I received an interesting email a bit ago – it said “put GQ in the palm of your hand with this groundbreaking new app…” Since I read the GQ website on my phone & computer more than the printed version shipped to my mailbox each month anyway, I thought ‘d give it a go! After all, who better to test drive a new concept than a geeky tech-focused guy such as myself?

I clicked the link, which instead of taking me to the iTunes Store, took me to the web page with the same copy as the email. First fail, by the way. Totally killed the impulse buy.  Just sayin’.   I sat through the fancy flash demo of what I’ll see in the app- the same stuff I’ll see in the printed copy if I ever get off my duff and empty out my P.O. Box- only with video clips apparently, which sounds pretty interesting!

If you’re not up to speed (but as a reader of my blog, you most likely are), many publishers are getting excited about full-color e-readers, tablets (dubbed the “couch top” by a forgotten source (was it you?)) and digital print content as a new revenue stream. “E-readers” such as the Kindle (Amazon), Nook (Barnes & Noble), and Sony’s creatively named “Reader” are bringing text-based content back into the conversation of the digital age. Sports Illustrated’s recent demo of what this experience could be like has ears, eyes, and wallets perked up! I’m kind of excited about this kind of stuff too, and I hate reading!  In short- I’m in! Give it to me! Ready for the groundbreaking experience, I click the link which brings up the download page in iTunes, where I see that the app is… $2.99?!?! [insert record scratch!]

Now, don’t get me wrong- I think three bucks is a fair price for a magazine- print or electronic, ads and all. But I’m also a cheapo. Especially when I’ve already paid for the content once already.   I shot off a short-sighted rant/tweet questioning if a paid subscriber to the printed magazine should have to pay for the digital/iPhone version too?

Knee-jerk reaction quenched, I thought a bit more about the technology. That is, how does [insert digital download service] know that I’m a paying subscriber to this publication? Most online shopping sites have a spot to enter coupon and gift card codes on checkout, which could easily be provided by third parties.  I’m sure somewhere, someone is working on the technology to make this a no-brainer, but as far as I know technology isn’t ready, and old-media probably isn’t pressing the issue.

In order for this model/medium to take off and work for publishers in the future, there needs to be a way for paid subscribers to get the digital versions of their physical media without having to pay for the same thing twice. The movie and music industries totally disagree, and we see how well that’s working out for them.  One would think that the print industry would have taken the free lesson.

As a 21st Century content creator, I’m fine with… well, I accept- the fact that I’m lucky if I get paid once for my content as it is. As a consumer? How’s the saying go? “what we want, when we want, how/where we want it”. Of course we can’t forget- “…and not have to buy it twice”.

Until this becomes an option, I’ll just stick to reading the (free) GQ website on my iPhone and the printed version in the loo.

Or perhaps I’m just missing something. Should a paid subscriber to the printed magazine have to pay for the digital version too?

Related Links:

GQ.com
GQ January 2010 Digital Edition (iTunes Store)