Apple to do eBooks?

We tend to field a lot of inside information here at Engadget HQ, but we've gotten not one, but two bits from separate, trustworthy insiders that Apple's not satisfied merely vending Audible's books-on-digital-audio solution. With the iRex iLiad and Sony PRS-500 Portable Reader both right around the corner, is it possible the next iPod might catch the eBook bug? We'd say the possibility is very real, since according to a source at a major publishing house, they were just ordered to archive all their manuscripts -- every single one -- and send them over to Apple's Cupertino HQ. A separate trusted source let us know that the next iPod will have a substantial amount of screen real estate (as we'd all suspected), as well as a book reading mode that pumps up the contrast and drops into monochrome for easy reading. It's no e-ink, sure, but a widescreen iPod would be well suited for the purpose, and according to our source, the books you'd buy (presumably through iTunes) won't have an expiration -- kind of like Apple-bought music, as well, but contradictory to the movie rental scheme we've heard rumored. Could they please just rename it the iTunes Music, Movies, and Book Store and get it over with already?

[Darth_Poo @ Jul 22nd 2006 2:09PM]

Yes, but can we still listen to music while we read. I might want to listen to an audio book while reading it, or something.

[O.I. @ Jul 22nd 2006 2:10PM]

Here's hoping the battery life of this supposed "UberPod" actually makes this worth the time. With all the features keep piling on this next iPod, it'll be a miracle if they figure out a way to let me use the thing all day without having to plug it in.

My current iPod barely survives a day at work listening to music and a 40min train commute there and back.

[Andrew Stone @ Jul 22nd 2006 2:13PM]

I really do not feel like these new offerings will catch on the way music did. Most of us use our mp3 players while getting from point a to point b... so, unless you are on a form on mass transit that a) doesn't reqire your attention and b) doesn't bump so much that you can't read, this is pretty uselss.

I'm sure in big citys, the subways could work here (although then you run the risk of somebody swiping the thing). But for most of the rest of the world, getting around means driving or walking, and you can pull off some Gnarls Barkley while doing that, but any reading or movies just won't work, and honestly, who is going to replace their TV or Laptop with an iPod for movie watching, and who is gonna prefer an iPod over a paperback?

Not to mention... movies... i want to watch in one sitting. I don't wanna catch 17 minutes of it on the way to work, shut it off, and save the rest for tomorrow.

The iPod works for music. I'm sure it will PLAY movies and display books. I'm just not sure i'd wanna pay to view them on there.

[Andre @ Jul 22nd 2006 2:14PM]

I'd be sold on it. Here's hoping they could get textbooks on it. Then I'd be even more appreciative of it.

[Andrew Stone @ Jul 22nd 2006 2:22PM]

Sorry to double comment but...

This book feature would have to be exectued perfectly for anybody to use it more than once.

There had better be a book marking feature.
It would be nice to be able to highight and / or "write" in your books some how.

And...

There are very few books i read over and over, unlike most music or movies i own. Granted, there are the Da Vinci Codes of the world that i'll read a couple of times, but usually books get passed on after i'm done with them. "Hey, Dad, check this book out!" would now require dad to go purchase it too? I don't like it.

What about textbooks? It'd be AMAZING to not have to lug three of these around campus every day, and throwing them on an iPod would be cool if you could highlight and make "notes" of some kind... but then you couldn't sell it back to the book store at the end of the semester.

It seems like a lot of my favorite things about reading are going out the window so i can stare at the words on a three inch screen? Having lots of books with me at once would be nice, yes. But other than that, whats the advantage?

[Chris @ Jul 22nd 2006 2:31PM]

agh that thing again! i'm sure that if Apple will make an iPod like that, they won't make a click wheel on the supposed touch screen. last time i checked you couldnt make one spot on a touch screen have more than one command without some sort of switch mode feature ei. you go to scroll through the menu and you un-intentionally hit play, skip to the last song and go back to the main menu

[Josh @ Jul 22nd 2006 2:46PM]

I'm sensing a merger... iMazon? :)

[Andy @ Jul 22nd 2006 2:55PM]

Er, I'm not a big fan of the suggested big long name. How about something nicer like iStore, iShop, or iMedia?

If they were to combine OLEDs (foldable) with amazing functionality (basically a given with the iPod) then this would be an entertainment hub for sure. Could you imagine having a tiny, iPod nano sized device for just music, and then being able to extend the screen and watch videos/read eBooks? How cool would that be? ...As for the OLED rant I could've sworn I read something about OLED iPod rumors on Engadget...

[dave95 @ Jul 22nd 2006 2:56PM]

Think about the trees people, the trees, save the trees!! Al Gore is not on Apple's board for nothing you know.

All seriousness, this is more like an extra throw-in feature to the next iPod. More like the Notes Feature on Steroids. You could listen to music and read notes now so won't be a problem.

