WHAT'S NEXT: INNOVATIONS IN NEWSPAPERS

The BBC reports:

A leading Russian historian has admitted writing anonymous online reviews condemning his rivals’ work.

Orlando Figes, a professor at Birkbeck College in London, wrote the negative reviews on the Amazon website.

His admission follows a row between top UK historians over the string of reviews that praised Figes while criticising other authors.

In a statement, Figes – who is now on sick leave – “apologised wholeheartedly” to all concerned.

Robert Service, a respected historian of the Soviet Union and the subject of one of Figes’ anonymous reviews, wrote in the Guardian newspaper that the “secretive rubbishing of my work… [was] disgraceful.”

Well, no newspaper or magazine will print anonymous letters or comments from the readers, and if sometimes they do it, the editors know the real identity of those writers.

It’s amazing that in the online culture, mega websites like Amazon could accept this kind of practices.

Critics with no real face are just cowards.

Kindle?

On sale on eBay.

RIP.

Andrew Clark reports at the Sunday Morning Herald:

• Rupert Murdoch said the iPad and the Kindle would be ”unloved and unsold” without creativity from companies like his News Corporation.

• Tablet computers, e-readers and smartphones would be unloved ”empty vessels” without quality creative content.

• He revealed the company was in ”advanced discussions” with hand-held device manufacturers about a subscription model allowing people to access media content ”whenever and wherever they want it”.

• ”Content is not just king, it is the emperor of all things digital,” he said. ”We’re on the cusp of a digital revolution from which our shareholders will profit handsomely.”

• In a reference to technology such as Apple’s iPad and Amazon’s Kindle, he said such ”fabulous devices” would be ”unloved and unsold” without creativity from companies such as his own, adding they were powered by content – not batteries.

• ”Instead of the existential debate about value, now we’re merely arguing about valuation,” he said. ”Consumers want content delivered immediately and on a variety of devices. They’re willing to pay to be entertained and informed.”

Amazon and Google are great companies.

But Apple is a more innovative one.

In today’s Observer, John Naughton writes, again, a great column with some strong remarks:

First, forget about Kindle.

“While the Kindle is probably the best of the current eReader breed, it is actually a rather clunky and primitive device.”

Yes, it’s is a bluff.

Second, forget about Google gadgets:

“Google devices (like the Android phone) are excellent in their way, but seem haphazard and unfinished in comparison with the slickly-unified and predictable Apple device.”

Yes, Sir.

Third, stay with Apple:

“If Apple does produce an iPad/iSlate, things will suddenly become very interesting. At present, devices such as the Kindle are like the Daimler “horseless carriage” of 1886: the only difference is that the nag has been replaced by the engine. For electronic reading to become more than a way of carrying lots of texts around, eReaders have to become devices that add significant value to the reading experience. The only company that stands a chance of bringing that off is Apple.”

Wait and see the Apple iPad/Slate/Tablet/Guide!

(Picture by Bill Thompson)

Ten minutes ago, Tony Hsieh, founder of Zappos, announced on his Twitter (one million followers!) that Amazon bought his company.

Here is the letter sent to all of his employees.

Watch here the 8 minute video clip made by Jeff Bezzos, the founder of Amazon, for this occasion.

He sumarizes the secrets of Amazon in these three basic rules:

Be obsessed with clients.

Invent on their behalf.

And think long-term.

What a difference between these innovative cultures and our media companies!