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E-Readers: the future of reading or short-lived gadget?

E-Readers: the future of reading or short-lived gadget?. Roger Mills June 2010. What is an e-Reader?. A device to display electronic texts in certain specific formats Generally using ‘e-ink’ reflective rather than transmissive screen technology

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E-Readers: the future of reading or short-lived gadget?

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  1. E-Readers: the future of reading or short-lived gadget? Roger Mills June 2010

  2. What is an e-Reader? • A device to display electronic texts in certain specific formats • Generally using ‘e-ink’ reflective rather than transmissive screen technology • May have wireless link to allow download/upload of texts direct from/to e-book shop • May allow upload of files in pdf, txt or other formats, including sound and image formats (but not movies) • May allow web browsing (not in UK yet) • May have touch screen or navigation keys/keyboard

  3. What formats do e-Readers support? • The Tower of e-Babel: WikiPedia lists 25 different formats for e-book publishing • Most readers support only a few • Most e-books only available in a few • Different formats support different features • EPUB (International Digital Publishing Forum (IDPF )) may become industry standard

  4. So • Your choice of e-reader determines: • the range of content available to you • the way that content is displayed • the ways you can interact with that content (annotations etc)

  5. Alternatives • Smartphones • Netbooks/laptops • PC’s • - if format allows • And now the iPad – and future tablets ?

  6. FAQs • Can I search text? • Can I cut-and-paste? • Can I print? • Can I load pdf’s? • Can I download OU e-books?

  7. FAQs: Can I search text? • Generally possible to search for words or string • No complex or Boolean statements • Can’t search pages saved as images

  8. FAQs: Can I cut-and-paste? • Usually possible to save selected text to a file, transfer file to PC and cut-paste from there

  9. FAQs: Can I print? • No: e-readers generally can’t connect direct to printers • Possible to save marked text, transfer as text file to PC and print that • Only one ‘page’ at a time

  10. FAQs: Can I load pdf’s? • Yes – but may not be zoomable, so may not be legible on small screen. Where zooming available, text does not wrap so constant panning necessary to read

  11. FAQs: Can I download OU e-books? • Generally not possible to download e-books provided on the web through library subscriptions, for licensing reasons

  12. Formats supported Kindle (.azw, .azw1) PDF (.pdf) Text (.txt) Unprotected Mobipocket (.mobi, .prc) Audible (.aa, .aax) MP3 (.mp3) Convertible via Amazon: Microsoft Word (.doc .docx) RTF (.rtf) Structured HTML (.html, .htm) JPEG (.jpeg, .jpg) GIF (.gif) PNG (.png) BMP (.bmp) Compressed ZIP (.zip) Formats supported BBeB (.lrf, .lrx) PDF (.pdf) EPUB (.epub) Text (.txt) RTF file (.rtf) Word file (.doc, .docx*) – auto converted by e-Book Library to RTF when transferred to Reader MP3 file (.mp3) AAC file (.mp4, .m4a, .mov, or .qt) (not movies) Bitmap file (.bmp) JPEG (.jpeg, .jpg) GIF (.gif) (not animated) PNG (.png) Kindle 2 Sony Touch

  13. Text loading Wireless (Amazon only), usb (Windows/Mac) Screen: 16 shades grey No backlight Navigation: Keys Joystick Keyboard Text locations, no page nos. Orientation Portrait or landscape (latest software), not auto Zoom 6 sizes (not pdf’s), no continuous zoom Text-to-speech Speed variable, male-female Text loading Usb only (Windows/Mac) : e-Book Library content management software installed automatically; uses Adobe Digital Editions Screen 8 shades grey No backlight Navigation: Keys Touch screen Virtual keyboard ‘Real’ page nos. Orientation Portrait or landscape, not auto Zoom 5 sizes + continuous (inc. pdf’s – but layout may change) No text-to-speech Kindle 2 Sony Touch

  14. Annotation Via keyboard, not pdf’s Backup On Amazon servers Sound Stereo speakers, headphones Audiobooks, mp3 Battery 7 days (current models) Charge via mains or usb Memory 1.4GB, no memory card slot Periodicals Auto delete after 7 issues No pictures in UK Search Metadata, text, annotations (pdf’s: metadata only) Annotation Via virtual keyboard or handwritten with stylus Any document Backup On local pc Sound Headphones only Mp3, aac Battery 7,500 page turns Charge via mains or usb Memory 380MB, SD card, Memory Stick Duo Periodicals Not supported (will be on ‘Daily Edition’ reader, not yet available in UK Search Metadata, text, annotations, some pdf’s Kindle 2 Sony Touch

  15. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_e-book_readers

  16. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_Kindle

  17. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_e-book_formats

  18. To lend or not to lend? • No definitive legal approval from Amazon • Some US libraries started lenidng but stopped – others continue • Some libraries lend within library only • Download to own devices most likely future pattern • Meanwhile – borrow an e-reader from RSL!

  19. ROAD TEST AN E-READER! Amazon Kindle 2 Sony Reader Touch [PRS-600]

  20. Now lending e-readers at RSL • Ask at Enquiries • Details: • www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/science/services/e-readers • Loan period 1 week • May be a waiting list!

  21. E-Reader survey • http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Z55LBVN • Remains open

  22. Further reading • The Horizon Report 2010 ed http://www.nmc.org/pdf/2010-Horizon-Report.pdf Good set of links to experiences in American universities • Wikipedia has useful comparisons and explanations of formats: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_e-book_formats http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_Kindle

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