Comments on: How The iPhone Can Save The Book Business http://booksquare.com/how-the-iphone-can-save-the-book-business/ Dissecting the publishing industry with love and skepticism Mon, 21 May 2012 06:15:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: wave panel http://booksquare.com/how-the-iphone-can-save-the-book-business/comment-page-1/#comment-171843 wave panel Wed, 12 May 2010 08:38:05 +0000 http://www.booksquare.com/archives/2007/01/10/2258/#comment-171843 I agree with Donttouchmethere’s analysis that the iPhone as it stands today is not the long-awaited killer ebook reader. Yet most of the remaining issues (driven mainly by shortcomings in file management and reader software) are just software issues — not insignificant ones, to be sure, but fixable. I agree with Donttouchmethere’s analysis that the iPhone as it stands today is not the long-awaited killer ebook reader. Yet most of the remaining issues (driven mainly by shortcomings in file management and reader software) are just software issues — not insignificant ones, to be sure, but fixable.

]]> By: hitno http://booksquare.com/how-the-iphone-can-save-the-book-business/comment-page-1/#comment-167253 hitno Mon, 25 Feb 2008 17:48:04 +0000 http://www.booksquare.com/archives/2007/01/10/2258/#comment-167253 With TextOnPhone, iPhone and iPod touch users can view electronic books (ebooks), text files, and documents on the go using an iPhone-friendly interface when browsing TextOnPhone.com. No additional applications or downloads are required. Users can instantly read and choose from more than 20,000 titles by utilizing the powerful search function or by browsing through recommendations (Top 100 Books, Children’s Books, Book du Jour, and more). The interface of the iPhone and iPod touch enables users to create read lists and add multiple books for simultaneous reading. (The system remembers where you left off.) Users can also add and share personal notes on any of the pages they are reading–a unique feature that gives multiple readers the opportunity to read same book and exchange comments. TextOnPhone.com leverages Ajax technology and the Safari browser that is built in to iPhone and iPod touch. It features the following: virtual keyboard for typing and adding books to read lists, tap-screen technology for moving between pages, One-tap Share the Page button for email, adjustable font size for easy reading, variable number of pages per screen Portrait or Landscape mode for easy reading, and Touch-screen scrolling. The site is accessible for reading only from iPhone and iPod touch. It is accessible from any browser for uploading texts, books, poems, documents, and lyrics. Currently there is no limit for text storage per account. Service is free and TextOnPhone.com has a no spam policy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWd8J8C3Gaw With TextOnPhone, iPhone and iPod touch users can view electronic books (ebooks), text files, and documents on the go using an iPhone-friendly interface when browsing TextOnPhone.com. No additional applications or downloads are required. Users can instantly read and choose from more than 20,000 titles by utilizing the powerful search function or by browsing through recommendations (Top 100 Books, Children’s Books, Book du Jour, and more). The interface of the iPhone and iPod touch enables users to create read lists and add multiple books for simultaneous reading. (The system remembers where you left off.) Users can also add and share personal notes on any of the pages they are reading–a unique feature that gives multiple readers the opportunity to read same book and exchange comments. TextOnPhone.com leverages Ajax technology and the Safari browser that is built in to iPhone and iPod touch. It features the following: virtual keyboard for typing and adding books to read lists, tap-screen technology for moving between pages, One-tap Share the Page button for email, adjustable font size for easy reading, variable number of pages per screen Portrait or Landscape mode for easy reading, and Touch-screen scrolling. The site is accessible for reading only from iPhone and iPod touch. It is accessible from any browser for uploading texts, books, poems, documents, and lyrics. Currently there is no limit for text storage per account. Service is free and TextOnPhone.com has a no spam policy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWd8J8C3Gaw

]]> By: Angel http://booksquare.com/how-the-iphone-can-save-the-book-business/comment-page-1/#comment-166889 Angel Tue, 20 Nov 2007 12:18:27 +0000 http://www.booksquare.com/archives/2007/01/10/2258/#comment-166889 I have an iPod touch and prefer using my old Dell Axim to read ebooks. First of all, it has a button that I can use to turn the page. I tried the scrolling thing and while it works great in all the other areas on the iPod, it's a pain when trying to read a book. Second, my Axim has the ability to use different types of software, limiting my time converting files. Once the iPhone or iPod touch can solve those problems, it will make an excellent reader. However, I'm still going to ask for a dedicated ebook reader for Xmas. I'm still undecided between the Amazon Kindle, Sony Reader, or the eBookwise device. I have an iPod touch and prefer using my old Dell Axim to read ebooks. First of all, it has a button that I can use to turn the page. I tried the scrolling thing and while it works great in all the other areas on the iPod, it’s a pain when trying to read a book. Second, my Axim has the ability to use different types of software, limiting my time converting files.

