Printed from www.pcpro.co.uk
Posted on October 1st, 2009 by Simon Brock
Will UK Kindle kick-start the eBook boom?
So after much waiting, it seems that the Amazon Kindle may be coming to these shores soon. Anonymous sources have told the Bookseller magazine that the eBook device will be announced in the UK next week — just in time for the Xmas rush.
It does have to be said that eBook readers are starting to catch on. A measure I use to assess whether something is popular is whether I see people on the London Underground with it. A few years ago, the tell-tale white headphone cables of iPods first started to appear, and now I am starting to see the Sony eBook reader — maybe not on every journey, but at least once a week.
However, the Kindle may just be the start. There are rumours flying around that the much talked about Apple tablet might also be some form of eBook reader. The Gizmodo website has been reporting that Apple has being in discussions with publishers about selling content through the Apple iTunes store.
If this is true then a new content battle will start soon. On one side, there will be Amazon with its relationship with the publishers and its online store selling content through very neat but monochrome devices. On the other side, there will be Apple with its proven system of selling content in bite-sized pieces to handheld electronic devices.
It would be a safe bet to assume that an Apple eBook reader will not be a monochrome device – it will be a device that will show you the printed page as it is meant to look and allow you to watch video. Apple has already hinted at a way of distributing printed material with iTunes LP which is a file format that supports song lyrics, liner notes, photos, special features and videos. In the middle will be poor old Sony (again), who will be neither one thing or the other.
And finally – lest we forget – there will be Google. While the Google book deal may be having problems, we have to remember that Google has released Chrome OS,which sounds like an excellent operating system to run on a tablet. Its wish for an open standard may rescue Sony and help others.
So everyone seems to be lining up to ensure that print dies and is replaced by a tablet and an online store. So will the print version of PC Pro go the same way as photographic film next year? Probably not, but I would be surprised if you could thumb through a printed version in the stands at the London Olympics.
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6 Responses to “ Will UK Kindle kick-start the eBook boom? ”
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October 1st, 2009 at 4:12 pm
So do you think Apple have got an eInk screen that is quick enough for clear video display and still act like a normal eInk screen in book mode?
Very impressive if they have.
October 1st, 2009 at 4:43 pm
If Apple come up with a tablet netbook with a decent screen, it will be able to act as an ebook reader. Without the eInk technology it will consume more power but the quality and contrast will probably be better. As long as they can get 5+ hours battery life, I doubt many will care. It will be desireable and multi-functional -I can wait because I know it will be worth it (worth the wait, it’s bound to be grossly over-priced at launch!)
October 1st, 2009 at 9:01 pm
“I wouldn’t be surprised if you could thumb through a printed version [of PC Pro] in the stands at the London Olympics.”
Um, not sure you meant to write ‘printed’ there.
October 2nd, 2009 at 1:28 am
A boom is hardly the word I would have chosen, simply because reading books is not as popular as listening to music.
The day I see chavs on the bus with a eBook reader instead of annoying people with their piddly phone speakers is when I’ll be convinced that there is an eBook boom.
A recent experiment at Princeton Uni with Kindles produced much student discontent at the limitations of the eBook format.
It’s a “solution” for a problem that simply does not exist.
October 2nd, 2009 at 5:24 pm
PC Pro had better hope ebook readers take off. Looked for the latest edition in Sainsburys yesterday and there isn’t even a space for it on the shelves. It’s disappearing from my local outlets. The only way will be a subscription soon and I can’t justify getting it every month (hint: it’s nothing to do with the price).
October 5th, 2009 at 11:29 am
So… Amazon is jumping also into the e-book reader. I hope it will different from other Kindle. Dual colour touch screens look so attractive and comfortable. I have decided to buy it as soon as possible. I hope it will be moving forwards along with cheaper prices to maintain competition edge.