e-reader happenings

While the blog highlights many of the digital happenings affecting our industry, there is often more going on than we have a chance to cover each week. Here is a round-up of some of the recent e-reader news.

• According to Computerworld, Sony may be working on a device to compete with the Apple iPad.
• According to Engadget, Prime View International (PVI), maker of e-paper displays for e-readers, will introduce color, flexible, and touchscreen displays later this year.
• Asustek is planning to launch its first e-reader, the Eee Book, at the Computex Taipei 2010 electronics show beginning on June 1. PC World says that Asustek is also planning to launch a tablet to compete with the iPad. The tablet could be available later this year.
• According to the New York Times, the JooJoo tablet is now in full production. Meanwhile, a legal battle between the creators of the device is ongoing.
• According to Engadget, LG is working on a device to compete with Apple and Amazon. Details have not been released but the device could hit the market by April.
• Micro-Star International (MSI) is preparing to launch a tablet later this year.
• The Bits Blog has an interesting posting about whether or not e-readers really cause eye strain
• DigitalBeat and GreenBiz discuss the “green” aspects of the Apple iPad and if e-reader devices can help save the planet
  

Sprint and Samsung’s new eco-friendly phone

A recent article from Yahoo Finance features an interesting new phone made from eco-friendly bio-plastic materials that will soon be introduced by Sprint and Samsung. The phone will be the first in the U.S. to be constructed of such materials. According to the article the outer casing is made from a bio-plastic material that is made from corn, the outer packaging is made from 70 percent recycled materials, and the how-to manual is virtual.

Book Industry Environmental Council announces goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions

For the first time, the book industry has set goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This week the Book Industry Environmental Council announced that they are aiming for a 20% reduction by 2020 and an 80% reduction by 2050. A posting from Publishers Weekly reports that paper accounts for 65% of the U.S. book industry’s carbon footprint and returns are another significant factor. If the industry can reduce emissions by 20%, it would save up to 2.5 million metric tons a year which is the equivalent of the annual emissions of roughly 450,000 cars. Pete Datos, chair of the Council’s climate subcommittee commented, “I have confidence we can reduce returns dramatically. We have to work together to do that in a way that is equitable for the whole industry. We have better methods to forecast, we can get books printed and shipped faster than ever before.” The announcement did not discuss e-books but we can expect that digital options will also play an important role in the industry’s effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Paper or Plastic?

E-books are supposed to be green, right? They are supposed to be an environmentally friendly solution to traditional print. Some colleagues from NACS sent me a really thought provoking article that appeared in the Environmental Science & Technology Journal last month. The article does a life-cycle analysis of print sources (books and newspapers) versus their electronic equivalents delivered on an e-reader. The author, Erika Engelhaupt, did some fascinating research into the topic. While a clear-cut solution to the question of "paper or plastic" was not forthcoming, I found the piece did give me something to think about in terms of assessing the short and long term environmental impacts of the two competing technologies. I thought the overall approach to the life-cycle analysis itself was quite interesting, particularly in these times where new devices (e.g., cell phones) come out so fast that many of us find ourselves moving toward increasingly shorter adoption cycles. I think Engelhaupts piece gives one a moment's pause to think about the true meaning and impact of green -- so that we might make more informed decisions, even if the answers or conclusions are not clear cut. An interesting read.