7.14 eBook Readers

After many false starts, ebook readers have become a popular reality, probably through Amazon's marketing of its combined hard- and software package (Kindle radio-download of ebooks).

eBooks can also be read on tablet computers (of which over one hundred models exist) and on some mobile phones.

Several million Kindle units have been sold, though many would-be customers are waiting till prices fall, both of etitles and the readers themselves.

e-Ink Technologies

eBook readers fall into two basic categories, those which use the backlit screens (liquid crystal display) of tablet PCs, and those which use the newer technologies of e-ink. {1} The latter employ three components:

1. Millions of tiny microcapsules or cavities,
2. A dark ink or oily substance filling the microcapsules or cavities, and
3. Pigmented chips or balls with a negative charge floating inside the microcapsule.

Acting as pixels on the conventional VDU screen, these microcapsules are very small: 100,000 of them would fit into a square inch. The microcapsules are wired to microelectronics circuits embedded in a thin plastic sheet. By applying a positive or negative charge to the microcapsules, the microelectronics cause their pigmented chips to float partially up or down, creating the desired text or images.

Xerox's system is similar, but employs microscopic balls that are black on one side and white the other. The microelectronics circuit rotates the balls to the required extent.

ebook reader	diagonal screen- size (inches)	weight (oz)	storage	Ebook formats	notes
iLiad 0100	8.1	13.7	64-224 MB	PDF, XHTML, TXT, and MP3	E-ink technology
Cybook	10.1	35.2	32-256 MB	PDF, HTML, RTF and TXT	Includes word processor and spreadsheet
Sony eBook Reader PRS-700BC	6	9.0	256MB/ 300 books	BBeB (Sony format), .TXT, .PDF, .JPEG, .GIF, .PNG	E-ink technology: touch-screen: 100,000 titles
Kindle 2	6	10.2	1,500 titles	.AZW(Kindle format), .PRC, .MOBI, .MP3, .AA and .TXT	Includes text- to-speech. 285,000 titles available: wireless download (US)
Kindle Fire	7	14.6	6,000 titles	Kindle (AZW), TXT, PDF, unprotected MOBI, PRC DOC, DOCX, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP, non DRM AAC, MP3, MIDI, OGG, WAV, MP4, VP8.	Wi-Fi connectivity: touch screen: 8 GB
iPad	9.7	24	16-64 GB	JPG, TIFF, GIf, DOC, DOCX, HTML, PDF, RTF, XLS, iTunes	Includes MP3, MP4 and MOV. Multi-language support.
Entourage Edge	9.7 e-ink + 10.1 LCD	c 3 lbs		PDF ePUB, Doc, XLS, TXT	200,000 titles, SD & SIM cards, USB & WiFi. Stylus for writing and drawing
Q pro- reader	10.7	17	8 GB	.PDF, Word, PP, Excel, ePub, GIF, JPEG, PNG, BMP, and TXT	Wi-Fi connectivity. 4 GB version also available
Nook	6 + 9	11.2	3-16 GB	.PDF, .MP3, .ePUB	Originally e-ink gray but now color LCD. Wi-fi: books can be 'loaned'

Questions

1. Give a short history of ebooks, and suggest why they have recently taken off.
2. Describe the two display systems for ebook readers. Which would you prefer, and why?
3. How would you, on a regular basis, convert content for an iPod to something that could be read on a Kindle?
4. Your masterpiece is to be published in ePub, Kindle and PDF formats. Do an Internet search to find what digital rights management software is available to discourage piracy.

Sources and Further Reading

1. How Electronic Ink Works by Kevin Bonsor. HowStuffWorks.
2. Ebook Readers Review. EbookReadersReview. Detailed reviews of popular models, with feedback.
3. Comparison of ebook readers. Wikipedia. Detailed comparison of 55 models.
4. eBook Reader Review. TopTenReviews 2011. Graphical comparison of ten models.
5. In the US, Tablets are TV Buddies while eReaders Make Great Bedfellows. May 2011. NielsonWire.
6. Other information taken from manufacturer and vendor websites.
7. Kindle rival the Nook stumbles, but what is the next chapter for e-readers? by Charles Arthur. Guardian. July, 2013.