Comments on: Sony and the perils of proprietary e-book formats—and the promise of cellphone e-books http://www.teleread.com/ebooks/sony-and-the-perils-of-proprietary-e-book-formats-and-the-promise-of-cellphone-e-books/ News & views on e-books, libraries, publishing and related topics Wed, 15 Feb 2012 18:02:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Bruno Rives http://www.teleread.com/ebooks/sony-and-the-perils-of-proprietary-e-book-formats-and-the-promise-of-cellphone-e-books/comment-page-1/#comment-805050 Bruno Rives Tue, 20 May 2008 08:56:56 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/05/19/sony-and-the-perils-of-proprietary-e-book-formats-and-the-promise-of-cellphone-e-books/#comment-805050 We have made a specific analysis on the Japanase epaper market. Electronic ink devices are seen as future extensions of mobile phone for better reading (as for Nokia, if you noticed). We have made a specific analysis on the Japanase epaper market. Electronic ink devices are seen as future extensions of mobile phone for better reading (as for Nokia, if you noticed).

]]> By: David Rothman http://www.teleread.com/ebooks/sony-and-the-perils-of-proprietary-e-book-formats-and-the-promise-of-cellphone-e-books/comment-page-1/#comment-804587 David Rothman Mon, 19 May 2008 22:10:45 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/05/19/sony-and-the-perils-of-proprietary-e-book-formats-and-the-promise-of-cellphone-e-books/#comment-804587 Hi, Aaron. That's a reasonable analysis, although I suspect that Sony has enough resources to do both cellphones and other things. We do know that the Librie is a bust. Yes, cellphones are *really* taking off. They aren't the best e-readers now. But with different display tech, that could eventually change. Meanwhile cellphone e-books beat having NO books---E or P. That's why I'm excited about the possibilities for developing countries. Not everyone there will be able to enjoy a $100/$200 laptop. Thanks, David Hi, Aaron. That’s a reasonable analysis, although I suspect that Sony has enough resources to do both cellphones and other things. We do know that the Librie is a bust.

Yes, cellphones are *really* taking off. They aren’t the best e-readers now. But with different display tech, that could eventually change.

Meanwhile cellphone e-books beat having NO books—E or P. That’s why I’m excited about the possibilities for developing countries. Not everyone there will be able to enjoy a $100/$200 laptop.

Thanks,
David

]]> By: Aaron J. Walker http://www.teleread.com/ebooks/sony-and-the-perils-of-proprietary-e-book-formats-and-the-promise-of-cellphone-e-books/comment-page-1/#comment-804548 Aaron J. Walker Mon, 19 May 2008 21:24:37 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/05/19/sony-and-the-perils-of-proprietary-e-book-formats-and-the-promise-of-cellphone-e-books/#comment-804548 David; I think Sony is making this move because of the extreme populariity of genre fiction novels sent straight to a cell phone. I remember reading a report some months back (TeleRead perhaps?) about how there was sudden rash of novelist publishing straight to cell phones via text messaging. They were short or given in manageable chunks and they were VERY, VERY popular in China. It would make sense for Sony to follow the market and, apparently, try to cash in on it. That sort of thing hasn't caught on in the States which is why they are stating they are staying in the Sony Reader game elsewhere. Personally, I do think cell phones make dirt cheap e-book readers, just not very good ones. David;

I think Sony is making this move because of the extreme populariity of genre fiction novels sent straight to a cell phone.

I remember reading a report some months back (TeleRead perhaps?) about how there was sudden rash of novelist publishing straight to cell phones via text messaging. They were short or given in manageable chunks and they were VERY, VERY popular in China.

It would make sense for Sony to follow the market and, apparently, try to cash in on it.

That sort of thing hasn’t caught on in the States which is why they are stating they are staying in the Sony Reader game elsewhere.

Personally, I do think cell phones make dirt cheap e-book readers, just not very good ones.

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