Quote:
Originally Posted by Alisa
To answer the points about HanLin: I have to admit that the support of .mobi and the future viability of .mobi as a format is a huge factor in my optimism for the any of the upcoming readers and a source of my hesitance to get involved with the Sony readers. My enthusiasm for the HanLin products hinges on their their open development and potential for adding file formats (.mobi being very high on that list).
If I were Amazon I would be reticent to lock down their format from other hardware. Other devices reading .mobi expands the market. Most people are going to need convincing to pay money for a reading device beyond their computer or smartphone. I doubt selling their reader hardware is going to be a big profit generator in itself. Likely it will be priced near cost to get people buying books. That cost will still seem high to the consumer. Trying to cut off other readers at this point would be an astoundingly boneheaded move in my opinion. Doesn't mean they won't do it, of course. I'd just be rather surprised.
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Alisa,
We'd like to think so, wouldn't we... But since being purchased by Amazon, I haven't really *seen* much of a push to *add* new platforms to Mobi... (I'm not talking software development - I'm talking marketing and legal.)
I note several companies have stated for months they're enquiring, but none have made any definitive announcement of completed negotiations. I note this lack of rumors/news seems to have come about just about the time of Amazon's decision to leak it's plans for the Kindle. Hmmm...
But then, maybe I'm just a conspiracy nut.
Derek