Tech: Ebooks : New portable ebook device can be used to read the book you wrote, via its desktop sales on iRex Ebook Store

You're gonna' hear a lotta hype in the next while, pushing Sony's new ebook reading device. They're hoping to reach the same market status in ebookery as Apple has in music with iPod (closely aligned with its iTunes Music Store and the in-computer iTunes application. But there's a big catch with the Sony gambit, and its already been around in Japan for over a year. If the Sony corporation simply extends its Japanese product to the North American and European markets, it will not accomodate all brands of digital music the way iPod does. Rather, you'll have to by Sony ebooks and only Sony to use the device.

Principium Consumers Hub:

VitalSource is a desktop app and store available online already for free download (with laptops in mind), but you've got to have a Safari browser (which I have but use now only for Safari-restricted browsing - like this reader - otherwise I use Firefox, my default browser). Since you can get some free downloads of reading matter too, by installing the app, I'm trying it out in its present state. A few snags already due to support specs, but nonethless its series of VitalBooks is of great value and designed for college students thru four years of university. Oh, yeah, you mite like this one, out of many features, "Take as many notes as you want - you never have to worry about running out of room. Highlight as needed - when you come back to the book, your highlights will be there" (from the VitalSource website hype).

The really interesting thing, however is that I expect VitalSource to undergo some quick transformations - because iRex Technologies is launching its own new portable device for reading ebooks (pictured above); and could well turn out to be a product which advances reading book-length texts wherever you are, carrying the device like an iPod and/or other handhelds. The mother company of iRex Technologies is Philips which did much of the pioneering work on e-paper technology. My impression is that the portable iRex reader named iLLiad will be capacious enuff to accomodate digital books of several major eread-brands at the start, with the promise of development to include compatibility with many more narrow-niche brands. I hear you can write, make your composition into an ebook, publish it digitally for download, and sell your product thru the iRex download market! your own book! The launch of the device is scheduled for sometime in April 2006. - Owlie Scowlie