Sharp enters e-book market to develop next-generation XMDF format

According to reports, Sharp today announced the development of the next-generation XMDF e-book format, and to enter the e-book market, the e-book reader compatible with the new format.

Sharp introduced the XMDF (Every-eXtending Mobile Document Format) e-book format in 2001. It is based on a high-speed encryption algorithm and is based on an international standard XML description language. It has a high-speed access and memory-saving data structure and supports high-speed access. The rich text document format, which has been widely applied to electronic versions of Japanese novels and comics.

The next-generation XMDF e-book format is an advanced version of XMDF. It adds audio and video capabilities to previous text and still picture functions, and supports automatic typography to meet the needs of publishers. Users can view XMDF format e-books on smartphones, PCs and TVs. The new format also simplifies publishers’ generation of e-book content.

Sharp said that they will launch a digital platform this year to strengthen the e-book distribution services, and launch e-book readers based on the new generation of XMDF e-book format to enter the e-book market. Many Japanese publishing companies (newspapers, magazines, etc.) have expressed their support for Sharp's development of the e-book business.

In addition, Sharp plans to use the digital platform to be launched to provide consumers with more sophisticated user interface technologies to improve the user's e-book experience.