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Apple can 'save' books as it moves into publishing with ‘iSlate’
Mark Prigg, Science and Technology Editor20 Jan 2010
It has already revolutionised the mobile phone, computer and music market but now experts claim Apple can “save” the book and magazine industry with its latest gadget.
Apple boss Steve Jobs is expected to launch a touchscreen device similar to a giant iPhone in San Francisco next wednesday.
The secretive firm has not publicly commented on the gadget, dubbed the “iSlate”. However, there has been an internet frenzy with Apple enthusiasts speculating wildly and creating detailed electronic mock-ups.
The iSlate is expected to have a 10-inch touchscreen, no keyboard and allow users to surf the web, watch TV shows and films and read digitised magazines and newspapers. Currently Amazon's Kindle is the most popular electronic book, but has a mono screen and is operated by buttons.
Major publishers, including Harper Collins, have had talks with Apple to bring their books to the gadget, and experts say it could kick-start the electronic book market.
“The fact that Apple is coming in is terrific,” said Richard Charkin, executive director of Bloomsbury Publishing, “E-books are already happening with Amazon's Kindle — we have been pleasantly surprised by the volume of e-book sales — but this will accelerate it.”
Phil Leigh, an analyst at Inside Digital Media, said: “If you took a Kindle and enriched it, what would you do? You'd put in colour and web browsing, and open it up to other forms of media. That's what Apple is going to do.”
The device will not go on sale until March in the US and later here. Apple is already believed to be in discussions with UK mobile phone networks about the device, which is expected to cost around £1,000.
However, some experts have expressed concern at the hype. “The tablet is not the messiah the media has been waiting for,” said media columnist Jeff Jarvis. “I never underestimate Apple and await a wow' — but even so, I cannot imagine we will end up with an entirely new format for media.”
Reader views (3)
Assuming the touch-screen device is like the iPhone:
Apple OS = one trick pony.
Android OS = true multiprocessing system.
SE Xperian X10 please!
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 21/01/2010 09:38
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Will it change the book and magazine business? Who knows? It will be interesting to watch the market and whether it goes for this device. It has got to be a better experience than the current e-readers.
- Will Hawkins, Bourne, Lincolnshire, 20/01/2010 12:31
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oh baby. bring it on. now.
- Squiz, Islington, 20/01/2010 12:07
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