Thursday 20 January 2011

Vooks

The Wall Street Journal today had an article titled "Not a Book, a 'Vook'". What's a vook?  According to the article, it's an interactive digital book from Vook Inc., a company selling which offers digital books that combine video, text, photos and social sharing. Its Sherlock Holmes vook, for instance, features two classic stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle—"The Man with the Twisted Lip" and "The Adventure of the Speckled Band"—and enhances them with videos that delve into the history and legend surrounding the character of Holmes.
According to the Vook website, "A vook is a new innovation in reading that blends a well-written book, high-quality video and the power of the Internet into a single, complete story. You can read your book, watch videos that enhance the story and connect with authors and your friends through social media all on one screen, without switching between platforms."
Vooks are available in two formats: As a web-based application you can read on your computer and as a mobile application for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad for reading on the go.  The company released about 150 titles last year and will publish more than 1,000 vooks this year. Most vooks sell for about $7 but range up to about $16.

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