Apple Computer wants to take advantage of print media by building an eBook-capable iPod, according to a recent report from Variety.
While the big publishers are still waiting for the appearance of a new-fangled eBook reader from Sony that could boost sales, they’re not denying the possibility of a partnership with Apple; nor would they likely mind the potential success citing the success similar agreements brought to the music industry.
I’d certainly consider buying an audiobook to play on my iPod, although I prefer being able to listen to books in the car. But the thought of trying to read a book on an iPod, (unless it was a lot larger than any of the models currently available) is not all that appealing.
How about you? Would you want an iPod that would accommodate eBooks?
Ever since our library started offering downloading of ebooks, e-audio, etc, they’ve been “checked out” like hotcakes. They might never, in my lifetime, reach the popular of books and CDs, but they are definitely growing in popularity and are being used in all sorts of devices.
There are e-audio books right now, and there are voice synthesizers for text (I don’t know if they work on the small devices yet, but they do work on computers). Blind and visually impaired folks are already using them on public domain book sites and others.
The technology is changing rapidly and will continue to do so as long as we have a mobile society that wants to take everything with it. 🙂
I agree, Patrick. Who could stand to read 100000 words on that tiny screen? I can’t see it becoming big, but people are so addicted to those little machines you can never tell.I think what could happen is that Apple could build a special readeriPod with a bigger screen in future maybe.Or if not them, somebody. I just don’t see why one of these electronic giants doesn’t come out with a combo MP3, reader, and PDA. It’s easily within their capability. Seems to me such a gismo would sweep the field. Maybe throw in cell capability while they’re at it–why not? I’d spring $1000 for a thing like that. Here’s a question. Since you’re an audio listener like me, what do you think of listening to an audio book on synthesized voice? Could you stand it? I’d like to try it. Because if you could feed eBooks into a voice synthesizer it would vastly expand the catalogue of audio books and allow you to read on your screen when you were sitting then throw it on audio when you were moving. I wish I had a couple billion dollars R&D and marketing capital, I’d meake a device and put it out there that would do all these things and blow iPod and Blackberry away. Surely somebody is going to see the light one of these days.
I agree, Patrick. Who could stand to read 100000 words on that tiny screen? I can’t see it becoming big, but people are so addicted to those little machines you can never tell.I think what could happen is that Apple could build a special readeriPod with a bigger screen in future maybe.Or if not them, somebody. I just don’t see why one of these electronic giants doesn’t come out with a combo MP3, reader, and PDA. It’s easily within their capability. Seems to me such a gismo would sweep the field. Maybe throw in cell capability while they’re at it–why not? I’d spring $1000 for a thing like that. Here’s a question. Since you’re an audio listener like me, what do you think of listening to an audio book on synthesized voice? Could you stand it? I’d like to try it. Because if you could feed eBooks into a voice synthesizer it would vastly expand the catalogue of audio books and allow you to read on your screen when you were sitting then throw it on audio when you were moving. I wish I had a couple billion dollars R&D and marketing capital, I’d meake a device and put it out there that would do all these things and blow iPod and Blackberry away. Surely somebody is going to see the light one of these days.
I don’t like things proprietary so I’m not into Ipods, but the more devices e-books are on the better.