Harry Potter style newspapers to become a reality

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We are probably all aware of what a Harry Potter style newspaper looks like (The Daily Prophet). Moving images on the page, playing out a newsworthy scene or a wanted poster. Such newspapers are surely that of fantasy, right? Not according to BBC News.

Appearing in the September 18 editions of Entertainment Weekly in Los Angeles and New York, slim-line screens will be embedded into the printed pages to offer video in these paper magazines.

The technology is similar to that of singing greeting cards, as the chips that store the video (up to 40 minutes worth) are activated upon a page turn.

The first units will display advertisements from Pepsi and CBS, and are expected to revolutionize magazine advertisement.

The screens are 2.7mm thick and offer a 320x240 resolution, can store 40 minutes of video and have a battery that can be recharged via USB which will last for 70 minutes.

These may not be the workings of the wizard world, but they are surely fantastical in their own respect.

#1 NeoandGeo on 21 Aug 2009 - 18:23

Glad I stopped reading magazines before they became annoying.

(3 replies) #2 +what on 21 Aug 2009 - 18:32

I'm not a greenalist or anything, but because this is (presumably) going to wind up in huge circulation, can these things be recycled? A battery with every magazine doesn't sound that great to me.

#2.1 Tim Dawg on 21 Aug 2009 - 20:55

#2.2 Solid Knight on 21 Aug 2009 - 21:35

I'd be concerned about the amount of waste generated by this as well.

#2.3 WAR-DOG on 22 Aug 2009 - 16:52

#3 +Iakobos on 21 Aug 2009 - 18:35

Dear me :/. It requires recharging after 70 minutes, who the hell is going to want to recharge a magazine to view ads?

#4 green_link on 21 Aug 2009 - 18:40

"can store 40 inutes of video"

how long is an inute? lol jk

wait, why would they make the battery last 70 when the max length the video can play is 40? who the hell will recharge the battery just to watch the ad again?

#5 Mkvos on 21 Aug 2009 - 18:54

2.7mm is fairly thick considering for a magazine. Especially when they'll have to enclose that unless that is including being enclosed. Still thick either way.

And if they were clever enough, the magazine should have a solar panel of some sort on the cover to recharge the battery instead of a USB port...

#6 dimithrak on 21 Aug 2009 - 18:55

its a great idea.. but what a waste of money.. imagine the cost of the mag? or newspaper after this? however, they could cover it up from the ads.. hmmm

(1 reply) #7 Midnight Mick on 21 Aug 2009 - 19:23

We'll be needing an ad blocker for newspaper's next!

#7.1 HawkMan on 25 Aug 2009 - 07:02

Midnight Mick said,

I like the irony that intelliTXT highlighted "ad blocker"

#8 Ricksterm on 21 Aug 2009 - 19:27

rip the screen out and make a digital photo frame... lol j/k

technology is getting weird

#9 Intelman on 21 Aug 2009 - 19:36

Technology not magic.

(2 replies) #10 Rohdekill on 21 Aug 2009 - 20:05

Well, I see pros and cons with this:

Pros:
+ It would be an excellent media tool for "how-to" (e,g,. home projects, programming, hobbies, etc.)
+ Adult magazine sales would go up

Cons:
- you'd have to buy a USB cable just to re-view the video (and what if you don't own a computer?)
- The magazine would have to be sealed to prevent the battery from dying (stopping people from browsing)
- If you can't turn it off, it would be annoying especially if it were a 15 second video that looped for 30 minutes while you read the article.

#10.1 seta-san on 22 Aug 2009 - 09:51

anybody can get a usb charger thanks to apple and it's wall outlet charger.

#10.2 Nodiaque on 23 Aug 2009 - 00:05

seta-san said,

wow, my cell phone have that, all my portable gaming console, I also bought a universal one that can fit into car or wall plug and the multiple plug for devices are all connected in usb on the wall or car plug. Yeah, apple really saved us.

#11 PGHammer on 21 Aug 2009 - 20:11

Sounds like a joke; however, it's quite real. (A version will appear in an upcoming issue of Entertainment Weekly (US) as an advert inseet for the CBS fall lineup; this was announced on, surprisingly, FNC's LiveDesk (http://www.foxnews.com/livedesk).)

Considering the trend towards electronic books and other media, something like this may be one of the few ways of keeping printed media anywhere close to relevant.

I was thinking more "Minority Report" as opposed to the HP films/books (nothing against HP).

(1 reply) #12 Anaron on 21 Aug 2009 - 20:49

I think it's a little too early for 'Harry Potter' style newspapers. It might be more feasible in 20 or 30 years time. By then, they'll most likely have much thinner versions with better video quality and longer battery life.

#12.1 Tim Dawg on 21 Aug 2009 - 20:55

Have to start somewhere.

#13 neodorian on 21 Aug 2009 - 20:52

Or you could just use web devices and avoid the ridiculous waste and cost of disposable e-ink displays.

