Sony plans UK e-reader launch at London BookFair 2008

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by kacir

I very much hope that Sony will not compute the price the way Booken does.

$300 is not equal 300Eur

Unfortunately that's how a lot of companies do it. Toys R Us do it that way. If it's 25 dollars in the US it's 25 pounds in the UK.

[Ofoghlu]

In my experience price will always be at a premium to the $US price.

df

[tompe]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Hi John,

What makes you say that the Sony would be a clear winner over the CyBook? There are hugely more books available in MobiPocket format than in Sony format, and no problems with buying them from any country in the world.

I also think the CyBook looks better since it supports more formats natively, there is a possibility for a SDK and it weight 100g less.

[Hadrien]

Originally Posted by yvanleterrible

Would it be feasible, software wise, for Sony to port Mobipocket to their readers?

Software wise, it's 100% possible. The real problem here is business wise...

[NatCh]

Originally Posted by yvanleterrible

Would it be feasible, software wise, for Sony to port Mobipocket to their readers?

Based on the success of porting the mobi reader to the iLiad and to Cybook, I'd think it was technically feasible.

During the recent conference call, the Sony rep commented that they were willing to entertain such a move, but that others might not be willing to go along with it -- I took that to mean that the folks who control the mobi reader software may not want their reader on Sony's hardware. Hadrian has apparently commented elsewhere (on TeleRead, I believe it was) that Mobi/Amazon doesn't want its reader app on any device that also has other reader apps on it -- they want mobi only devices rather than mobi & anything else devices.

[NatCh]

Ah, there's Hadrien now -- any elaboration on Mobi's attitude that you can offer? Or am I mis-attributing here?

[Hadrien]

Originally Posted by NatCh

Ah, there's Hadrien now -- any elaboration on Mobi's attitude that you can offer? Or am I mis-attributing here?

Yep I said that's it common business behavior to sign such a deal. I don't think it's Mobi's attitude only: the same rules would likely apply for DRMed PDF files for example (the iRiver reader ?).

[NatCh]

Sure, I didn't mean to imply that it was only Mobi!

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by NatCh

Based on the success of porting the mobi reader to the iLiad and to Cybook, I'd think it was technically feasible.

During the recent conference call, the Sony rep commented that they were willing to entertain such a move, but that others might not be willing to go along with it -- I took that to mean that the folks who control the mobi reader software may not want their reader on Sony's hardware. Hadrian has apparently commented elsewhere (on TeleRead, I believe it was) that Mobi/Amazon doesn't want its reader app on any device that also has other reader apps on it -- they want mobi only devices rather than mobi & anything else devices.

Then when if mobi reader coming OFF the iLiad since it also has FBReader?

[LOL2005]

Originally Posted by NatCh

During the recent conference call, the Sony rep commented that they were willing to entertain such a move, but that others might not be willing to go along with it -- I took that to mean that the folks who control the mobi reader software may not want their reader on Sony's hardware. Hadrian has apparently commented elsewhere (on TeleRead, I believe it was) that Mobi/Amazon doesn't want its reader app on any device that also has other reader apps on it -- they want mobi only devices rather than mobi & anything else devices.

That's strange, the interest of Amazon should be to make their DRM format a standard.

That said, I won't be surprise if the kindle comes with a new DRM format, inspired from mobi but not compatible. This speculation is purely based on the fact that companies often end-up taking the worst decision possible.

[astra]

Sony is expected to launch its e-book reader in the UK at the 2008 London Book Fair, fuelling speculation that Amazon will try and pip it to the post by rush-releasing its own rival device, the "Kindle".

But there is no Kindle in the UK and no rumours supporting it will be available over here.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Then when if mobi reader coming OFF the iLiad since it also has FBReader?

But not built-in, and since it won't read any DRM-enhanced formats except Mobi, it's no threat to Mobi's commercial sales.

[NatCh]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Then when if mobi reader coming OFF the iLiad since it also has FBReader?

Did iRex put that on the iLiad? I was thinking that it was done by the ... creative members of the user community, but I could easily be mistaken.

Originally Posted by astra_lestat

But there is no Kindle in the UK and no rumours supporting it will be available over here.

What about the rumors around MobileRead? Mostly stemming from the discovery of "Kindle Format" content on Amazon.co.uk, I mean.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by NatCh

Did iRex put that on the iLiad? I was thinking that it was done by the ... creative members of the user community, but I could easily be mistaken.

You are indeed correct

[NatCh]

Well, in that case, I don't think FBReader much counts (for this particular point only — I'm not commenting on FBReader itself).