Next Apple iPod to do eBooks?

[MacRumors]

Engadget claims that according to two separate "trustworthy" sources, Apple is working on incorporating electronic books into the next versions of the iPod.

We'd say the possibility is very real, since 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.

They also claim that the upcoming iPod will have "a substantial amount of screen real estate" alongwith a book-reading mode for easy reading. This rumor is consistent with long-standing rumors of a full screen video iPod that would launch alongside iTunes Movie sales.

Engadget believes that Apple would also launch electronic book sales via iTunes as well to provide content for this new iPod functionality. The reliability of Engadget's sources are unknown.

 

[PlaceofDis]

honestly. i would love this.

 

[andiwm2003]

i'm using my ipod 90% for audiobooks. if i could read books and journals it would be great. damn, apple, another $400 goes down......

 

[atticus1178]

i think i would rather read a paperback

wouldnt the screen strain the eyes?

 

[boncellis]

I agree that this would be cool, but what would make it even better is enhanced iSync or other capability for third parties to take advantage and make content available. I suppose the iTMS could handle it, but the user should be able to load whatever he or she wants on it, I would think.

 

[PlaceofDis]

I agree that this would be cool, but what would make it even better is enhanced iSync or other capability for third parties to take advantage and make content available. I suppose the iTMS could handle it, but the user should be able to load whatever he or she wants on it, I would think.

well as long as it can be imported into iTunes then its all good.

 

[Marble]

And I was hoping I wouldn't go blind before forty. Sheesh.

 

[rye9]

kinda useless for such a small screen i think

 

[mark!]

didn't people read about it having a bigger screen?

 

[david_r_p]

If it's going to have a huge screen why not make it have a satellite based navigation system too. That would be handy...

As for the reader, sounds cool to me!

 

[narco]

I remember reading rumors that there will also be text-to-speech features in the new iPod. If they combine books and this, that'd be awesome.

I don't care about screen real estate, eBook readers or any of that. Give me a 100GB hard drive!

Fishes,
narco.

 

[TheAnswer]

Throw in a spanish-english dictionary with either voice recognition or the ability to spell out the word to find the meaning and I am there.

And add the ability to make voice notes in the margins, and highlight text.

If this is true, it will probably be the end of buying books for me. Imagine the trees saved, the gas and space saved in moving vans. The empty spaces in shopping malls and big block shopping centers.

"What's a book mommy?" "Well, It was like an iPod, but made out of trees"

 

[Fabio_gsilva]

I think that the more, the merrier.

I'd would be cool to keep the hype about the iPod high, including a completely new funcionality in mp3 players. IMHO, it would capitalize more sales to Apple and a whole knew interest in iPods.

Specially now that Microsoft confirmed the Zune...
http://www.macuser.com/rivals/microsoft_confirms_zune_a_stor.php

 

[Evan_11]

I'm not sure about novels but I would love to be able to read articles from Time, Wired, New Yorker et cetera on my iPod. In the past I've copied them from the web and transferred them into a 'note' file for viewing on my iPod. However I'd love to be able to download them from iTunes like a podcast. 99 cents wouldn't be un-reasonable if it's a well written article and it's advertisement free.

 

[g-man2]

Maybe a whole new kind of display using E ink. Sony has something called a Reader that uses it. It draws very little power, none at all if the background is static and unmoving.

Look at it here. http://www.eink.com/

 

[nagromme]

This rumor has popped up before--and I think it's almost a BETTER use of a large(r) screen than videos. If my music was already in my pocket, and then as an "extra" with no additional bulk I could also have a book to read, that would be very cool.

As with movies, though, I'd prefer a subscription model (and priced low accordingly). I seldom watch the same movie--or read the same book--twice. It's not like music.

 

[bretm]

Last time I checked iPods and batteries aren't much of a renewable resource.

Throw in a spanish-english dictionary with either voice recognition or the ability to spell out the word to find the meaning and I am there.

And add the ability to make voice notes in the margins, and highlight text.

If this is true, it will probably be the end of buying books for me. Imagine the trees saved, the gas and space saved in moving vans. The empty spaces in shopping malls and big block shopping centers.

"What's a book mommy?" "Well, It was like an iPod, but made out of trees"

 

[Stella]

Sounds great. Better than carrying a real book around (*assuming you don't run out of batteries ).

There are ebook readers for PDAs and Smartphone - there's no reason why it shouldn't work with iPods.

Good progression of the iPod.

 

[blueflame]

apple needs to fix the video handling of movies in itunes before anyhting can really be done, its a real mess right now
andreas

 

[rockthecasbah]

meh i don't fancy eBooks, give me a plain ol' paperback or hard cover anyday, even if it is a bit larger

 

[thedude110]

wouldnt the screen strain the eyes?

Yes. Yes it would.

Until display resolution matches paper resolution, the e-book will remain relatively unpopular.

This does seem to make a serious run at the "iPod for Education" crowd, though -- fighting to keep brand loyalty with the kids, I spose ...

 

[Max on Macs]

Well if they make it so you can zoom in or choose your text size then that'd be awesome. Otherwise, for those of us who are visually impaired, it's a load of *****.

 

[Luis]

Eyes...

I think reading from my ipod would give me headaches..... It would maybe be okay for short stories or headlines you could load on it, but a whole book??? cmon even if they make a big screen it would never be bigger than the screen of a paperback and just imagine if reading a really long text from the computer strains some peoples eyes what would a small screen do to you?

 

[gregbenj]

Integrate motion sensors! With a flick of the wrist, the page will turn. Hot Damn!

 

[bigjohn]

i hope it comes with a battery that lasts two or three days. the last thing i'd do is read a book connected to an adapter.