Blio
Spotted on CNET, Ray Kurzweil tries to build a better e-reader.
His latest project, Blio, is an effort to improve the emerging electronic book field with software that turns e-books into more than just a digital copy of the print edition. Blio, which is due out next month, is software that combines a full-color digital book with the ability to add Web content, video, and professionally narrated audiobooks.
I like the idea of integrating audiobooks with e-books. So does my wife. Occassionally we will listen to audiobooks together, but she will also but the Kindle edition to read along. I have not tried this yet, but I have not found a great e-book reader yet. Holding my iPod Touch up to my face (as I need to get very close) for long periods of time is less than enticing. I can image running Blio, which would allow this, on a new iPad with a very large font size and relazing when reading and listening.
Blio will offer text-t0-speech, but that has run into trouble with publishers on the new Kindle. Audible.com, a major online audio book distributor, ought to get involved. It would make for a great fit.
The software has not been released yet, but is due in the next moth. I will report back wen I have tested it. In the meanwhile, here is the CNET interveiw:
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