[Justin Streufert @ Jul 22nd 2006 2:59PM]

Combined with text-to-speech, you could have it read your book to you during times when you can't look at the screen.

And to Chris: Touch panels can definitely distinguish between gestures to perform different commands in the same space. For instance, on my MacBook trackpad I can click, double-click, drag, scroll and right-click, all in the same space, depending on the character of the touch. (One or two fingers, and a quick tap versus a dragging motion).

In addition, Apple's latest patent refers to distinguishing between a soft press and a hard press to perform different functions. If Apple implements this well, it could be great.

[Azhar @ Jul 22nd 2006 3:02PM]

Any dates Engadget.....

[Ray @ Jul 22nd 2006 3:21PM]

It all makes sense now!!! The iBook is reborn.
It's no coincidence that Apple replaced the iBooks with the new MacBooks.

[Jp @ Jul 22nd 2006 3:46PM]

I just wrote in my blog that I think we'll be seeing two new devices. A Video iPod is what everyone is talking about. The second device i foresee is a UMPC-like iPod (almost like the size of a Newton). Apple did apply for patents on technology that would go into such a device and it would be much better to read ebooks on.

[68newyorker @ Jul 22nd 2006 3:53PM]

From Andrew Stone: "I really do not feel like these new offerings will catch on the way music did. Most of us use our mp3 players while getting from point a to point b... so, unless you are on a form on mass transit that a) doesn't reqire your attention and b) doesn't bump so much that you can't read, this is pretty uselss."

I whole heartedly disagree with this statement. That may be how you and those you know use these devices but doesn't necessarily apply to the rest of us.

I kept a pocket pc around for 2 years expressly for the purpose of reading ebooks. I currently read books on my Tablet PC but, even at 3.5lbs I consider it to heavy to be very comfortable for the purpose. I've considered by a used Pocket PC again just for the purpose of reading books. However, I consider that a real waste since I don't have any use for it's other functions.

I would love an all in one MEDIA device (not an overly complicated PDA with media functions. My cell phone takes care of contacts and calender, thank you) that could play music, video and ebooks that was attached to a good store where I could buy product for it at a reasonable price. You think it's useless, but I like the idea of reading in bed without having to flip pages.

If Apple delivers this in an easy to user format (their forte), with a large amount of purchasable media at a reasonable price (so far so good with music and tv episodes on iTunes) and leaves a non-drm option on the device so I can grab free stuff from places like the Gutenberg(sp) project (again, so far so good with music and video) I'm liable to stop bashing the iPod.

[Ed C @ Jul 22nd 2006 3:57PM]

I’ve been waiting for someone to do eBooks right. I actually prefer eBooks to paper books, especially reference material. But I don’t want to read it off an iPod. I would just hope the make available on a computer (I’m sure they would), and have functionality like highlighting and search.

[Brendan @ Jul 22nd 2006 3:58PM]

Macsimum Next detailed an Apple eBook inteface patent a while ago. You can turn the pages manually by ribbing the screen, sooooooooo Apple, and IMO sooooooooo cool!!

[siMac @ Jul 22nd 2006 4:01PM]

I think 'The iTunes Multimedia Store' would be less of a mouthful, plus they wouldn't have to change the acronym... ;-)

[Brendan @ Jul 22nd 2006 4:06PM]

Ribbing?? Sorry, I meant Rubbing, or even dragging.

[LongshotX @ Jul 22nd 2006 4:25PM]

Zune seems way more interesting. Are ebooks even all that popular?

[Adam @ Jul 22nd 2006 4:40PM]

iBorders?

[jesusfreak @ Jul 22nd 2006 4:47PM]

a good name would be iTunes Media Store, which would make sense
somehow i dont think whatever apple releases will look like that, whether it be the 6th gen ipod, pda or whatever

[Julie @ Jul 22nd 2006 5:52PM]

I would LOVE it if they came out with this.

[ALongchamps @ Jul 22nd 2006 5:56PM]

Andre, I completely agree. Textbooks on that thing would be awesome. Imagine just being able to download a book for so much less than what it would cost in print version. Not to mention the fact that you could carry so many more with you.

[Rob @ Jul 22nd 2006 5:58PM]

I've read many, many books on my iPods (Photo and Video) using the Notes feature. The scroll wheel allows for one-handed reading in the palm of your hand, which is pretty revolutionary. There's a 3rd party app that turn any text file into 'pages' in the Notes directory. The notes are hyperlinked together so you can open the next page by clicking. It's really great and much more compact than carry around a big paperback. I used to use to read on my ferry ride to Seattle while I listened to music. Having the backlight on all the time did kill the battery pretty damn fast, but I just charged it at work every day and was fine for two 2+ hour trips of reading and listening.

