Vook.tv is pushing an alternate vision of the future of books (compared to what Amazon and Sony are with the Kindle and Sony Reader).
The Kindle, Kindle 2, and other eReaders are pushing for a future where books are very similar to what exists today and eReaders are tailored to make reading books convenient. Reading is still very similar to what it was in the past -
The foundation is an eReader like the Kindle that makes reading its main function.
Fight ADD by limiting functionality to reading and reference.
Minimal support for Internet, Video and other distracting features.
Books in the same well known format of words and chapters.
The book hasn’t changed – just the way a book is distributed and its physical form.
Vook.tv on the other hand is pushing a completely new vision for books and looking to fundamentally change what a book is. They have the concept of a ‘Vook’ - something that is a combination of a book and video and social media (they actually mention “compelling Twitter stream”).
They’re still in beta and the NY Times did an article on Vook that explains the founder’s vision quite well.
The choice of a .tv domain is a mistake (people will always check vook.com first) – Could they not find the money to buy Vook.com?
Here’s the home page that is selling this new concept of a ‘Vook’ -
Vook - the new book?
If book purists are worried about the loss of touch and feel and smell with the Kindle 2 and other eReaders, Vook.tv will probably make them drag out the guillotine. NY Times points this out –
ALL of this experimentation is sure to unleash serious debate in literary circles. Tradition-minded readers might resist the notion of stories gussied up with potentially gratuitous video and encumbered with the need for conversations between writer and reader.
Reading a book called Bit Literacy (its on the Personal MBA list) and although it’s basically based off of Getting Things Done it makes a good point that Bits have a lot of weight. In GTD terms bits mess with your state of Zen.
Instant Messsaging, Email, Twitter, Facebook are all streams of bits – each in danger of weighing you down and messing up your state of Zen.
Introducing a social media stream into a Vook basically guarantees readers will be super distracted and weighed down. It distracts far too much from the experience of reading a book or for that matter even watching a video.
This definitely doesn’t feel right to me – you can’t really capture the essence of a book with a Vook. My vote is with Kindle 2 and other eReaders.
Filed under: evolution Tagged: | kindle vs vook, vook.tv
I would highly recommend that Bradley Inman cocoon himself and develop a real product/service before he puts up a false front website and has his publicist get an article in the N.T Times. My experience with such blue sky ventures is that they are primarily aimed at attracting moths to the flame when they raise money. Some become reality but most are a figment of someone’s imagination.
Pure blue sky.
Why no info on the site?
no idea. perhaps its their version of stealth mode.
We aren’t a fluff company. I promise! We are actually launching very soon. The lack of info on the site has been due to agreements with various partners. Not a wish to be stealthy or anything like that.
I hope you’ll check us out once we launch! Stay tuned on our Twitter account in the meantime @vooktv
Best, Maria
social marketing manager at Vook
ps. can you @Switch11 please email me? Thanks!!
Remember when the first car hit the road? Why, it’s just a joke, you’ll never replace the horse. I say ZOOM to VOOK! Onward and upward: We’ll still have those rare gems called books and savor the ancient scents of a library.