New e-readers will end black and white era

[Xiaopanda]

Originally Posted by fugazied

they can make books with animated pictures/videos, sound bytes, or each page could have a backing track (imagine snow white with a soundtrack for each page).

Didn't Disney already do this?

[Jaime_Astorga]

Originally Posted by fugazied

At least with color you can get the kids reading easier. I look forward to illustrated books and multimedia kids books.

When you consider the potential of ebook readers, they can make books with animated pictures/videos, sound bytes, or each page could have a backing track (imagine snow white with a soundtrack for each page).

Sound should already be possible, but I don't see how animated images/videos would work. E Ink has a low refresh rate and uses up energy every time it changes the page; that's the whole point (well, apart from it looking like paper).

[HarryT]

eInk screens with "video" refresh rates have been demonstrated, but they're certainly several years away from commercial production. You're absolutely right, though; playing video would probably have a catastrophic impact on battery life!

[IgnareAcademy]

Originally Posted by fugazied

At least with color you can get the kids reading easier. I look forward to illustrated books and multimedia kids books.

When you consider the potential of ebook readers, they can make books with animated pictures/videos, sound bytes, or each page could have a backing track (imagine snow white with a soundtrack for each page).

Books are about imagination.
Real books are black letters on a white background.
Images, sounds and odors are then magically created in your mind.
Nowadays children read so-called children books far too late into their life. No wonder they then become teens until they reach 40.
Montaigne for example read Latin and Greek classics when he was 7. In Greek and Latin of course. He bypassed the teenage years entirely to become an adult early. He did not waste his life acting stupid and being immature for years because TV (and parents under the influence of TV) considered it perfectly normal and called it being a teenager/student.

[igorsk]

Originally Posted by HarryT

No, Fujitsu have a colour device out now. Very expensive and very slow, but it definitely exists.

And it's not E-Ink.

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by Jaime_Astorga

Sound should already be possible, but I don't see how animated images/videos would work. E Ink has a low refresh rate and uses up energy every time it changes the page; that's the whole point (well, apart from it looking like paper).

The Kindle already has this. Audible has a new format that allows the inclusion of images to accompany the sound. Books are available in this format. Not every Audible device supports this but if the device has video support as well as audio then it is likely on the list of supported devices.

Dale

[bhartman36]

The article talked a lot about the technological side of the equation, but what about the cost?

[Xiaopanda]

Originally Posted by igorsk

And it's not E-Ink.

You sure? I have found it really really hard to find out if it is or is not true e-ink.......is it just another LCD - type display? Makes it kinda hard to justify the (ridiculous) price tage for it ....

[HarryT]

Igorsk means that it is not made by the company called "E-Ink". It is a basically equivalent technology.

[Andybaby]

Originally Posted by HarryT

eInk screens with "video" refresh rates have been demonstrated, but they're certainly several years away from commercial production. You're absolutely right, though; playing video would probably have a catastrophic impact on battery life!

well they are using tiny batteries right now with low capacity, 8000 continuous page turns = about 2 hours of battery life. but the low power of eink makes it last so long.

devices with video currently have about 8 hours of battery life by using better batteries. I would hate to read, or watch video for more than 8 hours a day.

the battery life for ereaders isn't a concern for me. they are good.

[bhartman36]

Originally Posted by Andybaby

devices with video currently have about 8 hours of battery life by using better batteries. I would hate to read, or watch video for more than 8 hours a day.

the battery life for ereaders isn't a concern for me. they are good.

Eight hours straight of reading or watching video sounds excessive, but I think you also have to look at the capabilities of these devices and what they are aspiring to be used for.

The Kindle DX is a good (albeit primitive) example. If a student carries around his or her DX all day to classes, that can be hours a day just to start. And then, of course, you've got the Internet access, which can also be a great battery drain. Ditto for sound. It all adds up fairly quickly.

Ebooks could turn out to be the next version of PDAs. There are people who have been clamoring for years to get a PDA larger than today's phones, and yearning for the old PDAs with the Palm TX form factor. A DX would certainly be oversized for that form factor, but something the size of a Kindle 1 or 2 would have advantages for calendar management, e-mail, etc. While I love my Kindle, I think that ultimately, one-trick ponies don't fare well in the marketplace, and devices like the Kindle will pack in more and more features in an attempt to broaden their appeal. That 8-hour battery life might end up looking meager pretty quickly, if the devices go in that direction.

[delphidb96]

Originally Posted by bhartman36

Eight hours straight of reading or watching video sounds excessive, but I think you also have to look at the capabilities of these devices and what they are aspiring to be used for.

The Kindle DX is a good (albeit primitive) example. If a student carries around his or her DX all day to classes, that can be hours a day just to start. And then, of course, you've got the Internet access, which can also be a great battery drain. Ditto for sound. It all adds up fairly quickly.

Ebooks could turn out to be the next version of PDAs. There are people who have been clamoring for years to get a PDA larger than today's phones, and yearning for the old PDAs with the Palm TX form factor. A DX would certainly be oversized for that form factor, but something the size of a Kindle 1 or 2 would have advantages for calendar management, e-mail, etc. While I love my Kindle, I think that ultimately, one-trick ponies don't fare well in the marketplace, and devices like the Kindle will pack in more and more features in an attempt to broaden their appeal. That 8-hour battery life might end up looking meager pretty quickly, if the devices go in that direction.

Eight hours is 'excessive'??? Then I guess my 12-14 hours per day is what, grotesque??? Oh wait! Disabled/retired people who *LIKE* to read should 'get a life'??? Not!

Yaknow, we really don't need people condemning pleasurable personal activities - or don't you understand that there are politicians and social workers out there who're eagerly seeking new areas to create overcontrolling legislation. We've already got doctors and legislators trying to limit 'twittering' time - do you truly want them to implement rules limiting 'legal reading time limits'?


Derek

[mjh215]

Originally Posted by delphidb96

Yaknow, we really don't need people condemning pleasurable personal activities - or don't you understand that there are politicians and social workers out there who're eagerly seeking new areas to create overcontrolling legislation. We've already got doctors and legislators trying to limit 'twittering' time - do you truly want them to implement rules limiting 'legal reading time limits'?

Derek, don't you know people love their nanny? Ok, not me or you, but most people?

And depending on the day I can read for more then 8 hours. Usually just one day a week if that.

-MJ

[Shaggy]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Igorsk means that it is not made by the company called "E-Ink". It is a basically equivalent technology.

You're talking about the Fujitsu Flepia, I assume? What Igorsk said is right in both senses... it is not E-Ink (the company) and it also has nothing to do with eInk (the technology). It's based on LCD, which is a completely different technology.

[slumba]

Originally Posted by IgnareAcademy

Nowadays children read so-called children books far too late into their life. No wonder they then become teens until they reach 40.
Montaigne for example read Latin and Greek classics when he was 7. In Greek and Latin of course. He bypassed the teenage years entirely to become an adult early. He did not waste his life acting stupid and being immature for years because TV (and parents under the influence of TV) considered it perfectly normal and called it being a teenager/student.

Just wanted to say I agree 100% . Sorry for the "me too" .