Sharp has announced that its XMDF (ever-eXtending Mobile Document Format) standard will be a digital platform for e-book distribution with compatible reader devices to be launched possibly within the year. While the XMDF format has been in use for years already, primarily within Japan, this new ‘Next generation’ format makes it very suitable for the eBook and eReader market. Previously just for text and still images, the refreshed XMDF standard now supports video and audio display as well.
In the face of multi-media devices like Apple’s iPad and an anticipated wave of Android tablets, it’s not surprising that Sharp would incorporate both video and audio into the format in an effort to keep up. Consumers will expect a higher quality of media on their portable devices, and while monochrome Kindle-style displays are great, they certainly aren’t suited to this task. XMPF will continue to support mobile phones and other devices like PC and televisions. The format will feature copy protection, and a few publishers have already gotten behind the platform.
Sharp‘s e-reader prototypes has a 5.5-inch and 10.8-inch color LCD touchscreens.
Here’s the release…..
Sharp Corporation has developed XMDF, a next-generation e-book format (hereinafter “Next-generation XMDF”) with advanced features that allow users to enjoy video and audio content, in addition to current features such as texts and still images. With next-generation XMDF as a core technology, Sharp will within this year provide digital platform to promote e-book distribution service and launch compatible reader devices to enter the e-book market. Various publishing houses (newspaper, magazines, catalogs), printing and agent companies in Japan and overseas market will be supporting Sharp to launch this e-book business.
Sharp’s next-generation XMDF is an advanced version of the current XMDF format. The current XMDF format has been commercialized in 2001 and is used in e-book contents including Japanese novels and manga comics. The next-generation XMDF enables easy viewing of digital contents including video and audio, and allows automatic adjustment of the layout to match and meet publishers’ needs. With this digital platform, Sharp plans to enhance users’ e-book lifestyle with more sophisticated user interface technology, and at the same time will contribute to expand the e-book market. XMDF allows users to browse the same content on multiple terminals including smart phones, PCs and TVs and also streamlines publisher’s e-book contents production.
Sharp intends to innovate e-book lifestyles and to contribute in the creation of a new market for e-books.
Published on July 30, 2010
