Tech blogs and Twitter have been buzzing this week after announcements about the Amazon Kindle 2 and Plastic Logic’s electronic reader.
Plastic Logic’s product is targeted specifically to newspaper readers. News is updated constantly and there is a function enabling annotation. It also supports a broad range of document types from PowerPoint to PDF and is developing their touch screen technology to enable page turning and text highlighting. They have already announced deals with the FT and USA Today which will see the publications providing content to the eReader.
The Kindle 2 targets keen, affluent book readers. Legal complications and availability of the downloading network will slow take up of the
Kindle outside of the USA.
One might ask if there really is a market for these products. Admittedly reading an entire book on a tiny mobile phone screen is hardly ideal. Surely though consumers are already able to download and read content from newspapers through smartphones, desktops and laptops.
The media industry is
supporting the wide use of these products as it could mean increased subscriptions to newspapers and more advertising revenue.
Commuters around the world must be sighing with relief at the thought of increased elbow room and ink-free fingers in the years to come…
