Ebook Readers Comparison

Ebook readers: Many new models fail to impress

2010-03-01T05:04:00.000-08:00

I hate to say it, but it feels like ebooks are taking over. At this year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES), I came across so many ebooks that they started to blur together into one idealistic fantasy.

Every electronic startup that has the capacity to design and produce an ebook reader is pumping them out by the dozen, and that's on top of all the mainstream ones that are already established. And though the Amazon Kindle was what many consider to be the start of it all a few years ago, many other companies such as Sony already had ebook readers around.

However, it was Amazon's big marketing campaign that catapulted the ebook reader to fame in the eyes of book lovers and college students around the world.

Which brings me to this year's CES. Ebook readers more or less stole the show, with multiple manufactures announcing and demonstrating new products. Throughout the month of December leading up to CES, there were announcements and leaks of the ebook readers to come.

The Bookeen's Orizon, the RCA Lexi, the iRiver Story, the Jinke SiPix readers, the Hanvon WISEreader, the Cool-er readers from Interead, the Ocean and Tidal series from Copia and a pair of E6 and E10 e-book readers from Samsung. Those are some of the interesting ones.

The real contenders include the Alex from Spring-Design, which is basically what the Barnes & Noble Nook should have been, and with a possible partnership with Borders, it could really take off. The finest ebook reader products at CES were the proLogic QUE proReader and the Skiff Reader.

Even Google is going to get on the ebook wagon, with plans to offer ebook sales that have downloadable books available to both ordinary computers and mobile devices. So with the buzz about ebook readers reaching a boiling point, one has to wonder just how useful such a product can be.

Sure, if you go through 23 novels and seven textbooks each semester, you should probably already own an ebook reader. However, for the rest of us mere mortals, ebook readers need to offer some more features to grab our attention.

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Aluratek Libre eBook Reader Pro Review

2010-02-28T04:37:00.000-08:00

Those of you considering the purchase of a dedicated eBook Reader may be under the impression that your only choices are from Sony, Amazon and Barnes & Noble. I’d like to show you one affordable alternative. It’s the Aluratek Libre eBook Reader Pro.

Hardware Specs

RAM: 117MB free
Display: 5″ (12.7cm) ePaper display
Supported formats: PDF, TXT, FB2, EPUB, MOBI, PRC, RTF, BMP, JPG, GIF, and animated GIF picture, MP3
Expansion slot: SD up to 32GB
Dimensions: 6.0 x 4.25 x o.5 in
Weight: 8 oz.
Battery Life: 24 hours (2 weeks standby time)

Package Contents

eBook Reader PRO
2GB SD card filled with 100 books
USB Cable
Power Charger
Hand Strap
Earphones
Carrying Pouch
Quick Start Guide
Warranty & Registration Card

Let me start out right away by telling you that the Libre Pro does not offer a wireless feature like the Kindle and Nook. You will be required to load your books manually instead of buying them through the device. Aluratek helps you out by providing an SD card with the reader that has 100 books preloaded. They are classics such as Tom Sawyer, Huck Finn, War and Piece, Wuthering Heights, etc.

Books can also be purchased through ebooks.com

Having owned both the Kindle and Nook, the small size of the Libre was immediately noticeable when I first took it out of the box. The display is only 1 inch smaller though. Click the image above for a larger view.

The Libre’s case is made of charcoal colored plastic that doesn’t show fingerprints or smudges. In hand the reader feels solid and does not flex when squeezed.

The slightly recessed display takes up most of the front of the device, with buttons on both sides and below. The back of the reader has a slight ‘hump’ that holds the non-user replaceable battery.

The main controls are located below the display. On the Left is a combination page next/page prev button and next to that is a grouping of buttons that offer font resizing, screen rotation, menu, and also another set of page next/page prev buttons (left arrow and right arrow).

The Left edge of the Libre offers a third page turning method with a spring loaded sliding bar. Slide it down to turn to the next page, slide it up to go back a page. Raised ridges allow your thumb to keep a grip on this bar. I don’t like this method and find myself using the dedicate paging buttons below the screen.

