Google CEO Eric Schmidt made those predictions, according to a Read/Write Web piece. Six-minute video here, longer one here. I wonder what the rise of Chinese on the Net could mean for e-books.
As for the Google OS netbook, it’s to include “HTML5 local caching for offline use.” Including with e-books?
If you’d rather read about Android and that OS’s impact on e-books, check out a Kindle Review post and an earlier TeleRead item.
Related: Different perspectives on netbook sales from SlashGear (upbeat) and China Daily (not so upbeat). Latter is the source of the photo.
Technorati Tags: Eric Schmidt
Yah. I’ve heard that before… as many as ten years ago. Not that China’s influence won’t grow on the web, but becoming dominant within 5 years? Sorry, no.
And unless the Chinese buy all the American and European publishers, I’m sure all it will mean for e-books is more Chinese content, and probably requests to have move content translated to Chinese. But as there are still trade differences, not to mention the Western perception of rampant digital piracy in that corner of the world, it will take a lot for China to make real inroads into the bulk of the web… far more than I think they can manage in 5 years.
Steve Jordan and editors here:
Now before I begin, I need to state emphatically that I a big fan of
teleread and enjoy reading all the posts, even Steve’s here, above. I
read the original Globe story a few weeks ago, and the ensuing
comments pro and con. That said, I must say that the headline on this
post is very taloidish and dishonest, because there was just ONE
commenter who wrote:
“Save the books, fire the instigator of the book-burning. Let Hitler stay dead.”
One person, Steve, not several, as your post makes it try to lool like
and as the hedline glaringly states. Come on, let’s not play these
Hitler games here! Nobody was comparing the headmaster to Hitler, he
or she was just venting their anger, and using the image of Hitler as
a bookburner to vent. But he or she never said the headmaster was
comparable to Hitler, drop that please, Steve. But to make your point,
okay, you did it, but it discredits you more than helps your piece.
The headline is also dishonest, the kind the NY Daily News or Post
would use. But this is teleread. I expect more fairness or honesty
here. No tabloid headlines please. Cut the Hitler crap.
USA actually reported:
“Naturally, the blogosphere flipped.
After reading about the plan last month in the Boston Globe, bloggers
and commenters worldwide have called headmaster Jim Tracy a snob, a
spendthrift and a book burner and even compared him to Adolf Hitler.
ONE repeat ONE commenter on the blog parentdish.com urged, “Save the
books, fire the instigator of the book-burning. Let Hitler stay dead.”
One commenter out of hundreds, Steve. Let’s not get carried away! I
expect more from Teleread and Paul and David know it. Steve, you’re
fired! No, kidding, but please edit those remarks of yours above to be
more fair to the Globe story and comments and the USA story. You did sloppy blogging, sir. You know better.
You want to see really bad Hitlet comparisons in the ebook vs paper
book debate? See Alan Kaufman’s recent diatribed at Evergreen website
blog where he compares, well, he really does say some amazingly awful
and purple prose things, accusing the e-revolution of being a new
Holocaust, and comparing people who want to get rid of paper books and
paper books stores to wanting to exterminate the Jews during WWII. And
this guy Kaufman is the son of Holocaust survivors, he should know
better than to spout such nonsense but he did. THAT will make you
angry, Steve Jordan, but please cut this Hitler headline and Hitler
stuff here. It is beneath you and beneath this very good website run
by Paul and David.
Peace out. I say all the above as a friend of this site, as the
editors know. And I like you, too, Steve.
SMILE
Steve Jordan and editors here:
Now before I begin, I need to state emphatically that I a big fan of
teleread and enjoy reading all the posts, even Steve’s here, above. I
read the original Globe story a few weeks ago, and the ensuing
comments pro and con. That said, I must say that the headline on this
post is very taloidish and dishonest, because there was just ONE
commenter who wrote:
“Save the books, fire the instigator of the book-burning. Let Hitler stay dead.”
One person, Steve, not several, as your post makes it try to lool like
and as the hedline glaringly states. Come on, let’s not play these
Hitler games here! Nobody was comparing the headmaster to Hitler, he
or she was just venting their anger, and using the image of Hitler as
a bookburner to vent. But he or she never said the headmaster was
comparable to Hitler, drop that please, Steve. But to make your point,
okay, you did it, but it discredits you more than helps your piece.
There is demand for English language books in China. However, as the US power declines I’m unsure how strong that trend over time will continue.
My assumption is that Asian culture will reign supreme within the next 10 years.
They have the largest middle class, the most cash and the most “going for them” right now.
To be honest i’m excited to see how China develops and to participate wherever possible.
Clint Brauer
General Manager
http://www.cyberread.com
I don’t think Chinese will become the dominant language on the web, reason, it’s not modular. Modularity is key to the ability to process data at high levels. The other part of the equation is the fact most programming is done in english, a situation that is not considered a sore spot in writing code.
Just my 2 cents.