Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Bigger E-Readers Ride In to Save Newspapers

By Harry Kimball,  Newser Staff

Posted May 4, 2009 12:24 PM CDT

(Newser) – Amazon is set to introduce a tabloid-sized version of the Kindle tailored to display newspapers—just one of many e-readers in the pipe that just might toss a life-preserver to print journalism, the New York Times reports. In fact, Engadget expects the new Kindle to debut Wednesday at a press conference with the Times’ publisher. The industry is abuzz with expectations that the new reader could do for news what the iPod did for music.

Hearst, News Corp., and startup Plastic Logic are also developing readers that could reinvigorate newspapers’ profits with the digital subscriptions they declined to cash in on with the advent of the Internet. “We are looking at this with a great deal of interest,” one newspaper exec said. But most e-readers are based on E-Ink tech, which saves energy with a slower, black-and-white display, dismaying other possible clients: magazines.

The new Kindle 2 electronic reader.
The new Kindle 2 electronic reader.   (AP Photo)
The Plastic Logic e-reader is the size of a magazine.
The Plastic Logic e-reader is the size of a magazine.   (AP Photo)
The Plastic Logic reader, set to start production later this year.
The Plastic Logic reader, set to start production later this year.   (AP Photo)
Copies of The New York Times are for sale.
Copies of The New York Times are for sale.   (AP Photo)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

I don’t think we would be anywhere near as excited about anything in black and white as we would about high-definition color. But technology changes at a pretty high clip these days. - Tom Wallace, Condé Nast editorial director

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Showing 1 of 1 comment
AnnieChrist
May 4, 2009 7:20 AM CDT
These newspaper editors apparently cannot read, or at least cannot read writing on the wall. If they followed their own stories, they might realize that they are acting exactly like the executives at General Motors, blaming all sorts of external factors for their failure, never once facing up to the fact that for years they have delivered a crappy, worthless commodity to their clients. It doesn't matter if I read david broder, david brooks, bill kristol, mark halperin, MoDo et al from an e reader or from a dead tree, their commentary is still crap, and no one is going to pay to read it. As for their "hard news," what kind of media is it that buries stories about torture and haliburton's thievery on page 15, while placing the latest stories of American Idol on page 1.

More Newser Stories

New Kindle Upgrades Price, Not Reading Experience

Guess How Many Kindles We're Buying a Week?

Nook Beats Out Kindle

Porn, or Porn-Lite, Creeping Into the Kindle

Amazon Offers Even Cheaper Kindle


NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne