New Orleans Invites Visitors with Nxtbook Media

Bound and determined to replenish tourist revenues to their pre-Katrina point of nearly $5 billion annually, the New Orleans Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau has published its 2005-2006 Visitors Guide online in a digital format provided by Nxtbook Media™. The Visitors Guide is free and available on the Bureau’s Web site, located at www.neworleanscvb.com.

Online, visitors may view the 156 page guide in its entirety, as well as print or e-mail copies of the guide to others.

The Nxtbook allows magazine, book and brochure publishers to present an optimized copy of their printed material on a standard Internet browser. The addition of hyperlinks, audio and even videos presents readers with a media-rich experience impossible to replicate in a standard print format.

Kim Priez, vice president of tourism for the bureau said, “As the city continues rebuilding, it’s vital that we find new and innovative ways to tell people that “New Orleans is open for business.” The Nxtbook format enables us to send that message to our online audience. While we encourage anyone who wishes to order the Visitors Guide in print to please do so, the digital edition gives us a way to show our great city without the added costs of publishing and distribution.”

Spencer Ewald, president of Nxtbook Media™ said, “Every customer we have wants to expand their reach and simultaneously reduce their costs. Nxtbook accomplishes this by merging the distribution economics of the Internet with the look of printed materials. In this case, the needs of the customer were especially critical and we’re proud to work with the bureau and assist them in delivering this important message.”

Two-year stint held on Econtent 100 list

Nxtbook Media™ (NBM), a technology-based company that provides multimedia digital publishing solutions, today announced it has been named to EContent magazine’s 2005 EContent 100 list. In its fifth year, the EContent 100 is a preeminent listing of the companies that matter most in the digital content industry. Nxtbook Media™ is highlighted in the Content Delivery category for its ability to bridge the gap between online and print by delivering publications online with a similar feel to their print counterparts.

“The EContent 100 is an annual list of the leading companies we believe matter most in the digital content industry. Our readers — executives who manage online content strategies for their organizations — turn to the EContent 100 to find more effective and efficient solutions to their content challenges and we think that many organizations should be considering alternative digital delivery mechanisms like Nxtbook.” said Michelle Manafy, editor of EContent magazine. “For the second year in a row Nxtbook Media was our choice for delivery mechanism for this year’s digital edition of the EContent 100 issue and we look forward to our readers getting a chance to check out the interactive capabilities."

The EContent 100 is assembled by the EContent magazine editorial staff, its valued contributing editors, and colleagues from Information Today, Inc. The list reflects the content industry’s activity and performance over the past year, and surveys the leaders and innovators from a wide spectrum of digital content disciplines, including content delivery, collaboration and knowledge management, digital rights management and
consulting services, among others. The fifth annual EContent 100 was published in the December 2005 issue of EContent magazine and online at www.econtentmag.com.

“We take great pride in being named to the EContent 100 for the second year in a row,” said Spencer Ewald, Founder of Nxtbook Media. “2005 has been a profitable year us, with better than 350 percent growth. Recognition from EContent is the crowning jewel in a successful year."

NY Times Announces Cross Promotion Between Myspace and Nylon Magazine Using NXTbook Technology!

How’s that for a big brand name headline? In today’s issue of the New York Times:

MySpace.com, which began as an online community for user-generated content like music and videos and quickly developed into a launching pad for new bands (among other things), has struck a deal for exclusive access to the next issue of the magazine Nylon.

Nylon, which covers music and fashion, will release a free digital version of its June-July music issue with MySpace on Wednesday. The digital issue, which will be available for downloading at the magazine’s Web site (www.nylonmag.com/digital), will be identical to the print version, which will not reach newsstands until May 31.

To view the free issue of Nylon Magazine, just click here.

Nxtbook Media Selects Mirror Image for Worldwide Content Delivery

Nxtbook Media™ (NBM), a technology-based company that provides multimedia digital publishing solutions, today announced it has selected Mirror Image Internet Inc.’s content delivery solution to reliably deliver its clients’ digital publications to readers all over the world. To prepare for traffic spikes associated with the launches of high-circulation digital publications, NBM chose Mirror Image to ensure 100 percent availability of the publications delivered via their browser-based Nxtbook FX.

“As a service provider to a rapidly-growing list of publishers, it is critical for Nxtbook Media to have a robust and scalable network infrastructure to meet the demands of the rising popularity of digital publications,” said Matthew Harrington, director of product development for Nxtbook Media. “Mirror Image allows Nxtbook Media to quickly deliver digital publications to both our domestic and international readers. In addition, it easily handles the large amount of traffic that is generated each time our client launches a Nxtbook to its subscriber list.”

