tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1337206901491734394.post1819060284627360046..comments2024-03-22T01:00:38.320-04:00Comments on I.N.K.: Do Book-Apps Have Authors?Linda Salzmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17217322360480267856noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1337206901491734394.post-77293076310972005542013-01-04T16:15:13.329-05:002013-01-04T16:15:13.329-05:00Ellen Jacob, the creator of "Bats!" was ...Ellen Jacob, the creator of "Bats!" was having trouble posting a comment. HEre's what she has to say.<br /><br />Thanks, MK. It was and is a pleasure to work with you. It's sad that the economics of book-apps aren't quite working yet. It's partly due to the pricing structure that Apple maintains. Apps are encouraged to be free or sold inexpensively, whereas ebooks are often able to command $9.99. Book-apps have much more interactivity, but the consumer doesn't really know that. Our goal was to create an interactive, engaging reading experience where the reader wouldn't leave the experience the way they do with a video. <br /><br />Bats! has been used by The American Museum of Natural History and at Invisible Dust, an art show in London! It beat a Coke ad for best use of Unity (the platform its built on) in Amsterdam and has received rave reviews from CNet, Kirkus, The Next Web and others. So, I'm proud of the innovation of Bats! and still working with zoos and museums to try and develop more. But, the publishing industry has turned to eBooks where the economics, if not the end-book, are more favorable.<br /><br />And, in response to creatingcuriouskids: Bats! has extraordinarily rich content, both text and images, that kids use over and over again. There are seven unique in-depth chapters. Your comment is part of the problem with selling book-apps. Readers assume its the same as free content. That’s the same as assuming nonfiction picture books have the same content as free online info. Maybe, but the engagement and packaging of the comntent is so dramatically different. Take a look at Bats! (there’s a free video) and let us know!<br />http://www.batsfurryfliers.com/bats/<br />Or, if you want to experience it on an iPad, here’s the link to the App Store.<br />http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/bats!-furry-fliers-night/id494297887?mt=8Sue Macyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12672431122375467343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1337206901491734394.post-74533717563764312432013-01-04T09:31:33.773-05:002013-01-04T09:31:33.773-05:00Thanks for this behind-the-scenes look at book app...Thanks for this behind-the-scenes look at book apps. I was curious how the process worked. I agree that $2.99 is pricey when so much free content is available. Plus, I wonder how often children would want to explore the same ebook? With games there is motivation and a sense of accomplishment to finish various levels. With nonfiction picture books, the text and images are so rich, children want to read them again and again with or without an adult. I think book apps still have to become an experience that kids will want to repeat often to be worth the price.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1337206901491734394.post-70032114926995503592013-01-04T08:25:18.007-05:002013-01-04T08:25:18.007-05:00Thanks for describing your process, Mary Kay. It&#...Thanks for describing your process, Mary Kay. It's interesting to hear how you interacted withthe tech guys, acting as a content expert.<br /><br />This is a brave new world for us and you are courageous for diving in and leading the way. I hope one of these days a big, fat check shows up in your mail box.Melissa Stewarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04322048827106827307noreply@blogger.com