Blio, We Hardly Knew Ye….
Launched yesterday, after nine months of hype, the Blio reader fell so short of so many expectations (expectations that have become basic market requirements for digital reading), it was deemed by many as a failure. What struck me is that many of the failures are fundamentally at odds with the one thing that Kurzweil was touting above all else: accessibility. But accessibility is not just about text-to-speech. Accessibility comes on many levels. And Blio didn’t hit ANY of those levels.
1. The first release is Windows-only. Yes, most digital reading is still done on actual laptops and desktops. And yes, most of those machines are not Macs. But given that Adobe (with all its Apple woes) can develop a platform-independent e-reader in Adobe Digital Editions, you’d think someone over at KNFB would have considered this a gating issue. Why trim down your potential customer base by limiting what platforms your software can run on? Particularly when, in this day and age, you have so many options? We hear that iOS and Android versions will be released “soon”. As soon as the Windows one was? Why all the different OS-dependent rollouts?
2. The Windows text-to-speech functionality is notoriously bad. Why dedicate your first release to a platform that has KNOWN ISSUES with TTS, while you are advertising the accessibility options? It makes no sense. According to PW, “[Blio executive Peter Chapman] acknowledged that most people’s Text To Speech (TTS) would likely have problems because, “the TTS software on most Windows machines isn’t very good.” KNFB, Chapman said, is in the process of making new and affordable TTS software available through the Blio bookstore. Chapman said consumers dissatisfied with their TTS can purchase better (but significantly more expensive) software immediately online that will improve its quality. However, he said they are working with TTS software vendors to offer a better and much cheaper TTS software that will allow users to choose different voice qualities and he said it will be available very soon.” This is just a botch. A botch at the heart of Blio’s value proposition.
3. A small offering. Blio launched with only 11,000 titles. This is mind-boggling. There are HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of books available digitally. Publishers are already sending files to the new Big Six – Amazon, B&N, Sony, Google, Kobo and Apple. Adding another vendor to the file distribution is not hard. Why did KNFB not solicit more content? Do they expect people will adopt Blio if there are no books to be read on it? Yes, they’re adding 7-800 titles per day, but given all the books that are already available from other vendors, you still have to actually COMPETE.
There are many, many other issues being reported, but these four really spoke to me. Kurzweil’s partnership with NFB suggested a product that would have accessibility as a priority. And this launch was truly disappointing.
“SOFTWARE DATA COLLECTION AND MONITORING
The SOFTWARE contains features which may allow KNFB and/or third parties to collect data from, control and/or monitor computers and devices running or interacting with the SOFTWARE. You hereby consent to such activities. KNFB’s current privacy policy is located at http://www.blioreader.com”
No policy to be found on the website.
The other eReaders might also have this. But still!
Comment by Chris Kubica — September 29, 2010 @ 10:50 pm
“Publishers are already sending files to the new Big Six – Amazon, B&N, Sony, Google, Kobo and Apple. Adding another vendor to the file distribution is not hard. Why did KNFB not solicit more content?”
If I’m not mistaken, this is probably because Blio won’t do ePub—essentially expecting publishers to create and deliver yet another file format (which kind of explains why they have a ‘production partnership’ with… ah, Quark? Oh dear).
I too, am very disappointed.
Comment by Pablo Defendini — September 30, 2010 @ 4:36 pm
[...] at odds with the one thing that Kurzweil was touting above all else: accessibility,” wrote Laura Dawson, a digital reading industry consultant, formerly of BarnesAndNoble.com. K-NFB initially promised to [...]
Pingback by Ray Kurzweil’s Blio E-Book Launch Met With Confusion, Controversy | hot gadget news — November 4, 2010 @ 11:10 pm
[...] at odds with the one thing that Kurzweil was touting above all else: accessibility,” wrote Laura Dawson, a digital reading industry consultant, formerly of BarnesAndNoble.com. K-NFB initially promised to [...]
Pingback by Ray Kurzweil’s Blio E-Book Launch Met With Confusion, Controversy | TOP TECHNOLOGY NEWS — March 6, 2011 @ 4:24 pm
I would have to agree with Chris, very disappointing that they would choose not to run with epub for short sighted commercial considerations, in the long run it never makes financial sense to try and create exclusivity, better in my opinion to be neutral and support as many platforms as possible.
Comment by XML Editor — April 26, 2011 @ 11:52 am