We all are aware of Amazon’s efforts to push the Kindle e-reader among students in both schools and universities as a trendy and popular substitute for conventional textbooks. This is something that was definitely tried at the Princeton University. However, in spite of what comes out of this trial run, the thing that can be safely said is that the iPad can be a better substitute for textbooks, given its rich interactive features and the ease with which it can be used, particularly for those who are already using the iPhone. And if the latest e-reader news is to be believed, iPad is indeed headed in that direction, apart from also bringing in a revolution in the way we deal with newspapers and magazines.
Rumor has it that Apple is hard at work roping in big publishing houses like McGraw Hill and Overlin Press into this project, that of moving textbooks to iTunes. Apple also seems to be collaborating with New York Times to have an e-paper version of it to be read on the iPad.
Though every bit of these are in rumor stages, but what perhaps is sure is that Apple’s iPad is going to sweep off e-readers, including, maybe their very existence. And this applies to the Kindle range of e-readers as well. New publishing houses like Hearst Corp. have been considering the option of a more interesting and convenient content viewing approach. They have indicated the possibility of coming out with their own e-reader. We also have e-readers from Plastic Logic and Liquavista is up to launching their own e-readers. We therefore have the competition on e-readers hotting up rapidly. But they have to do something radical and revolutionary if they wish to survive post Apple’s commencement of commercial production of the iPad.
All of this can be considered as a fall out of the demand by consumers for a substitute to conventional paper. Given Apple’s capability to usher in a new device and also make a success story out of it, the iPad can well be the device that ushers in the next wave of revolution in the print media. It need not only necessarily be something that people would enjoy using, but it should be worth it too, while also being kind to mother nature. It surely can do it, if it can prove itself to be greener than textbooks. When the device is finally available, which is slated to be on the 3rd of April in the US and on 24th April in Canada , we will also be waiting for the environmental footprint report that Apple is making available to its consumers for their products.
And this might be the piece of news that the students at Princeton University might be waiting for.
Keep watching for more such e-reader news.
Our Good E-Reader Magazine, due out next month is going to have more such exciting stuff. So make sure you are there as the story unfolds.
With a keen interest in tech, I make it a point to keep myself updated on the latest developments in technology and gadgets. That includes smartphones or tablet devices but stretches to even AI and self-driven automobiles, the latter being my latest fad. Besides writing, I like watching videos, reading, listening to music, or experimenting with different recipes. The motion picture is another aspect that interests me a lot, and I'll likely make a film sometime in the future.