[phil shapiro @ Jul 22nd 2006 6:34PM]

such an ebook seems ideally suited to children's stories, it would seem. (i.e. the short form, rather than the long form, of books.)

[hoyce @ Jul 22nd 2006 6:41PM]

The problem here will be screen real estate.
The description so far of the size of the display for the next gen video ipod is not large enough. I want to be able to read a full page of text at a time with no need for scrolling. I don't think the ipod will give me that.

An Apple Tablet on the other hand would be a perfect application for this, presuming they got battery life right.

[bean @ Jul 22nd 2006 6:47PM]

I wonder if you people bagging on ebooks have ever really tried it. I am a big reader and loved the move over to electronic reading. It started when I got a treo - it is the best to be able to just whip out your phone at any time you have a down minute or two and read for a bit. The screen on a dedicated device like this would be way better than on a treo, but even on that little screen it is just so much more convienient than having to carry around a book with you all the time. I currently have over 100 books on my phone that I can read at anytime. Many of them I enjoying reading over. So if you haven't tried it you should.

The biggest problem that I have found is the lack of availability and the stupid DRMs that they put on the things you buy legally. But if apple is able to convince publishers to finally get on the ebook wagon i am all for it - especially if they don't use DRM (i'll believe that when i see it)

[Jon Shipman @ Jul 22nd 2006 6:59PM]

ooo, I may be inclined to purchase if eBooks were an option. I've been meaning to read more.

[JeffK @ Jul 22nd 2006 7:05PM]

I read ebooks on my Handspring Visor, 160x160 (I think) black & white resolution, with a backlight. I carry several books in it when I travel. Right now I have "Huckleberry Finn", Bram Stoker's "Dracula" and Thomas Stevens's "Around the World on a Bicycle".

I enjoy it, but nobody's ever looked over on a plane and said, "I'm gonna try that!"

I hate to say it but I think the market is as miniscule as the screen.

[macewan @ Jul 22nd 2006 7:19PM]

If it browses the web with an acceptable level of comfort, supports pdf (no doubt it will) I would have no problem dropping $500-$900 on it.

[Tim @ Jul 22nd 2006 7:32PM]

I don't know if Apple's doing this, or not.. but they do have a lot of experience with bi-color displays since the original Macs were all black-and-white (look closely, that gray you percieved was half-toning), so maybe they could pull it off.

[mark @ Jul 22nd 2006 7:35PM]

imagine the benefits to the education departments

[Robert Mitchell @ Jul 22nd 2006 7:58PM]

For E-Books with no DRM check out Baen Publishing. [ http://www.bar.baen.com ] There's a *Free* Library to get you introduced to the Authors from which you can download any of the books there for free.

The Webscriptions area is where you purchase the e-books and you can read at least three chapters of any e-book they have for sale before you purchase. Plus, they let you choose between [I believe it's] six formats to download your books.

One caveat, Baen's Bar is addictive for readers.

[adam @ Jul 22nd 2006 7:58PM]

It would be my dream if Marvel and DC comics would team up with Apple and sell their content on iTunes. I would love to read comic books on the go with my iPod. I know that the screen is small but I am sure that they can figure out a way to view them with no problem.

[Orchid @ Jul 22nd 2006 8:00PM]

A lot of people are viewing the iPod from a very self-centered view. They ask themselves if they'd want new features and decide no one will want them if they don't. This isn't about each user. It's about all potential users. Additional features won't change the appeal the iPod has for a core audience of those who listen to content but it may persuade other potential buyers to choose an iPod for its flexibility and future use potential. Right now, Apple has over 70% of the MP3 player market. If they want to keep that marketshare or get new buyers, they have to offer more than cheaper players.

That being said, I'm surprised even the most jaded reader hasn't seen the advantage of a handheld electronic reader on occasion. For reading at night in bed, it's far more comfortable than propping yourself up and using a light with a conventional book. You can hold it in one hand and require no external lighting. There's also potential for vertical markets and student use (imagine being able to search textbook content on the fly or being in college and carrying an iPod instead of a bag full of large books). It's not only about people on public transportation with time to kill.

[Terry @ Oct 3rd 2007 7:46AM]

I thought it only appropriate to reply to this thread using my iPod Touch. I am an avid reader who would welcome an ebook program on an iPod as I was able to very leisurely read this forum then why not a book?

[bob @ Jul 22nd 2006 8:35PM]

ipod is music play, will be good at all for a ebook reader, apple
show focus on what ipod does best, play videos and mp3s!

[sharonlives @ Jul 22nd 2006 8:37PM]

Anyone ever tried to lug around one the latest Harry Potter books? What a backache!

I hope the ebook feature works out well. I'm definitely interested.

[blackout @ Jul 22nd 2006 9:01PM]

file this one under the obvious files.