On the opposite side, there are ten numbered buttons that are used to select books from the list view. These buttons are also used to enter text for search terms.The top edge has a power status LED and an attached cover……which protects a mini USB port and SD card slot. The USB port is used to charge the device and for data transfer of the device itself and the inserted SD card. The Libre mounts as removable drives automatically on Windows and Mac computers.The bottom edge has the power button and 3.5mm headphone jack.

The interface is pretty simple. Turn on the device for the first time and you’re greeted with a list of installed books. To read a book, you can either press the corresponding numbered button next to it or scroll to the desired title with the Dpad and press the OK button to select it.

The Libre does not use an E-ink display like the Kindle, Nook and Sony Readers. Aluratek calls their display ePaper. It reminds me exactly of the old days of PDAs. Specifically the Palm V. Back in the day, the Palm V/Vx was my favorite PDA because the screen was so easy to read. The Libre is just as easy… as long as you’re in a well lit room. This reader does not have a backlight. For those of you that don’t like the E-ink flashing that occurs when turning pages, this reader does not suffer from that affliction.

you can choose from 6 different font sizes.

The initial load time of books can take several seconds depending on the size of the book. But once loaded, there is no lag in page turning. I tested the reader with plain old text files, ePub files, PDF files and JPG images. I didn’t have any problems viewing TXT or ePUB files, but some PDF files would not display and the reader would sometimes freeze when trying to load or display some JPG images. I also encountered issues with the reader freezing when using the Find feature.

The Libre is able to bookmark pages, but it does not offer any type of annotation features. It does offer a couple of interesting features that other readers don’t offer though. It has the ability to play MP3s in the background while you read, and it also has an auto page turning feature.

I’ve been really impressed with the battery life. I’ve been reading on and off with the Libre since receiving it the 2nd week of January and it’s still going strong on its initial charge.
Conclusion

I like the size and price of the Aluratek Libre Pro eBook reader (you can find it for less than $150 at various online retailers) and I think it’s a good device for someone that doesn’t need higher end features like annotations, dictionary and wireless. I do think that the software is a bit glitchy and hope that a firmware update takes care of JPG and PDF freezing issues. Even with those occasional issues, I still recommend this little ebook reader as a good alternative to the big boys.

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India's First Ebook Reader, Pi, Launched

2010-02-27T04:34:00.000-08:00

One lakh digital books are available to Pi owners from infibeam.com. The company plans to add more books over a period of time. Pi gives users the option to upload their own content from a PC or any other device via USB.

Infibeam.com is also in advance talks with a number of newspaper publications to provide subscription based access to large number of newspaper content to its consumers.

The Pi has an internal memory of 512 MB which is expandable via SD Card Slot upto 4 GB. File formats supported are PDF, txt, .doc, EPUB, JPG, PNG, GIF and MP3.

“The idea of Pi has been with us for the past two-years and a lot of R&D effort has gone in the same. We are proud to have created India’s first-ever reading device. Pi should not be seen just as a device but has great socio-economic ramifications, just imagine a doctor consulting his latest medical journal on the fly, or a lawyer looking at the latest case laws or even students having access to his text book in less than a 180 gm device. We can look at many such applications that have the potential to redefine how Indians view and look at content,” said Vishal Mehta, founder and CEO, infibeam.com.

The Pi weighs approximately 180 gm and is less than 10 mm thick. Its storage capacity is up to 350 books with expandable capacity to store an additional 2000 books. It has a battery life of 4 days or 10000 refreshes.

Pi is available at infibeam.com for pre order booking at an introductory price of Rs. 9,999 and comes with a one year warranty.

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TFTS Medium Logo Sony Holding Off On Color eBook Reader Current Color eReader Screens Don't Meet Sony's Quality

2010-02-26T04:29:00.000-08:00

Before that thing called the Kindle, Sony was one of the first companies to offer an eBook Reader, although, without the subsidiaries of the Kindle Store, their eReaders have been pretty expensive and sold mediocrely. A few eReader screen manufacturers (including big dog E Ink) have showed off prototypes of color displays, but Sony isn’t impressed.

