The Wi Fi Sony Daily Edition device will launch in the US in Dec though it will be sometime before it is available in the UK - allowing Amazon to get a foothold in the meantime. In the UK Sony have released a new version of its Sony Reader which allows for annotation. Also available in the UK is the Cool-ER. The really interesting development for libraries is mentioned by the wonderful Gizmodo here
"My favorite part of Sony's Reader announcement was probably Library Finder, powered by OverDrive, which lets you check out eBooks from your local library—and "thousands" have signed up—for free, direct to your reader. But there's a catch.
There aren't an unlimited number of ebooks—each library has an actual "stock" of ebooks (because the library had to pay for each copy). So, if they have a stock of 5 books, and they're all checked out, you have to wait in a queue for somebody else's book to expire when they hit the 21-day mark (when they automatically expire). When it's available, you get an email, and then you can check it out. You also need a valid library card, BTW, so you (theoretically) can't check out books from the New York Public Library—who's launching their stuff with the service today—if you live in Montana.
But overall, it's pretty great if it works as advertised—free books from your library for your ebook reader."
How long before we see this in the UK?
1 comment:
LibraryFinder sounds like a re-invention of the Netlibrary model, where libraries buy a number of single-user licences. The Sony ebook reader will apparently even work with the Netlibrary download format.
However it highlights the issue that it is these different ways of licensing ebooks that are hindering their widespread acceptance. For example another supplier I could mention doesn't allow downloads but does allow unlimited concurrent readers. To the Sony devices's credit, provided that its SIM slot allows at least 3G it should be compatible with that supplier as well, but the human operating the device needs to understand and be able to work with the different licensing restrictions.
From a library point of view trying to manage the different restrictions on each suppliers ebooks doesn't make life easier, let alone explaining them to users. It also encourages users in copyright theft instead. Common standards often foster market acceptance where IT is involved (eg. MP3) and I think something similar is needed here. Even the suppliers would benefit if libraries bought more ebooks!
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