News Roundup: Future E-Paper Devices, Potential in Aggregated Ebooks, PBS Web Videos Include Ads

Future Electronic Paper Display Devices

Nice overview of electronic paper display (EPD) technologies at Computerworld:

[Fujitsu’s] Fabric PC looks like a soft trifolded portfolio. Opened, it reveals a flat keyboard on one panel and a display on the other — a display that wraps under the keyboard. Unfold the
keyboard as well and the entire inner surface of the device is an EPD screen as big as a desktop display. (Continue reading)

Aggregated Ebook Service Suits Research Publisher

An understanding of audience goals can prove fruitful in digital publishing, according to Cynthia Cleto, global manager for e-books and e-product management at research publisher Springer. From a Q&A at TechNewsWorld:

… our readers are working at a desk somewhere and they want specific information at their fingertips in a hurry because of whatever they are working on. Relaxation is not the driver in this market. (Continue reading)

PBS Online Videos Include Advertising

PBS is releasing shows on the video site Hulu, but incorporating advertising with a revenue sharing plan. The New York Times Bits blog discusses the move with Andrew Russell, senior vice president of PBS Ventures:

PBS has moved online slowly, and right now it makes only a small fraction of its content available over the Internet. One reason is the complexity of the rights to its programs. Nova, for example, is produced by WGBH in Boston, which acquires individual episodes from various production companies. Only in some cases does PBS actually have the rights to distribute shows online.

Mr. Russell said that by exploring digital distribution with the programs that the network does have rights to, it hopes to build the case to show that producers should let it distribute their shows online. This means offering them a good share of the advertising revenue or download fees. The online deals also show corporate and foundation sponsors that the programs are reaching
a wider audience.

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