Fuji Noguchi, deputy president of Sony’s Digital Reading division said that Sony is “considering making color e-book readers, but there is no electronic paper whose quality is high enough for us.” Quite a blow to E Ink and all the other manufacturers who have showed off color
prototypes.

Obviously, this is a hot issue as the iPad was revealed a few days ago with it’s strong iBook application. Of course, the iPad has a color LCD screen
, with 132ppi, and could be a strong competitor to the current eReader market place.

However, Noguchi believes that an electronic paper solution, vs. the glass OLED screen of the iPad, will appeal to most readers over a longer period of time. Despite facing strong competition from the Kindle and the Nook, Sony is doing well in the market they invented.

Noguchi reported to the press that sales of their eReader lines have been quadrupling on a year-by-year basis ever since the product line launched in October 2006. He even pointed out that activation was slow on Sony’s servers this past Christmas Day as so many people tried to register their new Sony Readers.

Sony currently has two eReaders for sale (the PRS-300 and PRS-600) with the cheaper of the two on sale for $300. Ooops, turns out Sony is selling three eReaders at the moment (the PRS-300, PRS-600 and the PRS-900) and with the lowest selling for $199. Props to Corey for noticing my mistake – I’ll never trust Wikipedia again.

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EBook readers show up in local libraries

2010-02-25T04:09:00.000-08:00

Two local libraries have recently added eBook readers and many more local librarians said they would embrace the new technology if they had the opportunity.

Barbara Lachance, director of Sandown Public Library, said they have two Kindles and are ready to start lending them any day now.

The Kindle is a device on which users can read eBooks. Although Kindle was the first of its kind, there are other devices on the market. Some of them can hold more than 1,000 books.

Lachance said audiobooks have been popular for years, so the move to an electronic device that can be read like a book was a natural progression.

"We felt we needed to keep up with the times," she said.

One of the Kindles will stay at the library and a second one will be circulated.

Lachance said the library purchased the devices at the end of December for about $275 apiece after she tried one. She said she was surprised at how easy it was to read since she's never been comfortable reading text on a computer screen.

"It's soft on your eyes," Lachance said.

Kimball Public Library in Atkinson started lending its two Kindles last week and so far they've been popular, Director Diane Heer said.

Some people want to try one before purchasing their own.

They're convenient for people who travel frequently and don't want to carry books with them, Heer said.

Lachance said she really became intrigued with the Kindle after Mary White of Howe Library in Hanover gave a presentation on how successful that institution's experience was with the device.

Three Kindles were first offered at Howe Library in October 2008, but they became so successful that they had to purchase a fourth to satisfy the demand, White said.

"At one point, we had 90 people or more on the waiting list," she said. White said the Kindle is popular with people who have difficulty reading the small print in a traditional book. On a Kindle, the font size can be increased to make it easier to read. That's one reason the Lions Club donated money to Kimball Library for a Kindle, Heer said.

Some books available on Kindle also have audio, which allows the reader to follow along with a narrator.

Peggy Thrasher, director of Hampstead Public Library, said she's aware of Kindle's advantages and expects to get something similar soon. She said they're probably going to purchase a different reader that is more compatible with the audiobooks they offer.

Thrasher, like most local librarians, said she's not concerned about people moving away from traditional books and into the new format.

"We're more interested in the content than the format," she said.

But some librarians said they're just not ready to add readers to their collection.

Carl Heidenblad, director of Nesmith Public Library in Windham, said they haven't had any requests for Kindles yet. Eventually, Heidenblad said, he expects they will be added to the library, but it won't be anytime soon.

Bob Rice, director of Pelham Public Library, said eBooks will never be able to replace the original, no matter how popular they become.

"There's something about having the weight of a book in your hands that you can't replace," Rice said.

