09-10-2009, 06:33 PM | #1 |
Connoisseur
Posts: 81
Karma: 184
Join Date: Aug 2009
Device: Plastic Logic (?)
|
Time Inc - Time for a New E-Reader
Time Inc - Time for a New E-Reader
Magazine giant considering own gadget, e-reader startup "An internal document from Time Inc. obtained by NBC Bay Area shows the magazine giant, publisher of Time, Sports Illustrated, People and other titles, wants to start competing with Amazon's Kindle and other electronic readers before the end of the year. It's a big shift in strategy by Time, which earlier this year said it would not introduce its own e-reader. But things have changed, and Time's plans for the e-reader market are on a fast track. According to the in-house presentation, Time Inc. is seeking to unveil its plans within the next three months." http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/tech/...-58563707.html |
09-10-2009, 06:38 PM | #2 |
Wizard
Posts: 1,686
Karma: 874275
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Virginia Beach, VA
Device: Kindle DX
|
The more the better I say. Eventually I hope we get the "MP3" of ebook formats and they will work damn near all readers. We will all win!
|
Advert | |
|
09-10-2009, 06:44 PM | #3 |
Geekette
Posts: 435
Karma: 3335
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: NSW, Australia
Device: Sony Reader PRS500, PocketBook 360
|
Hmmm, does this mean they'll use their own format too? I'm also not sure about their assumption "Whoever defines the interface wins". What do others think?
|
09-10-2009, 06:49 PM | #4 |
Bombers clinch first.
Posts: 7,628
Karma: 31487351
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Raleigh, NC
Device: Paperwhite, Kindles 10 & 4 and jetBook Lite
|
Thanks for that, sforce. The article mentions other publishers as well (like News Corp., aka the Wall Street Journal). Interesting concept - that the publishers would sell the content directly to the consumer, skipping the stores like Amazon.
|
09-10-2009, 09:49 PM | #5 |
Fanatic
Posts: 535
Karma: 972
Join Date: Jul 2009
Device: The new iPad
|
i guess they would really need this move...or else they will be left behind.
|
Advert | |
|
09-10-2009, 10:17 PM | #6 |
Wizard
Posts: 1,340
Karma: 1160346
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Southport, GB
Device: Kindle Voyage, PW Signature edition
|
Good to see more interest in the ebook market, but you do have to wonder what makes content producers suddenly think they can so easily shift over into producing the hardware as well.
Here's hoping they don't also try to control the format, things seem to be stabilising in that respect for a change. |
09-11-2009, 01:29 AM | #7 |
PHD in Horribleness
Posts: 2,320
Karma: 23599604
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: In the ironbound section, near avenue L
Device: Just a whole bunch. I guess I am a collector now.
|
Shouldn't a company be profitable before sinking money into an expensive to enter new market?
Time's P&L has been less than stellar (okay, less than adequate) for a while now. Prestige doesn't pay any bills. On the other hand, if they are going broke anyway, leaving one last nice collectible behind (An orphaned ereader) wouldn't be a bad thing I guess. |
09-11-2009, 05:27 AM | #8 |
Wizard
Posts: 4,538
Karma: 264065402
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Taiwan
Device: HP Touchpad, Sony Duo 13, Lumia 920, Kobo Aura HD
|
yes, they haven't been doing well. That is a good time to rethink their strategy and try something different. And I am sure they will just buy and rebrand a read. No big investment needed.
|
09-11-2009, 02:27 PM | #9 | |
Professional Contrarian
Posts: 2,045
Karma: 3289631
Join Date: Mar 2009
Device: Kindle 4 No Touchie
|
Quote:
That said, I concur that they will not find this an easy market to enter. Hardware isn't easy to make and support; they will need wireless to deliver their content in a timely fashion, and users will want or expect a good catalog of ebook titles -- which either means setting up their own store (not easy) or relying on an existing retailer (also may be iffy). |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Long time stalker, first time poster | yellowfeather | Introduce Yourself | 8 | 09-08-2009 08:08 PM |
Long time reader...first time poster | bsgamble | Introduce Yourself | 4 | 07-21-2008 12:44 PM |
Hilton, James: Time and Time Again, v.1, 29 Feb 2008. | hn_88 | BBeB/LRF Books (offline) | 0 | 02-29-2008 12:24 PM |
iLiad An idea to mitigate boot time (and app launch time) -- For future use | Antartica | iRex Developer's Corner | 14 | 11-05-2006 02:16 AM |