The Apple iPad has already sold many millions of units around the world and although it was originally dismissed by sceptics as a concept that would not translate into mainstream success, Apple will probably be credited with reviving the tablet market and forming the media consumption trends of consumers for many years to come. The iPad may seem similar to an oversized iPhone, but its impact on the mainstream media is already tangible in a number of ways and its impact is set to be significant.

The main issue which the iPad solves is that of the struggling print media sector. Circulation of newspapers and magazines is falling rapidly as people get their information from other sources. There are even suggestions that the likes of search engines are becoming outdated in a world where social networking sites are used as hubs to share news and information, replacing traditional alternatives and leaving many media firms with a dwindling hold on the market. With the iPad, newspapers are able to re-establish themselves as everyday reading material which can be browsed in the comfort of a consumer’s home, or taken onto the train or bus to keep the user engaged during the commute to work.

The iPad is able to generate revenue for publishers in two ways. Firstly it allows publishers to sell their content to users via apps and these apps engage the audience directly by offering exclusive content produced by a particular publication. They can be given away free, be subject to a one-off payment or be subscribed to for continual small payments. Then there is in-app advertising, which Apple is set to push even harder with the arrival of the iAd mobile advertising platform. This will allow publishers to embed relevant adverts into their apps and then generate revenue in this way. Of course the user will benefit from this as the cost of creating and running the apps will be subsidised by advertising, making them cheaper or free.

It is not only the newspaper industry that will benefit from the iPad revolution. Publishers who deal with novels and factual books will be able to cut the costs of printing and retail by distributing Silagra their volumes digitally via the iBook app catalogue. Users will be able to pay for books and download them on their iPads and the iPad is arguably the only device that could hope to penetrate the mainstream market and get average users reading whole books on an electronic device.

The industry which publishes comic books will benefit in the same way as the other media groups as a result of the iPad’s success. Critics have already praised the iPad for its ability to display comics in an engaging yet natural manner and the Marvel comic reader app has been a key proponent of this, bringing high resolution scans of comics that can be browsed in a variety of ways to allow users to choose their own style.

The iPad is not exclusively concerned with acting as an eBook reader or news source, as its large screen makes it ideal for enjoying media of all types, including video. For this reason it is likely to make online video streaming services far more popular in the living rooms rather than just as something that is reserved for PC playback. It is one of the best portable media devices on the market and although its capabilities are matched by various rivals, no package is as complete.

Author Bio: Graham Worrall is an editor at Best UK Deals, a site that lists all the latest online deals and discounts available in the UK.

Category: Technology/Gadgets and Gizmos
Keywords: ipad, ipad to transform media