It's been awhile since I've posted to this thread, despite the frenzy over the iPad launch. It's not that I'm disinterested, it's just that nothing has changed - the previous posts here already have nailed it in terms of what is occurring - namely the bar has been raised now for the reader devices to become more computers and app machines and that each major vendor with a direct link to consumers is relentlessly pursuing their individual proprietary platform strategies.

Also, as I have written here before, the hope for the education segment is that a new and upcoming provider will "break the mold" by implementing open standards like IMS Common Cartridge - that fit the needs of the education segment.

I'm very happy to report that we have one such provider - Entourage Edge - coming to our Learning Impact conference, May 17-20 in Long Beach, CA, USA. Entourage Edge is also giving away one of their e-Book reader "Dualbooks" at the conference to those that visit their booth and enter. Now, this is pretty neat because since this is a small conference - 250 people or so - you actually have a pretty good shot at winning.

The other important point to mention is that I expect that some of the institutional members of IMS will want to pilot the Edge - and IMS will help facilitate those discussions at the conference and beyond.

We have a way to go in terms of the evolution of these devices as they become more like the hybrid computers/eReaders that are needed. But, it is clear to me that a platform like the Edge is a way to see where this can really go from an institutional adoption perspective - as opposed to the direct to consumer iPad, Kindle, Nook, etc.

I look forward to seeing you at Learning Impact 2010! If you come you will find out from the leaders in digital education content and e-Books - such as CourseSmart, VitalSource, CafeScribe, Pearson, Cengage, McGraw-Hill, and Connexions about where things are really headed . . .

-Rob Abel