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Posts Tagged ‘ebook readers’

Why The Kindle And The IPad Can Co-Exist In The Market

September 6, 2010

In the second half of 2009, the e-book reader market was just starting to take off and competition was really heating up. Following the huge success which Amazon had achieved with its Kindle reader – first with the Kindle 2.0 in February of 2009 and then with the larger DX model in the summer of the same year – numerous electronics manufacturers were either developing, releasing or updating their own e-book readers so as to secure a share of the newly emerging market.

Sony and Barnes and Noble were bursting a gut to get their new readers launched before the 2009 festive season and Samsung, Plastic Logic, Asus and a host of others were rushing to get their readers on the market as fast as they could. The Computer Electronics Show (CES), held in Las Vegas in early 2010, had a dedicated e-book reader section for the first time ever. E-book readers were a hot developing market.

Today, just a few short months later, the scene is somewhat different. The price of e-book readers has tumbled. The latest third generation Kindle now has a Wi-Fi only entry level model available for only $ 139 – less than 40% of the $ 359 price which the Kindle 2.0 launched. Barnes and Noble have also dropped the price of the Nook reader to S 149 – and this will probably be cut again before the festive season.

Several new e-book readers which were going through the development process – including Plastic Logic’s Que – have been cancelled. The market seems to be entering a new stage in its development – and whether there is any place in it for pure electronics manufacturers or not is highly debatable. Amazon’s business model is very well suited to selling lower priced readers and making a profit on the follow up sales of Kindle books. A similar strategy would be available to Barnes and Noble of course, but it’s debatable as to whether or not they can benefit from the same types of economies of scale as Amazon.

Clearly the release of Apple’s iPad tablet computer has been an important influence in this. E-book reader prices were always going to fall – but the appearance of the iPad definitely seems to have jollied things along quite a bit faster. However, bearing in mind the fact that the new third generation Kindles sold out shortly after they were released, the iPad doesn’t look like the Kindle Killer that it was expected to be.

Even putting the debate about e-ink displays being easier to read on than back-lit screens to one side, there is – at this time – enough of a gap between the price of the Kindle and the price of the entry level iPad to ensure that the Kindle will continue to be the more attractive option for anyone who just wants to read books. The fact that the iPad has a monthly download/connection fee will not please everyone.

It does look like there is sufficient room in the market for both the Amazon Kindle and the iPad to rub along – for the short term future at least. Other e-book reader manufacturers, including Sony and Barnes and Noble, seem destined to struggle as hardware prices will continue to fall.

Learn more about the Amazon Kindle for yourself and view the wide range of Kindle accessories available to help you personalise your reader.

The Benefits And Detriments Of An EBook Reader

July 13, 2010

There are now quite a few eBook readers readily available that you can choose. All of these electronic devices have the capability of allowing you to carry literally thousands of books with you wherever you venture.

The latest device in this range is the new iPad. Unlike most of the other eBook readers, this one comes with a backlight and a color screen.

The downside of the color screen is that it may give you eye fatigue when you use it for long periods of time, much like a laptop can do. More people prefer the eBook reader similar to the Kindle as it has a black and white unlit screen which is easier on the eye and is easier to use in natural daylight.

You can now find programs that can turn your PDA or your phone into a sort of eReading device. One such product is the eReader which turns both these into an eBook reader device.

There are positive and negative sides to this. The negative side is that trying to use a cell phone as an eBook reader may not be very good on your eyes. Yet on the positive side the download for this trial is free. This can make it a very cheap alternative if you already own a smart phone.

For those of you that do enjoy reading the most popular choices seem to be the Kindle from Amazon or the Barnes and Noble Nook.

These devices also come with dictionaries and Wi-Fi as well as touch screens and paper thin display screens that are easy on the eye and easy to handle. It has been said however that they do not have the versatility of the smart phone or the iPad.

Whichever you decide to go for there are many affordable options that allow you to read your books wherever you go.

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The Advantages Of Reading Your MyPadMedia Ebooks With Your Ipad

June 17, 2010

The prefered way to read a novel is changing whether you are ready for it or not. I’ll tell you a little more about that soon, but for right now ebooks, if you compare them to regular novels, clearly the best choice for reading. If you own an Ipad, Ipod touch or Iphone you can use a new service called myPadMedia to take care of all the ebooks that you could ever want. I will also tell you more about that later.

But first I am going to let you in on why ebooks are going to remain a force in novel, comic, and newspaper reading for a very long time. Ebooks have everything that a novel has and they are more portable, can be used whenever and wherever, and they don’t cost nearly as much as a book. In my opinion, ebooks are already clear winners over old-fashioned books and the perks do not end there.

