Kurzweil's Blio

Technologist Ray Kurzweil's soon-to-be-released Blio eReader software comes free. The software will drop at the same time the bookstore opens. The bookstore has been developed in partnership with Baker & Taylor. Blio runs on - literally - anything: hand-held devices, PCs, tablets, whatever. It can handle color and supports multimedia. Unlike standard dedicated reader software, it preserves a publisher's original formatting (important with many textbooks, cookbooks, how-to books, childrens books, etc.) Kurzweil says Blio is "the new touchstone for the presentation of electronic books, magazines, and digital content." There is also a read-aloud feature. Supports XPS, PDF, ePub. Beta testers have reportedly been impressed. But ... a very late entry into the marketplace, and formidable (to say the least) competition.