Sure, a lot of us would love to catch a glimpse of a next-gen e-reader device, but industry insiders caution against expecting anything breathtaking anytime soon. EETimes Europe
talked with Jochen Dieckow, new media researcher at publishing industry think tank
Ifra, and Simon Jones, VP of product development at
Plastic Logic, the producer of flexible e-paper displays who just recently raised $100m to build a manufacturing facility in Germany. They say:
- possible successors of the iRex iLiad or Sony Reader are still "very much work in progress"
- an intuitive user interface is still lacking (with reference to the iRex iLiad)
- consumer confidence still needs to be established
- don't be hyperactive about the short-term prospects
- there is a big potential market, but there are no compelling devices
- e-reader designers need to think "unconventionally"
- Plastic Logic works closely with (unnamed) partners to design new products
Related:
Plastic Logic raises $100 million,
Plastic Logic's flexible e-paper may be available in 2008,
Cut the hype and get us working e-reader devices!,
De Tijd-iLiad e-paper trial - has it been a failure?