Following the success of Amazon's Kindle, Hearst is planning to introduce an electronic reader for periodicals according to Fortune Magazine. Hearst has developed a wireless e-reader with a larger screen than the Kindle, making it more suited for newspapers and magazines. The screen is rumored to be the same size as a standard sheet of paper.
Hearst made an investment more than 10 years ago in E Ink, the company which supplies the electronic ink supply used in most e-readers. Unlike Amazon, Hearst will let publishers develop their own branding and payment models.
This is an interesting development as well as opportunity for the publishing industry. I wonder how many e-reader devices a person will need a and what is the appropriate size. Also, not mentioned in this article is the price of this new reader.
http://money.cnn.com/2009/02/27/technology/copeland_hearst.fortune/index.htm?postversion=2009022712
1 comment:
Fantastic development on Hearst's part - bravo!!!
The announcement of Hearst's product as well as the earlier announcement of Plastic Logic's e-Reader and its partnerships, recognizes the potential of e-Readers to save the periodicals industry, which has been plagued by news such as the closing of the Rocky Mountain News, a regional newspaper based in Denver, CO.
Rumors of the Hearst device has been circulating for over a year so it's great to finally get some concrete news regarding its development.
Dan wonders how many e-Readers will a consumer need, but I would argue that the print space is so varied that it's quite likely to accomodate a range of devices. Apple, for example, has come out with a range of MP3 players to suit all tastes, from the simple iPod shuffle to the tricked out Touch. The Kindle, the Plastic Logic Reader, and the Hearst device are just the beginning. There can be larger sizes to suit coffee books and colored readers for graphic novels and magazines.
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