09-30-2010, 11:37 AM | #1 |
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Toshiba joins the eBook party
Inquirer writeup: http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/...ins-book-party
Toshiba site: http://www.toshibabookplace.com/ ______ Dennis |
09-30-2010, 11:42 AM | #2 |
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Doesn't appear to be hardware. Buy books to read on your PC. Similar to what Zinnio does for magazines. I can't see this really taking off.
We already have PC based readers; MS Reader, Mobipocket Reader, etc. |
09-30-2010, 11:46 AM | #3 |
Chocolate Grasshopper ...
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It's another finger in the pie ....
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09-30-2010, 11:50 AM | #4 |
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Nate's posts on the Blio reader (which is used by Toshiba) make for an amusing read.
Blio Reader launched today – Fail, Fail, and more Fail Feedbooks responds to yesterday’s Blio launch |
09-30-2010, 11:54 AM | #5 |
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Weirdly, Engadget had a story about 2 Toshiba e-readers, a 7-inch model and 10-incher. Can't find it this morning.
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09-30-2010, 07:50 PM | #6 |
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I haven't tried this one out yet (the PC-based reader, that is), but from its website it looks like another flash-like reader that has cool page turns, and other whiz-bang. The problem with just about anything like this is that it falls into the trap of wanting to somehow preserve page layouts by stuffing them into all the odd-sized spaces that make the electronic screen "universe." A book layout is made for a specific size determined by a book designer, so it all it requires in order to look good and to be readable is to fit that size. If you then take that page layout and try to stuff it into everything from an old-fashioned CRT of varying sizes to LCD screens of varying sizes, and then a netbook, an iPad, and heaven knows what else, what you end up with is a nice spiffy image of a book layout that can't be read like the thing it imitates. If you look at the whole image, you probably can't read it, so you have to zoom in, but in doing that you then have to move the page around so you can read the whole story, article, or whatever, piece at a time, kind of like reading through a mail slot, which is next to useless.
Technology is not there yet, as the closest thing I've seen (or at least seen pictures of) to something that could handle this kind of presentation is the Skiff, which that rogue Rupert Murdoch just bought from Hearst, or large-sized flexible paper from places like Xerox, Sony, Philips, and some others. Right now these are just prototypes. If Toshiba's dedicated reading devices (not the PC software) use something like this, then they've at least taken the first step; if not, well, Blio 2. |
10-01-2010, 04:47 AM | #7 |
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Not a fan of text reflow I take it. If by book you mean a novel, not a graphic-novel or
comic book, then illustrations are at a minimum and easily accommodated. If you mean a reader for textbooks, manuals or magazines then color and a larger size is mandated and your points have some effect. As is the case for the graphic-novel and comics mentioned earlier. The thing is, the display requirements for a photo rich glossy magazine and a movie and a modern web page are basically the same. So for the display side of a device that would properly display your "Nat Geo" or "Scientific American" you need just as much as you do for a high resolution gaming or video playback device. For a novel you don't need all that and can have a B&W device that can sip power over a much longer period. The technology is here for both, but not in the same price range or with the same form factor or being able to function for the same period on a charge. Luck; Ken |
10-01-2010, 10:51 AM | #8 | |
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Quote:
Text books are a case in point. They often involve multiple columns, sidebars, illustrations that may not scale well, and design that reflow would mangle. For those, Adobe PDF is pretty much the required format, as is a device with a large enough screen to accommodate the content. The Amazon Kindle DX is an attempt to address this requirement, with the Adobe Mobile SDK to provide PDF Viewer capability and a larger screen than the standard Kindle. I've seen reports that students in university pilot programs are less than thrilled with it, so that area is still a work in progress. ______ Dennis |
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10-01-2010, 10:54 AM | #9 |
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We're going to need a bigger pie!
On a more serious note though, this is a good thing. The more companies that get into eReaders whether it is hardware or software the more attention they get and the more prevalent they become. It used to be just us reading fanatics and tech people that paid much attention, the more press they get and the more that the main stream population begins to adopt them then the better for all concerned at least from a pricing and selection stand point. |
10-01-2010, 11:19 AM | #10 | |
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Quote:
I'm not optimistic on first glance at Toshiba's chances with this initiative, but the fact they are doping it at all is noteworthy. ______ Dennis |
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10-01-2010, 01:08 PM | #11 | |
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Quote:
Derek |
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10-01-2010, 01:16 PM | #12 | |
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Quote:
http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/03/t...imedia-tablet/ http://us.toshiba.com/computers/laptops/libretto/W100 |
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10-01-2010, 03:58 PM | #13 |
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It's also a bookstore. Anyone know what format/DRM they will be selling their books in?
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