Posted on January 11, 2010 by by benrichter

There have been conflicting reports when it comes to whether or not the electronic book readers will survive through the years or if it is just a passing phase.  In some places you will read that the eReaders will most likely become obsolete in the next few years; however, that is not what the technology experts are saying.  In fact these expert analysts are saying the opposite.  They feel by 2014 the eReader industry will be a billion dollar industry, not only surrounding the sales of the readers themselves, but also including the books, skins, and other accessories these books require. 

Where opinions differ is on which electronic readers are going to survive over time.
One expert feels in the next ten years electronic readers are going to dramatically change.  We are already seeing some next generation models hit the stores such as the Kindle II with its upgraded abilities.  We are also seeing more of the readers hitting stores with 3G technology.
Not only are we seeing these changes, but many others as well.  Some of the reader’s capabilities have blended with MP3 players. In another year they will blend with video players.  In fact Apple has stated they will be releasing their own idea of the eReader called the Apple Tablet.  The tablet still has to get approval from Steve Jobs before it is released, but one thing is for certain.  Apple is working on their own electronic book reader, and if Apple is getting into the game eReaders simply cannot be a phase.
Apple is not the only company to begin adding in their two cents regarding eReaders.  We’re seeing more and more electronic devices pick up on the reading options.  The Pixel Qi is a hybrid device that offers a small netbook appearance with E ink and LCD displays.  It will allow you to listen to music, surf the net, and read any of the available eBooks.
4G wireless is becoming more popular and it will be widely available by 2013.  It means the eBooks will come out with new generations to handle the new technology.  Another reason we think eReaders are not just a phase comes in the form of other online media.  Already people are going to Facebook, Twitter, Yahoo, MSN and other sites to get their news updates and keep in touch with friends. 

As each year passes more people are finding Hulu and YouTube, among others, are perfect for their television watching needs.  For music we have an online radio station called Pandora.  All of these examples point to one thing- that electronic book readers are here to stay and more people will find a method that suits their every need, from reading electronic books to listening to music while they do so.

The Future of Electronic Book Readers: Is It Just a Passing Phase, 5.0 out of 5 based on 2 ratings

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