With a growing list of clients looking to use their Web based reader for digital publications, as well as a quick rise in the number of international readers, Nxtbook Media was looking for a content delivery network that could fulfill two requirements:

• Quickly deliver Nxtbook content to readers in countries all over the world.

• Easily handle large spikes in Web traffic resulting from the launch of a digital publication to a large list of subscribers.

Mirror Image’s patented Content Access Point® (CAP) network, combined with its award-winning customer service, made it easy for NBM to choose the company’s service to fulfill these content delivery needs. Mirror Image helped NBM quickly integrate with its content delivery network so that NBM’s clients could experience the benefits immediately.

“When visitors go to Nxtbook Media’s Web site, Mirror Image ensures the requested content is delivered efficiently and reliably to their browsers,” said Jeffrey Schutzman, vice president, global sales and marketing, Mirror Image. “Our global distributed network enables Nxtbook Media to deliver content to millions of their readers around the world simultaneously.”

Significantly different from static .pdf technology, Nxtbook™ technology is used to publish magazines, tradeshow brochures, catalogs – or any other print products in an easy-to-read digital format. Nxtbook™ allows information to be presented as a double page-oriented document optimized for a computer screen. NBM’s digital publishing platform is based on open Web standards and does not require the downloading of proprietary software readers. The technology also enables real-time results reporting, including the number of readers who have accessed the online magazine, time spent on each page, and other invaluable tracking information.

400% Growth and Happy, Happy Users!

It’s a fun day here at NXTbook Media as we’ve just released NXTbook Media – By the Numbers, our in-depth report that looks at what we’ve learned from our readers in the past year. In addition to some data that shows we’re growing fast and furious, we’ve included some other interesting "A-ha’s!"

• Eighty-two percent of readers preferred the digital edition over the print edition of their publication.
• Eighty-one percent of readers said the NXTbook format enhances their ability to collection information for their jobs.
• Eighty-five percent of readers said they had a more favorable opinion of the publication after viewing the digital edition.

Nxtbook Media announces primary agreement with Advanstar Communications, Inc.

Nxtbook Media™ (NBM), a technology-based company that provides multimedia digital publishing solutions, announces that it has signed a primary agreement with Advanstar Communications, Inc. (Advanstar), a worldwide business information company serving specialized markets with high-quality information resources and integrated marketing solutions.

NBM has been selected by Advanstar’s senior management to become their primary external digital publishing platform vendor.

Advanstar has 100 top business publications, in addition to trade shows and conferences, and a wide range of direct marketing, database and reference products and services. Recognizing the importance of digital publishing and its potentially significant impact on profit margins, Advanstar chose Nxtbook Media™ based on its product functionality, customer service track record, and planned upgrade path. Nxtbook Media™ will have the opportunity to consult with Advanstar managers on how to embrace a long-term digital magazine growth strategy.

“Advanstar was an early adopter of the digital publishing platform. We have been using similar technologies and working with Spencer Ewald since the spring of 2002 to help promote our trade shows,” said Francis Heid, Vice President of Publishing Operations. “Because of their excellent track record, it only made sense to include Nxtbook Media™ in our vendor selection process, and in the end, to choose them as our digital publishing partner.”

Significantly different from static .pdf technology, Nxtbook™ technology is used to publish magazines, trade show brochures, catalogs – or any other print products in an easy-to-read digital format. Nxtbook™ allows information to be presented as a double page-oriented document optimized for a computer screen. NBM’s digital publishing platform is based on open Web standards and does not require the downloading of proprietary software readers. The technology also enables real-time results reporting, including the number of readers who have accessed the online magazine, time spent on each page, and other invaluable tracking information.

Advanstar is currently using Nxtbook FX product for their e-zine content distribution. The digital versions of the publications are image-based representations of their print counterparts that retain the look and feel of the printed version. However, the Nxtbook also provides such Web-based functionality as multimedia, external hyper-linking,multiple zoom levels, thumbnail previews, book marking of pages, printing options, e-mail forwarding and save to computer feature. In addition to providing seamless integration into the production cycle, the FX product is also fully compliant with BPA and ABC regulations for circulation of magazines and newsletters.

“Nxtbook Media has been, by far, the most valued partner to Cadalyst magazine while we explored the unknown territory of digital delivery of the publication,” noted Dana Fisher, Group Publisher Advanstar/Cadalyst Group. “The staff at Nxtbook Media have publishing backgrounds and understand the issues and challenges I have as a publisher which helped me make educated business decisions during the entire process. I’ve built a successful model for Cadalyst as well as setting a standard in the CAD industry for being innovative and creative when it comes to digital delivery,” she said.

