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

[Gardenman]

Originally Posted by azayn

Audiobooks, music, and games are better suited to a smartphone than an e-Ink device. I'd like to see better out-of-the-box support for Pocket/Instapaper, online news, Wikipedia, etc.

I agree except for audiobooks. They should be able to play on eink devices.

[JSWolf]

Audiobooks would be a battery drain. No thanks.

[ilovejedd]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Audiobooks would be a battery drain. No thanks.

They're only a battery drain if you listen to them. Otherwise, they wouldn't affect non-audiobooks listeners and the feature is there for those who do like the function. Apart from maybe price that is but basic Kindle has it and price hasn't gone up.

Of course, Amazon is in the business of selling services. Getting more subscribers to Audible offsets the relatively minor cost of adding audio capabilities to Kindles.

[JSWolf]

The problem is that because the Oasis 2 has a weak battery, audiobooks will kill it very quickly. That's not going to be a good thing at all.

[Mivo]

One of the reasons why I read on an e-ink device instead of my iPad is that it is relatively distraction-free. My readers do have some some extras, but I never use them. I listen to audiobooks on my phone since that's also where my music is (and I charge it daily anyway).

Extras may also increase the price. Not necessarily the apps, but audio support (ideally Bluetooth), more memory to support more complex apps, faster CPU than is needed for reading, etc).

[Ripplinger]

Originally Posted by Gardenman

I agree except for audiobooks. They should be able to play on eink devices.

I could see an argument if you're learning a language and want to hear the audio while you're reading along with it. Unless that's the majority of your reading, you'd be better off using a small cheap tablet, and they're now cheaper than ereaders and can do all the games, browsing some want.

But to listen to audio books, I wouldn't want to lug around the bigger ereader when I could instead use a tiny 2" Sandisk mp3 player for that that weighs next to nothing.

I like that ereaders are just plain boring text readers.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by Ripplinger

I could see an argument if you're learning a language and want to hear the audio while you're reading along with it. Unless that's the majority of your reading, you'd be better off using a small cheap tablet, and they're now cheaper than ereaders and can do all the games, browsing some want.

"Small cheap tablets" weight more than eReaders and don't match their battery life. And, if I'm going to carry a device -- primarily for reading -- I want it to be an eInk one.

Originally Posted by Ripplinger

But to listen to audio books, I wouldn't want to lug around the bigger ereader when I could instead use a tiny 2" Sandisk mp3 player for that that weighs next to nothing.

I like that ereaders are just plain boring text readers.

For me, it's having related subjects together on the same device. (Besides, I don't use a dedicated MP3 player. I do have several eReaders that can play MP3s. Not that I really use them either. )

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by rcentros

"Small cheap tablets" weight more than eReaders and don't match their battery life. And, if I'm going to carry a device -- primarily for reading -- I want it to be an eInk one.

Of course, if you're listening to audio books you likely aren't carrying it around. And when it comes down to it, a phone is probably better for audio books and phones are even smaller and more portable than an e-ink reader.

I love my e-ink reader and I'm glad they exist. But if I knew someone who primarily listened to audio books, I wouldn't recommend one for them.

[rem736]

i would just use a sansa clip for audio books. one more device. but this one is about the size of 1" x 2" x .5". and it lasts about 20 hours of play time.

[4691mls]

Originally Posted by rem736

i would just use a sansa clip for audio books. one more device. but this one is about the size of 1" x 2" x .5". and it lasts about 20 hours of play time.

Yes. I don't listen to audio books but I have a Sansa clip that I use for FM radio and/or MP3s if I'm not near a car or home stereo. It's tiny, can be clipped to your clothing and a basic one is only about $35 new.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

I love my e-ink reader and I'm glad they exist. But if I knew someone who primarily listened to audio books, I wouldn't recommend one for them.

In my case it's not audio books, it's MP3 speeches (and sermons) related to the books I've loaded on a particular Sony T1. All material gathered in one place. I sometimes – rarely – listen to MP3 music on my Blackberry Q10, but I consider that a totally different thing (even though they're both playing MP3s). It's nice to have the option to play MP3s on the Reader, is all.

[steven168]

i use paperwhite 3 for reading and listen audiobook on my phone same time.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by steven168

i use paperwhite 3 for reading and listen audiobook on my phone same time.

Anyone who wants to do "immersion" reading while reading on eink has to make a similar accommodation, which is why I don't see the point of audiobook capability on Kindles. They make terrible players in themselves, too large and fragile to be serviceable for many instances when one would like to listen while on the move and using them as a player precludes reading when not.

[Mivo]

Another point is that if someone wants an e-ink reader that plays audiobooks, there are devices that offer this. Supporting manufacturers that include these feature might be a good way to highlight the desire for them.

[HLS]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The problem is that because the Oasis 2 has a weak battery, audiobooks will kill it very quickly. That's not going to be a good thing at all.

I know you really burn threw a battery listening to audio books on the Oasis. I do not plan to use it till they add the immersion reading feature otherwise it seems pointless to have it. My echo dot reads out books to me for free or plays the audiobook