#14 Joshie on 21 Aug 2009 - 20:52

Problem: Print media isn't making enough money cover the cost of production anymore.

Step 1: Inflate the cost by including tech gimmicks.
Step 2: ???
Step 3: Profit!

Someone needs to tell these people how popular flash blockers are.

(1 reply) #15 Alex_The_Cat on 21 Aug 2009 - 20:55

If those magazines will be cheap and the screens will be subsidized from advertising...well...that means only one thing...free lcd's with embedded media player hardware for hobby projects...nice

#15.1 Magallanes on 24 Aug 2009 - 14:20

+1

hardmodding your magazine.

(1 reply) #16 HalcyonX12 on 21 Aug 2009 - 22:24

That's all we want, lots of blinking ads in our magazines. I hope these things never get audio capability...

#16.1 xbbdc on 24 Aug 2009 - 14:33

it already has audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgJ6DA50thw...player_embedded

(1 reply) #17 cyberdrone2000 on 21 Aug 2009 - 23:22

All these news articles, and I haven't seen a picture, or video of one yet.
Anyone got a link to a youtube video or something, so I can see what this looks like in action before passing any judgement?

#17.1 GreyWolfSC on 22 Aug 2009 - 00:13

http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2009/08/cbs...print-magazine/

#18 splur on 22 Aug 2009 - 00:18

What's the point? ...

#19 morphen on 22 Aug 2009 - 00:21

I can see it now... flashads in paper newpapers. someone give me reallife adblock plus!

#20 morphen on 22 Aug 2009 - 00:23

or... Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy ;D

(3 replies) #21 qwexor on 22 Aug 2009 - 00:51

I can see it now, "Sir, please turn off your newspaper during takeoff."

#21.1 omnicoder on 22 Aug 2009 - 02:26

qwexor said,

Epic Lulz

#21.2 Ricksterm on 22 Aug 2009 - 02:44

hahaha, Too Funny xD

#21.3 Zab on 22 Aug 2009 - 12:56

(snipped) Gotta finish watching new PS3 Slim Flash AD!

Last edited by GreyWolfSC on 22 Aug 2009 - 14:14

#22 TRC on 22 Aug 2009 - 01:43

This sounds stupid.

#23 bobeck on 22 Aug 2009 - 03:53

could care less about the newspapers but this is totally suited for hustler etc

#24 ArKeYa on 22 Aug 2009 - 05:02

If it's writable I'd buy the newspapers just to collect the screens.

#25 Sean Bradford on 22 Aug 2009 - 05:23

Looking forward to it. As long as this eventually moves to having actuall content in the video(s) rather than advertisements, this sounds promising.

#26 Zab on 22 Aug 2009 - 12:57

(snipped) Don`t sit on it!

Last edited by GreyWolfSC on 22 Aug 2009 - 14:14

#27 Minimoose on 22 Aug 2009 - 13:52

So what about disposal? Surely they have thought about this.

#28 booboo on 22 Aug 2009 - 13:52

Maybe something better would be a single newspaper that automatically updates. E.g when you charge it it will d/l the latest content. For a small subscription fee, that would be good.

(1 reply) #29 Kupo-Cheer on 22 Aug 2009 - 14:50

The only reason to do this is to be able to say that we can. It serves no real-world purpose though. How much do you think a newspaper filled with little screens is going to cost? How much of a waste will that be when the thing is thrown out?

Also: "Damn, my newspaper got a virus."
Or: "Damn, my newspaper got a blue screen of death."

#29.1 phrea on 22 Aug 2009 - 21:23

I doubt they run any version of Windows (no, not a jab at the virus part, but it can probably in part be applied there too) required for the BSOD. Think of the licensing costs for all the magazines if it did though

(1 reply) #30 artzm on 22 Aug 2009 - 14:59

Wasn't this done last year in a magazine?

#30.1 wakers01 on 22 Aug 2009 - 19:36

I seem to remember "Time" or someone like them doing this, yeah.

#31 Editor on 23 Aug 2009 - 14:02

What are you going to keep above your head when its raining now?

#32 The.Clinton on 24 Aug 2009 - 13:16

Watch the sales of thick gaffer tape go up to cover over the ads

#33 exotoxic on 24 Aug 2009 - 14:05

what a complete waste of resources

(1 reply) #34 thefonz on 24 Aug 2009 - 21:59

People still read magazines??

#34.1 asbestos on 24 Aug 2009 - 22:47

I don't think I've bought a magazine in the last 10 years.

The only "magazines" I really get anymore are random ones in the mail from online retailers that I've purchased things from.

#35 Frank Fontaine on 25 Aug 2009 - 02:07

Isn't this just likely to make papers more expensive

#36 winrez on 25 Aug 2009 - 05:06

I was just watching a news report on this I guess you can upload your own videos on it after via usb
(so it will reusable )

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