Looks like Appleis running into some last-minute trouble getting content providers to provide content for the iPad. The device goes on sale next week, and Apple has already seen plenty of pre-orders—even if those pre-orders may have quickly fallen off. The deal is that Apple had wanted to offer TV subscriptions alongside the device’s launch, so that every episode of The Office and Parks and Recreation would automatically be downloaded to your iPad. That was the idea, at least.
The problem is that these companies are scared. They’re afraid of a number of things: that cutting a deal with Apple with endanger their relationships with “traditional” TV outlets such as cable companies, or that any deal will give Apple too much sway over their future decision-making process. Apple’s temporary solution, perhaps, is to lower the price of TV shows from $1.99 and $2.99 to 99 cents.
You’ll note that Apple has had zero issues getting book publishers on board, but that’s sorta “meh”: how many books per year does the average American read versus the number of hours spent watching American Idol and the like? Exactly.
Newspaper companies are also being pains-in-the-neck, but that’s partially for technical reasons. The iPad doesn’t support life-giving Adobe Flash, and digital newspapers need that for their multimedia goodness.
I don’t know, I’d be surprised if this iPad thing becomes anything more than a mere toy for people who always have to buy the latest shiny new piece of plastic.