Once the iPhone or iPod touch can solve those problems, it will make an excellent reader. However, I’m still going to ask for a dedicated ebook reader for Xmas. I’m still undecided between the Amazon Kindle, Sony Reader, or the eBookwise device.

]]> By: Tom http://booksquare.com/how-the-iphone-can-save-the-book-business/comment-page-1/#comment-166886 Tom Sun, 18 Nov 2007 03:14:06 +0000 http://www.booksquare.com/archives/2007/01/10/2258/#comment-166886 I think the iphone will make a wonderful ebook reader once we get good reader software (I'm hesitant to jailbreak mine just yet). I've been reading ebooks on PDAs for years ... started off reading Jules Verne in monochrome on my old Palm Pilot Pro. Eventually worked my way through a Casio B300, ipaq 1900, Dell x50v, Treo 650, and several hundred books later the iPhone. The benefit of all these devices was that they could do things other than read books ... I could keep calendars, notes, games, videos, mp3 files, and eventually use as a phone. The bigger and higher resolution the screen, the better the reading experience became. My favorite reader is still that Dell with the 640x480 resolution. The iPhone's resolution is not quite THAT good, but is still the brightest and best looking LCD I've ever had. I can easily imagine reading books comfortably on it. Things that I would want in reader software: 1. Ability to open txt files. I hated the proprietary system that palm used ... it was always a pain in the butt to install a book on my treo 2. Immediate page turn with only a tap of my thumb. Most of the time, I can operate my iPhone with only one hand, and don't see why two hands would be needed to read books on it. 3. Appropriate word wrapping when changing font size: I've never understood why people complain about reading on such a small screen ... just make the letters bigger if it's bugging you. The dot-resolution on the iPhone is about 160dpi, which is pretty darn impressive. In fact, I've been using the iPhone as an eye chart to test vision: http://www.rootatlas.com/wordpress/video/668/ichart-for-idoctors-with-iphones/ Anyway, this is a great discussion, and I can't wait to get mobireader installed if they make it in Feb. The iPHone has many faults, but the one thing that has really impressed me is how well I can view full sized web-pages with it ... the speedy processor, high-resolution screen, and gui show that a device this small can be used to read larger medium. I think the iphone will make a wonderful ebook reader once we get good reader software (I’m hesitant to jailbreak mine just yet).

I’ve been reading ebooks on PDAs for years … started off reading Jules Verne in monochrome on my old Palm Pilot Pro. Eventually worked my way through a Casio B300, ipaq 1900, Dell x50v, Treo 650, and several hundred books later the iPhone.

The benefit of all these devices was that they could do things other than read books … I could keep calendars, notes, games, videos, mp3 files, and eventually use as a phone. The bigger and higher resolution the screen, the better the reading experience became. My favorite reader is still that Dell with the 640×480 resolution.

The iPhone’s resolution is not quite THAT good, but is still the brightest and best looking LCD I’ve ever had. I can easily imagine reading books comfortably on it. Things that I would want in reader software:

1. Ability to open txt files. I hated the proprietary system that palm used … it was always a pain in the butt to install a book on my treo

2. Immediate page turn with only a tap of my thumb. Most of the time, I can operate my iPhone with only one hand, and don’t see why two hands would be needed to read books on it.

3. Appropriate word wrapping when changing font size: I’ve never understood why people complain about reading on such a small screen … just make the letters bigger if it’s bugging you.

The dot-resolution on the iPhone is about 160dpi, which is pretty darn impressive. In fact, I’ve been using the iPhone as an eye chart to test vision:

http://www.rootatlas.com/wordpress/video/668/ichart-for-idoctors-with-iphones/

Anyway, this is a great discussion, and I can’t wait to get mobireader installed if they make it in Feb.

The iPHone has many faults, but the one thing that has really impressed me is how well I can view full sized web-pages with it … the speedy processor, high-resolution screen, and gui show that a device this small can be used to read larger medium.

]]> By: Tiennou http://booksquare.com/how-the-iphone-can-save-the-book-business/comment-page-1/#comment-166765 Tiennou Thu, 18 Oct 2007 01:51:02 +0000 http://www.booksquare.com/archives/2007/01/10/2258/#comment-166765 Same here... iphone is a great ebook reader Currently reading "The Road" in .txt format and everything is just perfect! Same here… iphone is a great ebook reader
Currently reading “The Road” in .txt format and everything is just perfect!

