Aspect Ratio 16-10 16-9

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Permalink Reply by Marcus on October 9, 2008 at 7:53am

Implications for publishers or providers?

Providers need to make certain our software renders properly on as many devices as possible. In and when this "shift" comes, it won't be the first time. However, it wouldn't affect the billions of legacy screens in the marketplace in other ratios.

In the end, the best answer is a digital magazine that flows effortly into whatever screen the reader is using. We're using this a little now, but you'll be seeing even more of it in the coming years.

Publishers, obviously, will want to make certain that their choice of solution has this technology built in.

M

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Permalink Reply by Ian Hunter on October 9, 2008 at 11:45am

Hi Marcus.

I maybe out my depth here with this post; but if the industry needs to undergo change through the change in aspect ratio, should we not be starting now?

For both Marcus.

Is it possible to tell at this time the providers who have the technology built into their software by looking at their current publication samples?
When you say ‘we’re using this a little now’ I am not exactly sure what you mean and in what context.

As for the small but growing band of publishers that are designing purely for digital will this move to 16-9 require them to reduce the physical height of their publication or would ensuring that, through their provider, the publication always opens in full screen mode nullify this change.

Ian

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Permalink Reply by Marcus on October 9, 2008 at 12:39pm

Ian,

What you're talking about is a good bit beyond where the technology exists today... not just for digital magazines, but for web designers as a whole.

Many digital magazine companies don't even adjust for browser window size, which is a good place to start, since most users will have their browser window set to their personal preferences.

When I speak about reformatting content according to device, I'm speaking of our Liberty product, which sends a formatted text version of the magazine to mobile devices - i.e. devices on which viewing the "traditional" layout would be cumbersome at best. To me, reformatting for device is much more critical than reformatting for aspect ratio.

It's important to note, too, that HP's recent announcement to push 16-9 was focused solely on their 13" laptop series. A digital magazine designed for optimum reading on a large monitor w/ a 16-9 ratio will be much more difficult to read on a 13" monitor - even one that's 16-9. Yes - the layout will be ideal, without wasted space, but reading it still won't be easy. It's difficult to serve multiple masters. The biggest complaint of the customers who do digital only magazines? "It looks funny when you print it." :)

All of that being said, I'm a huge supporter of digital-only magazines. Just saying that people who choose 13" laptops know their sacrificing real estate, just as those who choose 19" monitors know they're sacrificing portability. In the grand scheme of things, I think aspect ratio won't be much of a big deal at all.

M

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Permalink Reply by Ian Hunter on October 9, 2008 at 9:05pm

Marcus

One of the first blogs I read on this subject received a large proportion of replies from the web design guys focussing on the possible changes this small change will make to web design, the thinking behind my post was if it is necessary for them then surely it will become necessary for Digital Publishing.

In the grand scheme of things, you are probably right, digital publishing requires to go through a number of significant changes before crossing any hurdles that aspect ratio may throw up.

Tried finding some info on NXT Liberty, Marcus, but ended up on a site for Linked Magazine? Yes reformatting for device, still not convinced of the value of this.
When providers and publishers master the art of digital there may be a stronger case for what NXT and a few others are exploring on that side of things.

Here are a few links to sites that lead me to start this discussion, maybe my problem is that I have a vision of how good digital publishing can be, and the idea of someone deciding to knock an inch of the bottom of my screen to save them some cash concerned me more than it probably should..

Ian

http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20080702VL201.html
http://www.cdfreaks.com/news/14813-LCD-transition-to-169-aspect-rat...
http://techreport.com/discussions.x/15212

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Permalink Reply by Marcus on October 10, 2008 at 9:55am

Here's a link for Nxtbook Liberty info.

No argument: the goal is optimum reading experience for all. The question is merely which matters will require attention first.

M

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Permalink Reply by Ian Hunter on October 13, 2008 at 8:43pm

Hi Marcus

Not sure if that goal will ever be reached but even at this stage it can be created for the majority. Which matters will require attention first?
NXT, Texterity, Pagesuite, Ceros, Zinio and many others have invested time effort and money creating the platforms and software to make it all possible, you have done your bit. The technology is there.
It is now up to the publishers to take the technology and use it to their advantage, and as you well know at the moment they are just not doing that, and I just don’t understand why that is the case Marcus.
In my mind; the matter that requires attention first is to start preaching to these 'soon to be dinosaurs' that processing their print PDF through these platforms is not doing anyone associated with this industry any favours.
Its crunch time, time to get real, the party's over; let’s all start again, before digital publishing is kicked into touch, another good idea gone bad.
Or is that just what the big boys in publishing are hoping for?

Ian

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Permalink Reply by Keith Gregory on November 12, 2008 at 2:12pm

A bit late to this topic, but I think one change you will see as far as aspect ratio and publishing goes is on the video front.

We recently moved our video platform, and went with 16:9 instead of 4:3



Most of the content is still 4:3.

However, I don't know if users are going to change their browser/reading habits- I think many will use the screen to have many windows open.

Video, though, is definitely something users will recognize in 16:9.

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Permalink Reply by Richard Michem on November 12, 2008 at 4:39pm

Paper magazines are still the best way to go.

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