Ever a fun place to read Video iPod rumors, Engadget posted a story about how it appears the work-in-progress Video iPod (which I originally discussed almost a year ago) may use its larger video-capable screen for reading eBooks.

"... according to a source at a major publishing house, they were just ordered to archive all their manuscripts -- every single one -- and send them over to Apple's Cupertino HQ"

I find this interesting on two levels:

• The Sony eBook reader and also the iRex reader both use e-Ink technology, which does not require any power to keep text on the screen between page turns, meaning really good battery life. I don't believe there is a color e-Ink technology yet, and certainly not one that could also display movies...
• There was another rumor that the next iPod would be able to speak using "uses famous actors' voices to perfectly pronounce even the weirdest song titles and band names", which folks at the time took to mean it would read album/band/track names to you

This last thought, when rolled together with the eBooks thing leads to an interesting thought:

What if the read-back is actually intended for reading back electronic books?.



If you have ever listened to an audio-book (as I do all the time in the car), you'll know its a great way to catch up on your reading when you have a busy schedule. The problem is the lack of choice, as audio-books are typically only made for best sellers.

If Apple could make an eBook audio reader, you could download even some old or unpopular book in text form, and have your iPod read it to you verbally as you go about your business.

The "famous actors' voices" thing is especially poignant when it comes to audio books, as they are often read by actors/actresses (I assume because they have often been voice coached, and enunciate properly).

And because text compresses so much more than audio, you could get quite a few books even onto something like that next-gen eBook-reading iPod Shuffle.

The interesting thing about this is it really gives them a disruptive technology, allowing them to break their way to into the book market in a new way - something very impressive considering how Amazon.com and BN.com pretty much have the online book market sown up today.

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2 Comments:

I like the thrust (titter) of your argument, makes sense completely. Did you ever buy that Apple stock? :P
	By Rich, at 7/27/2006 2:40 PM
The compelling part of the argument is that it could work in all of their form factors right down to the Shuffle. If you consider what is going on between Apple and Creative Labs right now patent-wise, this really gives Apple a way to stand head and shoulders above Creative and their other competitors (including Microsoft's upcoming offering) by leveraging their existing media sales outlet (iTunes Music Store -> iTunes Media Store) to sell the book content. There are very few other players (with the exception of Microsoft) with the means to really pull this off, and MS is going to be at least 6 months late to the Read-out-load-eBook party (even if they started now), on top of being 3 years late to the MP3 party. It'll be like being late to the loudest, best party in town ever, only to find it just moved to another address. Poor old Microsoft.
	By xmlguy, at 7/31/2006 2:48 PM

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