Who discontinued it? Since when can language can be discontinued? I understand that the post office wants two letter abbreviations for mail, but that has no baring on the rest of written language. In fact, from Wikipedia...
• These postal abbreviations are distinguished from traditional abbreviations such as Calif., Fla., or Tex. The Associated Press Stylebook states that in contexts other than mailing addresses, the traditional state abbreviations should be used.
PS: The source on the Wikipage isn’t working so take it with the usual grain of salt, but it is how i learned it.
Hey thanks for doing the research. I guess I'm assuming too much. Even when that abbreviation was still used in postal addresses, before CA was the standard, people in California would always spell it out completely on their return addresses as matter of pride, but now that our governor cannot even pronounce the name, I guess we'll forego any formalities.
A lot of today's comics are pornography though in that the sales rely on mega-violence, nudity, and selling to distinct groups like the gay and psuedo-gay markets.
Also, I think when you say that the profit margins on comics are small, you are forgetting that a big part of that is printing and distribution. The eComic would not have that cost.
As a comic collector myself, I find it impossible to afford (or find) most of the older comics that I'd like to have now. Most of today's comic "collectors" just collect what's coming out now and ignore all the old comics. The idea that, like iTunes, I could possibly get digital versions of my favourite old comics is very appealing to me.
The thing I worry about here is the closed nature of the deal. The author of this article is actually wrong to state that there are no comic book readers that sell new comics and to imply that all the eReaders are for old (torrented) stuff. There is a comic book "reader" in the app store right now that does exactly this, but the downside is that you cannot use it to read the old content you have (torrented *or* purchased). It's a closed system wherein you have to buy comics through the app and they only work on that app.
What's really needed here if eBooks and eComics are to catch on is an open standard, just like any other technology. Let's hope these guys see that.
I agree about an open standard. That would help, massively.
And you're absolutely right about printing and distribution eating up lots of the financial reward for creating comics. This is where the the right e-reader could blow this paradigm to smithereens.
You're also right that there's alot of violence and common denominator stuff out there. Same with TV? There is good stuff out there...loads of it. Like gold...you just have to know where to look.
Just an aside. I did email Scott McCloud about some recommended reads for setting up a 'school graphic novel library.'
His links led to some cool purchases for my school and my mind being blown by the sheer diversity out there. And I've been into comics for 32 years! Bring on the e-reader, Apple, I sez.
In fact, we had a training day and guess what the subject of discussion was? How to get boys into reading comics? Multi-modal? Bless 'em. 'Comics' was one of the many strategies discussed with some quality examples of said 'graphic novels.'
And you could see how Gaiman and Dave McKean are using traditional media and computers to bring a whole new dimension to comics. And not just in the 'candy coated' way you get in many superhero comics.
Just go to any Barnes and Nobel. What's the fastest growing segment?
MANGA!!!
What is Manga? Japanese, or Japanese inspired comic books, graphic "novels", magazines, movies, video games and the like.
Over the past five years, I've made many props like swords, broaches, armbands, shields, breastplates, helmets, and other props for my daughter and her friends, as they've first gone to the various manga and comic conventions here in NYC, and then, as they got older, around the East coast.
I've also spend more than a few nights, until the next days' dawn, sewing costumes. We've had our entire first floor of the house covered with cloth, and our dining room table used as a sweatshop with as many as three sewing machines, as we've made costumes. Nothing like having a half dozen girls (and a couple boys) over for two days straight doing this.
Believe me, if the tablet is going to get teenagers reading from it, comic books are the place to be.
I agree on the growth of manga in the US, but disagree that a tablet would be the logical first growth area to focus on... however, it could certainly be "part of the mix". Manga are typically cheap, printed in black and white, have many, many pages (at least the Japanese variety) and are published frequently. They are like soap opera comics.
That's cool you've created cosplay accessories for your kids. I'm always surprised to see how popular dressing up as these characters has become. I thought it would remain another Japan-only oddity. I hope to check out the next Comic-Con in San Diego and maybe catch some previews of upcoming movies.
