A Windows 8 e-reader: If someone builds it, will they come?
Summary: There are new hints that Windows 8-based dedicated e-readers sporting the Metro UI are in the works.
I found it interesting, like The Register did, that Microsoft is continuing to tout e-readers as one of the platforms on which its Metro user interface will be available.
Microsoft Chief Operating Officer Kevin Turner, who kicked off the keynote at the Microsoft Convergence conference on March 19, mentioned readers as one of a handful of form factors where Metro will play. Turner made the same observation last summer when he keynoted the Microsoft Partner Conference. Here's the slide he used last July to make the point:
The "One Microsoft" message which company brass increasingly is championing involves a consistent Metro UI on phones, tablets, slates, readers, PCs and TVs. The one form factor where we haven't yet seen a Metro implementation (I believe) is e-readers.
The e-reader mention is interesting, as Microsoft officials have been sending pretty strong signals for a while now that the Redmondians had no intentions of playing directly in the e-reader space. Bill Hill, one of the movers and shakers behind Microsoft's ClearType and a big backer of e-reading, was let go from Microsoft in 2009. In August 2011, Microsoft announced it was going to eliminate its Reader product as of August 2012. Launched in 2000, Microsoft Reader offered access to eBooks on any Windows-based device - including PDAs and smartphones - in the company's own .lit format.
Just a couple of years ago, Microsoft was touting Windows Embedded Compact as its operating system for "consumption" devices (like e-readers) and Windows as its OS for "creation"-focused devices. Abruptly last year, the Softies halted their proclamations around this positioning, and instead began touting Windows 8 as a "no compromises" operating system that could switch seamlessly between creation and consumption.
Now Microsoft is touting idea that there will be e-readers that makes use of the Metro UI. I'm assuming that means they will run Windows 8, as Microsoft seems to be limiting OEMs from putting the Windows Phone OS on screens above a certain size (not exactly sure what the cut-off is these days, given the large, 4.7-inch Windows Phone Titan screen). And I'd think these coming Windows 8 Metro e-readers, if and when they materialize, could be running on ARM.
There was some speculation when Microsoft's Brandon Watson left the Windows Phone team to join Amazon's Kindle Cross Platform team as to whether Amazon might have a Windows-based e-reader in the wings. Amazon is working on a Windows 8 Kindle app, but I haven't heard anything about Microsoft's neighbor doing a dedicated Windows 8 e-reader. But there's nothing to stop Amazon from putting Windows 8 on a new Fire or other Kindle...
Any other thoughts, guesses and/or hopes as to what kinds of Metro/Windows 8 e-readers may materialize this year and beyond that have a hope against the Kindle and Barnes & Noble Nook?
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Talkback
Pricing will probably be too high!
That's ridiculous...
I think readers are a waste of time, and it's unlikely MS would waste time trying to corner that market, when they've already gotten Amazon to make a Windows 8 app.
Only people who don't read can't see the purpose of an e-reader.
reading
The formats are fascinating, to be true, but I just can't justify spending $2-300 for one and the
I think it is conceivable ...
... that MS could come out with a reader version of WOA. One rumor that I heard, was that Windows Phone 8 will be a specialized version of WOA for small screens. A cheap, low end version of WOA could satisfy a certain class of consumers, who do a lot of media consumption, and don't require machines with that much horsepower. Also these machines could be good for the education market, and support 1 device per child programs. (Of course I'm talking about readers that are comparable to the Kindle Fire, not E-ink type reader devices.)
One thing I hope tech companies do, is push for public schools to be run by private contractors - similar to what occurs in agencies like the Department of Defense. Public schools should no longer be run by bureaucrats, because we will never be able to get any lasting efficiency from them. This would be a win-win for tech companies, as this would increase the quality of education in public schools, and the competition among contractors would require them to acquire computer tech in order to compete.
Private bureacrats?
PC Tablets, Probably. ARM Tablets Not
What niche would a Win8 e-reader fill? if it could bridge the gap between nook and kindle by being able to open both mobi and epub, then maybe. If not then no.
I think it's the wrong guy...
MJ, I think you meant Bill Hill.
Bill Hilf does work at Microsoft but he's more interested in clouds than typography.
Hill vs. Hilf
Too late!
Major players are well established and cheap products are slowly pouring in. Profit margins will decrease fast. Also, Microsoft would have to make a library agnostic device since they don't have the store front neither the deals with publishers.
I think they would make better use of their money by leveraging their current music/video ecosystem and make it competitive.
I don't get it
They just are late
Being late, even real real late sometimes means being better.
The whole notion of being "late" into one IT market place or another seems to be increasingly mentioned as if its an absolute killer.
It can be a huge negative factor and hard impact on trying to get into that marketplace, no doubt.
But, its not necessarily a killer at all. In fact, in some cases it can mean you win if you are last in, but at least appear ground breaking and innovative in at least some way. Some of those ways can turn out to be startlingly new, sometimes its just better packaging and advertising on some slightly new approach that catches on.
This is proved as a fact.
iPod
iPhone
Android phones
Great examples in the IT field where new players in a well developed field of competition stepped in for the first time and made some serious inroads and profits. And of course new innovation played a roll, as well as some good advertising, packaging and new twists on existing ideas helped.
Lets not get too stressed out about entering the market late. So, it turns out, its never TOO late and sometimes how late dosnt seem to matter a bit if you do it right.
I'd rather have a full fledged 15" tablet that I can read eTextbooks with.
Already a Kindle app for Metro, is a dedicated reader necessary?
I really question whether Windows is suited for something as simple as an eReader stand-alone, though.
No they won't come
While I like the Zune Marketplace subscription model - MS has no books and content providers already have excellent distribution via Apple, Amazon or B&N.
While it is obvious that Win8 is consumer focused and provides portals into their marketplace for content - MS is going to have a very hard time convincing folks that have already purchased large amounts of apps/music/books/etc from these other sources to switch to Win8, especially when I doubt that Win8 devices will be dramatically cheaper than the competition.
eReaders?
What's the point in developing eReaders now? They were all the rage 2 years ago, now sales are slowing, even with aggressive price drop.
Probably not
Amazon should release the Windle!
There's no reason the next version of the Kindle Fire would need to run Android. Google probably isn't too happy with Amazon and the Kindle Fire, anyway. I wonder if Microsoft would be any more willing to work with Amazon on such a device?
WIN8 on Fire?