Spencer Ewald, NBM Vice President and Founder, said “I’m looking forward to working with the various publishing groups within Advanstar to create durable value for all of their print properties. As one of the leading business-to-business publishers, we view Advanstar as one of our marquee customers as we expand our offerings in the magazine marketplace.” In addition to the Cadalyst Group, NBM is also currently working with Travel Agent, American Salon, Sensors and is in negotiations with several other Advanstar publications looking to roll out the technology in 2005.

Book Expo Thoughts on an e-World

From Paid Content:

BookExpo America attendees are trying to figure out how to think of books beyond the traditional form — and beyond the failed ebook model. Some of the chatter comes from people on the tech/device side trying to convince industry vets to try different distribution.

For instance, as Variety reports, Andrew Weinstein from e-publisher Lightning Source urged a panel: “We have a real opportunity to sell books to a whole generation coming up through the ranks who live their lives digitally on MySpace.”

“Long Tail” author and Wired editor Chris Anderson told the group, “We need to shift from hit thinking to niche thinking.” Then there was the exec from Motricity who wants a free book on every cell phone.

All good thoughts. Well, maybe not the one about the free book on every cell phone… But seriously, folks, Chris Anderson’s words mirror what our experience has been: Just as most magazines succeed by catering to niches, so do most platforms. A simple test study with us quickly confirms how your audience will respond to NXTbook technology.

You Oughta Be In Pictures

One of the best uses of NXTbook technology involves incorporating existing video into your NXTbook. "How do we put video into our NXTbook?" is a common question we get from publishers and advertisers.

For those inquiring minds, we’re thrilled to announce the release of the NXTbook Media How-To Guide: Integrating Video Into Your NXTbook. To show you how easy it is – and how cool the result is – we produced the Guide as a video within a NXTbook! Enjoy.

California Tourism Releases 2005 Visitor Guide

Visiting California has never been easier with the help of the California Travel and Tourism Commission’s new 2005 Official State Visitor’s Guide and Travel Planner. With its regional maps, fresh editorial format, photography, list of attractions and places to stay, visitors have all the information they need at their fingertips to book a California vacation. Guides are free and available by calling 877-CALIFORNIA or clicking to http://www.visitcalifornia.com.

This year’s cover commemorates the 50th anniversary of Disneyland Resort in Anaheim. Inside the guide visitors will find a special sweepstakes, two-page spread of selected California events and a sunshine index that includes average days of sunshine and temperatures in each of California’s 12 regions. Regional driving tours, popular activities to take part in and the location of California Welcome Centers is also included.

The new Visitor’s Guide contains a number of special sections, such as Faces of California and Attractions, which features a 9-year-old girl’s crusade to save Fresno’s Chaffee Zoo. The guide’s Theme Park Map highlights major theme parks and some of California’s most notable roadside attractions including Nit Wit Ridge and The Donut Hole are spotlighted.

Other special sections include Outdoor Recreation, spots for anglers to cast a line in the Eastern Sierra, and Food & Wine, which profiles a story about Kansas City barbecue born at a Southern California auto shop. A trimmed-down, easy-to-use state map is bound into each guide, and contains statewide and major metro information.

The guide will be available digitally in mid-February via http://www.visitcalifornia.com. The technology, provided by Nxtbook Media™, allows users to browse, search, make notes, as well as click through to advertisers’ Web sites.

The California Travel and Tourism Commission is a non-profit organization with a mission to develop and maintain marketing programs — in partnership with the state’s travel industry — that keep California top-of-mind as a premier travel destination. According to the CTTC, travel and tourism expenditures total $78.2 billion annually in California, support jobs for nearly 900,000 Californians and generate $3.2 billion in state tax revenues.

It’s Time for the ‘Nxt’ Big Thing!

We’re excited to announce the release of a new product  we’re calling The NXT Big Thing. At Nxtbook Media, we’re always looking for ways to increase awareness of our product. At the same time, we’re constantly improving our product, but would like a way to see how users are responding to those tweaks. Enter, The NXT Big Thing.

Working with some of the best writers on the Web today, The NXT Big Thing features some of the best business ideas we’ve been exposed to, reproduced in a convenient NXTbook format. Readers may view The NXT Big Thing at no cost. Our only request is that they take a short survey and give us feedback.

For the first issue of The NXT Big Thing, we’re thrilled to feature Rajesh Setty, author of Life Beyond Code. Rajesh’s blog is a don’t miss for anyone seeking to understand the bridge between marketing and technology. For The NXT Big Thing, Rajesh graciously donated Personal Branding for Technology Professionals, a vividly written workbook in order to help any professional (technology or otherwise) get noticed in a world where everyone is struggling to get noticed. Please enjoy The NXT Big Thing.

One other note — credit for the cool animation on the banner of the book goes to NXTbook designer Robina Kerr who, as usual, rocked!

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