If you happen to be an environmentaly and price concerned shopper, ebooks are also for you. Obviously, in the making of ebooks, no trees are cut down so the worlds forests can remain peaceful, that is until least until big book publishing companies come around. Ebooks are also way cheaper to buy than regular books and the benefits of them are ebooks are that you aren’t just buying text. What I mean by that is often times ebooks will come with audio, video, and animations to make the experience that much better and easier to use when you may be busy doing other things. With electronic versions of books, finding exactly what you are looking for in a book is that much easier. For example, if you were looking for a specific part of a book or quote, you could just use a search function and find it faster than by using a table of contents.

When you are reading an ebook, nobody else can see what you are reading either! So if you are 40 years old and don’t want anybody to know about your spider man comic book addiction, no worries, nobody will find out. And don’t worry about wearing down your ebooks either, they are electronic .

Now that you have a little bit of a background knowledge about ebooks, you will have to get an ebook reader if you want to benefit from them. There are many providers of ebook readers like Apple’s Ipad and Amazon’s Kindle. But I’m guessing that you already have yourself an ebook reader and are looking for the best way to obtaing ebooks. If you have an Ipad, Iphone, or Ipod touch then this next bit should excite you.

MyPadMedia is a new and smart way to get unlimited amounts of ebooks for your Ipad, Ipod touch, or Iphone. The best part is they will not ask for a monthly payment to use their services so I really this it is a steal if you are interested in reading ebooks with your Ipad. Since they are relatively new, their library of ebooks is expanding everyday!

myPadMedia is a smart idea if you want to have access to unlimited amounts of ebooks for your Ipad. If you want to learn a ton more about myPadMedia click here now Don’t bother to click if you still want to pay upwards of 10 bucks per ebook. myPadMedia is the best way to get access to bestsellers and tons of other genres!

A Few Pointers On E-Book Reader Selection

March 15, 2010

There are a lot of reviews of e-book readers available on the internet today. You will also find them in newspapers and magazines from time to time. It’s a reflection of the fact that e-book readers have really taken off – driven to a large extent by Amazon’s release of the Kindle 2.0 in February of 2009. Today there are plenty of e-book readers to choose from and a lot of people are looking for help in order to make a buying decision.

A lot of reviews, quite naturally perhaps, have a very strong focus on the hardware – the Kindle screen is this size, the Sony Daily Edition screen is that size, this one has touch screen controls, that one has no wireless, and so forth. Which is all well and good, but if you’re buying your first e-book reader then in all probability you will be making a mental comparison not between different e-book readers but between e-book readers and “real” books.

First of all, and just to put your mind at ease, a recent survey of e-book reader owners in the USA found that 80% of them actually preferred using an e-book reader to reading on a traditional paper book. Based on feedback like that it doesn’t appear as if those who have made the jump from paper to electronic books are missing the feel of a real book. It seems that manhandling large, bound editions is an unattractive prospect for those with experience of e-book readers.

The display is one of the key things that you should consider when selecting your e-book reader. Assuming that the main purpose of your e-book reader is to read books, as opposed to surfing the web or watching video, you will certainly want to go for a reader which has an e-ink technology display. These really are very much like reading normal text printed on normal paper – much more so than reading on a backlit computer screen. They also require very much less power and this means you can go for a long time between charges. When you turn the page, the screen will flicker and go black very briefly. This is not a big problem. In the beginning you will notice it because it is something new but, after just a couple of reading sessions, you will be completely unaware of it.

A further important factor to take into account is the layout of the controls and the overall usability of the device. The Amazon Kindle controls for example, are very well laid out and simple to use. It’s very easy to use the Kindle with only one hand, ideal if you’re on a crowded bus or train. The Sony reader features touch screen controls, but this is at the expense of a slightly lower quality display due to the fact that current touch screen technology is not completely transparent and also requires the use of a screen which is a little more reflective.

Finally, do not jump to the conclusion that e-book prices are the same across all readers. A recent study, performed by the New York Times, showed that there were significant differences in the price of books across different e-book reader models. The difference in certain cases was so large that someone who reads an average of a book each week could save enough money to pay for the e-book reader in the space of a year – and still have a few dollars left over to buy books. Clearly book pricing is changeable – so be certain to check the average price of e-books for whichever reader you are considering buying.

Check out the Amazon Kindle for yourself – and don’t forget to pick up a Kindle cover – it’ll customise and protect your device.

