Tag Archives: iPad

The Kodansha Files: Kodansha USA iPhone App vs. Viz Media (Pt.1)

by
Good Evening Readers,
Hard to believe it’s been nearly a year since I last posted on The Kodansha Files. I get a bit nostalgic when remembering the long hours spent researching Kodansha USA‘s business model and articulating that in writing. When I last visited this world, the manga publisher had recently launched it’s iPad app.  At the time it was clear Viz Media was leaps and bounds ahead of Kodansha USA. It was evident then that its business model needed restructuring. Though Kodansha USA had immensely popular titles, Sailor Moon and Fairy Tail, its competitor Viz Media had many more.
To compete in the U.S. market, its executives could not just emulate Viz Media’s infrastructure, its business model had to surpass it. Launching the iPad was a small step in the right direction, evolving and expanding Kodansha’s reach is an even bigger one. Tonight is about comparing these two conglomerates iPhone apps user interfaces side by side. Who better to decide how successful these iPhone apps are then a U.S. consumer who is unfamiliar with manga? If Kodansha USA truly intends to dominate the manga market then its products must set the standard, not follow it.
8 CHARACTERISTICS OF SUCCESSFUL USER INTERFACE
CRITERIA #1: CLEAR
VIZ MEDIA IPHONE APP – GOOD EXAMPLE
  • LOOKING AT THIS SCREENSHOT BELOW IT’S EVIDENT THAT CUSTOMERS CAN EASILY FIGURE OUT HOW  VIZ MEDIA’S APPLICATION WORKS. VIZ MEDIA ALERTS CONSUMERS TO SIGN UP WITH THE COMPANY TO ACCESS A FREE PRODUCT. MOREOVER IT INFORMS THEM ON HOW TO CONTINUE RECEIVING ALERTS ON THEIR MOBILE DEVICE.
VizMedia_1
CRITERIA #2: CONCISE
KODANSHA iPHONE APP – GOOD EXAMPLE
  • THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF A CONCISE GLOSSARY READERS CAN REFERENCE WHILE READING. KODANSHA’S DEVELOPERS COULD HAVE OVER-CLARIFIED THE DEFINITIONS AND CREATED HYPER-LINKED ALERTS THROUGH THE MANGA, BUT IN THE END IT WOULD HAVE BEEN INFORMATION OVERLOAD . KODANSHA’S METHOD IS MORE SUBTLE AND THEREFORE MORE EFFECTIVE. THE MANGA’S JAPANESE TERMS ARE EXPLAINED IN ONE OR TWO SENTENCES WHICH SAVES THE READER VALUABLE TIME AND ENHANCES THEIR READING EXPERIENCE.
KodanshaGlossary
VIZ MEDIA IPHONE APP – BAD EXAMPLE
  • PUSH NOTIFICATIONS ARE ALERTS GENERATED THROUGH APPS TO INFORM YOU WHEN AN UPDATE OCCURS. HOWEVER, IN THIS CASE IT SEEMS REDUNDANT IF THE CONSUMER WILL BE CREATING A PROFILE ON VIZ MEDIA’S WEBSITE APPLICATION. MOST LIKELY CONSUMERS WILL CHOOSE TO RECEIVE NOTIFICATIONS VIA E-MAIL, WHICH WON’T USE THEIR CELLULAR DATA USAGE.
VizMedia_2
CRITERIA #3-FAMILIAR
VIZ MEDIA IPHONE APP & KODANSHA   – GOOD EXAMPLES
  • MANGA IS THE JAPANESE EQUIVALENT TO AMERICAN COMICS. FORTUNATELY BOTH KODANSHA AND VIZ MEDIA KEPT THIS IN MIND AND USED THE FAMILIAR TERMS: STORE, MY MANGA AND SETTINGS. BY USING THESE SIMPLISTIC TERMS, BOTH COMPANIES ARE CONDITIONING THE USERS WHERE TO PURCHASE MANGA, LOCATE THEIR MANGA DOWNLOADS, AND THEIR CHANGE THEIR PREFERENCES.
VizMediaSynopsis
 KodanshaFree
 Related articles
About these ads

Britannica Teaches New Publishers

by

Tonight’s Confession:

Determining a print book’s expiration date…mandatory or optional? Well Encyclopedia Britannica teaches us that it may be mandatory.

