Comments on: Are books applications? http://booktwo.org/notebook/are-books-applications/ The future of Literature Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:00:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: James Bridle http://booktwo.org/notebook/are-books-applications/comment-page-1/#comment-29708 James Bridle Fri, 15 Aug 2008 09:28:53 +0000 http://booktwo.org/?p=507#comment-29708 Andrew - I do agree with you, really, and I didn't phrase anything very well. I did think about audiobooks too, and weaseled out of including them, or of mentioning that paper books are just as much standalone applications... I applaud O'Reilly's open strategy, and agree that things will most likely level out in the long run, and thank you for stating it better that I managed. Andrew – I do agree with you, really, and I didn’t phrase anything very well. I did think about audiobooks too, and weaseled out of including them, or of mentioning that paper books are just as much standalone applications… I applaud O’Reilly’s open strategy, and agree that things will most likely level out in the long run, and thank you for stating it better that I managed.

]]> By: Andrew Savikas http://booktwo.org/notebook/are-books-applications/comment-page-1/#comment-29672 Andrew Savikas Thu, 14 Aug 2008 19:46:32 +0000 http://booktwo.org/?p=507#comment-29672 I have to disagree with you a bit. This is a generalization of course, but I would argue that books are *not* words -- books are one type of package that does a particular "job" for a person. In some cases, that job is "distract me with an entertaining story"; in others it may be "tell me where to eat when I'm visiting London." When I listen to an audio book on my iPod, that's certainly "running" something, not reading something -- but I'm still quite satisfied, because the product I've hired to entertain me has done a great job. Books-as-apps are a great fit for something like a travel guide, or in our publishing space here at O'Reilly, a portable reference to a programming technology. The closed platform issue is an important one, and cannot be overstated. On the one hand, that's why we're publishing multiple open-format versions for customers who buy directly from us; on the other hand, a customer who impulsively picks up a $10 app of our HTML pocket guide is likely placing more value on convenience than on openness. We see apps (be they iPhone or otherwise) as another way to do the "job" for our customers that our books have long been so great at doing. I'm confident that the market will favor open formats and platforms in the long run. I have to disagree with you a bit. This is a generalization of course, but I would argue that books are *not* words — books are one type of package that does a particular “job” for a person. In some cases, that job is “distract me with an entertaining story”; in others it may be “tell me where to eat when I’m visiting London.” When I listen to an audio book on my iPod, that’s certainly “running” something, not reading something — but I’m still quite satisfied, because the product I’ve hired to entertain me has done a great job.

Books-as-apps are a great fit for something like a travel guide, or in our publishing space here at O’Reilly, a portable reference to a programming technology.

The closed platform issue is an important one, and cannot be overstated. On the one hand, that’s why we’re publishing multiple open-format versions for customers who buy directly from us; on the other hand, a customer who impulsively picks up a $10 app of our HTML pocket guide is likely placing more value on convenience than on openness.

We see apps (be they iPhone or otherwise) as another way to do the “job” for our customers that our books have long been so great at doing. I’m confident that the market will favor open formats and platforms in the long run.

]]> By: Mac Slocum http://booktwo.org/notebook/are-books-applications/comment-page-1/#comment-29657 Mac Slocum Thu, 14 Aug 2008 15:03:58 +0000 http://booktwo.org/?p=507#comment-29657 As you mentioned, the application aspect of early book entries in the App Store feels like an end-around rather than a definitive destination. But I applaud those who saw a loophole and took advantage. Perhaps this hacky proof of concept will lead to something more concrete and user-friendly. Personally, I've resisted the urge to download app-based books because there's no good way to catalog them on my device (I have the poor man's iphone, the iPod Touch). I imagine others are encountering the same obstacle and I have to believe an enterprising software developer is already developing an organizer/aggregator/downloader that can handle multiple file formats (I've got my fingers crossed on that one!) As you mentioned, the application aspect of early book entries in the App Store feels like an end-around rather than a definitive destination. But I applaud those who saw a loophole and took advantage. Perhaps this hacky proof of concept will lead to something more concrete and user-friendly.

Personally, I’ve resisted the urge to download app-based books because there’s no good way to catalog them on my device (I have the poor man’s iphone, the iPod Touch). I imagine others are encountering the same obstacle and I have to believe an enterprising software developer is already developing an organizer/aggregator/downloader that can handle multiple file formats (I’ve got my fingers crossed on that one!)

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