The folks at Graphic.ly are working on a Windows 7/WPF based application that allows you to purchase and view comic books and graphic novels on your computer whether it’s a convention Windows PC or a Tablet or a Touch-based computer.
Purchases are said to be going for $1.99 each which puts the costs in the same realm as traditional comics. Whether this will resonate with people, one can only wonder. Comics have historically always been a physical collectible with half the pleasure arising from owning a physical object, the ability to trade that object, and evaluate the value of that object in comparison with other’s interest. There’s not much thrill in owning Green Lantern #1 when it’s just bits, right? Personally, I get a high every time I open my mailbox to find a physical magazine in there for me to open up and discover what new PC got evaluated by Maximum PC’s editors… or what up and coming games is being hyped by the reviewers at Official Xbox Magazine.
But then again, if you’re always on the road, and tend to chew up content faster than they can produce it, maybe a ‘purchase & download online’ model makes sense. With a large store with content, it’s wholly possible to never run out of stuff to read ever again.
Anyway, the application is in beta and requires one to submit an application to be accepted into the private beta. Invitations are handed out on an as needed basis so if you’re interested, try applying.
- BETA: Graphic.ly Beta Application for Windows 7
http://graphic.ly/about.html
(Can’t wait? @graphicly is apparently publishing line jump codes over Twitter. You’ll figure out what this means if you apply for the private beta.)
kurtsh
Kurt Shintaku's Blog 