Ideas & Opinions

Books for the mobile worm

By James on 08 October 2008

LONDON, England – Now here’s an interesting little concept – the mobile book reader. Vodafone, who’s behind www.gospoken.com has, according to the chaps on Stuff.tv, announced that its to start selling ebooks on the book download site. This will go alongside the audio books already available and all are designed to work on your phone. Natty.

I want to see it. I really do. Five years ago I dismissed the concept
of electronic books and paper completely out of hand with a
“not-in-my-lifetime” style declaration. Today though my attitude is
changing. Amazon’s Kindle seems to be picking up some pace, and there
are others too gathering popularity.

Think of the school kids who no
longer need to break their backs with hefty tomes (and where do they
get the chance to build up their strength? I used to cycle seven miles
to school, complete with hefty tomes). Still, call that part evolution.
Or something.

Back to the point, books on your phone. What do you think? I’m not sure
but I am keen to see. Audio books I get and I think would – though have yet to try – work brilliantly on my phone, but the written word? On that, I am still
without a verdict. Your thoughts?

Photo from chitrasudar

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Andrew Smith Says:
October 8th, 2008 at 5:00 pm

So far I’ve shied away from dedicated ebook readers (the Kindle, the Sony reader etc.) as not quite mature products, but I have used mobireader on my N95. It’s mostly for Project Gutenburg stuff, but I’m currently reading Neal Stephenson’s latest in parallel (hardback at home, phone in cafes, trains etc.) It’s a bit of hassle keeping synchronised, but it’s certainly easier than lugging the book around. Whether I’d do the same with a book that’s physically smaller is another question…

jay Says:
October 9th, 2008 at 1:57 am

You can get a feel for what it must be like from http://www.booksinmyphone.com

They package up pubic domain and creative commons books for regular cell phones. If you have internet connectivity a few clicks at mobile.booksinmyphone.com will install a book and you will be up and reading.

Their reader has various font sizes, a night mode, and very simple intuitive reading controls. I’ve been reading heaps of their books over the last year or so.

Giles Says:
October 10th, 2008 at 12:55 am

I spent my life reading books in bed at night before sleeping. After I got married my wife would complain that she could not sleep while my reading lamp was switched on. For some time I gave up reading in bed. Then I discovered that I could read mobipocket ebooks on my Nokia and it would not bother my wife. Soon you realise that its actually really much easier than a paper book in many ways. It’s also very often a lot cheaper

james Says:
October 10th, 2008 at 12:58 am

Cool, but if my wife saw me bringing my phone to bed me, and my phone, would have to find somewhere else to sleep. That doesn’t mean I’m not going to try though.

Giles Says:
October 10th, 2008 at 4:12 pm

haha