Multitude of e-book applications enhancing the reading experience

Then there are tablets, like Apple's iPad 2 and its host of imitators. Their portability — and readability — is often less than stellar, especially in direct sunlight. However they can do a lot more than just display a book, with Internet connectivity and full-color multimedia bells and whistles.

The Byook e-book app for iPhones

The Byook e-book app for iPhones and iPads, which costs $2, is meant to "mix the magic of books with the emotional power of movies," according to Byook sales manager Jean-Louis Delmotte.

"The interactivity could be as simple as pop-up windows, or when people see a word they're interested in, a picture or definition may appear, or an entry on Wikipedia," said founder Bradley Inman. "We try to create an experience that augments, however doesn't get in the way of, the words."

Among Vook's 500 titles, only 1 percent are fiction, even though the company is adding 50 per week. More than half of its 1 million downloads have been for iPhones and iPads.

Students can as well keep their digital margin notes and text highlights in Amazon's cloud via its Whispersync innovation, even afterwards the rental expires. And those books can be downloaded not only to the Kindle nevertheless also on laptops and mobile devices.

The smartphone market

"It's not unlike the smartphone market. You kind of just have to step in, and once you're in, you can tell what components you value."

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