Why don't e-readers try to offer more extra functions (mp3 player, games...)?

[ItalianUruguayan]

While I know that e-readers are designed specifically for reading, I cannot understand why they shouldn't offer some extra functions.

The first readers I used all tried to offer something more than a reader. The Sony PRS-T1, for example, was an amazing device that rocked a nice mp3 player and a web browser that is still a pleasure to use today, almost eight years later. It also had a notes app, a sketch pad for drawing and a photo gallery. All of them were nice features that added value to its reading experience without interfering with it.

Nowadays, Kobos are pretty hackable and offer some really basic beta features, like a sketch pad and a web browser so simple that it doesn't even remember cookies. They have already stopped supporting some of them. A year ago, Kobos had a nice chess app that has dissapeared from the new firmwares. Kindles, as far as I know, offer only a web browser, and it is atrocious and unusable.

It is obvious that tablets are way more useful as all-purpose devices, but I can't understand why ereader companies refuse to provide some basic utilities that would require almost no manteinance, like a simple web browser to read the online newspaper at a coffee break.

[sjfan]

a) A speaker or the like (for mp3 playing) would draw more power; e-readers are designed largely to maximize reading time without power being drawn by externalities;
b) Many e-reader users cite the fact that they are one-task devices as a plus (unlike general purpose tablets, there are fewer distractions on a dedicated eReader); offering extra functions would actually be considered a negative by a lot of users.
c) e-Ink, which is great for reading, has a really low refresh rate which can be bad for games or web browsing.
d) It takes a lot of effort to support outside features, especially something as complex as a web browser. You say “a simple web browser”, but they aren't actually simple: the embedded browsers on eink devices have often been pretty primitive, and haven't evolved to render sites using modern HTML5 + Javascript + CSS. Largely because such browsers are incredibly complex. Most readers would rather have the programming effort put into improving the actual book reading experience rather than making a half-assed browser work on the device.

[HarryT]

You can of course buy multi-function eInk devices, but eInk readers are just that: dedicated single-use devices. That's what I personally want. When I'm reading I don't want to be distracted by other things.

[rcentros]

Of all the features you mention, the one I think fits best with an eReader is the MP3 player. Speeches, sermons, audio books seem like a natural fit for a device that is often used for research. (I did complain when a new update removed chess from my Kobo Glo -- and I do like chess on the Kobo Mini and the (older firmware) Kobo Touch "just because" ... though I admit, I hardly ever use it.)

[DiapDealer]

Are "Kindlets" still a thing?

[ItalianUruguayan]

Originally Posted by rcentros

Of all the features you mention, the one I think fits best with an eReader is the MP3 player. Speeches, sermons, audio books seem like a natural fit for a device that is often used for research. (I did complain when a new update removed chess from my Kobo Glo -- and I do like chess on the Kobo Mini and the (older firmware) Kobo Touch "just because" ... though I admit, I hardly ever use it.)

They are also nice for language learning, I honestly don't know why they don't do these anymore, since the addition of a soundcard would be pretty cheap.

[Apache]

If I have music or other audio playing while I am reading, I never hear it. I am oblivious to it.
Apache

[ilovejedd]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Are "Kindlets" still a thing?

Nope. Amazon even removed support for Kindlets with the latest 5.9.x firmware.

Originally Posted by ItalianUruguayan

While I know that e-readers are designed specifically for reading, I cannot understand why they shouldn't offer some extra functions.

...

It is obvious that tablets are way more useful as all-purpose devices, but I can't understand why ereader companies refuse to provide some basic utilities that would require almost no manteinance, like a simple web browser to read the online newspaper at a coffee break.

Likely because majority of e-ink buyers don't care about all those extra functions so it's just a waste of development resources.

[BookCat]

I've never wanted those functions on my reader, because it's just that, a READER. If I want to listen to music while reading, I'll usually have and old mp3 player, or even a youtube Mozart Chamber Music playlist from youtube playing softly in the background.

The only function I'd like to see on my Kindle is a way to organise collections off-line, because I don't use wi-fi. But that is strictly book-related. If I wanted all the other gizmos, I'd either use my computer or buy a tablet.

[4691mls]

I have other devices that work better for music and internet. I do like having the ability to get library books directly on my Sony reader but otherwise I don't use the internet function as it's slow and clunky. I'm happy having an ereader that is dedicated for reading and library use only.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by 4691mls

I have other devices that work better for music and internet. I do like having the ability to get library books directly on my Sony reader but otherwise I don't use the internet function as it's slow and clunky. I'm happy having an ereader that is dedicated for reading and library use only.

I like that I can add audible files to (some) of my Sony Readers. I'm not really thinking of using them for music but for podcast-like files. My Blackberry Q10 plays music just fine.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by ItalianUruguayan

While I know that e-readers are designed specifically for reading, I cannot understand why they shouldn't offer some extra functions.

The first readers I used all tried to offer something more than a reader. The Sony PRS-T1, for example, was an amazing device that rocked a nice mp3 player and a web browser that is still a pleasure to use today, almost eight years later. It also had a notes app, a sketch pad for drawing and a photo gallery. All of them were nice features that added value to its reading experience without interfering with it.

The more an e-ink reader tries to behave like a tablet, the more reviews will say 'what a terrible tablet.'

[Deskisamess]

I can't listen to music while I read, unless the music is only instrumental with no lyrics. If there are lyrics, I can't focus on either the book or the music.

There is one game that was available on my older Kindles, called Threadwords. I did like playing that, and have never found a similar game app for my iPad or iPhone.

I hardly ever listen to audio books...and when I have I haven't enjoyed them so much.

[arjaybe]

The extra functions would waste battery which would be better spent on reading.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by Deskisamess

I can't listen to music while I read, unless the music is only instrumental with no lyrics. If there are lyrics, I can't focus on either the book or the music.

I can't either. Actually I can't do much of anything else when I'm listening to music. I pay too much attention to the music. Basically, if I want to listen to music, I just sit and listen to music.