Blio site is up

Nate the great · 01-07-2010, 09:26 AM

The site was updated this morning in anticipation of CES. You can't actually do anything other than wander around. The reader software is not yet available for download, and the Blio bookstore won't open until February.

But the site does list the hardware and software needs for Blio. The minumum requirement is WinXP, Vista, or Win7 on a 1.6GHz CPU. There is no mention of OSX or any hand held devices. Given the OS requirements, a dedicated reader is out of the question.

The FAQ hints at some of the things you can do with Blio: bookmark, TTS, and annotate with notes, images, and audio/video clips. Blio will also support direct download of content from such sites as PG, Feedbooks, and Munsey's.

http://blioreader.com/

********
I'm somewhat relieved. With all the rumors flying around before the announcement, I was worried that a new format will add to the tower of e-babel. I don't think we'll have to worry about the Blio doing that. Given the high support requirements, it probably won't catch on and hopefully die a quiet death in a couple years.

badbob001 · 01-07-2010, 09:54 AM

You have to download and install an application to browse, purchase, and access content instead of doing the same thing over a web page. I never liked iTunes and Sony has a similar thing with their readers. Blah.

Ea · 01-07-2010, 09:59 AM

Certainly looks like a desktop/laptop only application. Rather like the other desktop computer applications like Mobipocket, Stanza and such - without the handheld device support.

Also looks somewhat closed - you'll have to buy from Blio's shop.
... but there's this:
"• Can I download free Google, Gutenburg and Feedbooks with Blio?
Yes. To download free, public domain books from Google, Gutenburg, and FeedBooks, just go to the file menu and click on the website you would like to download from. These websites provide over one million fiction, non-fiction, reference, textbooks, children’s books, scientific, medical, professional and educational books at no cost."

I wonder if that means you can add your own files (in recognised formats, whatever they are) - or just add books from certain sites that are somehow integrated with Blio.

stustaff · 01-07-2010, 10:38 AM

Whilst this looks like a laptop desktop software lets not forget it is also..

Tablet and slate software, i would imagine there will be a big push on that side of things.

fjtorres · 01-07-2010, 10:44 AM

The FAQ lists "mobile devices" as a reading platform.
Odds are there will be Blio reader apps for more than just Windows.

The way I read it, it sounds like it is an attempt at "universal" Reader Software for existing formats.

davidspitzer · 01-07-2010, 06:16 PM

I am not in the crowd that likes to sit in front of my PC and read at length - It really just sounds like a pdf file (preserves formatting, layout etc), but at least a pdf i kind transport to my reader.

I tend to think this will go absolutely nowhere

fjtorres · 01-07-2010, 06:23 PM

It will support iPhone/iPod at launch.
Mac suport later.
CNET report has video and details.
http://ces.cnet.com/8301-31045_1-104...dStoriesArea.1
It looks like it will be riding the coming wave of tablets and color readers.

It's a lot earlier in the ebook game than most people realize.
This might become the new darling of the BPH's...
<shrug>

Ea · 01-07-2010, 06:26 PM

Not sure what 'BPH' mean, but I can imagine something like this could work well on a tablet once the hardware catches up and gets fast, light and energy-preserving.

TallMomof2 · 01-07-2010, 07:00 PM

Once tablets/slates are the size and weight of our ereading devices then they will become widely accepted.

Ignatz Mouse · 06-04-2010, 02:38 PM

Does anyone heard something new about Blio ?

We are in June, now, and their site is still saying "Coming soon"...

I know, "Soon" is not very precise...

Nate the great · 06-04-2010, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ignatz Mouse

Does anyone heard something new about Blio ?

We are in June, now, and their site is still saying "Coming soon"...

I know, "Soon" is not very precise...

I checked at BEA 2010, and they said July.

01-07-2010, 09:26 AM	#1
Nate the great Sir Penguin of Edinburgh Posts: 12,375 Karma: 23555235 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: DC Metro area Device: Shake a stick plus 1	Blio site is up The site was updated this morning in anticipation of CES. You can't actually do anything other than wander around. The reader software is not yet available for download, and the Blio bookstore won't open until February. But the site does list the hardware and software needs for Blio. The minumum requirement is WinXP, Vista, or Win7 on a 1.6GHz CPU. There is no mention of OSX or any hand held devices. Given the OS requirements, a dedicated reader is out of the question. The FAQ hints at some of the things you can do with Blio: bookmark, TTS, and annotate with notes, images, and audio/video clips. Blio will also support direct download of content from such sites as PG, Feedbooks, and Munsey's. http://blioreader.com/ ******** I'm somewhat relieved. With all the rumors flying around before the announcement, I was worried that a new format will add to the tower of e-babel. I don't think we'll have to worry about the Blio doing that. Given the high support requirements, it probably won't catch on and hopefully die a quiet death in a couple years.

