Yes, the Apple Tablet, “Slate” or “Guide” is coming.
Like the ones from HP, Dell and others.
But, let’s remember a few basic ideas:
1. The problem is the quality, exclusivity and accessibility of our content, not the platforms.
2. Kindle or Apple tablet are not the solutions.
3. As Jeff Jarvis said: “Newspaper publishers must unleash their news on every device possible. No single gadget will be their saviour”
So, information does need “paper jails” nor new technological jails.
What we need to worry is not about these new devices, but the old assembly-line-one deadline-one platform newsroom management system that still prevails in 99% of our newspapers.
We need more “one kitchen, several restaurants” newsroom multimedia models.
We need to focus in multimedia content management.
We need to migrate from media companies to “information engines.”
And from readers to audiences and communities.
Technology is not the problem, nor the solution.
So, welcome the tablets, and better if they become as soon as possible rubber tablets.
And let’s concentrate in how to migrate from monomedia to multimedia newsrooms.
Be ready!
Tags: "information engines", "one kitchen several restaurants", Apple Guide, Apple Slate, Apple Tablet, DELL, HP, Jeff Jarvis, Kindle, Multimedia newsrooms, rubber tablets