Major financial troubles hit the print industry on Tuesday of this week, according to our good friends at PrintWeek. Firstly, in Europe the management board of German gravure giant Schlott Gruppe announced that it was unable to continue trading the company as a going concern after the gravure printer failed to refinance its debt resulting in insolvency. PrintWeek explains that according to the company's 2008/09 annual results, its turnover fell 22% to EUR 365.4m (£305.8m), while its net loss increased from €16.8m to €23.6m. Then in Japan, press manufacturer Shinohara filed for the Civil Rehabilitation Act (CRA), the Japanese bankruptcy protection scheme similar to the US Chapter 11. Many industry observers were less than surprised, with press hardware sales still struggling to recover to anything near the dizzy heights of pre-recession times, and Shinohara’s low profile in many of the world’s key markets.
So, as reported in PIND last week, we might not have seen The Daily in the iPad “flesh” so to speak, but it has been confirmed that a Twitter account has been registered, and the debate about what it might look like still rumbles along. The price would appear to be settled at $0.99 per issue, but the debate goes on re whether this is a clever or a desperate move by Murdoch.Meanwhile, the pay wall is going up around the New York Times, with a suggested $20 a month fee if you want to read all the news. Sources tell us that this is significantly less than the $11.70 a week that it would cost you to buy the paper version, and that if you are a paper subscriber you will get access to the web site for free. Interestingly the new charge would be somewhat less than the $19.99 currently charged for the Kindle version of the publication, so one imagines that things will need to change on the e-reader.
On the subject of Kindle, we spotted a couple of interesting items on Lifehacker this week: firstly, a Chrome extension to send web based texts to your Kindle for reading later – while on your train commute perhaps! V.similar to using Instapaper on your iPhone really, but good to see this thinking extending to the Kindle. Good also to see the Kindle lending concept expanding with the creation of KindleLendingClub.com“Early UK exhibition season” is off and running very soon with the easyFairs Packaging Innovations show at the NEC, Birmingham. This two day event, running February 16 and 17, has a good track record in drawing the great and good of the packaging world. For those already preparing themselves and marking the stands of most interest: packaging buyers should seek out Benson Group – they shouldn’t be hard to find as they position themselves right by the main entrance; those in the business of packaging production might like to hear more about digital label printing equipment from Xeikon. Following that, March 1 and 2 will take us to Earls Court in London for the Publishing Expo. UK company Wave2 will be at the event showing off the latest innovations in their software for self-service ad production and recently released product such as Market Place and Merchant.
QR update: as in previous weeks, we offer another collection of web sites that are providing further uses and ideas regarding QR codes. Starting in the newspaper world, the San Francisco Business Times has announced that it is including QR codes in its printed version to allow readers to connect to the latest updates or other relevant material on stories via their phones, meanwhile the Washington Post goes full front page with its QR. A general overview of the growth of QR is here, whilst web site Read Write Biz gives us five ways of using QR codes that might appeal to small businesses; meanwhile Small Business Computing looks at how QR codes can boost e-mail marketing results. You can turn your QR code into a sticker here; whilst marketers will want to understand more about getting analytical feedback from QR use.Post CES, the tablet talk continues to expound the virtues of the latest new entrants into the market, with the latest information on the following products: HP/Palm looks to have created a gem with Opal and Topaz; while the LG G-Slate is rumoured to be working towards 3D; and Motorola hits the comeback trail.
Looking for the app to help you through that pile of reading material? Reading on the go, whilst seeing where you are going, is offered by MegaReader. The pitfalls of reading whilst walking are also highlighted on this YouTube video before you get too carried away with the idea!Finally, do keep checking back to see what will be featured in our next edition, PIND 40. Details of new stories will be added to this text page during the course of the week.
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