The Vook Blog Vook: Read it, Watch it.

A new generation of ereaders are about to hit the market.

Kindle changed the ebook game and eInk was supposed to respond to people’s complaints about the difficulty of prolonged reading on screen. But as we quickly found, we want more than the ability to carry around hundred of books at a time. We want color. We want video. We want hyperlinks.  We want our ereaders to take advantage of all types of technology, not just the ability to replicate a book on a digital device.

Not that we don’t also want traditional books, with their unique smell, and the ability to read them in the bath without fear of electrocution, but maybe digital devices can one day inspire our affection too . . .

For months now, we’ve heard rumors about the Apple iTablet and how it’s going to revolutionize the computing and printing industries. Speculation claims the iTablet is going to resemble a 10″ iPhone/iPod Touch with an operating system. We could see color, music, video, hyperlinks — possibly even a phone.

However, an iTablet won’t address one of the major pluses of the Kindle – for many people, reading on a screen is too difficult for it to be worth buying a tablet versus sticking to their computer.

Athena by Barnes and Noble

Enter the Athena Nook and the Alex. Both Athena Nook, developed by Barnes and Noble, and Alex, from Spring Design, offer dual screens — one LCD and one eInk. I believe the designers are hoping that by offering both screen formats on one device, they will be allowing people to eat their cake and have it too. One interesting feature to note about the Alex is that it is built entirely on Android, Google’s open source mobile operating system.

As for when these products will be hitting the market…we are still waiting for an official announcement from Apple. Spring Design only announced the Alex today, and again, rumor has it that Barnes and Noble will officially announce the Athena Nook tomorrow. So, no launch dates yet. But none of these products are going to be great without great content. And that’s where Vook enters the picture: We have the platform and the ability to craft stories for all of these players that can really let them shine. We have to keep reminding people that we’re not here to kill the book. We’re here to make new books into products that people really enjoy — and maybe even treasure.

And while we all sit around the camp fire discussing ereaders, what about econtent? Other than vooks, what content has been invented to fully take advantage of new technologies?

UPDATE: According to Engadget who’s source is the WSJ, the Barnes and Noble ereader is going to be called the Nook and cost $259.

Related posts:

1. B&N Steps Up