When I look back at the launch of the ipod, I think about a time when I begain to consolidate my music library into digital formats. My wife and I were founding members of Audible.com and we both had mp3 players. Then BAM the iPod. I think we can all agree it was a game changer. It helped push the digital music revolution forward. That was all about me, and you for that matter.
But the iPad? What does it have to do with me? Well, not much, and that is OK. I am sure Apple is not worried about me, not right now. they have me, i have a few ipods lying around and several macbooks and imacs. Some might say I drank the koolaid, whatever. The iPad is not for me, but I am not worried. Why you ask? Because it was not meant for me. Not right now at least.
Lets consider for a moment the fastest growing consumer demographic is retiring baby boomers. OK, but what does that have to do with the price of rice? Everything. First, the larger segment of magazine subscriptions belong to the 45+ age group. The same for newspaper readership. Combine that with freedom to travel and you have a sweet spot for a digital device for delivering subscription based print material to the mobile readership. Wherever they are, so are their subscriptions. Didn’t the Kindle or the Sony reader do this, they sure did, and they were successful. But they missed out on what else they could do. Deliver television, movies, email, internet, mobile chat and phone services. Now wait, you say, you have an iPhone for that. But this is not a phone. Nor is it meant to replace or usurp the iPhone.
Again, a device to deliver and ingest subscription based content wherever you are, without giving up mobility. The provider and the consumer win, the same premise that made the iPod a success. The iPod and iTunes store made your music library portable, and this takes your other media to the same place.
I don’t plan to buy one. This could be a great device, but it is not for me. But I get it, and everyone else will understand soon as well. Think different, think digital media revolution.