IF theres a new ipod

it WILL have something like this.
it's an obviously more simple way to go than video, or full computing power.

and i wrote that while baked. go me.

[John Koetsier @ Jul 22nd 2006 9:48PM]

This is not only likely, but almost guaranteed ... when Apple sold their student information system division, PowerSchool, to Pearson, they stipulated that Pearson would develop educational content for the iPod.

I wrote about it a few weeks back when the deal happened:
http://www.sparkplug9.com/bizhack/index.php/2006/05/26/why-apple-sold-powerschool/

Educational content for the iPod will be video, audio, and textual ... iPod will be a cheap media viewer type of computer for education.

[sam @ Jul 22nd 2006 9:55PM]

i just read 37 or so comments on this page, from the screen of my 12" powerbook. the text column of this very page would have fit nicely within the confines of an iPod turned lengthwise with a screen that covered the whole surface of the device.

i'm just saying.....

[I,Robot @ Jul 22nd 2006 10:16PM]

@ “Andrew Stone”, please make-up your mind and be consistence in your statements.

Didn’t you just write a 5 paragraph diatribe about how “useless the new video/e-Book iPod” would be? Now you’ve changed your mind, with a second diatribe on “how AMAZING” it would be to have large collection of college textbooks all in one easy to carry location.

Um… duh! I do believe that’s IS the WHOLE POINT of e-books, don’t you think? eBooks aren’t just for reading DaVinci Code, the latest romance and Sex novels. Books weigh a ton and take up TOO much space – especially computer books. This is BRILLANT – you can have/own a frigging Library in the palm your hand!!!!

Doesn’t seem so pointless NOW, does it?

[Ken @ Jul 22nd 2006 10:37PM]

iTMS, "iTunes Media Store"

[Don @ Jul 22nd 2006 11:27PM]

I've been reading ebooks for over 5 years and have a collection of over 250. Like some of the other avid readers, I have read them more than once. I presently have them on a Palm T/X and a Treo 90. The text is much nicer on the T/X, but the Treo 90 fits easier in a pocket. I purchased most of my books from eReader, but also have many from the Online Books page. It really is great to carry around 250 books and be able to access any one at anytime. I also have an original ebook which is now an expensive bookstop.

[AristoWorks @ Jul 22nd 2006 11:54PM]

I've been waiting for a nice multi-use portable eBook reader for a long time! Thanks to apple this will be coming true.

I've got hundreds of eBooks and as much as I love the convenience of instant gratification - now I'm not confined to the space of my desk to get my "read" on.

thanks apple!

[James @ Jul 23rd 2006 12:24AM]

It won't happen and it shouldn't happen. For one, the whole reason behind the ereaders is that they use epaper which is reflective not illuminated. No one wants to read text off a lightbulb, that's the whole point.

Couple that with massively lower battery life (sure, you can run a itsy weenie screen off a iPod battery for a few hours, but not something you'll both want to hold and be able to use long enough to read a book.

Dream on, Apple.

[n2 @ Jul 23rd 2006 12:41AM]

Sounds like Apple's Knowledge Navigator is finally seeing the light of day.

[twoff @ Jul 23rd 2006 1:27AM]

An 'ebook' functionality for the ipod might be better used for things like blogs, magazines, even newspapers.

Treat them much like podcasts are done now, have them automatically downloaded to the ipod.

Would you subscribe to the New York Times, Sports Illustrated, etc. if they provided an iPod edition that was a mix of text, audio and video?

[Spad @ Jul 23rd 2006 3:14AM]

I have no idea whether or not the next iPod iteration will include ebook functionality, but those who think it's an unworkable idea obviously have no practical experience with the various small screen formats. I've owned an original RocketBook for several years and have read hundreds of books and articles on it. Today, my favorite ebook reader is a Palm T-3 with TibrPro reader software installed. This is a GREAT little reader with variable font size, colors, and perfectly smooth auto-scrolling. This allows me to read comfortably in any light without even turning pages.

The reading experience is certainly different with ebooks compared to hard copy, but both formats have their advantages which is why many serious ebook aficionados own some titles in both forms.

[expodition @ Jul 23rd 2006 5:56AM]

I think this is cool - although content is definitely crucial.

Personally, I'd prefer to read and access quick snapshots about particular subjects on my iPod rather than read a novel.

Since April, I have been offering downloadable text-based content for all iPods, (apart from the Shuffle and early models), from my web site.

These are mainly guides that people traveling from place to place would find useful - although I've also got sports guides such as a Wimbledon Tennis guide (which took me ages to create) also available for free download.

I call these Pod SnapShots rather than eBooks because that's what they are - a snapshot of a particular subject that you can flick through quickly to get the information that you need - be that airport guides, store guides, etc.

These are ideally suited to iPods screen size and resolution - any document bigger/longer than that needs a much better screen IMHO.