Comics (and print media) on the iPad
You may have noticed that I’ve been entirely mum on the topic of the iPad over the last few days. Well, the truth is, I desperately want one and will probably early-adopt a brand spanking new iPad into the house as soon as I can. However, I haven’t really said much on the topic because I’ve been disappointed with a) the number of iPad hate posts that have been flooding my favorite blogs and news sources and b) the creativity of demonstrated apps from the Apple keynote presenters to developers in general. The iPad has the potential to be THE electronic reading device and I was promised truly revolutionary, mind-rattling content that was just not delivered
However, digital comic book publisher, PanelFly seems to have its head in the game in a big way. I’ve enjoyed their iPhone app thoroughly and I think the business model of comic sales in-app on a mobile device is brilliant. I mean, it’s the perfect thing to sell someone who is probably looking for something to tide them over on the train, in the car (not driving) or in queue for the next cashier. (I’ve talked about this in relation to iVerse, a similar idea, at my work blog, too.)
What makes PanelFly’s move to the iPad so delicious (and logical) will not only be the same things that make the iPhone app great: backlighting, control of reading experience, flexibility of reading experience, animation and a beautiful display for art. Instead, it will be the innovations only possible with a large screen, fast processor and slant towards sexed-up traditional media consumption (vs. its sidebar position on the iPhone.)
If Gizmodo’s preview of the technology – and the collection of screenshots from PanelFly – are any indication, this will be huge. And hopefully a preview of what the rest of a race of dying dead-tree publications will look like as they rise from the ashes. I’ll own the iPad anyway…