give the 'net credit

I’ve been obsessing about the iPad, not unlike many in the tech community. Over the weekend, I had two quick ideas about the impact the device could have on journalism and publishing, and neither one has anything to do with whether someone will pay $4.99 a month for a New York Times subscription.

In all the handwringing about whether the iPad will get more people to read the newspaper and more subscription fees in news organization pockets, we’ve forgotten about how the iPad might really save journalism. I’m surprised my colleague Clyde Bentley hasn’t weighed in on this yet because the iPad might be the ultimate tool for mobile journalism. Clyde has searched long and hard for the perfect device to send with a journalist out into the field, and I think the iPad is about as close as we’ll get.

It lacks a camera (right now) to shoot stills and video, but supposedly you can buy a connector that will allow you to insert an SD card or a USB port. By running the iPhone software, it takes advantage of iPhone apps that allow you to edit photos or publish to a citizen journalism platform, such as Fwix or iReport. Most importantly it has the screen real estate to make writing a story or editing a photo feasible. Don’t forget it will run nearly full versions of KeyNote, Pages and Numbers. Maybe BlueTooth will allow you to hook up a full-size or mobile keyboard and a mouse to really streamline things.

This is how I’m going to pitch my department at least to let me get one to try. Of course, it’s not perfect. A high-def video camera would be ideal (such as the one in the Flip HD). It has a built-in microphone, of course, but if it’s like a MacBook, you won’t be able to plug an external microphone into the headphone port. Here’s hoping you can get around it with Bluetooth or the USB adapter (why didn’t they just make one USB port standard?!?) You’ll also have to buy some kind of rubberized protector for it because I remember the first generation iPhone’s glass screens were quite fragile. However, it’s worth a try. I’d be much more willing to type on a 10-inch screen than a cell phone.

My second idea grew out of a visit to the library. I can already download audio books for free from my local branch’s Web site. Will there be a way I can download eBooks on an iPad without having to buy them? In the same vein, will Apple make books available to rent much the same way movies are rented on iTunes?

This is a feature I could really get behind. Most of the books I read are disposable. If I really want to keep a book, I’ll buy a hardcover every time. It would be nice to try it before I buy it. It also looks like Google is going to try it. This could be a real boon to libraries as well. Imagine never having to worry if the book you want is already checked out. Imagine being able to get almost any title you want from a branch as small as the one in Albany, Ohio, where I live.

Maybe the iPad wouldn’t just save paid publishing. It might also encourage young people to read much more than any Harry Potter book ever did.

P.S. Give the post by Oliver Burkeman of the Guardian a quick read. He understands how Apple and the iPad work to meet readers’ needs.

PhotoCredit: Steve Rhodes on Flickr. I’m betting Mr. Rhodes who covered the iPad announcement would love to replace some of his gear with one device.

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