I can agree that comics have a lot more competition for audience attention and needs to change with the times. But that can be said for every form of entertainment.
Superhero comics have always been considered as mature material. Back in the 60's super hero themes and their battles with right and wrong were considered too challenging for kids in developing moral values.
Nods. 60s Marvel blew apart the 2D cliche of the DC and 'Timely' (Marvel) superheroes of the 40s, 50s. The seminal works of Kirby and Lee, Ditko and Lee on titles such as Fantastic Four, Thor, Iron Man, Daredevil, X-MEn, Hulk and of course Spider Man while not forgetting Dr. Strange and Silver Surfer...and the Avengers changed everything for that particular genre. For a time, at least The story line of Harry Osborne suffering the affects of drug addiction remains a notable example of a Marvel comic shunning the banal tag of the Comics Code 'Authority'.
WebKit with Canvas and other code could be kind of cool with interactive comic books. Some panels can have a slow Ken Burns affect that scroll or zoom to how the artist sees the panel. Or perhaps you can touch a panel and have some simple action happen. The possibilities seem endless.
many people like the appeal of an ebook reader because it is smaller and easier to carry several titles in a smaller bag.
as for the strap issue. depending on the design of the reader it can be no more difficult than holding the strap and a book where you have to turn the page every few seconds.
Agreed.
Except I stated a 10" ebook reader in my post, the reported size of Apple's pad, much bigger than a Kindle. I would be exhausted holding something bigger than a Kindle and there isn't the physical space to hold up something that large.
I just measured one of my kids' manga, it's 4.5" x 7".
I spent 7 years riding the Tokyo rails. Japan is 120 million people, relatively affluent, who for the most part, have a lot more technology in their daily lives than most Americans.It's not a market to be discounted.
...er. Well the thing is, Manga and US Comics would easily fit in the readable area of a 10 inch 'reader'. But we have to consider other issues. Like newspapers? Magazines. Traditionally A4 or bigger 8x11 or slightly bigger in the UK?
A 10 inch size (if that area is fully viewable...) Catches most print sizes.
I'm ok with that on my lap when I'm 'couch potato' computing on the sofa. Much better idea than a cumbersome laptop in my not so humble opinion.
WebKit with Canvas and other code could be kind of cool with interactive comic books. Some panels can have a slow Ken Burns affect that scroll or zoom to how the artist sees the panel. Or perhaps you can touch a panel and have some simple action happen. The possibilities seem endless.
Quite so. As someone who has created a comic in quicktime and flash formats...the possibilties for digital comics are endless once you break through the old print media 'prison box' paradigm. Scrolling, zooming, swiping, hyper text link, sound fx, jingles, animation, 3d, 2d, flash, not flash, mixed media...digital distribution, professional production values, direct access to your customer, net scale of economics...the 'world' niches coming to gether to create a much broader market for comics, reward ratio goes up to work ratio...
To see how endless? 'Re-inventing Comics' by Scott McCloud. One of his trilogy of books, Understanding Comics and 'Making' Comics being the other two. Essential reads up comics are your bag.
All I get now-a-days is the Marvel Ultimate line...
Yeah, a good bit of cheese whiz in there, but I like the 'fresh-start' approach...
Now back in the day; during the 'black & white furry creatures' era (aka, the mid 80's), I had thirty plus longboxes sitting in the living room... With a good bit of everything... Helped that I working in a shop...
Old school recommendations?
Those Annoying Post Brothers
Savage Henry
Stig's Inferno
Usagi Yojibo
The Grendal stuff...
The Mage stuff...
Moonshadow
Cerebus
The Dark Knight stuff...
X-Men stuff (which got WAY out of hand, which drove me away from Marvel for awhile)
Daredevil & Elektra stuff
Anything drawn by Bill Sienkiewicz was worth getting...
Frank Miller stuff...
In closing, I had named digital comics as THE killer app for an Apple tablet long ago, and Wolverine is AWESOME...!