Hard Truths

Agree or disagree, new technologies challenge publisher’s print run estimates. What seemed economically feasible ten years ago, could now result in dismal sales or depreciating inventory. I discovered this first hand when a class assignment required me to produce two title budgets: one for the academic market, the other for trade.  Even though the words “danger, danger Will Robinson” reverberated in my head, I kept increasing the titles’ print run.

Why? To ensure each title’s gross margin covered their overhead expenses. Remember every publisher wants their titles to break even. They want them to at least generate enough sales to cover their production costs.  And yet, while I reached my target gross margin, my estimates were too ambitious. What went wrong?

Recall that “danger” mantra echoing a few sentences back? Let’s just say ignoring it was a bad idea. My professor’s cardinal rule was “you can print, but you can’t unprint.” If a title doesn’t completely sell its first print run, publishers are forced to shelve it. Moreover, they pay for storing it until customers decide to purchase. Adding injury to insult, the title’s market value may weaken over time, which in turn weakens its sales value. Excessive inventory results when publishers over estimate titles’ print runs. It’s more understandable then why Britannica’s Chief Editors and stockholders felt it was best to eliminate print runs entirely.

Easy Remedies?

Removing them from the equation can lessen the publisher’s burden. This isn’t to say that publishers will not have to consider expenses derived from their e-books. No, I’m saying that emerging technologies like Apple’s iPad are challenging the publishing industry’s norms. Ten years ago, Britannica may have seen weak print runs as an indication to reduce their estimates. Today however, when Wikipedia and the iPad can provide similar services, print publishers must take dramatic steps to remain relevant. I don’t think it gets any more progressive than a publisher ending its print run after 244 years.

Personally, I don’t know whether this is a misstep for Britannica. Truthfully, the Kindle, Nook and iPad’s influence is not dissipating, but growing. Britannica’s decision teaches us that we can’t expect readers to rely solely on print, not when they’ve tasted the sweet nectar of digital.

An EPublisher Confesses

Related articles

iPad Creates Uncertainty for New Publishers?

by
The iPad on a table in the Apple case

Image via Wikipedia

Tonight’s Confession:

Should new publishers fear the iPad? Does the iPad’s success create uncertainty? 

Every month, I try to do a gut check. For those who don’t know what this is, allow me to explain. Every month, I create a mental note detailing my progress and my desired progress per semester. I mentioned in prior posts that relocating from Florida was not cheap especially in this recession. Moreover, I mentioned this program is an investment that can enhance my professional prospects.

The gut checks ensure that I’m getting a return on my investment.

Additionally, they ensure that I’m keeping myself up to date with the industry’s new developments. One of the most exciting developments is the iPad. As a consumer, I enjoy the device.  However, as a novice publisher I have to wonder how its popularity affects my career prospects.

I’m entering an industry that is undergoing some serious changes. Is the iPad my friend or foe?

Traditional publishers are fighting against declining sales, authors are migrating to digital and emerging technologies. With all this chaos, it’s a wonder universities don’t eliminate publishing programs entirely. Pessimists would have me believe, I’m wasting my time entering a dying profession. My gut check requires me to ask the same thing.

First, I have to admit that pessimists are partly right. It is a waste of time for publishing programs to emphasize traditional print without regarding digital. Fortunately my program director loves emerging technologies and would not stand for this exclusion. As an aspiring publisher, I’ve found it beneficial to familiarize myself with both worlds. I have to keep in mind that my future employer or client may not be as familiar with digital books or its technologies.

Surprisingly, many publishers do not have departments that exclusively handle digital books. This fact benefits new publishers.

Which brings me to my second point, traditional publishing is not dying. On the contrary, it’s going through a transition. Aspiring publishers should be aware that emerging technology signifies a change in business procedures. Of course this change won’t occur overnight. Still, someday traditional publishers will have departments that solely handle e-books, tablets or mobile titles. As a novice, one of my roles is embracing new technology and helping develop content for appropriate reading formats.

Emerging technology is teaching me that content and canvasses determine the reading experience. Not every book needs to be on an e-reader, some are better on the iPad. Conversely, not every book needs an app, some are better in print.

My gut checks help me assess the industry and carve out a career for myself.

Unfortunately, I cannot change the fact that this transition has cost many jobs. Still, I can make myself marketable by continuing to have an open mind.

I don’t share the belief that new technologies are evil.

On the contrary, I perform my gut checks to ensure I’m fully equipped to handle the combat zone. I have to be aware that the iPad and e-readers are here to stay.

An EPublisher Confesses

Related articles