]]> By: Mike http://booksquare.com/how-the-iphone-can-save-the-book-business/comment-page-1/#comment-166724 Mike Sat, 29 Sep 2007 03:07:52 +0000 http://www.booksquare.com/archives/2007/01/10/2258/#comment-166724 I've got an ebook reader for my iPhone: Books.app (http://code.google.com/p/iphoneebooks/). It's makes the best ebook reader I've seen in over a decade of reading ebooks (though I've never used a dedicated ebook reader, so...). That big, bright, hires screen is a wonder to read from. And the lack of physical buttons isn't a problem. The touchscreen gives the iPhone over 153,000 buttons. The eBook reader in question divides the screen up into three sections: strips at the top and bottom and "the rest of the screen". Tap the strip at the top or bottom to page up or down. Tap anywhere else, and those two strips get covered by typical ebook buttons: page up/down, next/previous chapture, up, preferences. I’ve got an ebook reader for my iPhone: Books.app
(http://code.google.com/p/iphoneebooks/). It’s makes the best ebook
reader I’ve seen in over a decade of reading ebooks (though I’ve never
used a dedicated ebook reader, so…). That big, bright, hires screen
is a wonder to read from. And the lack of physical buttons isn’t a
problem. The touchscreen gives the iPhone over 153,000 buttons. The
eBook reader in question divides the screen up into three sections:
strips at the top and bottom and “the rest of the screen”. Tap the
strip at the top or bottom to page up or down. Tap anywhere else, and
those two strips get covered by typical ebook buttons: page up/down,
next/previous chapture, up, preferences.

]]> By: TJRyan http://booksquare.com/how-the-iphone-can-save-the-book-business/comment-page-1/#comment-166502 TJRyan Sat, 01 Sep 2007 09:19:41 +0000 http://www.booksquare.com/archives/2007/01/10/2258/#comment-166502 What about existing (personal) libraries? Google and friends are carrying out their book scanning projects. Would you be interested in a device that automatically scans books which already own? Current devices are extremely expensive though and I haven't seen a device that could serve consumer markets. On the other hand conventional flatbed scanners are too impractical, as it would take too long to scan a book... What about existing (personal) libraries? Google and friends are carrying out their book scanning projects. Would you be interested in a device that automatically scans books which already own? Current devices are extremely expensive though and I haven’t seen a device that could serve consumer markets. On the other hand conventional flatbed scanners are too impractical, as it would take too long to scan a book…

]]> By: Gerry Manacsa http://booksquare.com/how-the-iphone-can-save-the-book-business/comment-page-1/#comment-166268 Gerry Manacsa Mon, 06 Aug 2007 20:20:55 +0000 http://www.booksquare.com/archives/2007/01/10/2258/#comment-166268 I agree with Donttouchmethere's analysis that the iPhone as it stands today is not the long-awaited killer ebook reader. Yet most of the remaining issues (driven mainly by shortcomings in file management and reader software) are just software issues — not insignificant ones, to be sure, but fixable. I've posted a short video demonstrating the iPhone's current utility as a pdf ebook reader: http://wowio.wordpress.com/2007/08/01/iphone-and-ebooks-the-video/ The key point is that the iPhone <em>platform</em> with its tactile and intuitive user interface is a very viable starting point for a world changer. I fully expect that Apple will incorporate elements of the iPhone-style user experience in Macs and yet-undefined tablet devices in the not-too-distant future. I agree with Donttouchmethere’s analysis that the iPhone as it stands today is not the long-awaited killer ebook reader. Yet most of the remaining issues (driven mainly by shortcomings in file management and reader software) are just software issues — not insignificant ones, to be sure, but fixable.

I’ve posted a short video demonstrating the iPhone’s current utility as a pdf ebook reader:

http://wowio.wordpress.com/2007/08/01/iphone-and-ebooks-the-video/

The key point is that the iPhone platform with its tactile and intuitive user interface is a very viable starting point for a world changer. I fully expect that Apple will incorporate elements of the iPhone-style user experience in Macs and yet-undefined tablet devices in the not-too-distant future.

]]> By: Maximum Persuasion http://booksquare.com/how-the-iphone-can-save-the-book-business/comment-page-1/#comment-166172 Maximum Persuasion Thu, 19 Jul 2007 03:10:28 +0000 http://www.booksquare.com/archives/2007/01/10/2258/#comment-166172 I've got every electronic reader imaginable. And software too. Thing is, none of them replaces reading a good HARD book you can SMELL!. And flip pages. And dogear corners. And scribble on. Not to mention, the size of the screen leaves a great deal to be desired I’ve got every electronic reader imaginable. And software too.

Thing is, none of them replaces reading a good HARD book you can SMELL!.

And flip pages.

And dogear corners.

And scribble on.

Not to mention, the size of the screen leaves a great deal to be desired

]]> By: macewan http://booksquare.com/how-the-iphone-can-save-the-book-business/comment-page-1/#comment-166114 macewan Sat, 14 Jul 2007 21:33:29 +0000 http://www.booksquare.com/archives/2007/01/10/2258/#comment-166114 These are all reason the Nokia follow-up to the 770 is an attractive option. These are all reason the Nokia follow-up to the 770 is an attractive option.

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