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Asus juggling new Eee PCs, Eee Pad, e-book readers

2010-02-24T04:06:00.000-08:00

Asus is juggling quite the number of low-powered devices behind the scenes. According to industry sources cited by DigiTimes, Asus will unveil its rumored Eee Pad at Computex in June. The device is said to carry an Nvidia Tegra chip -- most likely second-generation -- and will cost under $500.

In addition to the 6-inch color OLED-based DR-570, the company reportedly has a second e-book reader up its sleeve. The DR-950 has a larger 9-inch grayscale 1024x768 touchscreen and weighs around 12 ounces. Neither e-book will arrive in the first half of 2010 though, the sources said.

The company also has several new 12.1-inch Eee PCs lined up, one of which features an Athlon Neo MV-40, Radeon HD 3200, a six-hour battery, and should launch next month. Others will supposedly use Nvidia's Ion 2 graphics chip with Intel's Pine Trail platform and are expected to appear sometime in April.

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Asus To Launch 2 eBook Readers In Spring

2010-02-23T03:36:00.000-08:00

It seems that Asus might be launching its 6-inch DR-570 OLED eBook reader and the 9-inch DR-950 in the US and Europe markets, and we’re talking about the possibility of a spring release. If the spring release, which is to gauge market acceptance, goes well, you can expect to see readers with color screens by winter. Despite talk of rumored releases, it seems that Asus hasn’t begun mass producing the eBook readers just yet, nor has it released final specs, prices or marketing schedules. Earlier reports indicated that Asus wasn’t planning to launch the readers until the 2nd half of the year, but apparently it has been brought forward due to the popularity of eBook readers.

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3 reasons why the iPad’s going to put ebook readers out of business.

2010-02-22T03:33:00.000-08:00

It’s taken me a couple of weeks to really come around to the opinion that the iPad is going to cannibalize ebook reader sales. I was on the fence before the iPad announcement, and I was on the fence once the announcement was over. Over the last couple of days, however, my opinion began to evolve into something else entirely. I can summarize the entirety of my opinion in three key statements.
It’s all about the applications

Let’s take a trip back in time for a second and think about the iPhone, and the opinions that were circulating around the internet at the time of its release. It was lukewarm for most, and a gem for a few. People weren’t sure what to expect, and without being able to visualize what applications were in store for us, it wasn’t hard to second guess the device on a whole.

Here we are again, a couple of years have passed, and a new product brings the same kind of questions and the exact same kind of early reviews. This time around we have device that will be able to run a couple hundred thousand applications right out of the box, as well as a whole slew of applications that will surely follow the iPads release. As much as everyone’s lamenting that this device is just a bigger and faster iPhone, the foul cries are actually one of the devices biggest assets. More screen space and a faster device means big and better applications. Don’t sell the developers short, and don’t under-estimate their creativity. They delighted us once with iPhone apps, and they’re certainly going to do it again. If we add in the rumoured SDK hooks that are starting to sprout up around the internet, it’s starting to become quite obvious that we might be on the verge of some excellent new applications.

Looking at the price comparison in the chart above, it becomes quite evident that the iPad is priced so low that it’s almost criminal. Low pricing and a vast library of applications means the Kindle, Nook, and other e-book readers are in a world of hurt unless they evolve quickly. Who know’s what’s in the pipeline for the e-book reader crowd, but it better be full screen and it better be color, because if it isn’t, they’ll become a niche product pretty quickly, and the masses will start to marginalize the device.

It’s about the price point

I alluded to it in the previous section, but it really deserves it’s own heading, the iPad will be the best bang for the buck on the market when it ships. Barring any major announcements from the competition, Apple will bring to market a device that has an excellent price-point, and that has much more utility than its competition. The CrunchPad (aka Joo Joo), Kindle DX and iPad will ship at $499, $489, and $499 respectively. When price is paired with the multi-functional approach of an iPad, it starts to get a little bit clearer why someone might opt for an iPad over the competition.

