Talk is cheap, show me the code
Have you found yourself running out of time to catch up the news? Would it be fun if we can save site for offline reading later in our free time? Would it be even more fun if we can read it as PDF or print it so we can read it in real touchable paper?
I’ve been dreaming about it recently. Lucky us, that “save it for later” service has been implemented by LaterLoop. Using laterloop we can save a page for later reading. We can even download the pages as ZIP file (consisting of text only pages) for offline reading as well. However there’s still some feature missing. We can’t choose which one we want to take offline. The only option available for offline reading is 30 recent entried, 30 random entries and 30 oldest entries.
While LaterLoop for sure will update their service to support nitpicking offline entries, why not taking it ourselves to the next level? We can create a simple site to convert our laterloop list to PDF, readily printable on paper. My wish getting stronger after reading copyblogger and Bokardo. Special for Bokardo, I found it hard to understand his writing in one shot. I can see his interesting point but to fully understand it I still need to read it a few more times. So it’d be trully a blesing for me if I can have it in paper so that I don;t have to open my browser to read it. For some occassion, paper is still suitable. Eg: bedtime reading (I don’t want my mac book air — if I have any — to be crush when I fell asleep).
So what do we need to augment laterloop? We’ll actually we don’t need to limit ourselves to laterloop only. The reading source can be obtained from anywhere. So what next would be building the converter of (rendered) HTML to PDFs. I can see konqueror can do this, and I’m sure there are many libs/apps to fill this job. So, technically it’s very feasible.
Monetizing plan? Well, ads is once again no-brainer. Printing service will be premium, and the ads here would be premium as well. Ads can be targetted and the best part it’s there forever printed onto paper. This would be magazine 2.0. Printing service itself can be varied; hardcover; monthly or weekly subs, auto create based on source (eg: RWW, Scobleizer, etc), auto-create content base on popularity (RSSMeme, TechMeme), or even based on alert from google alert. The best part is it’s on demand, no stocks, everyone any taste can be covered.
It’s a bit like Lulu, no? Yes, it’s like Lulu. No, we’re magazine, we are newspaper, we are books, we are the new media! No, we are printing agency 2.0
Photo by FelipeArte
Sphere: Related Content
This section gives me most headache. But experience told me that this blog mostly contains personal ramblings related to daily life, open source, and web 2.0. Recently, it turns out to be an idea-box where you can found ideas you can execute in your new startup ;). My ideas and opinions are not bullet proof and never intended to be one way stream. Kindly participate to improve your and my perspective regarding any particular post. Welcome aboard and enjoy your stay
Cynthia (Adobe)
June 17th, 2008 at 12:22 am
YOu can also consider Ads for Adobe PDF, a new free service that allows you to monetize your PDFs with ads from Yahoo. Check it out:
http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/adsforpdf/
Ivan
June 17th, 2008 at 11:11 pm
See … If you are as big as Adobe, you can always have people replying your blog posts. Awesome …. !
Ivans last blog post..Jual Brownies Online ….
Akhmad Fathonih
June 18th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
@Ivan
hahha, I myself a lil bit shocked, sempat-sempatnya mbak dari Adobe komen di sini. But she’s right, we can use it to power my idea.
Ivan Sielegar
June 19th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
Kalo cuman untuk dibaca kenapa ga pake save as offline site/content? Mungkin PDF jadi lebih ringkas yah (1 file aja)
Lagipula, internet khan mengarah ke mobile platform. Harusnya deket2 ini user lebih bisa baca anytime, anywhere.
No more paper. Save the trees!
Ivan Sielegars last blog post..8 Alasan Kenapa Blogging Itu Susah
Akhmad Fathonih
June 19th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
Untuk keperluan membaca online memang bsia terlaksana dengan cara save as, tapi sampai kapan kita mau save as? Bagaimana jika apa yang hendak dibaca ternyata cukup banyak? This is where laterloop+scrapbook service comes from. Scarpbook menghilangkan keperluan save as, membuatnya lebih simple dengan satu tombol utk menyimpan dan satu tombol untuk membaca. Laterloop meng-augmentasi scrapbook, dan sebaliknya, dengan menyediakan online storage, anywhere accessible.
Sedangkan, keunggulan dicetak adalah kita tidak perlu batere utk membacanya :). We can take it anywhere. Dalam kondisi tertentu bahkan lebih portabel dari laptop atau handheld device.
To save trees, saya merekomendasi semua orang mendaur ulang kertas yang telah dipakai. We’ll print and promote green movement on the printed paper
Okto Silaban
June 21st, 2008 at 11:16 pm
So how is it? Has it launched?
Akhmad Fathonih
June 23rd, 2008 at 9:08 am
@Okto Silaban
Many ideas written here is undergoing planning in progress, or even hibernating. This idea particularly, need printing agency partner. The idea also missing where to look for potential customer.
As it is open, actually, anyone can take it, realize it on their own. Attribution, however, must be rewarded
How’s your online book store so far? Going great?
Okto Silaban
July 6th, 2008 at 1:58 am
Printing agency? I think you can call Pogung177, he has a printing agency as his second business. If the idea doesn’t hibernating of course..
My online book store? I just shut it down.. He..he
I think we’re not ready for the offline management.. Should looking for another idea.. That’s why i found this page..
Btw, can I have your YM ID? mine is : labanux
Okto Silabans last blog post..mx.content-type.cn - Trojan di Jaringan / Komputer Anda, Waspada..
Akhmad Fathonih
July 6th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
@Okto Silaban
Shut it down? Well, I hope the experience stays with you. I’ll be looking forward to your next e-commerce site
I think I already have your Y!M ID. In casae you haven’t got mine, mine is freaked_one_2000