months with it. Meanwhile, friends like the Android tablets joined in.
Publisher Finds iPad Has Usability and Portability Limitations
A major publisher finds users like the iPad, spend more time with it, but don’t carry it around and encounter usability problems.
Waiting for a Solution: When Will Subscriptions Reach the iPad?
Publishers still have to sell iPad content via single-issue apps. When will a subscription app finally be allowed?