Everyone is interested in find out how the iPad will be able to create a new user category or expand at the expense of other eBook readers. The future market leader will have the right combination of user interface, display technology, price point and content. The Kindle is a pretty nicely designed product that pretty excel on all fronts except price point. It has enough internal memory to hold an incredible between 1,000 and 2,000, depending on the sizes. They make buying a book is so easy. Following Sony, Amazon and Apple, Acer has finished working on an e-book reader rumored to have a 6 inch b/w screen and will launch in 2 markets in Europe, I think this is kind of a testing ground before they are ready to compete head on with Amazon in the US.
The most important component for any ebook reader is the readability of the screen. Kindle has drastically improved the quality of b/w, six-inch E-Ink screen. E-Ink replaces backlit LCDs with millions of tiny black and white capsules suspended in a clear fluid. The white capsules are positively charged, while the black caps have the opposite charge. By changing the electric field in different parts of the screen, the E-Ink is able to display 16 shades of gray, without a backlight. This effectively help reduces eyestrain as a problem, and that’s is the problem with reading from other tablets.
Another big advantage is E-Ink can also improves the battery life, one charge can last a week even with wireless on. That’s not bad at all. And I like the no-monthly-charge cellular data connection, the Kindle effectively puts Amazon’s entire library of digital books just a few clicks away, anywhere that Sprint has a wireless data network. That’s a very smart strategy. On the usability front, the new Kindle repositions and shrinks the
next-page buttons and the faster refresh on the new E-Ink obviates the
need for the LCD cursor on the first device which are good improvements.
Samsung will also be launching their eBook readers this year. Sony doesn't have any advantage although an early player. Others that are joining the game including the Taiwan company Asus, they’re working on a dual screen e-book reader. The Asus' dual panel touchscreen concept will try to occupy the low end of the price range and will not come with 3G or expanded storage. I think they are looking at $140-$160 starting price. If you think this is very affordable, just wait.
Chip maker Marvell has created a new ARM-based microprocessor tailored for the eBook market. Together, with Marvell’s other components, the new chip can be used in more functional eBooks with six-inch screens that could eventually cost under $100, there will be many sub $100 players in the market by the end of the year. Anything that is to be sold above $250 will need some series feature and a wow user experience.
Spring Design’s upcoming dual-screen Alex Is an interesting one. Based on Android, Alex features a color lower touch screen with a 6-inch electronic paper display. Using its built-in 3G or Wi-Fi, you can browse a website, select a story, and the device will reflow it to the EPD screen. The color screen can then be switched off to save power. This makes browsing blogs and news sites much more feasible, since you don't have to wait for the eBook to render individual pages before you get to your target content. I played with this a bit and it is very clever.
4G is well underway, currently tests are being performed in Boston and Seattle with 10 LTE 4G cell sites up and running on the 700 MHz spectrum. Verizon selected these markets because of their geographic configuration of suburban and urban areas as well as the areas' high-technology population. The LTE technology promises to be much faster than current 3G technology and the company expects to deliver services 15 to 100 times faster than these other wireless networks. The actual speeds of the technology have yet to be seen. Mobile media will become mass market and the eBook reader market will be a battleground for innovation the next 12 months. Watch this space.
