With the recent arrival of the Apple iPad, there’s been a lot of discussion about the future of book publishing and the role of the e-book. An article in the New Yorker recently described the intense competition between Apple and Amazon in this market, as each company has built its own e-reading device (iPad vs. Kindle) and distribution system (iTunes vs. Amazon.com), but are still trying to figure out their relationships with publishers and authors.
Honestly, I’m not sure why you even need a separate e-reader. I don’t have a problem with the format of the news and magazines available online, and it’s been possible to download the Kindle app on your iPhone (and most smartphones) for free since last year. It looks great, it’s easy to use, and they have a huge library behind them, so there are thousands of free and cheap $.99 books available (current bestsellers usually cost $9.99).
The downside is that you can only read your book on the Kindle app or the Kindle device… which is bullshit (what am I going to do with all my books when Kindle goes the way of the cassette or beta video??). Download the Stanza app as well. It’s also free and easy to use, although it has a much smaller library. But it allows for many different e-book formats (although not DRM protected content like Kindle books), bestsellers seem a little cheaper, and you can find self-published authors and indie publishers.
But I’m going off on a tangent… my point is that the future of all these media devices is consolidation, right? I can’t be bothered to carry around a iPod and a phone anymore, so why would I want to add a big ass Kindle or iPad? I’m sure this just shows my ignorance, but I’m not buying this argument. I don’t want any more junk in my house. I want fewer electronics, not more! Really, I’m just waiting for the day when I can implant my computer into my head, Borg-style. This guy is already working on it.
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