Will Amazon Continue To Lead The E-Book Reader Market?

February 25, 2010

Amazon’s Kindle e-book reader is very definitely the market leader of all e-book readers right now. It enjoys a 60% share of the American e-book reader market – the Sony PRS reader is in second place with around 35%. Both the Kindle 2.0 and the larger Kindle DX are now being sold in more than 100 countries worldwide. The fact that virtually every new e-book reader which shows the slightest promise is instantly given the title of “Kindle Killer” is a testament to the fact that the Kindle is not just the market leader, but also sets the standard against which any new reader is going to be measured.

Given the current dominance of the Kindle, it’s easy to overlook the fact that it is a very recent addition to the e-book reader scene. The eBookman, by Franklin, was launched in 1999 – over a decade ago. Sony’s PRS reader launched in 2006. The original Kindle wasn’t released until November 2007. February 2009 saw the upgraded Kindle 2.0 released and the larger DX followed in June on the same year.

However, Amazon’s competitors have been far from idle. Sony has released their Daily Edition reader. Barnes and Noble launched their Nook and even the new Apple iPad is widely felt to be a threat to the Kindle. Other e-book readers are available and, needless to say, they all have some features which are currently lacking from the Kindle – colour screen, touch screen functionality etc.

So what will Amazon do by way of a response? Up to now, a few firmware updates aside, Amazon’s chief response to the increased competition level has been to cut $ 100 from the Kindle 2.0 launch price of $ 359. However, there are rumors that the next version of the Kindle will be released in the first half of 2010. Which prompts the question – what will Amazon do to further enhance the new Kindle?

One of the key factors in the success of the Kindle to date is the fact that it provides a great user experience. It’s very easy to use with one hand, the controls are excellent and the e-ink display is easy to read in a wide range of different lighting conditions. In a way, it would be something of a shame if Amazon were to follow the course of Sony’s Daily Edition reader by introducing touch screen functionality. If your main intent is simply to read books then this may not be regarded as a huge advance. If anything, one handed operation will become more difficult and, because touch screens have a more reflective surface, it may be harder to read in certain lighting conditions.

The introduction of color would certainly be a step forward but, were it to be achieved in a similar manner to Barnes and Noble’s Nook – which features color navigation only with the main reader screen still in monochrome – it would be pretty pointless. Reading black text on a white background is probably normal for around 90% of books – so although color would be nice, it’s not going to be a high priority for many readers.

What Amazon may very well opt to do, and what they have done extremely well up to now, is to provide a better user experience. Rather than focus on hardware gimmicks, Amazon could opt to provide new enhancements which will be genuinely useful for the Kindle’s end users. Quicker page turns, less screen flicker and a longer battery life between charges could be options which end users may appreciate. Increased choice of Kindle books, more rapid downloads and the possibility of sharing e-books might also be more welcome for users than hardware updates.

Amazon’s ability to satisfy the requirements of its customers has helped it achieve the current leadership position. It’s no surprise that Amazon understands what people who read books want and are willing to pay for. The Kindle is now their top selling product and, up to now, they have not only led the market but shaped it and helped it to develop. The next generation Kindle will clearly signal the way in which the e-book reader market is going to develop in future. On the balance of probabilities, it seems likely that Amazon will be a major force in the e-book reader market for the foreseeable future.

Have a look at the Amazon Kindle reader – and the wide range Kindle accessories available to help you customise and enhance it.

Behind The Technology Of The Amazon Kindle

February 15, 2010

There are plenty of reviews on Amazon’s Kindle reader available right now. It’s way ahead of the other e-book readers available right now, and is very much the “must have” gadget of the moment. Most reviews concentrate on the Kindle’s technical aspects, which is quite understandable. It’s a piece of high tech personal electronics after all. Even so, a brief look at the actual user experience with the Kindle might not be a bad idea.

First of all, a very quick look at the spec. The Kindle 2.0 has a ticket price of $ 259. It’s approximately the size of the average paperback and about as thick as a glossy magazine. It weighs a little over 10 ounces and has enough memory to store approximately 1500 books. One of its key features is its e-ink technology display. This produces less eye strain than reading on a PC screen – and has a much lower power requirement.

My first impression, when I got my Kindle a few weeks ago, was that the button positioning wasn’t right. There are two buttons on the left hand side – “prev page” and “next page”. There are a further two buttons on the right hand side – “home” and “next page” (again). At first I thought that one of the “next page” buttons was redundant. I thought that the left hand one wasn’t required.

