Strong and exciting the e-reader market is holding steady in the 2nd month of year. It has shown nothing but changes. From companies competing fiercely for a market share, and retailers and publishers hashing it out over the new agency model, the ebb and flow isn't calming anytime soon. Here are some predictions for the rest of 2010.
The Apple iPad hit the gadget market, and the e-reader niche will continually see multi-gadget releases. They are in demand, and netbooks and mobile phones will change to include dual E-ink/LCD screens. This shift will force manufacturers to create new accommodating software and revamp their marketing tactics to come up with the latest and greatest multi-tasking gadget.
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Will color come soon? By the end of the year, Amazon will rid the Kindle of the cumbersome keyboard, and release the next generation to include a colored touch screen and get rid of the glass back pane. This will prevent breakage, give the consumer more flexibility.
E-Ink might lose its market share to up and coming technology. Appreciated and crisp, consumers are ready for color, and E-ink may be replaced by cheaper versions or even different technology. This may include transflective LCD or OLED.
Barnes & Noble set themselves up for a strong 2010. In 2009 the company bought Fictionwise and launched an eBookstore. They saw record sales with the Nook, which by the way sold out. Consumers found reading apps for mobile phones and PCs. Amazon may feel a slight dent because of B & N, but will hold their position in the market. Sony will also stay close behind with new products, better buying experiences and software updates.
With the huge crowd around the Kindle DX, and promises of e-textbooks, the student still might be waiting in line at the bookstore. Northwestern and Suffolk University students complained about shortcomings of the Kindle DX and lack of content during a marketing trial test. They admitted that they would pull out money for an e-reader that will hold e-textbooks, but still might have to wait due to publisher's indecisiveness on how to sell and display the content.
American's will be the biggest contributors to the e-reader market, but there is hope that the international market will grow. It will be exciting to see how the e-reader market will evolve, and how publishers will go about maintaining control on e-books.
Fearless Forecast - eReader Predictions For 2010