Apple entrance into ebook market rumors

[petermillard]

Originally Posted by Leep

It's hard to imagine that Amazon would have gone ahead with iPhone iTouch application that syncs with Kindle book account...

Wow! That's news. Now if they could just open up the Kindle store to the rest of the world...

[yvanleterrible]

Originally Posted by fugazied

... Complex tablets that do everything. Apple can implement it, but there may be some kind of technological hurdle? Battery life perhaps?

I think it all comes down to money. iPple products have to distinguish themselves enough from any competition so as to bring the most bacon home. If it is not application specificity, it has to be with design flair,originality or to be the first one to try a new market. A crossover from touch to tablet would be the perfect thing.

So! iPple! When do wez gettit ?

[Steven Lyle Jordan]

Originally Posted by petermillard

With the greatest respect to Steve (Jordan) let's not forget that the Kindle is not available outside the U.S., and whilst the U.S. sales may be critical for publishers and authors, it does not constitute the whole book market.

A good point. It might also explain Amazon's lack of Kindle-spread to the world market if their strategy is to use the Kindle specifically to grow the market for e-books, concentrating on the large market U.S., and once they reach critical mass, roll out SW apps that anyone's existing computers or other devices can use to read Amazon e-books (thereby rendering the need for Kindles, worldwide or otherwise, superfluous).

[GeoffC]

Originally Posted by radleyp

For all of you who need to know, Steve Jobs made that statement about no one reading books anymore in a New York Times interview with the Times' technology guru, David Pogue, and he added that a significant proportion of Americans (I think it was 60%) had read one book or less in the previous year.

If that figure was correct, that still leaves 40%, which in any population is a large market ....


What's wrong with iBook ?

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by GeoffC

If that figure was correct, that still leaves 40%, which in any population is a large market ....


What's wrong with iBook ?

When capitalized it looks a lot like lBook, an existing eBook Reader.

Dale

[GntlmnBndt]

Originally Posted by GeoffC

If that figure was correct, that still leaves 40%, which in any population is a large market ....


What's wrong with iBook ?

They already used that name. The previous generation of consumer laptops (before the Macbook) was called the iBook. Doesn't mean they couldn't use it, but it could make for some confusion, unless they called it the iBook Nano, of course.

The Bandit

[GeoffC]

Originally Posted by GntlmnBndt

They already used that name. The previous generation of consumer laptops (before the Macbook) was called the iBook. Doesn't mean they couldn't use it, but it could make for some confusion, unless they called it the iBook Nano, of course.

The Bandit

I really must try harder to put some sarcasm in a few of my posts ....

[GeoffC]

Originally Posted by DaleDe

When capitalized it looks a lot like lBook, an existing eBook Reader.

Dale

Sorry, Sir - I was not aware of that one ....

[dmaul1114]

Originally Posted by GeoffC

If that figure was correct, that still leaves 40%, which in any population is a large market ....

Well that 40% would be everyone that reads more than one book, which is still a very low bar.

The market for eReaders is going to be people who read a LOT. If you don't read a lot you're not going to drop $200+ on an eReader.

The real figure you'd need is what % of people read X books a month. Not sure what the X should be, but probably at least 1 to really be considered to be in the potential eReader market.

[GeoffC]

Don't you REALLY love statistics .....

[exreader]

Originally Posted by Spectrum

It is about the time..Given the Apple innovation hope it is not E-ink based but something of their own but better.. not copycating that they are experts in!

With much due respect... Apple copycats, and how. Not only that, they did NOT even invent half the stuff they are ascribed as having invented. They don't so much innovate, and renovate existing technologies.

So, with that said, it IS ususally true that they manage to come up with a shiny, compelling package, with a general "best of class" (especially in the USA market (but not Japan)). Though this usually happens after there is already a mature market, and they can then pick and choose amongst all the features that make something successful.

Take Casio for example. THEY innovate, while a lot of the industry copies them, then in some cases, goes further. Casio has had a lot of major firsts, especially in calculators, cameras, and video.

With Apple, they did not invent, but licensed, or bought, or otherwise lifted things like: the mouse, bit blits, sprites, hand writing technology, MP3 players, multi-touch, pull-down-menus, "the dock" (and everything else from Next/Open Step that Jobs brought with him (in a way, MacApple died the day Jobs came back and made it NeXT)), notebooks with built in cameras, and so forth... but they DO get recognition for implementing these things well (even with the quirks).

