TechCrunch’s $200 Web tablet: A way for e-books to take off?

Prash · 07-23-2008, 02:08 AM

I find this device quite interesting, even though it is not an e-ink device. And if they stick to the estimated price, it can become a winner and may increase the penetration of ebook readers in masses.

Web tablet

Quote:

Where are the nonE Ink machines for reading E? That’s a common refrain from many TeleBlog readers. Now TechCrunch is talking about a $200 Web tablet, apparently LCD-based.

And guess what the ETA is for the prototype? Just two months or so from now.

Built around Firefox:

The real app will be Firefox, but wouldn’t it be great if TC’s Michael Arrington could talk the browser people into doing a decent e-book act—with ePub as the featured format? I’ll also be curious about the screen size.

Remember, some linux-based "Internet tablets" fit for e-reading already exist, the Nokias. But Michael would like to "bypass any desktop interface and go directly to Firefox running in a modified Kiosk mode that effectively turns the browser into the operating system for the device. Add Gears for offline syncing of Google docs, email, etc., and Skype for communication and you have a machine that will be almost as useful as a desktop but cheaper and more portable than any laptop or tablet PC.

"It will also include a custom default home page with large buttons for bookmarked services - news, Meebo/Ebuddy for IM, Google Docs/Zoho for Office, Email, social networks, photo sites, YouTube, etc. Everything that you use every day.

The other issue is price. $200 is a nice start, but this won’t be for the masses until it’s cut in half, just as the current OLPC price needs to be. And, yes, the other issue is DRM, which could restrict the range of books available.

Source:

http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/07...s-to-take-off/

Regards..........

Greg Anos · 07-23-2008, 08:17 AM

It should let you read project gutenberg books off the server without any mods.

DaleDe · 07-23-2008, 04:17 PM

There is an add-on to Firefox that can read ePUB. It is called OpenBerg Lector. Read about it https://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/OpenBerg_Lector

Dale

DixieGal · 07-23-2008, 04:27 PM

I like it a lot! Question: Did the article give the screen dimensions? I didn't see it listed.

moz · 07-23-2008, 05:25 PM

Yay... one step closer to a non-interactive web experience. Soon it will be just another million channels of TV.

Prash · 07-23-2008, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DixieGal

I like it a lot! Question: Did the article give the screen dimensions? I didn't see it listed.

That information has not yet been given.

Here's a page where TechCrunch itself discusses about it's Web tablet....
http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/07/21...p-us-build-it/

Regards....

DMcCunney · 07-23-2008, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaleDe

There is an add-on to Firefox that can read ePUB. It is called OpenBerg Lector. Read about it https://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/OpenBerg_Lector

Incompatible with FF3, however.
______
Dennis

wallcraft · 07-23-2008, 08:13 PM

Bookworm will store your DRM-free ePub ebooks and display them on any web browser. It works well, but I'm not sure about requiring Internet access to read ebooks. This is consistent with the web tablet approach though.

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07-23-2008, 08:17 AM	#2
Greg Anos Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,494 Karma: 37057604 Join Date: Jan 2008 Device: Pocketbook	It should let you read project gutenberg books off the server without any mods.

07-23-2008, 04:17 PM	#3
DaleDe Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,470 Karma: 13095790 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Grass Valley, CA Device: EB 1150, EZ Reader, Literati, iPad 2 & Air 2, iPhone 7	There is an add-on to Firefox that can read ePUB. It is called OpenBerg Lector. Read about it https://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/OpenBerg_Lector Dale

07-23-2008, 04:27 PM	#4
DixieGal Hi There! Posts: 7,473 Karma: 2930523 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ft Lauderdale Device: iPad	I like it a lot! Question: Did the article give the screen dimensions? I didn't see it listed.

07-23-2008, 05:25 PM	#5
moz Addict Posts: 370 Karma: 1553 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Melbun Device: Kobo H2O	Yay... one step closer to a non-interactive web experience. Soon it will be just another million channels of TV.

07-23-2008, 08:13 PM	#8
wallcraft reader Posts: 6,977 Karma: 5183568 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mississippi, USA Device: Kindle 3, Kobo Glo HD	Bookworm will store your DRM-free ePub ebooks and display them on any web browser. It works well, but I'm not sure about requiring Internet access to read ebooks. This is consistent with the web tablet approach though.

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