In an economy where money is tight, and purchases of consumer electronics are a little harder to come by, surely consumers will be looking for a device that mets the needs of more than one of their current problems. If all a consumer is looking for is something to read books with, then a Barnes & Noble Nook might be the purchase of choice, and at $259, it borders on an impulse purchase for some. If the same consumer hopes to listen to music, watch video, play games, check email, and do a host of other things then the application store makes the $499 price point a little more respectable.

It may be a little bit more than a Sony Reader or Phillips iRex up front, but when you factor in all the other stuff an iPad can do, it simply becomes a matter of bang for your buck. At this point, the iPad is all bang.

It’s about the end to end experience

Your personal electronics create an ecosystem that you live in. For most of you (considering you’re reading a Mac-centric website) this probably centres around other Apple technologies. It may not mean that we all run out and purchase everything with an Apple logo on it, but there’s a good chance that you’re looking to find something that integrates into a work flow that you’re used to. Purchase in iTunes, and sync with your device. Plug in your iPad and have it sync with your photo management, email, contact listings, and calendar application. It makes complete sense to want something that continues this legacy. It’s worked for us in the past, and it’ll work for us in the future. It’s the one thing that Apple gets, and it’s the one thing that makes them successful in the consumer electronics sphere: we should spend time using our personal electronics, and not spend our time trying to make them work.

The iPhone just worked, the iPod just worked, OS X mostly just works, and I’ll be willing to bet that the iPad is just going to work. That means that I’ll be able to just work, instead of just working to fix my ecosystem so that it works properly. I don’t want to think about how my personal electronics work, I just want to use them.

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The DOJ and ADA Mandate Ebook Readers Be Accessible to All

2010-02-21T03:30:00.000-08:00

Ebook reader makers received a major reality check earlier this month when, after investigating charges of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) violations, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced settlements with four major universities that had been part of the Kindle DX project to test the devices in real-life classroom settings.

Background

At the fall 2007 Educause conference, Amazon met with college officials, winning their support for the developing ebook reader and agreements to participate in a pilot project using Amazon ebook readers on their campuses. In May 2009, when Amazon released its Kindle DX, officials from Arizona State University (ASU), Case Western Reserve University, Princeton University, Reed College, Pace University, and Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia all participated.

The schools all announced "some type of trial program for their schools in which students will be given some type of discounted or free Kindles to ‘take notes and highlight, search across their library, look up words in a built-in dictionary, and carry all of their books in a lightweight device.'" (See http://newsbreaks.infotoday.com/NewsBreaks/Amazon-Announces-the-Kindle-DXThirdGeneration-Ebook-Reader-53843.asp.) ASU, for example, intended a yearlong experiment for students in an honors history class using the Kindle DX (http://education.zdnet.com/?p=2863&tag=mncol;txt).

Just a month after product launch, the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) and American Council of the Blind (ACB)-the two major U.S. organizations that support and advocate in the interests of the blind and visually impaired-along with Darrell Shandrow, an ASU journalism student who is visually handicapped, filed a lawsuit against ASU charging that the Kindle's inability to be accessible to blind students constituted a violation of ADA provisions.

"[Amazon is] saying we're giving sighted students a new avenue for reading but we're not granting the same facility to blind and visually impaired students," Shandrow said at the time. "I feel the need for equal accessibility, that is to have an accessible Kindle reading device and accessible books, is a civil right. We want the pilot program, we just want it to be accessible."

Academe Curbs Its Enthusiasm

Most educational organizations, well versed in the implications of ADA compliance and copyright issues, have chosen to avoid controversy by taking a more neutral stance. Brigham Young University suspended its Kindle-lending program in June 2009 due to legal concerns. Rogen Layton, BYU library spokesman, said at the time that "being a library, we will follow the rules and, until the rules are clear, we will wait."

In November, responding to increasing public pressure, the University of Wisconsin-Madison library system announced its decision not to support any brand of ebook readers due to their lack of ADA compliance. UW-Madison library director, Ken Frazier, released a statement noting that "advancements in text-to-speech technology have created a market opportunity for an e-book reading device that is fully accessible for everyone. This version of the Kindle e-book reader missed the mark" (http://badgerherald.com/news/2009/11/13/uw_dismisses_kindles.php). Similarly, Syracuse University library's plans to test a pilot program were also dropped.