These days, Apple hardware is merely top tier PC hardware through and through. Intel processors, SATA drives, standard memory, industry standard GPUs, runs Windows natively, etc. Which is keen. What few realize is that Apple could easily deploy OSX onto most common major PC platforms and wipe Microsoft Windows OFF the face of the planet. YAY! I mean, ahem.

What Apple is likely to do:

Come up with a medium and large iTouch type device. It will almost assuredly be able to do wifi/networking, and anything the iTouch does now, including App Store stuff, but "more". They will allow tethering to phones (esp iPhone) so that you can have network on the go. Reading will happen on these things to be sure (it's been happening on iPhone since day 1 of App store for the most part).

Come out with other devices to support specific lifestyle uses in conjunction with Apple TV - possibly linked with the larger iTouch type devices. All your movies will sync to that automatically, for on the go media pleasure. Any type of media. Including *gaps* blu-ray

but they'll only do it after they study, and borrow from the existing crop of readers, media devices, and most importantly - so called netbook devices, and ONLY if they see profit in doing so. Those apparently 30% margins are important to Apple after all - profit!


exreader

(
who loves Apple *products*, and has at least 6 within 12 feet but who did NOT drink the kookade - they're just a well run business with polished products and aren't afraid to utterly abandon them when they want to
)

[exreader]

Originally Posted by dmaul1114

I'd definitely be interested to see what they could come up with. I've been debating between the Sony 505 and the Kindle as I want something with an attached store for convenience. But I decided to wait as the Sony store has less selection and higher prices and no wireless access, but the Kindle 2 is too expensive and the design is ugly compared to the Sony.

iTunes is great for music and the design of their devices is usually great so maybe their device (if one really comes out) could be the best of both worlds in terms of design, functionality and selection in their store.

The Kindle 2 is extremely well designed and solid - light years ahdread of Kindle 1. It's better than the Sony now, IMHO. Okay, so you don't like the iPod white look... but at the asking price, it's competive with other electronics, for instance, have you priced an iTouch lately? Geez.

In the meantime, if you hunt around, people are selling Kindle 1's for dirt cheap (claims of $100-175). Buy one now, and read. Wait on Kindle 2/3. Prices will come down, more units will come out. Etc Etc Etc.

I will for sure buy a used Kindle 1 in good shape as a backup unit if I find one locally for $100


exreader

[dmaul1114]

I actually already bought a 5 month old K1 off Craigslist for $200. I didn't see any cheaper than that locally and ebay auctions were closing around $235 when I was trying to bid on a couple early last week.

I like it a lot. The design isn't nearly as ugly as it looks in pictures. Only gripe people had that I'd agree with is the accidental page turns due to the location and size of those buttons.

No regrets and it will hold me over for a couple of years until their are better readers out (color etc.) at lower prices.

[Alisa]

Originally Posted by exreader

These days, Apple hardware is merely top tier PC hardware through and through. Intel processors, SATA drives, standard memory, industry standard GPUs, runs Windows natively, etc. Which is keen. What few realize is that Apple could easily deploy OSX onto most common major PC platforms and wipe Microsoft Windows OFF the face of the planet. YAY! I mean, ahem.

Yep. The only reason I keep Windows around is because there are some games and some work-related programs I have that don't run well in emulation. I still can't quite justify the premium Apple charges for their hardware, though. The last time I bought a laptop, I also spec-ed out a similar MacBook Pro. They're pretty. I couldn't get quite the level of video card I put in my PC laptop but the hardware list was very close. Apple wanted $1000 more. Mac OS is nice, but so is Linux. I actually prefer Linux (probably just because I'm more familiar with it). So I have a Vista/Ubuntu dual-booter for a good deal less than the MacBook. It's not as pretty but I couldn't really justify $1000 for a slightly prettier case. Even if I really wanted MacOS, I could probably get it running on my laptop fairly easily as you say. I think they get away with charging that because most people don't find researching hardware to be fun. They want to go to a store and have the nice, helpful people give them something that works. Since Apple has so much control over the hardware, peripherals, etc., they can offer a much more seamless experience to the user.

[pjhaas]

Originally Posted by fugazied

Basically I just want an ipod touch which is twice or three times the size. Then BAM you have a VERY good ebook reader which also does internet, music, applications, email, games etc.

I think there is a huge market for these tablets, microsoft always feature them in 'whats coming up' advertisments. Complex tablets that do everything. Apple can implement it, but there may be some kind of technological hurdle? Battery life perhaps?

Yes, but I would use it for watching video and reading blogs, news websites and forums like this one. I would still buy an E-INK device for reading books.