All I get now-a-days is the Marvel Ultimate line...
Yeah, a good bit of cheese whiz in there, but I like the 'fresh-start' approach...
Now back in the day; during the 'black & white furry creatures' era (aka, the mid 80's), I had thirty plus longboxes sitting in the living room... With a good bit of everything... Helped that I working in a shop...
Old school recommendations?
Those Annoying Post Brothers
Savage Henry
Stig's Inferno
Usagi Yojibo
The Grendal stuff...
The Mage stuff...
Moonshadow
Cerebus
The Dark Knight stuff...
X-Men stuff (which got WAY out of hand, which drove me away from Marvel for awhile)
Daredevil & Elektra stuff
Anything drawn by Bill Sienkiewicz was worth getting...
Frank Miller stuff...
In closing, I had named digital comics as THE killer app for an Apple tablet long ago, and Wolverine is AWESOME...!
This is old school now? Good grief, I must be one of the ancients! I consider Krazy Kat, Nemo In Slumberland, and early Mad Magazine the stuff of true genius (although I will buy any of the old Bill Sienkiewicz and the 'fairly recent' Frank Miller and Geoff Darrow collaborations). Also loved the early Blue Beetle, 70's era Spiderman, anything drawn by Jack Kirby, Scrooge McDuck, Archie Comics (Veronica!... Hubba, hubba!), those wonderfully awful Casper and Richie Rich comics, Shazam!, Peanuts compilations (the earliest strips were utterly fantastic), Tintin (every frame was perfection, and it's a shame this series has been largely ignored in America), and The Fantastic Four.
It has to be marketed as a Kindle/Nook competitor or it's going to be the next Apple TV.
I can't be, it's not e-ink. What is it you people don't get about that? They are entirely different. I mean "entirely". Book Readers are not "computers".
Next Apple TV? LOL A multi-touch 10" iPhone with Mac capabilities? It will take over the world in a week, regardless of it's useful features - which I think are actually many.
I can't be, it's not e-ink. What is it you people don't get about that? They are entirely different. I mean "entirely". Book Readers are not "computers".
Next Apple TV? LOL A multi-touch 10" iPhone with Mac capabilities? It will take over the world in a week, regardless of it's useful features - which I think are actually many.
"You people"? Awesome.
You should understand that it needs to be marketed as an iPhone OS product thats specialty will be reading print/magazine products in digital form. I can't read books on something that's not e-ink? That's rational....
I kind of already do with Stanza and the Kindle app.
You have to realize that most people, and NOT people like us that scour Apple news sites, will most likely already have an iPhone, and would not want to pay $700 or whatever for another iPhone with a bigger screen. What would I use it for? Even Jobs himself doesn't want to put something out there that will just be a bathroom web browser.
Nowadays if I have my iPhone and Macbook near me and I need to look something up online, I'm not going for the Macbook, I'll go for the iPhone.
It has to have some kind if intangible that will get people to WANT it, OTHER than having a bigger screen. And I think that's going to be the iTunes Book Store.
Way to get my Apple TV analogy. It's a niche product that doesn't have the intangible, or WOW feature, to get the masses to purchase it.
I'm probably posting the dumbest post/question of all time... but here goes:
Personally, I'm seriously exited about the possibility(ies) of a real "iBook" (iTablet whatever) when it comes. However, for the publishing industry (of which I have been a part now for some 30+ years as designer), what will an eBook or LP version of, Time, Fortune, NatGeo, etc. be able to offer over the web-versions within a browser? Is this eBook version just a better way to "flip pages" ?
With HTML5 coming into it's own shortly, and then whatever HTML 6 will add, as well as AJAX and other assorted embedding tech, what is this future "encapsulated format" going to bring to the table, other than (more than likely) a better way to monetize the content?
Also, what about PDF, which also can use embedded objects, links, etc... or actually what Flash was initially meant to do... coupled with Macromedia Authorware and Director in the day?