However, after using the Kindle reader for just a few minutes, it made perfect sense. Sitting propped up in bed, on a crowded bus, in the metro or drinking coffee in Starbucks, it’s ideal. You can easily hold the Kindle in one hand and leaf through the pages, forwards or back, using your thumb. As a matter of fact, it’s much easier to use than a real book.

Before I bought my Kindle, I had tried a display model e-book reader in my local bookstore. I must confess, I didn’t really like the way the page refreshed. Once again, after using the Kindle for just a few minutes, I didn’t even notice this anymore. It’s exactly like flipping the page in a “normal” paper book for me now.

When it comes to the actual reading experience itself, the e-ink display is fantastic. The background is a light grey instead of the traditional white or cream of paper – but you get used to this very quickly. Compared to reading on a back-lit PC monitor, it produces a lot less eye strain. All I can say is that, whenever I’m reading a good book on the Kindle, I’m totally oblivious to the fact that I’m using it rather than reading a conventional book.

The low power requirement of the e-ink display is another big bonus. Although I read a fair amount of books, I find that the Kindle will usually go for around three weeks between charges – that’s with the wireless turned off. I usually turn the wireless connection on only when I’m buying books – which is a very simple process. In fact, it might be just a little too easy – I am very definitely guilty of a few impulse buys. According to Amazon’s official product description, books will download in less than a minute. From my own experience I would say that it’s way less than this. Of course, this isn’t a big deal really – but think about how annoying it can be when you PC takes an extra thirty seconds or so to boot up one day and you’ll get the point. It’s just another positive aspect to the overall user experience.

Just to try to give you some idea of what a pleasurable experience reading on the Kindle is, a few days ago I got an e-mail from Amazon to tell me that my order had shipped. I went to check it out as I knew that I hadn’t ordered anything. I found that it was a book by a favourite author of mine which I had pre-ordered some weeks ago and then forgotten about. Frankly, the thought of going back to manhandling a heavy book – even one written by one of my favourite authors – was less than appealing. Holding a book in my left hand and turning pages with my right seems like something out of the stone age to me now.

Find out more about the Amazon Kindle for yourself and view the wide range of Kindle accessories available to help you personalise your reader.

Growth In E-Book Reader Market Spells Good News For Independents

January 27, 2010

Electronic book readers have been available for quite some time now. The Franklin eBookman is generally considered to have been the first and launched in 1999, over a decade ago. Other readers slowly appeared – the Sony PRS launched in 2006 and the first Amazon Kindle hit the streets in November of 2007.

2009 was however, the year that e-book readers seemed to really catch the public imagination. A great deal of the credit for this must go to Amazon. The Kindle 2.0 launch in February, rapidly followed by the launch of the large format Kindle DX in June created a real buzz around e-book readers and established them as the “must have” gadget of the year. Very rapidly, the Kindle became Amazon’s best selling product. Over the 2009 festive period it became Amazon’s “most gifted” product ever. On Christmas day, Amazon sold more Kindle books than they did hardbacks and paperbacks combined. Both Barnes and Noble and Sony had launched new readers in advance of the 2009 Xmas rush – but concerns over delivery combined with the fact that the Kindle was already so well recognised meant that Amazon’s dominance continued.

There is no shortage of e-book readers to choose from right now. There is a long, and impressive list, of manufacturers who now have their readers on the market, or who are developing them for release in the very near future. Industry analysts are anticipating that 2010 will be a big year for e-book readers and the level of sales is expected to increase.

It is effectively a brand new market sector which didn’t exist, at least not in any meaningful way, until very recently. Apart from the companies who manufacture e-book readers, there are implications for publishers, educational institutions, independent suppliers and of course, the reading public.

The sudden creation of this sector has been very good news for companies like M-Edge, who supply a wide range of accessories for the Kindle, including reading lights, covers, chargers and such. There are many other suppliers of this type of accessory who also stand to profit. Currently, much of the focus is, quite understandably, on the Kindle reader. However, as the market expands and other readers establish themselves there will be further opportunities for the third party accessory suppliers.

The e-book reader market is still nascent. It is growing and developing at an incredible rate. Amazon has been instrumental in the development of the market to date and enjoys a 60% share of the American market as a result. Their dominance will be strongly challenged in 2010, as will Sony’s current second place (with a 35% market share). However, this new market offers plenty of opportunity for companies with the vision and innovative skills to establish themselves at this early stage.

Check out Amazon’s Kindle reader and learn how you can save money by downloading free Kindle books – right from Amazon’s website.