eBooks didn't take off until the Kindle came out because the Kindle was the first ereader that made buying books dead easy and offered a large selection of books. I don't think there's stagnation. My Kindle let's me highlight and makes notes. If I got the book from Amazon, the notes and highlights are aceesible on the web. I can get a definition of any word in the dictionary and (with wifi or 3G) search Wikipedia for any word that's not in the dictionary. If the publisher has supplied the right information, I can see actual page numbers, and get information on characters and places via the x-ray feature. If I used audio books, I could sync my reading and listening.
I think Amazon has provided features that people want and ask for. I don't think many people are clamoring for ebooks enhanced with music, video, or other technological enhancements, certainly not for novels.
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Stagnation?
eBooks didn't take off until the Kindle came out because the Kindle was the first ereader that made buying books dead easy and offered a large selection of books. I don't think there's stagnation. My Kindle let's me highlight and makes notes. If I got the book from Amazon, the notes and highlights are aceesible on the web. I can get a definition of any word in the dictionary and (with wifi or 3G) search Wikipedia for any word that's not in the dictionary. If the publisher has supplied the right information, I can see actual page numbers, and get information on characters and places via the x-ray feature. If I used audio books, I could sync my reading and listening.
I think Amazon has provided features that people want and ask for. I don't think many people are clamoring for ebooks enhanced with music, video, or other technological enhancements, certainly not for novels.