2014: End of Tangible Media
This is one of most interesting things I’ve read so far this week. One of the reasons why I’m quoting so is because Steve Rubel has declared a bet sort of thing. According to him, January, 2014 is the year when all sorts of tangible media will see its sharp decline or complete annihilation. Though I’ve asked this question to him about how he came to the conclusion but otherwise the mentioned facts are infallible.
This is what he wrote in his blog post:
- Microsoft (an Edelman client) yesterday opened up a store to sell all of its software online for immediate download (November 13)
- Apple is selling record numbers of downloadable games for the iPhone and iPod Touch. This is attracting publishers because the lack of physical media is better economically for both consumers and video game creators (November 12)
- Oprah sparked a deluge of traffic when she endorsed the Amazon Kindle as the next big thing (November 3)
- Lots of alternatives are emerging for ebooks including the iPhone (November 3)
- Microsoft is set to open up the XBox 360 to user-generated games on November 19, all of which will only be available via download – there will be no DVDs (October 30)
- Netlfix is making its catalogue available over the Internet and on set-top boxes like the XBox 360 and soon TiVo (October 30)
- The Christian Science Monitor folded its print tent in favor of moving completely online (October 28).
On the hindsight, I’m thinking about the Indian Media space. Though nothing of that sorts can be predicted as of now, but surely if such a thing happens in US then surely the rub-off effects will be seen here too.
Though change brings along new avenues/oppurtunities but surely the next 2000 days will be worth watching for since I think lots of things will be changed. Though it may not be in that scale that the whole Indian traditional media landscape will be vanquished but it will definitely show some definite changes. Infact, I believe the recent Global financial downturn is just the cornerstone of new new changes which we may not assume/predict right now.
So what are your thoughts on this? How far can we predict something like this?
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November 15th, 2008 at
The end of tangible media by 2014 have been already predicted.
And I don’t doubt it and believes that it will happen as predicted +/-2 years.
November 15th, 2008 at
I do not think that print will go out of fashion – everyone needs a fix of their newspapers and magazines – adds value to the news that they read! not everyone gets their fix from only TV or the internet.. i for one need the paper in the morning.. its just a habit which will not die easy.
i am probably mroe updated thanks to the internet. that is for sure.. but still
but tech taking over our lives is not possible…
i am gonna go out on a limb and state here that I personally know people (and this is disgusting but WTH) who cannot take a dump without newspapers in the morning.. i think it has to do with the smell of lead in the print or soemthing!!
but there… i doubt that will ever go…
May 20th, 2009 at
Very informative post! Normally I don’t comment on blogs but this post deserves it