One of the rising categories in electronics over the last few years has been portable e-readers. If you’re not familiar, you can buy a device that will download full-length books. Then you can have a bunch of books all stored in one handy handheld device. You can buy one in the $250-$400 range.
There are a few models on the market. Read Gizmodo's take on all the models if you're not sure which one to buy. Amazon got a nice bump from Oprah last year and sold out of the Kindle - twice. The company is expected to announce the Kindle 2.0 for the U.S. market tomorrow.
Check Your Lane!
A spokesperson for the company said that their cell-ready device is coming too. You will be soon be able to download a book on to your phone or PDA.
And you thought people were distracted sending emails in traffic!
Just imagine some guy in front of you at a stoplight getting distracted because he's reading a novel. Of course if you're sitting on a long flight, these can be very handy.
Those Were The Days, My Friend
The newspaper industry was wildly successful for generations. Many have booked the funeral in the last couple of years.
Pardon the pun, but stop the presses!
Is this an issue about newspapers and books or our desire for news and content? Is this about holding a paper or book in our hands or the content itself?
Has our quest for information decreased?
This is about the ability for each of us to control our environment.
Our demand for instantly delivered content seems to increase every day. We want it now and we want it fast. We don't want to wait until tomorrow to read yesterday's news.
You know times are changing when The Huffington Post hosts its own inaugural ball for President Obama.
Now What?
The publishing industry needs to have a good look at the music industry’s reaction to downloading. The challenges may be similar, they may be different, but one thing is certain - change is here to stay.
If you’re in the area, join the free discussion on June 6th at BookCamp Toronto where some possible solutions for the publishing industry may arise.
Do you want books on your cell phone?
What does the future hold for the publishing industry?
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