A new project by HP Labs aims to make print-on-demand magazine publishing available to everyone. MagCloud uses a similar model to Lulu for books, or Moo for stickers and cards: upload your digital content here and we’ll deal with fulfillment.
In his post introducing MagCloud , founder Derek Powazek makes the point that well over 50% of most magazines never make it to a buyer - that the distribution shelves are merely a rest-stop between the printer’s warehouse and the recycling plant. Between sustainability concerns and economic ones, a print on demand model seems a logical step for the ever-more-fragmented magazine market.
So will the days of Xeroxed ’distros’ soon be behind us forever? It’s hard to tell - it’s still in beta at the moment, and publisher accounts are invite-only. Key to success will be how slick, user-friendly, customizable and adaptable the publishing tools are - or whether it’s a matter of getting a PD...
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Place Holder #2From: futureofthebook.org
Post Date: 2008-05-30 13:51:35
sorry for the extended absence from these pages. we’ve been wonderfully busy at the first Sophie workshop (at USC) this week. news of that and much else next week. ...
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Post Date: 2008-05-07 11:08:57
We’re taking ben’s leaving as an opportunity to think about the institute’s mission and the role of if:book within that context. and most importantly we’re trying to figure out the best way to involve the readers of if:book in this discussion. if you have any immediate suggestions or thoughts, please comment here or send me an email. we’ll try to kick off the discussion within a week. ...
more looking at librariesFrom: futureofthebook.org
Post Date: 2008-05-06 16:18:00
A few weeks back though the auspices of TED , I paid a visit to a private library. The owner doesn’t want publicity, and I won’t reveal details, but it was a staggeringly beautiful (if idiosyncratic) collection, and I can’t imagine that there are many collections in private hands that rival it in value in the United States. Just about every lavish book imaginable was present: an elephant folio of Audobon along with a full set of John Gould ’s more sumptuous pri...
more a Sophie workshop -- spread the wordFrom: futureofthebook.org
Post Date: 2008-04-30 05:42:35
Two weeks ago the Instittue for Multimedia Literacy (IML) at USC held a ceremony for the first graduating class of students with honors in multimedia scholarship. two of the students wrote their theses in Sophie. Based on their experience, Holly Willis, the IML director, decided to sponsor a 4-day workshop for scholars who want to use Sophie. there are ten slots which carry a $1,000 honorarium. i’ll be at the workshop, along with my colleague Holladay Penick. please pass the wor...
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