Ok... rather not go down that Adobe road... but the "tools" are definitely there (pun intended!)... and ripe for a Take-n-Make-over. Considering that Apple today just surpassed Google's market-cap ... anybody see the possibility that Apple might make a play for Adobe in the near future?
Wishful thinking on my part...sorry... but I'd LOVE to see an optimized for Mac, recompiled CS-Suite of apps. Not sure if Adobe as it stands today likes, or even needs, us Macheads anymore...(?)
PS: I didn't necessarily want to stray into Adobe land... but what kind of tools will be available to create content for this iBook/eReader/ComicLP device ... short of becoming a full-fledged developer with an SDK toolbox and coding knowledge?
There are already several services that offer online manga in Japan, including Yahoo Japan which is owned by Softbank, the iPhone provider here, while manga on cell phones has been available for several years now. The largest bookstore offering electronic books, Ebook Japan (http://www.ebookjapan.jp/ebj/manga/index.html) currently lists 25000 manga titles and in addition to offering a Mac version of their book reader (ebiBookReader) software, there's also a free ebook reader app for the iPhone that one can download from iTunes Japan.
Interestingly, there is a translation button (noted as "currently unavailable") in the Mac version book reader. A 10" tablet would be just the size of a two-page spread of a manga.
While this seems a no brainer in terms of an obvious use for the emerging technology I think it also opens up new art form possibilities. While lesser tablets offer up glorified PDF type viewing the Apple Tablet will hopefully be powerful enough to allow the creation of entirely new concepts. I suspect we will see such developments as pages (just an example) where each comic cell plays out its action using animation or video before the next one picks up the story. The Harry Potter type newspaper if you will. To simply move an old technology, printing, to a new medium is fine for archival and research purposes but with new technology comes new ideas and potential. I am sure Disney are already hard at work on some concept SJ has thought up to make yet another Jobsian paradigm shift come to a tablet near you soon.
There are already several services that offer online manga in Japan, including Yahoo Japan which is owned by Softbank, the iPhone provider here, while manga on cell phones has been available for several years now. The largest bookstore offering electronic books, Ebook Japan (http://www.ebookjapan.jp/ebj/manga/index.html) currently lists 25000 manga titles and in addition to offering a Mac version of their book reader (ebiBookReader) software, there's also a free ebook reader app for the iPhone that one can download from iTunes Japan.
Interestingly, there is a translation button (noted as "currently unavailable") in the Mac version book reader. A 10" tablet would be just the size of a two-page spread of a manga.
It looks like the "ebiReader" app on the App Store is a free download, but the program you need on your desktop/laptop is for Windows PC only... at least according to one reviewer.
Comments
Who discontinued it? Since when can language can be discontinued? I understand that the post office wants two letter abbreviations for mail, but that has no baring on the rest of written language. In fact, from Wikipedia...PS: The source on the Wikipage isn’t working so take it with the usual grain of salt, but it is how i learned it.
Hey thanks for doing the research. I guess I'm assuming too much. Even when that abbreviation was still used in postal addresses, before CA was the standard, people in California would always spell it out completely on their return addresses as matter of pride, but now that our governor cannot even pronounce the name, I guess we'll forego any formalities.
A lot of today's comics are pornography though in that the sales rely on mega-violence, nudity, and selling to distinct groups like the gay and psuedo-gay markets.
Also, I think when you say that the profit margins on comics are small, you are forgetting that a big part of that is printing and distribution. The eComic would not have that cost.
As a comic collector myself, I find it impossible to afford (or find) most of the older comics that I'd like to have now. Most of today's comic "collectors" just collect what's coming out now and ignore all the old comics. The idea that, like iTunes, I could possibly get digital versions of my favourite old comics is very appealing to me.
The thing I worry about here is the closed nature of the deal. The author of this article is actually wrong to state that there are no comic book readers that sell new comics and to imply that all the eReaders are for old (torrented) stuff. There is a comic book "reader" in the app store right now that does exactly this, but the downside is that you cannot use it to read the old content you have (torrented *or* purchased). It's a closed system wherein you have to buy comics through the app and they only work on that app.
