E-Book-Reader

An e -book reader (also: e- reader) is a portable reading device for electronically stored digital books (e-books ). In addition to specialized devices that use electronic paper for display, can be personalized with appropriate software, smartphones, tablet computers and PCs use as an e- book reader.

History

Sony introduced 1990 ( Japan) and 1991 ( U.S. and other countries) the Data Discman on the market. This device was called " Electronic Book " called CD -ROMs in the mini- CD format read (8 cm), which included standard in the so-called " EBG " and processed ( mastered ) were and had to be placed in a Caddy, which to a 3.5 "diskette remembered. E -books in EBG format have been supplied with a caddy. The monochrome display could display text with 32 × 10 characters and graphics with 256 x 160 pixels; this representation also stood on a video output. For the Data Discman appeared mainly reference books.

In 1999, the company NuvoMedia the e -book reader " Rocket eBook " in the American market, at that time still with conventional LCD technology. The device was not commercially successful, whereupon the e -book reader to 2007 disappeared from the general attention.

Developed in late 2003 students of the Berlin " Institute of Electronic Business " for the first time the idea to use mobile phones as a reader. In a pilot project in cooperation with the EDS Global Industries, a reader for deployed via WAP books was developed and published. A short time later, a first reader for Java- enabled mobile phones has been provided, the books were offered in JAR format on a website for free download. From this initiative, the mobile library has emerged, which allows the generation of txt files in the JAR format via a website. These can then be read on any Java-enabled mobile phone.

After several failed attempts, similar to Sony released in 2004, the reader Librie EBR - 1000EP ( for 40,000 yen, that is about 300 Euros ) on the Japanese market. The device 's breakthrough as an alternative at least for paperbacks. Among the reasons for this were small size and weight ( so light and barely larger than a Japanese standard paperback ) and the screen with electronic paper ( Manufacturer: E -Ink ), whose fine representation is well suited for the complex Japanese writing. Also, there was a massive advertising campaign in trains, the Hauptleseort the Japanese advertised. The leaves was possible with arrow keys; the contrast was - compared to paper writing (black on white) - significantly lower. Compared to an open book, the net - read display was relatively small.

In 2006 there were a number of new publications on the market that were specifically designed as an e -book reader and built on electronic paper of the company E Ink, in particular the iLiad iRex Technologies of the company, the Sony Reader ( successor to the Librie ) and Jinke Electronics the devices Hanlin V2 and V8. 2007 gave the French manufacturer Bookeen Cybook Gen3, the reader.

In November 2007, Amazon released the Kindle in the U.S., the USA 's breakthrough as a dedicated e- book reader. One of the key features of the Kindle is its direct connection ( via Wi-Fi or cellular ) to the online store of Amazon. As of 21 April 2011, the Kindle was available on Amazon.de.

In the year 2009 brought further groups e-book reader on the market (Sony, Samsung, Barnes and Noble) or have announced their own developments of appropriate devices ( Vodafone, News Corp., Bridgestone).

Meanwhile also distribute resident in Germany booksellers such as worldview or Thalia own as well as foreign e -book reader models with links to their online shop.

Technology

E -book readers usually have a display with a diagonal of 12.7 to 25.4 cm ( 5-10 inches), which is usually equipped with a high-contrast display technology based on electronic paper from manufacturers such as E -Ink or SiPix. This does not require active backlight ( unlike ordinary LCD displays), and offers a very readable typeface with high resolution, which remains the eyes hardly overworked and even in direct sunlight very readable and is reminiscent of the familiar typeface of printed paper. Meanwhile, point densities are achieved in excess of 200ppi, which is the quality of pictures in newspapers about; However, shades of gray stairs effects can be further reduced by ( usually 16 ); see also comparison with screens and paper.

Electronic paper comprising a clear liquid, contained in the positively charged microparticles and negatively charged black color microparticles in white color. Once to an electrical voltage, the microparticles can be arranged systematically. To maintain the image so no energy is needed, theoretically the image once produced, over weeks is maintained. Because some other components of the e-readers but also - albeit minimal - need quantities of electricity, the battery life is usually only theoretically in the range of weeks and months to settle.

The development of display technology resulting in colored display ( Mirasol ) and hybrid display that can be switched as needed between a conventional and an "E-paper " mode.

