Creative introduces MediaBook, eReader-esque device

http://creative.techinhiding.com/2009/10/mediabook-creative-intros-ebook-for-singapore-market/
http://www.epizenter.net/comment.php?comment.news.503

Creative’s always done a “side project”. Over the company’s history, they’ve done some projects that never fanned out very well: digital video cams, video cards, wireless cards, PC components, and internet telephony devices. This seems like it could be a more successful venture, and it’s the ‘in’ thing for 2009. It appears to be an e-book reader.

But according to epiZENter, it’s far more. According to the depiction kingone put up, it seems to resemble a Nokia Internet Tablet powered by the company’s oracle: the Zii. Yup, that’s right. The first official consumer device with the Zii will be a handheld, internet-enabled, touchscreen device with support for pictures, text and video. Certainly Amazon, Sony, and Barnes and Noble have their devices that can do the first two, but the latter will be an interesting step forward for the market.

Perhaps more exciting as a Creative fan is the publishing support- epiZENter reports that the MediaBook and Creative are in talks with a major Singaporean content provider, Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) to supply the new tablet with text, video, audio, and photos.

It is notable, however, that the MediaBook appears to be aimed at the Singapore educational market first. Creative is teaming up with SPH and ST Electronics to create the “FutureBook”, a Singaporean government initiative to create the interactive book of the future. Inside the press release is the statistics, which notably includes the educational market, which is where I think it will be launched first. By teaming up with the Singapore government, it allows the company to fund much of the production. It’s similar to how the US defense industry works- the government gives money to Lockheed Martin (or similar) to build new fighter jets. The government will still end up paying for the jet, but the company can also sell to other partners- Canada, UK, Germany, etc. I think the MediaBook could be similar. First for research and the SG government, but then it will open up to the general public. What do you guys think?