This week Google announced that it will be launching a new online service called Google Editions. This service will provide ebooks to any device that has a web browser. Google’s aim is to provide books for any device.

This move from Google will potentially shake up the ebook market, providing a larger range and an open standard for ebooks regardless of the device used to read them.

However there are some potential issues associated with this move. Firstly, Google has come under fire from copyright owners, authors and publishers for the unauthorized scanning and digitalization of books. This will continue to be a sore point until Google comes good. According to reports Google will keep 55% of the profits.

The other issue I have with ebooks and ebook readers in general is the poorer reading experience you get from your computer or mobile devices. Some of the issues I see are:

• Screen size of ebook readers
• difficulty in reading off a computer screen
• expense of ebook readers
• lack of standardization of ebook formats
• over-priced ebooks

But all is not lost. Things are gradually changing. The fact that Amazon’s Kindle can now be purchased by people outside the United States is a good start. Amazon’s International Kindle is reasonably priced. However, other ebook readers are still far too expensive, costing more than an average laptop.

Google could go that step further and introduce it’s own ebook reader, perhaps powered by Google OS. Now that would really shake up the competition.

I like the concept of using ebooks and ebook readers, but the technology is not ready for the mainstream market.