What's really needed here if eBooks and eComics are to catch on is an open standard, just like any other technology. Let's hope these guys see that.
I agree about an open standard. That would help, massively.
And you're absolutely right about printing and distribution eating up lots of the financial reward for creating comics. This is where the the right e-reader could blow this paradigm to smithereens.
You're also right that there's alot of violence and common denominator stuff out there. Same with TV? There is good stuff out there...loads of it. Like gold...you just have to know where to look.
Lemon Bon Bon.
His links led to some cool purchases for my school and my mind being blown by the sheer diversity out there. And I've been into comics for 32 years! Bring on the e-reader, Apple, I sez.
In fact, we had a training day and guess what the subject of discussion was? How to get boys into reading comics? Multi-modal? Bless 'em. 'Comics' was one of the many strategies discussed with some quality examples of said 'graphic novels.'
And you could see how Gaiman and Dave McKean are using traditional media and computers to bring a whole new dimension to comics. And not just in the 'candy coated' way you get in many superhero comics.
Hmm...now why did I buy my iMac again?
Lemon Bon Bon.
Oh boy!
Are you ever wrong!
Just go to any Barnes and Nobel. What's the fastest growing segment?
MANGA!!!
What is Manga? Japanese, or Japanese inspired comic books, graphic "novels", magazines, movies, video games and the like.
Over the past five years, I've made many props like swords, broaches, armbands, shields, breastplates, helmets, and other props for my daughter and her friends, as they've first gone to the various manga and comic conventions here in NYC, and then, as they got older, around the East coast.
I've also spend more than a few nights, until the next days' dawn, sewing costumes. We've had our entire first floor of the house covered with cloth, and our dining room table used as a sweatshop with as many as three sewing machines, as we've made costumes. Nothing like having a half dozen girls (and a couple boys) over for two days straight doing this.
Believe me, if the tablet is going to get teenagers reading from it, comic books are the place to be.
I agree on the growth of manga in the US, but disagree that a tablet would be the logical first growth area to focus on... however, it could certainly be "part of the mix". Manga are typically cheap, printed in black and white, have many, many pages (at least the Japanese variety) and are published frequently. They are like soap opera comics.
That's cool you've created cosplay accessories for your kids. I'm always surprised to see how popular dressing up as these characters has become. I thought it would remain another Japan-only oddity. I hope to check out the next Comic-Con in San Diego and maybe catch some previews of upcoming movies.
I can agree that comics have a lot more competition for audience attention and needs to change with the times. But that can be said for every form of entertainment.
Superhero comics have always been considered as mature material. Back in the 60's super hero themes and their battles with right and wrong were considered too challenging for kids in developing moral values.
Nods. 60s Marvel blew apart the 2D cliche of the DC and 'Timely' (Marvel) superheroes of the 40s, 50s. The seminal works of Kirby and Lee, Ditko and Lee on titles such as Fantastic Four, Thor, Iron Man, Daredevil, X-MEn, Hulk and of course Spider Man while not forgetting Dr. Strange and Silver Surfer...and the Avengers changed everything for that particular genre. For a time, at least
Lemon Bon Bon.
I hope to check out the next Comic-Con in San Diego and maybe catch some previews of upcoming movies.
Yeah. You have to hand it to the USA. They KNOW how to do comic conventions.
Lemon Bon Bon.
Originally Posted by solipsism
I wouldn?t use the word dying, but it?s certainly becoming more niche, like vinyl albums have become.
Nope!
Lemon Bon Bon.
many people like the appeal of an ebook reader because it is smaller and easier to carry several titles in a smaller bag.
as for the strap issue. depending on the design of the reader it can be no more difficult than holding the strap and a book where you have to turn the page every few seconds.
Agreed.
