The Web is Dead? Say What?

Some experts and execs in media are saying the web is dead (RE digital publishing)...That the relay wand has been passed from the "open web" to the "app Internet."

Pure cow chips!

The main reason the open web will thrive and grow in offering good published works is the consumers never-ending pursuit of the cheapest (or most value) content in lieu of paying more for piled-on-costs items such as Apple's required in-app purchases and 30% cut for selling!

This insight from FOLIO magazine's "Login Section":

THE WEB IS DEAD?

Execs say the torch has passed to the "app Internet."

There was a question during a session at the DeSilva+Phillips Media Dealmakers Summit last month that crystallized what a lot of people are thinking about the future. "Are tablets and e-readers the future of media?"

For George F. Colony, CEO of Forrester Research, the answer was simple: "Yes. These devices are the nexus of media."

"Not only are tablets the future," Colony said, "but We think the Web is dead." "It may always be there," he said, "but it's not the future." "Nor are e-readers--devices like Amazon's Kindle." "There's one advantage to those things and that's that they can be read on the beach," he said. "That's not enough."

Not surprisingly, not everyone agreed. Some of the comments provoked strong response from FOLIO readers.

"Baloney," said Eric Shanfelt, founder of e-Media Strategist Inc. "The Web is thriving, growing and not even at full maturity yet, let alone being dead. Apps are a piece of the media puzzle, but the real money for media companies is still in Web and e-mail and will be for a long time to come."

Open-sourced, Web-based solutions remain attractive. "Apple's actions--essentially turning the eBook and eMagazine businesses on their head by requiring in-app purchases and a 30 percent cut for Apple--demonstrate why Colony and Forrester are wrong," said Len Feldman, author of The Feldman File Blog. "So long as Apple, or any company, can change the rules without warning, there's a strong incentive to use the Web as an open alternative."

And how many can afford to give up print? "The question that should have been asked of the attendees was: "How many of you will still be in business a year from now if all your print and event revenues went away today?" wrote one reader. "Those that raised their hands were the people that should have been on the discussion panel."

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