Digital Cameras Skiff eReader - Biggest So Far | Skiff eReader - Biggest So Far |
|
|
| Written by Rich McComas | |
 The battle over the eReader space is mostly about two things: exclusive content agreements and form factor, and in the format wars, it looks like Skiff is the biggest and best looking of all of the eReaders announced to date, but we wonder if bigger-is-better makes for a winner in this hotter-than-hot competitive market.
A few years ago, LG showed off a new ePaper enabling technology and a mockup of the "newspaper of the future" and the Skiff is the first to employ the technology that LG actually developed. At the time this technology was developed, however, newspapers were still a dominant and financially successful form of news and information delivery, so we all thought that a large format reader would be required to move newspapers and magazines into the digital revolution. In the intervening years, however, users have learned to receive and filter their news in ever-smaller devices, and so we wonder if the large format display is going save the newspaper and magazine behemoths from continued decline, and we wonder if full-page and large-format advertisements are going to become a thing of the past. If the old publishing paradigm does have a chance of survival, devices like the Skiff reader are their only chance, but we think it may be too little too late. |
The Skiff content business model, unlike most others which are download or subscription-based, is dependent in part on the ability of the device to deliver actionable advertising, so this big 11.5" touchscreen display will need to stuff in more than just content. So, even though the display is huge and it is beautiful and very high resolution (1600x1200), we don't really know yet if the final product will deliver more content than much smaller displays. Really, it depends on advertising, and if Skiff decides to go with popup and slide-out advertising like many websites have done this year, users may feel more like using this device as a frisbee than an eReader.
| < Prev |
|---|
- Latest Reviews
- Popular
- Google Nexus One Unveiled
- Nokia E62 - Best Browser on a Cell Phone
- VTech LS6245 - Sleek Bluetooth DECT Phones
- Swype Introduces Tap-Free Typing
- EchoStar TR-50 - Over-the-air DVR
- eFax Still Offers Free Incoming Fax Numbers
- Walking Hot Spot Turns Smart Phones into Hot Spots
- Best Websites and Software of 2009
- "Best Of" Lists
TECH2 LAKE HOUSE
UPDATE - The exterior of the Technology Lake House is complete and we are now working on interior finishing and electronics. Last year, San Francisco's Channel 7 ABC News ran a special video report on the construction progress of the Technology Lake House, and we expect them back for a follow-up soon. Click HERE for a DLINK Live Video Feed with pan and zoom features (userid=user, no password, daylight hours only).
Ron Rosberg's current project home, the Technology Lake House, is currently under construction on the shores of Clearlake in Northern California. Even though the house is a wireless demo house, we have installed more than seven miles of wires in the walls for dozens of flat panel TVs, speakers, control panels, and sophisticated lighting. So far, more than a dozen technology and fixture manufacturers have agreed to sponsor this project, which has been simmering in Ron's head since he attended the first CES show in New York in 1967. The 7,500 square foot project (plus three existing rustic cabin guest houses) is being built on a five-acre Honeymoon Cove resort with 500 feet of beach directly across from Konocti Harbor Resort. This summer retreat will host technology gatherings annually, inviting Western states home builders, contractors, and technology consultants for a live open house showcasing the latest in home technologies. There is room to park plenty of boats, so plan on coming up for some lake fun after the project is complete. For more info, send email to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , or call 707-995-2683. To see the latest photos, visit Ron's Flickr gallery.
We are currently looking for products to evaluate in these areas:
- Home automation: lighting, security, and entertainment
- A/V technology for the 500 SF home theater media demo room
Who are the Gadget Gurus?
Gadget Gurus technology reviews are heard and read by millions of people across the United States, including more than a dozen print publications, dozens of tier-one radio stations, on third-party websites, and more than ever, online at our own website.
NEWS: This year, you will see a number of exciting announcements from Gadget Gurus, including podcasts, our syndicated "Gadgets-in-a-Minute" broadcasts, and our ever-expanding "Best Of" lists. Also, you will be seeing our portfolio of magazine "gadget pages" growing into a number of vertical markets.
