ReadWriteWeb

SpringerLink is a platform for eBooks, journals and reference works totalling over 4.8 million documents. The service has just launched a re-design, with new semantic linking features that enable users to access related content across eBooks and journals.

The semantic linking feature displays links to related content from SpringerLink's archive. It's similar to the 'see also' feature on ReadWriteWeb and the related entries functionality on many other news web sites. What's interesting about SpringerLink's implementation is that the related content is from book chapters and journal articles.

Last week we looked at the pros and cons of eBooks vs traditional paper books. For the consumer market, eBooks are still at the early stage of adoption - but becoming more popular due to the iPad and the price point getting lower for eReaders like Kindle.

Another market where eBooks have a lot of potential is education. It too is at an early stage, but there are many benefits to students accessing their text books electronically. Shared highlights, margin notes, search - to name a few. Surprisingly though, it's not iPad and eReaders that are driving the eTextbook market - but PCs and netbooks. The iPhone and Android are making some in-roads, however. We spoke to one of the leading eTextbook services, CafeScribe, to find out more about the emerging eTextbook market.

CourseSmart, a leading player in the budding eTextbook market, just released its first iPhone application. Thanks to this app, students can now access college textbooks they have leased from the company on their phones. CourseSmart currently offers over 7,000 eTextbooks and, in addition to the iPhone, also offers software for Macs and Windows PCs. CourseSmart notes that students at over 5,000 colleges have bought textbooks through the company. It is important to note, though, that while CourseSmart's textbooks are cheaper than hard copies, they also expire after 180 days.

During an event in New York City this morning, Amazon's CEO, Jeff Bezos, unveiled a larger version of the company's successful Kindle eBook reader. The new device, the Kindle DX, has a 9.7" display that is about two and a half times larger than that of the Kindle 2. The Kindle DX will come with a built-in PDF reader, and features an auto-rotate mode, so that readers can easily switch between reading in portrait and landscape modes. The Kindle DX will cost $489 and is scheduled to ship this summer.