Re: Preparing for eBook of New Apple II User's Guide

[D Finnigan <dog_cow@macgui.com>]

Scott Alfter wrote:
> 
> (Veering off on a slightly-related tangent, ePub is the primary format for
> my book collection.  Having recently added an Android tablet to what had
> previously been a stable of iDevices, it's a bit disappointing that the
> Kindle apps for iOS and Android appear to be the only ones that keep
> bookmarks, highlights, etc. synced between devices on different platforms.
>

If we're going to talk about eBooks, here are my thoughts.

I think that eBook readers and the whole ebook thing is still rather
ridiculous. Of course this is to be expected, since this is all still rather
new technology. I think that ultimately an ebook reader should work like so:

It looks like a book and has pages like a book. They will come in various
sizes (paperback to larger size) and with varying numbers of pages (300
pages up to 700 or more).

These pages will be of a material that can change the print on them, that is
to say they will show whatever print you want on them. The pages will be
flexible like paper, but will be strong and tear-resistant. All electronics
will be housed in the book's spine. A display on the inside cover will show
last page read and serve as a bookmark reminder.

The book's battery will be paper-thin and also in the spine. It will receive
charge from the warmth of the reader's hand. The pages will also glow in the
dark for nighttime reading.

Data for the books will also be stored in the spine. The user will pick up
the book and start reading it by opening to the page he was last at, or any
page. Once a book is set, its words will always be shown on the pages. The
pages can go blank when the book is closed to save power.

To change what book to read, the user will hold the book in his hands and
think about what book he wants to read. A brainwave sensor (also in the
book's spine) will detect which book this is, and will change the book's
pages to show the text from this book instead of the old book.

-- 
]DF$
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