Full and Equal Educational Opportunities for Everyone

The settlements between DOJ and the four universities involve no explicit findings of wrongdoing or monetary damages. The universities have agreed not to purchase, recommend, or promote use of the Kindle DX, or any other dedicated electronic book reader, unless or until those devices are fully accessible to blind and visually handicapped students.

DOJ made it clear that these settlements were not targeted to Amazon, but at the growing ebook reader industry: "Advancing technology is systematically changing the way universities approach education," assistant attorney general Thomas Perez noted in the DOJ's press release. "[W]e must be sure that emerging technologies offer individuals with disabilities the same opportunities as other students" (www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2010/January/10-crt-030.html).

In reacting to the DOJ decision, NFB president, Marc Maurer, noted that the settlement "will help to ensure that new technologies create new opportunities for blind students rather than new barriers." ACB president, Mitch Pomerantz similarly praised the intervention of DOJ in this case, saying that the settlement "will encourage the industry to develop fully accessible e-book readers in the near future."

On Dec. 9, perhaps anticipating DOJ action, Amazon announced that audio menu features would be available on Kindle e-readers by summer 2010. Amazon's press release at the time noted that Kindle "has enabled many vision-impaired readers to enjoy books more easily than before, and has also helped dyslexic readers and those with learning disabilities improve their reading skills. ... To make Kindle more useful for the blind, the Kindle team is currently working on an audible menuing system so blind and vision-impaired readers can easily navigate to books unassisted. ... In addition, a new super size font will be added to Kindle, increasing the number of font sizes from six to seven. This seventh font size will be twice the height and width of the current largest font" (http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=176060&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1362556&highlight).

Amazon Opens Kindle to Further Development

Kindle, in fact, already has a text-to-speech feature that provides audio renditions of ebooks; however, it has no voice-activated controls that would help a blind person navigate the device. NFB noted that the "menus of the device are not accessible to the blind ... making it impossible for a blind user to purchase books from Amazon's Kindle store, select a book to read, activate the text-to-speech feature, and use the advanced reading functions available on the Kindle DX."

At product launch last spring, many publishers protested the text-to-speech feature, believing it would be detrimental to their audio book sales-further cannibalizing their profits in a difficult economy. In response, Amazon disabled the feature.

Last week's announcement by Amazon that it will also open the Kindle for third-party product development is another good sign of change-broadening the base of applications by opening "programming interfaces, tools and documentation to build active content for Kindle" (http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=176060&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1377349&highlight=).

Amazon: Not the Only Player to Watch

With many expecting a tablet announcement from Apple at its Jan. 27 press conference, and the recent release of Ray Kurzweil's Blio (http://newsbreaks.infotoday.com/NewsBreaks/Kurzweils-Blio-A-Singular-Challenge-to-the-Ebook-Industry-60661.asp), the future for moving text from printed page to a digital medium appears very bright.

In June 2009, market research firm In-Stat projected that worldwide shipments of e-readers are expected to grow from almost 1 million units in 2008 to close to 30 million units in 2013 (www.instat.com/press.asp?ID=2535&sku=IN0904509ID). A month later, an In-Stat survey of more than 1,500 "high end" consumers found that only 5.8% owned an ebook reader, and a mere 11% of those questioned said they planned to buy one in the next year (http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10350878-93.html).

In September 2009, Forrester released a study that found significant price sensitivity. Based on surveys of more than 4,700 U.S. consumers, Forrester found that fewer than 20% would buy an ebook reader priced between $99 and $148, and only 14% would buy one in the $149-$198 range. More recently, Forrester estimated that 3 million ebook readers had been sold in 2009, estimating that 2010 sales could top 10 million units. All this seems to prove that even forecasters are uncertain about the future role for ebook reader devices.

