Steve Jobs on the "iPod of reading"

[JSWolf]

What I am seeing is that because of a decline in book reading, some publishers feel it is ok to come out with a new format of paper book that shafts the reader into paying more then the book is actually worth. No, it's not a hardcover. It's a taller thinner paperback type book. Where as the retail price should be $7.99 for a regular paperback, these new type of books are a lot more expensive.

[tompe]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

What I am seeing is that because of a decline in book reading, some publishers feel it is ok to come out with a new format of paper book that shafts the reader into paying more then the book is actually worth. No, it's not a hardcover. It's a taller thinner paperback type book. Where as the retail price should be $7.99 for a regular paperback, these new type of books are a lot more expensive.

Trade paperback. The paper quality in a trade paperback is much better than in a mass market paperback. You are paying for reading the book before the mass market paperback is available.

[yvanleterrible]

Originally Posted by Mycropht

When we take a look at the history of the book reading part of humanity, it is obvious that the percentage was never very high. Why, it was exactly zero before the first book was made. Today, I believe the percentage is relatively high, surely higher than in the 17th century. I do not fear for the future of reading. In this case, we have to consider just who has said that the people do not read anymore. It is entirely possible that Jobs who has achieved so much also has missed some things. Maybe he has never experienced the joy of reading a fictional novel, something which is not a technical manual or a book on methods of making more more money out of money. If that is the case, I pity him.

Careful, I don't think he said that no one reads anymore rather that less people read for entertainment.

Originally Posted by Mambo

C'mon, if there would be a reading app in iPod, everybody here would complain that it's useless, because LCD hurts your eyes and all you want is eink.

Most of the people here just can't be pleased. You can find fault in everything if you want.

I use the Nano out of all iPods for emergency reading; it's the smallest and worst to read on.
Since I'm a jazz fan and there is none on the airwaves where I live, I carry the Nano as my main radio for the car and for basic entertainment in waiting lines, all the time. I can forget the cell but not the Nano. Just last week a five minute wait in an office transformed itself to a 75 minute wait with no hope of escape. I was glad the Nano was there just as many people around here are glad to have their smart phone about with them. Sure it hurts the eyes but there is a need there for it. But my main device is the Sony and it will stay for a long time.

Originally Posted by JSWolf

People are NOT going to be paying $300-$400 to read newspapers and magazines. Especially when the reading experience is better via the paper copies.

Right, and most of that reading is better served by a computer because the navigation through all those pages is better and that since most articles are relatively short it's not all that bad to read right there.

[yvanleterrible]

This thread seems to go around the definition of reading and how each personal version interferes with other views.

For the devices we use there are different reading experiences.

1. Reading novels for entertainment.
2. Reading Classics for the appreciation of genious and art.
3. Reading News and information on newspaper, trade papers and magazines.
4. Searching for information on the web such as Wiki or looking for objects or facts.
5. Studies and academics.
6. Graphics, Art and Photography display. (read: Coffee table books)
7. Dictionnaries and encyclopediae.

... And I pass or forget.

Everyone of those activities are better served by different devices.
I believe that M. Jobs' comments refer to the first category and the fact that his main competitors have affirmed that their devices were built for this one.

It serves no one here to criticize each other's views but to agnowlege and respect them.

[Egghead]

So, Jobs is saying that Apple will never make an eBook reading device? In the same way Apple would never make a phone or a video iPod?

So... when is it due?

[igorsk]

Originally Posted by yvanleterrible

Careful, I don't think he said that no one reads anymore rather that less people read for entertainment.

Reread the first post

[Egghead]

Let's see. The Cybook is out of stock, the silver Reader is out of stock, and the blue Reader is back-ordered.

Yeah, there's no demand for ebook reading devices.

[Nate the great]

You forgot the Kindle and the Iliad. Both are back-ordered.

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by tompe

Trade paperback. The paper quality in a trade paperback is much better than in a mass market paperback. You are paying for reading the book before the mass market paperback is available.

He's not talking about trade paperback's. He's talking about the new mass market paperbacks that some books are coming out as (at least in the US). They're the same width as a regular mass market, but an inch or two taller. They generally charge $9.99 for these instead of $7.99. It's not a highly used format.

[yvanleterrible]

Originally Posted by igorsk

Reread the first post

I have reread it many times.
When Mr. Jobs says that people don't read anymore he can not say it litterally because it's impossible. People read blogs, Wikis, web papers and his own huge computer manuals. People read and it's a fact; they're still taught to do so. What he refers to is the type of reading they don't do. And I believe he's right. The novel is on a decline.
Where he's wrong is that this statistical curve may not have to continue the way it has. As an example I submit my own experience that since I have my Reader, I read more than I ever have. This experience is shared by many here and can only point to a resurgence of books as a whole.

[tommy still]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

We don't need more junk (yes, the iPhone is junk) from Apple. And the iPod Touch/iPhone do not sound all that good for an mp3 player.

Have you got an iPhone ? I have, and its not junk believe me. Its "THE BEST" phone I have ever owned and that's beside the other features.

[Adrian_Werner]

Apple is just lashin out on Amazon (and Google) because they want to compete with them, Apple never liked any competition and Amazon is the first real competitor iTunes ever had. Of course it's not like Amazon will overthrow Apple at most Amazon migh make a small dent in iTunes marketshare, but loosing even 10% of market in 3-4 years would be a big deal for Apple). SO I guess there is some bad blood there


People might cite readership numbers, but the fact is that books market is growing nicely. US publishers saw AFAIR $25billion sales in 2006. And sales grew in every segment. Adult, paperbacks, children etc. So even if less people are reading than before, those that do read more than ever.
The market is there to tap into.
In next 10-15 years we'll see book market transformation similiar to the one music market did in last decade and most likely Amazon will be as big in e-publishing as iTunes is now in e-music. Apple has simply overslept and honestly...catching up to Amazion will be as hard as catching up to iTunes is now.

[Adrian_Werner]

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

He's thinking in terms of numbers he can sell, & appears to be thinking Apple would be better off spending its development time on something else.

That would make sense a week ago. But now after they've shown Macbook AIR, an extremel niche product among Macs (which are small niche among computers) it doesn't

[Adrian_Werner]

Originally Posted by tribble

seems that we are a dying race

"New York, NY, May 22, 2007: The Association of American Publishers (AAP) has today released its annual estimate of total book sales in the United States. The report, which uses data from the Bureau of the Census as well as sales data from eighty-one publishers inclusive of all major book publishing media market holders, estimates that U.S. publishers had net sales of $24.2 billion in 2006.

"Trade sales of adult and juvenile books grew 2.9 percent to $8.3 billion, a compound growth rate of 3.7 percent per year since 2002. The strongest growth in this category came from adult paperback books whose sales rose 8.5 percent on last year to a total of $2.3 billion. Adult hardbound books also had a strong year growing by 4.1 percent to $2.6 billion."

"Mass market paperbacks saw growth of 4.6 percent in 2006 reaching $1.1 billion.""


Simply put...this is yet another case of Jobs having no clue what he's talking about.
Apple got so big and arrogant that they're exacly the same as Microsoft was ten years ago and just like MS missed out on some opportunities the same will happen with Apple.

[yvanleterrible]

Thanks for the numbers Adrian and welcome to Mobile Read!







Say, I did'nt know about that simpad before I saw it in your signature. It looks like a good UMPC. How is it for reading?