Except I stated a 10" ebook reader in my post, the reported size of Apple's pad, much bigger than a Kindle. I would be exhausted holding something bigger than a Kindle and there isn't the physical space to hold up something that large.
I just measured one of my kids' manga, it's 4.5" x 7".
I spent 7 years riding the Tokyo rails. Japan is 120 million people, relatively affluent, who for the most part, have a lot more technology in their daily lives than most Americans.It's not a market to be discounted.
...er. Well the thing is, Manga and US Comics would easily fit in the readable area of a 10 inch 'reader'. But we have to consider other issues. Like newspapers? Magazines. Traditionally A4 or bigger 8x11 or slightly bigger in the UK?
A 10 inch size (if that area is fully viewable...) Catches most print sizes.
I'm ok with that on my lap when I'm 'couch potato' computing on the sofa. Much better idea than a cumbersome laptop in my not so humble opinion.
Lemon Bon Bon.
WebKit with Canvas and other code could be kind of cool with interactive comic books. Some panels can have a slow Ken Burns affect that scroll or zoom to how the artist sees the panel. Or perhaps you can touch a panel and have some simple action happen. The possibilities seem endless.
Quite so. As someone who has created a comic in quicktime and flash formats...the possibilties for digital comics are endless once you break through the old print media 'prison box' paradigm. Scrolling, zooming, swiping, hyper text link, sound fx, jingles, animation, 3d, 2d, flash, not flash, mixed media...digital distribution, professional production values, direct access to your customer, net scale of economics...the 'world' niches coming to gether to create a much broader market for comics, reward ratio goes up to work ratio...
To see how endless? 'Re-inventing Comics' by Scott McCloud. One of his trilogy of books, Understanding Comics and 'Making' Comics being the other two. Essential reads up comics are your bag.
Lemon Bon Bon.
Yeah, a good bit of cheese whiz in there, but I like the 'fresh-start' approach...
Now back in the day; during the 'black & white furry creatures' era (aka, the mid 80's), I had thirty plus longboxes sitting in the living room... With a good bit of everything... Helped that I working in a shop...
Old school recommendations?
Those Annoying Post Brothers
Savage Henry
Stig's Inferno
Usagi Yojibo
The Grendal stuff...
The Mage stuff...
Moonshadow
Cerebus
The Dark Knight stuff...
X-Men stuff (which got WAY out of hand, which drove me away from Marvel for awhile)
Daredevil & Elektra stuff
Anything drawn by Bill Sienkiewicz was worth getting...
Frank Miller stuff...
In closing, I had named digital comics as THE killer app for an Apple tablet long ago, and Wolverine is AWESOME...!
All I get now-a-days is the Marvel Ultimate line...
Yeah, a good bit of cheese whiz in there, but I like the 'fresh-start' approach...
Now back in the day; during the 'black & white furry creatures' era (aka, the mid 80's), I had thirty plus longboxes sitting in the living room... With a good bit of everything... Helped that I working in a shop...
Old school recommendations?
Those Annoying Post Brothers
Savage Henry
Stig's Inferno
Usagi Yojibo
The Grendal stuff...
The Mage stuff...
Moonshadow
Cerebus
The Dark Knight stuff...
X-Men stuff (which got WAY out of hand, which drove me away from Marvel for awhile)
Daredevil & Elektra stuff
Anything drawn by Bill Sienkiewicz was worth getting...
Frank Miller stuff...
In closing, I had named digital comics as THE killer app for an Apple tablet long ago, and Wolverine is AWESOME...!
This is old school now? Good grief, I must be one of the ancients! I consider Krazy Kat, Nemo In Slumberland, and early Mad Magazine the stuff of true genius (although I will buy any of the old Bill Sienkiewicz and the 'fairly recent' Frank Miller and Geoff Darrow collaborations). Also loved the early Blue Beetle, 70's era Spiderman, anything drawn by Jack Kirby, Scrooge McDuck, Archie Comics (Veronica!... Hubba, hubba!), those wonderfully awful Casper and Richie Rich comics, Shazam!, Peanuts compilations (the earliest strips were utterly fantastic), Tintin (every frame was perfection, and it's a shame this series has been largely ignored in America), and The Fantastic Four.
