Apple announced last Monday that it had sold two million of its tablet computers in the United States in less than two months, outdoing even the iconic iPhone on its launch.Since its launch in Australia, sales of iPads have exceeded expectations, with most outlets selling out.
Mr Murdoch’s News Corp has ridden the iPad wave, selling 20,000 apps for its newspapers. The sales included 4500 subscriptions for The Australian app and 5000 for The Times in Britain.
Analysts estimate Apple will sell up to eight million iPads this year.
Mr Murdoch said he expected to gain at least an additional 1.1 million paying subscribers to The Wall Street Journal he owns, thanks to the iPad. The Journal already charges a similar number of people for access to restricted content on its website. So far 10,000 people are reading the newspaper on their iPads, according to Mr Murdoch. Another 100,000 people who already buy the Journal and have it delivered at home are also using the iPad to read it, he said.
Continue Reading…
‘Bookseller Borders laid down an Australian challenge to e-book giants Amazon and Apple yesterday by launching a cut-price e-book reader and a local online bookstore with more than two million titles.
Borders, owned by REDGroup Retail, launched the Kobo eReader yesterday for $199, undercutting Amazon’s Kindle e-book reader by $103.
The company also introduced a Borders iPhone app for reading digital books, and promised to deliver other apps for Blackberry and Android smartphones, as well as its potential rival, the Apple iPad that is due in stores next Friday….
Borders’ online store features more than two million digital books for download, though the REDGroup Retail group managing director Dave Fenlon admitted that only 50,000 were available for sale, while the rest were free books, many out of copyright.
New-release books typically cost between $10 and $15 to download.
More than 100 publishers have signed up to be part of the Borders online bookstore, and Australian children’s author Garth Nix said the companies should embrace the opportunity to weed out copyright theft and sell more titles….
Continue Reading…
Australia leads the way in the next innovation being presented to the online world via Google…
‘Google has turned its popular application into an advertising medium, with Australia the test bed in the search giant’s bid to open new revenue streams.
Australian web surfers have become the first in the world to see advertiser logos on the Google Maps website, highlighting the locations of five companies – NAB, Bankwest, JB Hi-Fi, LJ Hooker and Chemist Warehouse. Fitness First and BP are also understood to be preparing to launch advertising on the service.
The new advertising channel has been developed by Google engineers in Australia and is being piloted in both Australia and New Zealand. If successful, it will be rolled out globally.
The logos will pinpoint the location of advertiser’s stores and outlets, ranging from bank ATMs to petrol stations and coffee shops. Viewers can click through to get information on the store or a corporate website.
Continue Reading…
Social analyst Mark McCrindle did a study to further understand the way families communicate, and four clear consumer trends that have emerged along with four behavioral patterns.
One lesson from the research is that the theory you have to be young to be switched on is false. ‘Your use of technology is strongly linked to behavioural patterns or attitudes to life, rather than age,’ Mr McCrindle said.
So when it comes to being a consumer, then who are you?
1. Downagers – who is Generation Y in attitude but not in age. You often hear that young people are the early adopters of technology, but it is actually the baby boomers who spend more on technology than any other generation. They’re using the technology, they’re connecting, they’re social networking and they’re texting their kids.
2. Explorers – they are positive towards technology, they’re looking to use technology, but they’re new to technology.
3. Power Workers – They’re using technology not just in a social context and they’re not new to technology. They are empowered by technology. Yhey’re using it in a very useful and productive and profitable way.
4. Traditionalists – They just are not interested or motivated by the technology.
Along with the consumer groups, there are the four behavioral labels.
Continue Reading…
And what is a vook?
A vook is a new innovation in reading that blends a well-written book, high-quality video and the power of the Internet into a single, complete story.
You can read your book, watch videos that enhance the story and connect with authors and your friends through social media all on one screen, without switching between platforms.
Vooks are available in two formats: As a web-based application you can read on your computer and a mobile application for reading on the go. With the web-based application you don’t have to download programs or install software. Just open your favorite browser and start reading and watching in an exciting new way.
Continue Reading…
