Could the itablet be the next iPod gem for apple?

eBooks...I for one foresee this phase to be as big as the ipod/mp3 boom, may be larger. The hold up has lasted many years with technology firms unable to reach the masses with an accessible and user friendly device. Some big names in the technology have tried and miserably failed to produced a low light, e-ink screen to display ebook's. It may seem hard to believe in 2008 as companies invest billions into getting in the mind of the consumer. How can they miss what is important in an eBook reader?

The first problem with many big name readers such the Amazon's Kindle and Sony's long list of failed eBook readers is ACCESSIBILITY. People do not want to pay $300 for a reader, plus cost of the content (e.g. eBook) and an additional usage cost for each time you download, save or move your already paid for content around. The added and hidden costs only deter people from investing in a new age of media. Especially a new age of media in desperate need of a kick-start.

Accessibility and ease of use is number one to reach full market potential. CEO's are already foreseeing this as the next big earner, a way to earn huge profits from doing very little - restrict the market. It is a shame these companies have been so blinded by greed before they even do the research or hit the drawing board.

Alike communist dictator's, these CEO's are so worried about how people use these readers. They are restricting them to only open a particular file of eBook. One that has to be converted, at a cost. The cost is then past on to the consumer as they are now locked into reading only what the company allows them to read. Each time paying a fee for downloading, saving and converting the file. Three steps that are unnecessary and preventing a lot of people (myself included) from investing in the industry.

Some small publishing firms have foreseen which way the wind is blowing and developed their own reader with no restrictions. Hardly brain surgery you might think, others have gone further into implementing the much loved and easy to use 'SD card," as a way of saving and transferring files. This is the same chip you may find in your digital camera, it can securely save video clips, music, pdf's and any other document. A step forward for moving information from your phone/camera to your computer.

Once companies get over their restrictive greed, you can be certain some will fail over the next hurdle...The internet. Nothing new on a hand held device although only one company that I know provides free wifi on a hand held and that is the much loved/hated 'Apple.' The new ipod touch does just that offers users a free wireless internet once they have purchased and set up the ipod touch. While the speed of the service reminds us all what dial up was like during business hours, the quality of video' on sites such as YouTube is unmatchable. After testing the device I was impressed and only one factor prevented me from acting on impulse the ipod touch is not geared towards eBooks.
It does everything else well, but lacks an 'e-ink' screen that allow people to read text from a screen without the strain on the eye.

In recent months speculation over the release of eBook reader by apple has been growing over the web. The timing for this much desired product couldn't be better. An who better than Apple to reap the rewards of several years of failure in a industry that was set from the get-go. The iTablet or so it has been rumored to be named has been much anticipated. I for one was disappointed to not see it released in January 2008. An insider has also been rumored to suggest that there have been unforeseen problems with launching the revolutionary product.

I for one, am hopeful and holding my breath for Apple's eBook reader. For everyone else in the world like me, this could be the device we have anticipated for years.

Mixing Shellac - Making the Cut

Mixing shellac is simple, although you may wonder why you'd want to when it can be purchased premixed. Shellac has a six month shelf life once mixed with alcohol using an older solution of mixed shellac will result in longer drying times and more prone to water spotting.

Shellac flakes are the raw material of mixed shellac and when stored away from heat and sunlight offer a much longer shelf life. By buying shellac in flake form you can mix only what you intend to use.

To make a solution, shellac flakes are mixed with denatured alcohol. The amount of shellac and alchol can vary depending how thick or thin you want the mix to be. It is worth keeping in mind that the thinner shellac is easier to apply smoothly and dries a lot faster. Once mixed the shellac flakes start to dissolve almost immediately. To make a pint of sealer use the 2:16 ratio (2 oz. of shellac flakes dissolved in 16 oz. of alcohol).

The SD card and the eBook industry

While publishers face many short fourth comings with the eBook market, many large electronic companies have recently released their own digital eBook readers. Sony has been trying to become the iPod of the book world for the past three years, yet it's latest improvements of its electronic book readers are disappointing to say the least.

In a technologically progressive society Sony's new product will stand out like sore thumb offering an abundance of restrictions (imposed by Sony) and a reminder of what technology was, ten or more years ago.

While Sony continues to fail miserably, other companies are starting to understand the complexities of this foreseen market. Franklin and Palm seem to have been successful in their PDA versions of electronic readers. Unlike the Sony reader, the existing PDA's have the ability to surf the web, send email, and open files without restrictions.

The E-ink screen is nice touch for trying to improve the experience of reading on-screen. Using no backlight and sharp text similar to quality of a laser printer. Could these little touches attract the masses to the efficient advantages of reading on a screen. Although the sales on eBooks are growing, they still account only a fraction of the market.

Recently Amazon launched its own digital book reader, 'Kindle.' On sale for $399 US, it stores up to 200 books on its standard memory. What's different from other portable media devices, is the Kindle does not need to be loaded with content from a PC. Instead content will arrive via wireless. A nice innovation, but not great to debit users for content that is available free of charge to other web users. Even sending a file already purchased, users will incur a ten cent charge for sending over the wireless network. Every user is granted a Kindle email address to send Word and PDF documents that the device automatically converts into a readable file.

On the plus side, the Kindle has buttons that link it directly to the Oxford American Dictionary and Wikipedia. The memory is extendable by the SD card, a small chip that digital camera users are now very familiar with.

For an electronic reader to be successful, the media stored on it needs to be accessible and trusted. The SD card has allowed users to open, share and store a variety of media. This card played a big role in the transition from manual to digital photography. Can the same card revolutionize the eBook industry. The timing of introducing a new unified media format couldn't be better, as the previous era of tapes has almost completely been phased out. Could the SD card one day replace CD's and Dvd's, grant all people unrestricted and easily accessible access to all formats of media on one little card measuring a little over two centimeters.