01-07-2010, 06:16 PM	#6
davidspitzer So Many Words to Read! Posts: 411 Karma: 125665 Join Date: Aug 2006 Device: Kindle	Okay maybe I'm being obtuse I am not in the crowd that likes to sit in front of my PC and read at length - It really just sounds like a pdf file (preserves formatting, layout etc), but at least a pdf i kind transport to my reader. I tend to think this will go absolutely nowhere

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01-07-2010, 09:54 AM	#2
badbob001 Fanatic Posts: 556 Karma: 1102020 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: Kindle Keyboard (rip), Kindle Voyage, Fire Tablet 10 '17, iPad '19	You have to download and install an application to browse, purchase, and access content instead of doing the same thing over a web page. I never liked iTunes and Sony has a similar thing with their readers. Blah.

01-07-2010, 09:59 AM	#3
Ea Wizard Posts: 3,490 Karma: 5239563 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Denmark Device: Kindle 3\|iPad air\|iPhone 4S	Certainly looks like a desktop/laptop only application. Rather like the other desktop computer applications like Mobipocket, Stanza and such - without the handheld device support. Also looks somewhat closed - you'll have to buy from Blio's shop. ... but there's this: "• Can I download free Google, Gutenburg and Feedbooks with Blio? Yes. To download free, public domain books from Google, Gutenburg, and FeedBooks, just go to the file menu and click on the website you would like to download from. These websites provide over one million fiction, non-fiction, reference, textbooks, children’s books, scientific, medical, professional and educational books at no cost." I wonder if that means you can add your own files (in recognised formats, whatever they are) - or just add books from certain sites that are somehow integrated with Blio.

01-07-2010, 10:38 AM	#4
stustaff Wizard Posts: 1,055 Karma: 2110 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Derbyshire UK Device: sony reader PRS505 and 600	Whilst this looks like a laptop desktop software lets not forget it is also.. Tablet and slate software, i would imagine there will be a big push on that side of things.

01-07-2010, 10:44 AM	#5
fjtorres Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,732 Karma: 128354696 Join Date: May 2009 Location: 26 kly from Sgr A* Device: T100TA,PW2,PRS-T1,KT,FireHD 8.9,K2, PB360,BeBook One,Axim51v,TC1000	The FAQ lists "mobile devices" as a reading platform. Odds are there will be Blio reader apps for more than just Windows. The way I read it, it sounds like it is an attempt at "universal" Reader Software for existing formats.

01-07-2010, 06:23 PM	#7
fjtorres Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,732 Karma: 128354696 Join Date: May 2009 Location: 26 kly from Sgr A* Device: T100TA,PW2,PRS-T1,KT,FireHD 8.9,K2, PB360,BeBook One,Axim51v,TC1000	It will support iPhone/iPod at launch. Mac suport later. CNET report has video and details. http://ces.cnet.com/8301-31045_1-104...dStoriesArea.1 It looks like it will be riding the coming wave of tablets and color readers. It's a lot earlier in the ebook game than most people realize. This might become the new darling of the BPH's... <shrug>

01-07-2010, 06:26 PM	#8
Ea Wizard Posts: 3,490 Karma: 5239563 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Denmark Device: Kindle 3\|iPad air\|iPhone 4S	Not sure what 'BPH' mean, but I can imagine something like this could work well on a tablet once the hardware catches up and gets fast, light and energy-preserving.

01-07-2010, 07:00 PM	#9
TallMomof2 Kindlephilia Posts: 2,017 Karma: 1139255 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Snowpacolypse 2010 Device: Too many to count	Once tablets/slates are the size and weight of our ereading devices then they will become widely accepted.

06-04-2010, 02:38 PM	#10
Ignatz Mouse Zealot Posts: 121 Karma: 200 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: France Device: Kobo Touch, Galaxy Note	Does anyone heard something new about Blio ? We are in June, now, and their site is still saying "Coming soon"... I know, "Soon" is not very precise...

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