01:32 AM by Stephen Cole in E-Book Software | Reading and Management

[Stephen is founder of e-book retailer eBooks.com. The eb20 Reader he's introducing could become quite the killer application -- I'm curious if you agree. --Alex]

At Wallcraft's suggestion, here's some information about our new-ish online ebook reader. I say new-ish, because it's been out for nearly a year, but has received a fair amount of attention in the past few weeks because of partnerships we've announced with Dymocks Booksellers in Australia and Cambridge University Press. Both companies chose eb20 as their platform for providing online access to their customers.

Because of the commercial nature of this post, I'll keep my comments to a minimum, but I would be glad to hear your thoughts on the reader, and especially any criticism or suggestions.

You can see the reader in action here. To access the ebook, you'll need to register, which is free.

The idea behind eb20 Reader is that anyone who buys a book from eBooks.com or Dymocks also acquires perpetual online access to the work via eb20. Almost all of the 400 publishers who provide ebooks to Ebooks Corp have signed on to the eb20 program.

One of the virtues of eb20 Reader is that it's really just a web page, and there's nothing for the user to install. This is particularly good for people who are new to ebooks, who often get beaten to a pulp by the complexities involved in DRM reader software. But also, many of our customers have said they rather like the sense of security that we're minding their books for them. If their device is lost or dies, they can always log in and start reading where they left off; or download another copy.

The two biggest deficiencies at present are a) there's no zoom function (which we're working on now) and b) no read-aloud function, which is a whole big thing. Not scheduled yet.

Best wishes,

Stephen Cole
Managing Director
Ebooks Corporation Limited

04:41 PM by Alexander Turcic in E-Book General | News

Remember the Polymer Vision Readius? Yeah, hardly do I. Those gagging for some hot foldable e-paper action will be pleased to know that Polymer Vision has just stated in a press release that they begun volume production of their rollable e-paper displays.

In less than twelve months the clean room facilities have been completed, the first complete manufacturing tool set has been installed and the process has been successfully transferred from Eindhoven to the Southampton facility. The first batch of rollable displays produced has immediately delivered functional displays and from December onwards volumes will ramp up to meet growing customer demand.

Also, the first "samples" of the Readius device are supposed to be shipped to customers before the end of 2007 (i.e. within the next two weeks).

If you had the chance, would you want to grab one?

Thanks to Gert for news!

01:02 PM by silvania in E-Book General | News

Today in Fictionwise's weekly newsletter:

Fifteen thousand EBooks for Amazon Kindle and Sony Reader!

Fictionwise is committed to supporting every major eBook device, and this week we're proud to announce that all MultiFormat eBooks at Fictionwise are now available for the Amazon Kindle and the Sony Reader. This is even true of MultiFormat eBooks you've bought in the past!

For Sony Reader just select "Sony Reader (LRF)" and for Kindle select "Kindle (AZW)" from the MultiFormat download menu. Kindle customers can even register their Kindle email address at Fictionwise and upload wirelessly with a single click from their bookshelf! (Amazon's 10 cent wireless charges apply.) For complete details on how to set this up, see:

http://www.fictionwise.com/help/kindleFaq.htm

05:14 AM by Alexander Turcic in Miscellaneous | Announcements

Ho, ho, Christmas is coming. In the mood to win an Amazon Kindle e-reader?

Let's face it, MobileRead needs a new logo. That's where you and your artistic talents come in: we would like you to make us a new MobileRead logo to be used on this site, on business cards, on car stickers, and anywhere else you think MobileRead might show up.

Of course, we're not expecting you to give us your handiwork for free, so the winner will receive a little something for the trouble: a brand new Amazon Kindle (as soon as it's in stock again) or the equivalent in cash ($400).

In addition, we need a catchy tagline. The person who comes up with the best tagline will win $50.

Here are the rules (and some suggestions on how to win our favor):

• You can enter as many designs as you like.
• Use this thread to attach your design to submit your tagline.
• List of already submitted designs: Link
• The design cannot violate any copyright laws or existing trademarks.
• The design itself should use few colors and should also look good in black and white. It should convey the attributes of the MobileRead community: open, friendly, geeky. Try to avoid gradients, gratuitous 3D effects, or complex imagery.
• The final design must be provided in vector graphics.
• The Amazon Kindle prize is open to US entrants only. The equivalent in cash (payable through Paypal) is open to all entrants (also international).
• The tagline prize (payable through Paypal) is open to all entrants.
• Contest is open until 11:59pm EST on Monday, December 31st.
• After the contest closes, our members will vote in a public poll for the top three submissions. These will then enter a refinement phase. The vote for the final design will be done by the MobileRead team.

05:47 PM by ottocrat in E-Book General | News

Very interesting rumour being reported by the Hindustan Times (via Macworld UK) - Link.

Apple seems set to introduce an iPod for books, a news report claims.

The Hindustan Times reckons Apple is developing a next-generation widescreen video iPod with a book-reading mode, designed to make print easy to read.

Apple has reportedly asked a number of the world's major publishing houses to commit their full libraries of books to their electronic archives. Customers will be able to download text versions of the world's bestsellers to the memory of their video iPods.

The implications are very significant for the e-book market though it would create an even bigger dilemma for me as I'm currently vacillating between buying a dedicated e-ink reader or using an iPhone as an e-reader! The devil will be in the details no doubt (assuming the rumour has legs...).

07:15 AM by Alexander Turcic in E-Book Readers | Amazon Kindle

Don't place your bets just yet, but we've received word from an unnamed tipster that Amazon is in talks with Vodafone Chief Arun Sarin to launch its Kindle reader outside the States. Vodafone is one of Europe's biggest network providers, offering network services to countries such as Germany, the UK, Italy, and Spain. But also countries outside Europe, such as Australia and New Zealand and anywhere else where Vodafone is operating could benefit from a Amazon-Vodafone partnership.

Okay folks, the moment you've all been waiting for might almost be upon us. E-books for the masses.

Related: Request for the Kindle to be released internationally

07:00 AM by Alexander Turcic in Miscellaneous | Week in Review

Bite-sized MobileRead for your weekend pleasure:

E-books - News

• Environmental study: 30 min of e-paper reading = 30 mins of print reading
• Nemoptic's Sylen receives 2m Euro grant
• PDF is now an ISO Standard
• Fuji-Xerox jumps on the color e-paper bandwagon

E-book Devices - iRex iLiad

• iRex Open Community Development

E-book Devices - Amazon Kindle

• Could the Kindle spark book piracy?
• The Cult of Kindle? Are we there yet?

E-book Devices - Fictionwise eBookwise

• eBookwise 1150 sale ($10 off)

E-book Devices - Future E-Book Devices

• Design your own e-reader device contest

02:50 AM by Alexander Turcic in E-Book General | News

Core77 is having a contest where users can submit their own version of a perfectly designed e-book reader. If you're calling Photoshop, 3ds Max, Softimage, or <pick your favorite gfx application> your life , and if you think you can do better than Amazon, you may want to enter the game. The contest ends on Tuesday, December 11th and the grand prize for the winner will be a $125 NikeID gift certificate.