Ebooks have become common, accepted products. Libraries and other institutions are already making tens of thousands of current, copyrighted books available through vendors such as ebrary.com and Netbooks.com-as well as through contracts with major publishers such as Wiley, Springer, Sage, and Gale, a part of Cengage Learning. Access to out-of-copyright works and book search features of Google Books are standard fare over the internet.

Textbooks appear to be the next big market. A new California state law is requiring that all textbooks in all postsecondary institutions be made available in ebook formats "to the extent practicable ... in whole or in part" by 2020. CourseSmart (www.coursesmart.com), a company that sells online versions of textbooks from leading textbook publishers, recently announced that its 2009 sales increased 400% over 2008. The vendor currently has more than 6,000 college texts available and offers a software platform that allows for sophisticated "search capabilities, highlighting, note taking features, and more."

As the ebook reader market begins to enter larger, mainstream marketplaces-especially education-manufacturers appear to be experiencing some bumps in the road, dealing not only with consumer tastes but with legal requirements that proliferate in many market niches. The legal challenge to Kindle, based on ADA requirements, is something Amazon should have seen coming long ago. The company's decisions to reinstate Kindle's text-to-speech feature and open the platform up to independent developers are good steps forward. The question for Amazon is whether these actions will prove to be enough to stave off a challenge from Apple as well as the ongoing dominance of computer-based ebook developments.

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Get a Sony Reader Pocket Edition for $159.99

2010-02-20T03:26:00.000-08:00

During a recent visit to a Borders bookstore, I got my first hands-on look at the Sony Reader Pocket Edition PRS-300--and I was impressed.

It's less expensive and much more compact than the Amazon Kindle 2, and it supports the increasingly popular EPUB file format--meaning you may be able to "check out" books from your local library.

If you don't mind buying a refurbished unit, the SonyStyle store has the Reader Pocket PRS-300 for just $159.99 shipped (plus sales tax in some states). That's $40 less than the original price on a new unit. (Note: new Reader Pockets are on sale for $179.99 until January 23.)

Don't let the name fool you: This e-book reader won't fit in most pockets. However, it's quite a bit smaller (and much cuter, in my opinion) than a Kindle. Also, it's definitely lighter at 7.7 ounces. Thus, it's easier to tote around.

Of course, you don't get any kind of wireless capabilities, so you'll need to use a PC to load the reader with e-books.

Other than that, how does it compare with other e-book gizmos? You can find out by watching CNET's video review of the PRS-300 and reading the accompanying write-up. CNET liked it overall, but the reviewer had a few notable complaints.

Personally, I think if you're looking for the ideal e-book reader, you should get a refurbished iPod Touch (like this 8GB model for $159). It offers e-book apps galore (including the killer Kindle app). Of course, the iPod Touch does way more than just display e-books.

That's just my two cents. If you want to read more of my thoughts on e-book readers, I wrote an iPods versus Kindles article last July. Some of the pricing has changed, but my opinion has not.

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Acer ebook reader, Chrome OS netbooks, App Store and tablet in works for 2010

2010-02-19T03:20:00.000-08:00

Acer’s plans for 2010 include ebook readers, Google Chrome OS netbooks, an app store and – potentially – a tablet running either a Microsoft or a Google platform, according to Jim Wong, the company’s president of IT Products. The executive has revealed that by the end of June, Acer will have announced its first 6-inch E Ink based ereader, around the same time that the company expects to launch an app store with titles for Android, Windows and Windows Mobile; Chrome OS support will follow on later.

In fact we’d expect app store support for Google Chrome OS to arrive roughly in time with Acer’s first netbooks using the platform, themselves expected from Q3 2010. Wong reckons Chrome OS will power at least 10-percent of Acer’s netbooks overall, though it seems that they could be dual-boot machines with both the open-source platform and Windows.

As for the tablet, all Wong would say is that “We’re developing something, and we will see what happens … We’re going to work either in the Windows world or in Google’s defined OS space.” Acer will be taking a wait-and-see approach, gaging the market in the aftermath of Apple’s expected iPad launch this coming Wednesday.

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E-Books are here to stay. Is paper?

