The iTablet as a reading device
The “iTablet” rumors seem to be heating up ―it will probably be introduced this January.
A lot has been written about the iTablet as a solution to the magazine and newspaper industry problems. AppleInsider reports that “Various publishers have prepared for the tablet, even though it has not been officially announced. But numerous rumors have indicated that Apple has reached out to various print publications about providing their content on a new form factor.”
Here is a feature that would make the device all the more useful for this puprose: a full color backlit screen (like the iPhone) that can also be switched to e-paper mode (like the Kindle).
A lot of people already read books on the iPhone, despite the poor form factor and annoying backlighting that makes it unfit for reading large volumes of text. Now, if Apple provided a dual-purpose screen on a larger form factor, they would totally toast the Kindle.
Such an e-reader slash tablet would give Apple the e-book market, the e-magazine market, and the educational market (think course-books, iTunes U and educational software).