Accessibility

For people with visual impairments E -book readers may offer advantages over printed books. Many devices offer a gradual increase font size and font selection, thereby allowing an appropriate magnification can be achieved. The reader should also allow for text representation in landscape mode, so that the text while reading under magnification only possible in one direction ( down) must be unrolled. The frequently used e- ink displays are largely reflex -free and therefore suitable for glare- sensitive people. There are devices available that can reflect, inter alia, such book formats that are easily accessible and allow a full magnification, such as ePub, PDF, Mobipocket, HTML or TXT, not all e-books allow adapted to the enlargement of line breaks.

Basically useful equipment is a read-aloud function, which, however, in part fails due to unresolved issues on copyright contract law books.

Criticism

Critics of e -book readers are of the opinion that classes of devices that can be used almost exclusively for a purpose that would in the future, replaced by multi-function devices such as smartphones or tablet PCs. Currently, Electronic paper offers other advantages, such as paperback similar weight and feel a sense similar to printed paper with very long battery life. On the other hand, displays of this display technology are largely limited to grayscale and slow to react. Since the displays need for a redraw up to one second, they are unfit for animations. The monochrome display also reduce the attractiveness of these displays for color- bound media such as magazines or display advertising, which is why tablet computers tough competition to the traditional e -book readers are what sales figures for 2010, however, hardly support (see below).

E -book reader with a direct connection via mobile network to the Internet or books stores allow the reading material easily download to the device. This, however, a subsequent external change of content or an external deleting documents is also possible in principle. This did, for example, Amazon on July 17, 2009 by Kindle e -books ( including Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty - Four by George Orwell) were removed from the devices of its customers, as the publisher lacked rights to publish an e-book. After protests announced the Amazon spokesman Drew Herdener that this should no longer happen in the future.

Are also criticized the current disadvantages over traditional books that relate not only to safety (fire and changeability ) the rights restrictions. Opportunities for lending and borrowing ( and possibly resale ) are reacted hesitantly. Due to the heterogeneity of the market had yet taken no uniform standard file format for e-books, which is why incompatibilities between e-books and reading devices are accessible. This affects it increasingly also on the sales prospects of individual devices. How multiple devices never appeared despite product announcement on the market.

Unclear remains whether the opportunity will exist, book files long-term archive and can continue to use on multiple device generations for decades. At Amazon copy-protected mobi files are unlocked in -house azw format for a maximum of six devices with an individual username and password. The device-independent long-term use of these files is the long-term access to the Amazon account and depending on whether there can be permanently manage licenses for older e-books. Copy-protected files in the ePub format can be registered on up to five devices under an Adobe ID. Whether here the license administration across multiple versions of Adobe Digital Editions is away be possible to no information is currently available. Only in the case files without copy protection ( for example, if instead watermarks are used) is device-independent long-term use possible in principle, provided that subsequent generations of devices support the old file formats.

Market development

According to a study by IDC in March 2011, approximately 12.8 million e -book readers were sold worldwide in 2010; the clear market leader with 48 % market share in 2010 are the Amazon Kindle models, followed by Pandigital (Novel eReaders ), Barnes & Noble ( Nook and Nook color), Hanvon ( WISEreader ) and the Sony readers. This compares to 18 million sold tablet computer. According to a report by market research firm iSuppli (IHS ) is " eBook reader again at the end ," because the sales figures in contrast to those of tablets after a peak in 2011 of 23.2 million were declining again (2012 14.9 million ).

On the U.S. market was a study by Pew Research, the e -book reader and tablet computer market compared to the proportion of those who possess a reader that between November 2010 and May 2011 from 6 to 12 percent of the U.S. population grew; the percentage of tablet owners on the other hand rose slowly from 5 to 8 percent. About 3 % of Americans have both a tablet and an e- book reader.

According to the Association for Consumer Research, there were in early 2012 in Germany more than 5 million readers. The market leader is the Kindle, which is available in 1.6 million households. BITKOM forecast based on a survey conducted in 2013 in Germany sold 832,000 readers - by 685,000 in 2012 Originally, it was of 2012 from 800,000 E- book readers sold in 2013 and projected 1.43 million selling e -book for the year. reader. The reduced growth leads BITKOM back to the increased demand for tablets.

Devices in Germany

• Acer
• Adasys
• Amazon Kindle
• BeBook
• Bookeen
• Ectaco
• Hanvon
• Iriver
• ICARUS
• Kobo
• Onyx Boox
• OYO
• Pocketbook
• Sony Reader
• Tolino Shine
• TrekStor

Curiosities

• Frank Herbert mentioned already in his masterpiece, Dune ( Dune ), a similar device on which the Orange Catholic Bible is stored. This book was already the adaptation to a legible font size and the typical reader for some operation with the tap on the one side or the other to browse through.