It has to be marketed as a Kindle/Nook competitor or it's going to be the next Apple TV.
I can't be, it's not e-ink. What is it you people don't get about that? They are entirely different. I mean "entirely". Book Readers are not "computers".
Next Apple TV? LOL A multi-touch 10" iPhone with Mac capabilities? It will take over the world in a week, regardless of it's useful features - which I think are actually many.
I can't be, it's not e-ink. What is it you people don't get about that? They are entirely different. I mean "entirely". Book Readers are not "computers".
Next Apple TV? LOL A multi-touch 10" iPhone with Mac capabilities? It will take over the world in a week, regardless of it's useful features - which I think are actually many.
"You people"? Awesome.
You should understand that it needs to be marketed as an iPhone OS product thats specialty will be reading print/magazine products in digital form. I can't read books on something that's not e-ink? That's rational....
I kind of already do with Stanza and the Kindle app.
You have to realize that most people, and NOT people like us that scour Apple news sites, will most likely already have an iPhone, and would not want to pay $700 or whatever for another iPhone with a bigger screen. What would I use it for? Even Jobs himself doesn't want to put something out there that will just be a bathroom web browser.
Nowadays if I have my iPhone and Macbook near me and I need to look something up online, I'm not going for the Macbook, I'll go for the iPhone.
It has to have some kind if intangible that will get people to WANT it, OTHER than having a bigger screen. And I think that's going to be the iTunes Book Store.
Way to get my Apple TV analogy. It's a niche product that doesn't have the intangible, or WOW feature, to get the masses to purchase it.
Clown.
Personally, I'm seriously exited about the possibility(ies) of a real "iBook" (iTablet whatever) when it comes. However, for the publishing industry (of which I have been a part now for some 30+ years as designer), what will an eBook or LP version of, Time, Fortune, NatGeo, etc. be able to offer over the web-versions within a browser? Is this eBook version just a better way to "flip pages" ?
With HTML5 coming into it's own shortly, and then whatever HTML 6 will add, as well as AJAX and other assorted embedding tech, what is this future "encapsulated format" going to bring to the table, other than (more than likely) a better way to monetize the content?
Also, what about PDF, which also can use embedded objects, links, etc... or actually what Flash was initially meant to do... coupled with Macromedia Authorware and Director in the day?
Ok... rather not go down that Adobe road... but the "tools" are definitely there (pun intended!)... and ripe for a Take-n-Make-over. Considering that Apple today just surpassed Google's market-cap
Wishful thinking on my part...sorry... but I'd LOVE to see an optimized for Mac, recompiled CS-Suite of apps. Not sure if Adobe as it stands today likes, or even needs, us Macheads anymore...(?)
PS: I didn't necessarily want to stray into Adobe land... but what kind of tools will be available to create content for this iBook/eReader/ComicLP device ... short of becoming a full-fledged developer with an SDK toolbox and coding knowledge?
Interestingly, there is a translation button (noted as "currently unavailable") in the Mac version book reader. A 10" tablet would be just the size of a two-page spread of a manga.
There are already several services that offer online manga in Japan, including Yahoo Japan which is owned by Softbank, the iPhone provider here, while manga on cell phones has been available for several years now. The largest bookstore offering electronic books, Ebook Japan (http://www.ebookjapan.jp/ebj/manga/index.html) currently lists 25000 manga titles and in addition to offering a Mac version of their book reader (ebiBookReader) software, there's also a free ebook reader app for the iPhone that one can download from iTunes Japan.
Interestingly, there is a translation button (noted as "currently unavailable") in the Mac version book reader. A 10" tablet would be just the size of a two-page spread of a manga.
It looks like the "ebiReader" app on the App Store is a free download, but the program you need on your desktop/laptop is for Windows PC only... at least according to one reviewer.