THE KEYS TO CONTENT
There are keys to getting our content to the widest possible audience. One of those keys is in meeting people where they want to see new material. In this case, I am talking about the Apple iPhone. Just as the Sony PSP was the must have device in 2005 and crowds clamored for content to view on it, creating a sudden boom in movie releases on their UMD format, now people are after content for iPhone, and the medium is downloads.
Just how much potential is there? I went to the Fashion Show mall on launch day to be surprised by a line outside the Apple store that wrapped all the way around the inside of the upstairs level. Literally down to one end of the mall and back up the other side. Apple allegedly shipped 3 million units to stores, which, I suspect, are still being distributed as demand dictates, and yet within two days, the iphone was impossible to get in California.
Things have died down now and I see there are more "green lights" on the availability page on the Apple site, but the device is still in high demand. SO is the need for content to meet the many hungry users of the device. Even though the iPhone comes with a direct link to Youtube for unlimited video downloads, and automatically syncs with your iTunes library, people want a variety of content, And this opens a door of possibility for exclusive content.
Just like iPhone Nova has exploded as the first major iPhone download site, being featured on CNN, MTV and many other major networks for their achievement, the person who builds up an arsenal of exclusive content for iPhone will have a huge market to profit from. Be it web comics that cannot be found elsewhere, original animated series only on iPhone, or whatever may come to mind, content creators should be vigilant in capitalizing on trends such as this.
Just how much potential is there? I went to the Fashion Show mall on launch day to be surprised by a line outside the Apple store that wrapped all the way around the inside of the upstairs level. Literally down to one end of the mall and back up the other side. Apple allegedly shipped 3 million units to stores, which, I suspect, are still being distributed as demand dictates, and yet within two days, the iphone was impossible to get in California.
Things have died down now and I see there are more "green lights" on the availability page on the Apple site, but the device is still in high demand. SO is the need for content to meet the many hungry users of the device. Even though the iPhone comes with a direct link to Youtube for unlimited video downloads, and automatically syncs with your iTunes library, people want a variety of content, And this opens a door of possibility for exclusive content.
Just like iPhone Nova has exploded as the first major iPhone download site, being featured on CNN, MTV and many other major networks for their achievement, the person who builds up an arsenal of exclusive content for iPhone will have a huge market to profit from. Be it web comics that cannot be found elsewhere, original animated series only on iPhone, or whatever may come to mind, content creators should be vigilant in capitalizing on trends such as this.
13 Comments:
This should open up the field on iPhone a bit:
"Well, the team over at the iPhone Dev Wiki is claiming to have made some inroads into unlocking the mysteries of the iPhone. While a complete unlocking solution isn't yet available, they updated the Wiki this morning to let us all know that by using iASign -- a bit of software they have created -- the phone can purportedly be made to work with prepaid Cingular, AT&T, and AT&T's MVNO's SIM cards. Where's the beauty you ask? Well, this lets you pick up an iPhone sans contract, slap in your current SIM, and enjoy. We're really feelin the love they are tossing about freely, and are looking forward to the full unlocking solution that they reportedly will not be giving up on any time soon. At the request of the iPhone Dev Wiki team, we aren't including the link. Google is your friend."
Vincent
For people looking to get into developing video content for the iPhone, the Developer Connection page on Apple's website (http://developer.apple.com/iphone/designingcontent.html) has a list of parameters/specifications for creating and optimizing web-based content for iPhone viewing.
(video specifications can be found under the "Ensure a Great Audio and Video Experience" header)
OK, the iPhone will probably do well, but I'm betting they would prefer their success to be like the iPod rather than like the PSP. While the PSP is a neat piece of technology, it has not done nearly as well as its lower-powered competitor, the Nintendo DS. And, far from "clamoring crowds", the UMD format for movies was effectively dead less than a year after the console's launch.
I think people find it hard to justify watching a full-length movie on a portable device, but perhaps YouTube content and other short-format, casual works will do better on the iPhone. This is the first mobile device to have online access to YouTube, right?
Yes I believe it would be the first. Even more than the PSP, the iPhone has the ability to directly link to media content online and view it directly on the phone.
Although I once downloaded an episode or two of Blood + directly to my PSP, it was something of a convoluted process and it is actually easier to download something to your PC and then copy it to the PSP.
While the UMD format most assuredly dies a pitiful death, one should not overlook the great need for content for the PSP or any movile device. The key is that people want downloadable content.
jasonn: I meant to do a separate post about this, but since you already hit the topic, I just mention it here. There is great, albeit long, video on developing content for the iPhone on the developer connection pages. It gets into detail on how to best format sites for the iPhone and the specs for video for both the "Edge Netowrk" and over WIFI.
Some of this stuff isn't easy, unless you really like CSS, but some powerful possibilities are out there. I personally think it would be easier for me to just do browser detection and forward iPhone users to a different set of pages, but it is possible to just do multiple style sheets to format your main pages based on the browser someone is coming in with. That's a bit beyond me.
The iPhone, however, is a real web browser, so it's not like some mobile phone which really require separate pages. Any site can look good. The specis presented are really about user experience more than making it work.
The iPhone has no file system, though, so if you wanted to sell iPhone content you would have to make it something people download to their computer, add to their iTunes library and then sync to their iPhone. Your other option would be to do a pay per view type site where people can log in with their iPhone and view anything in realtime. The video even shows you how to detect whether they are on "Edge" or on WIFI and stream the appropriate version of the content.
Anyone have any thoughts on a subscription based, exclusive content site?
has there been many enrollments for the course so far, Terrence?
A few. Care to join them? ;)
I signed up today. Hope to learn a lot :)
Make sure to register for the forum as well! ;)
Done! I guess I'm just waiting for you to grant me special access now :)
Cool. You should be all set!
Terrance:
I thought that today 7-23-07 at midnight was the deadline for enrollment. I was getting ready to enroll and now it says 7-31-07 is the last day for the special price
Are there two classes because I want the inside dope one
Ready to enroll
Regards
Vincent H
solarB@yahoo.com
Don't worry. It's still the real deal. I just extended it. Sign on up and lets see you in the forum! ;)
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