Comments on: ePub reader widget for Opera: Browsers to do e-books in a big way in time? New Web-based ePub reader debuts separately http://www.teleread.org/2008/07/21/epub-reader-widget-for-opera-browsers-to-do-e-books-in-a-big-way-in-time/ News & views on e-books, libraries, publishing and related topics Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:25:26 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Mike Cane http://www.teleread.org/2008/07/21/epub-reader-widget-for-opera-browsers-to-do-e-books-in-a-big-way-in-time/comment-page-1/#comment-857091 Mike Cane Tue, 22 Jul 2008 22:47:55 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/07/21/epub-reader-widget-for-opera-browsers-to-do-e-books-in-a-big-way-in-time/#comment-857091 Hmmmm ... there's an intriguing convergence that at first blush sounds nightmarish: TVs and ebooks. Hmmmm … there’s an intriguing convergence that at first blush sounds nightmarish: TVs and ebooks.

]]> By: HeavyG http://www.teleread.org/2008/07/21/epub-reader-widget-for-opera-browsers-to-do-e-books-in-a-big-way-in-time/comment-page-1/#comment-856265 HeavyG Mon, 21 Jul 2008 23:36:25 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/07/21/epub-reader-widget-for-opera-browsers-to-do-e-books-in-a-big-way-in-time/#comment-856265 Well, I was generally thinking about room sized TV's. After I left your site I went to amazon to check on a cookbook that I thought I had but wasn't positive (and was too lazy to trod upstairs and go thru my stacks). Turns out I had bought it a few years ago but one thing that caught my eye near the 1-Click button was this: http://tinyurl.com/67e7w8 I hadn't seen this before at amazon (and I hit amazon several times a day). I have the option to "upgrade" my book for $4.99 so I could read it online. It said I had about 50 books that I had purchased over the years that were eligible for this service. Cool. So now when I'm in my kitchen I can call up that cookbook on my large screen in the family room. Well, I was generally thinking about room sized TV’s.

After I left your site I went to amazon to check on a cookbook that I thought I had but wasn’t positive (and was too lazy to trod upstairs and go thru my stacks). Turns out I had bought it a few years ago but one thing that caught my eye near the 1-Click button was this:

http://tinyurl.com/67e7w8

I hadn’t seen this before at amazon (and I hit amazon several times a day). I have the option to “upgrade” my book for $4.99 so I could read it online. It said I had about 50 books that I had purchased over the years that were eligible for this service. Cool. So now when I’m in my kitchen I can call up that cookbook on my large screen in the family room.

]]> By: David Rothman http://www.teleread.org/2008/07/21/epub-reader-widget-for-opera-browsers-to-do-e-books-in-a-big-way-in-time/comment-page-1/#comment-856257 David Rothman Mon, 21 Jul 2008 23:16:50 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/07/21/epub-reader-widget-for-opera-browsers-to-do-e-books-in-a-big-way-in-time/#comment-856257 Well, HeavyG, if an iPod Touch, etc., can be a genuine TV, which it probably can in time---then, sure. I don't know about the future of 50 inch screens as e-book displays. Whatever the screen size, the magic word is indeed convergence. Thanks. David Well, HeavyG, if an iPod Touch, etc., can be a genuine TV, which it probably can in time—then, sure. I don’t know about the future of 50 inch screens as e-book displays. Whatever the screen size, the magic word is indeed convergence. Thanks. David

]]> By: HeavyG http://www.teleread.org/2008/07/21/epub-reader-widget-for-opera-browsers-to-do-e-books-in-a-big-way-in-time/comment-page-1/#comment-856253 HeavyG Mon, 21 Jul 2008 23:11:31 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/07/21/epub-reader-widget-for-opera-browsers-to-do-e-books-in-a-big-way-in-time/#comment-856253 <i>"As I see it, browsers are destined to be popular for reading e-books"</i> Methinks they already are. I'd bet more ebooks are currently read via a browser on a range of platforms than dedicated ebook readers or specialized ebook apps on handheld devices. I think despite the hoopla over handheld portable ereaders that in a few years the most popular ebook reader will turn out to be the TV either via a gaming console using a browser or via a set top box running a browser. Actually, I think I read somewhwere recently that Sony is going to include a browser built-in to some of their TV's in the future. I have a Wii and it includes the Opera browser and it is very useable to read most websites. Scrolling via the wiimote is very easy and you can change the font size as needed. Years ago when WebTV came out I would have scoffed at the idea of doing a lot of web stuff via your TV. The original WebTV was quite usable but as websites became more complicated it was difficult for them to render legibly on tube TV's. However, now that tubes are essentially gone and the future is high resolution displays (that are essentially computer monitors) I think use of the web via your TV is bound to become a much more widely used activity. A lot of that activity will likely be ebooks. Perhaps just like VOD (video on demand) you'll soon see BOD (books on demand) via your TV - rent the latest Grisham novel for $3.99 at the push of a button. “As I see it, browsers are destined to be popular for reading e-books”

Methinks they already are. I’d bet more ebooks are currently read via a browser on a range of platforms than dedicated ebook readers or specialized ebook apps on handheld devices.

I think despite the hoopla over handheld portable ereaders that in a few years the most popular ebook reader will turn out to be the TV either via a gaming console using a browser or via a set top box running a browser. Actually, I think I read somewhwere recently that Sony is going to include a browser built-in to some of their TV’s in the future.

I have a Wii and it includes the Opera browser and it is very useable to read most websites. Scrolling via the wiimote is very easy and you can change the font size as needed.

Years ago when WebTV came out I would have scoffed at the idea of doing a lot of web stuff via your TV. The original WebTV was quite usable but as websites became more complicated it was difficult for them to render legibly on tube TV’s.

However, now that tubes are essentially gone and the future is high resolution displays (that are essentially computer monitors) I think use of the web via your TV is bound to become a much more widely used activity. A lot of that activity will likely be ebooks.

Perhaps just like VOD (video on demand) you’ll soon see BOD (books on demand) via your TV – rent the latest Grisham novel for $3.99 at the push of a button.

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