Apple Computer

The first phase of a new technology usually imitates an existing product in digital form. Only later does it become, in the words of PlaceIQ's Drew Breunig, "something wholly new that couldn't exist before the technology."

That's what's happening today in location-based technologies and services. Darren Herman, president of KBS Ventures and Mr. Breunig, senior director of product at PlaceIQ, gave a view of where location is headed at Ad Age's Digital Conference in San Francisco. In short: location technology isn't just for location apps anymore.

Not only does the iPad dominate the tablet market, but a new study claims that 90 percent of all mobile revenue last month was generated from Apple's popular device. Personalization vendor RichRelevance studied 75 retail sites and found that 68 percent of mobile shoppers who accessed retail websites used iPads to do so. iPad users were more likely to buy something when they got there, too. Conversion rates with the iPad were 1.5 percent, nearly triple the 0.57 percent rate for other mobile devices. Shoppers who used iPads averaged $52.66 per item, while other mobile users spent $23.80.

This week's mediaIDEAS onPoint chart presents user retention for iOS and Android Apps. Recent data from Flurry shows that users very rapidly stop using apps they download.

The word "disruptive" has been thrown around a lot lately to describe ideas and technologies reputed to have a big effect on media and publishing.

Steve Jobs, the mastermind behind Apple's iPhone, iPad, iPod, iMac and iTunes, has died, Apple said. Jobs was 56.

"We are deeply saddened to announce that Steve Jobs passed away today," read a statement by Apple's board of directors. "Steve's brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives."

Based on evidence from current trends, smart phones will be ubiquitous, tablets will see a huge adoption rate, and e-readers will generate relatively low sales but enjoy a loyal customer base, Bill Trippe, a consultant with media research firm Gilbane Group, recently told a room full of publishing industry stakeholders in New York City.

Chris Anderson, Wired Editor-in-Chief, is getting all wired up about the roaring success of the tech magazine's iPad edition.

WoodWing Software, a leading supplier of innovative cross-media publishing solutions, today announced that its flagship product Enterprise will support Adobe's upcoming viewer technology for tablets like the iPad, smartphones and other devices.

When an industry like publishing, which is in the midst of a crisis of confidence, is struck amidships by a relatively rampant industry like technology, it's all too often the cue for a frantic bout of directionless activity. This saddles the publisher with an increased cost base while benefiting nobody but the tech firms.

More than a decade into the “CTP revolution,” many of the promises of digital workflow have yet to be fulfilled. The publishing industry is far from achieving the hands-off, utopian workflow many envisioned when film went away and content went digital. While some in the industry once resisted the notion of a digital workflow, most now agree that the evolution from film to files has been a positive for the publishing world—as profound a development as desktop publishing. With digital content, publishers can now cut out much of the prepress expense for their print workflow, and perhaps even more importantly, their content is now