AOP: Interesting snippets but solutions remain some way off

On a day when traditional media was boosted by the latest AA figures – albeit from a low base – I came to the AOP’s Digital Publishing Summit in the hope of telling Newsline readers something new about this industry.

Sorry – I can’t… so far!

An interesting opening panel session covered well worn themes… but it’s impact was summed up rather neatly from the floor by Roger Green of Newsquest: “This is about the fifteenth year you have told us we aren’t able to predict what will happen next year.”

So I present to you these snippets from the aforementioned, distinguished panel instead…

• Matt Britten of Google wouldn’t be drawn on his company’s progress with a micropayment system for publishers but it sounds like a payment system for mobile is a higher priority.

• Tim Brooks says the Guardian is obsessed by mobile, apps and platforms.

• Stephen Miron of Global Radio says radio is not a bumpy platform like print, rather “a very stable one”.

• Mark Wood at Future Publishing is delighted to be starting to escape the old constraints around printing and distribution.

• Britten says Apple’s “control it all” model works now, but “open will win”.

• Miron voices concern for Apple: “How can their products remain cool if they are used by old farts like us?”

• And finally, Britten fears “two people in a garage will render us obsolete”.