2010-02-18T19:23:00.000-08:00

E-book readers are popping up left right and centre and with even governments releasing their reports in e-book formats, the lifespan of paper as we know it may be coming under threat.

The Kindle was recently challenged by the Nook, an e-book reader released by book publisher Barnes and Noble and then Apple jumped onboard with the iPad. This week saw a number of rumours popping up of many of the big names climbing into the arena, with the first shadows of a possible Microsoft ereader showing up!

One of the ‘outsiders’ that has been a little more intriguing is the mysterious upcoming release from LG. By April, LG plan to have a product on shelves that will ‘compete with Apple and Amazon’. LG has recently been showing off solar-powered technology specifically created for e-readers and they have a fantastic flexible e-paper display that has already turned up in the Skiff reader. Add to this the constant name dropping of Google’s operating system, this may make for a potent combination.

However, what all the new kids on the block dont have yet are the backing of publishers, and it is kinda pointless having an e-book reader without e-books to read!

http://mybroadband.co.za/blogs/2010/02/13/e-books-are-here-to-stay-is-paper/

Amazon eBook Pricing Battle Gets Ugly

2010-02-17T19:21:00.000-08:00

Apple’s launch last week of the iPad has ushered in a new era of competition in the publishing industry as tech giants expand their footprint in the oldest of old media, books.

coverInterestingly, at least among serious readers and industry watchers, a skirmish on the margins has taken the spotlight. On Friday, Amazon unilaterally and without any explanatory public announcement, removed all books by publisher Macmillan from its virtual shelves. This included both ebook and paper editions and impacted books as varied as Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall and Atul Gawande’s The Checklist Manifesto.

At the heart of Amazon’s move was a dispute over pricing. Essentially, Amazon, with its massive footprint in the publishing industry, is continually trying to dictate terms to publishers in order to maximize profits. Macmillan, seeing Apple (and therefore competition for Amazon) on the horizon, decided to hold its ground and retaliated.

As a result, two models are now in play. Under Amazon’s current model, it utilizes its near monopoly position to take an extremely steep wholesalers’ discount (up to 70%) when it buys books from publishers, and it sets prices where it wants, often offering books at bargain prices in order to draw shoppers into Amazon while still eking out a profit.

The opposing model is the agency model that treats Amazon not as a wholesaler but merely a sales force. The publisher sets the prices, and Amazon takes a 30% commission of whatever that price is. As best I can tell, the push for the agency model only applies to ebooks. Apple is touting this model with the iBook offering on the new iPad, and MacMillan intends to extend these terms to all outlets that sell its ebooks. (For more on how all this works, check out Charles Stross’s informative piece.)

For Amazon, it’s clear why the current model is preferred. The only way it can differentiate (and lure new customers into its Kindle ecosystem) is based on price. If the agency model succeeds, technically any other player out there with the wherewithal could come along and sell ebooks on exactly the same terms that Amazon does.

This is probably good news for readers. In the long-term it will spur competition in the ebook and ereader space that will inevitably push away from DRM, closed ecosystems, and expensive hardware. In the short term, however, those readers demanding that ebooks be priced at $9.99 or less are going to be frustrated. If publishers can set pricing, they are going to set it higher than Amazon would (In a memo obtained by Publishers Lunch, Macmillan has said it aims to price its ebook new releases between $12.99 and $14.99). These higher prices could definitely slow the growth of the ebook market, something I suspect may mainstream publishers wouldn’t be too upset about. On the other hand, publishers would have the ability to adjust prices, and if lowering prices ends up increasing volume and maximizing profits, they’ll undoubtedly do it.

It’s worth noting as well how Amazon has responded to Macmillan in this case and how a pattern of behavior is emerging. We noted nearly a year ago, when dicussing both cutting its affiliates out of the Kindle ecosystem, that the threat that Amazon poses is one of control. In the emerging world of ebooks, where the books you own are not on your shelves but are digitally tethered to a big corporation, this is not just concern in principal. This was made clear last July when Amazon managed to remove from afar ebooks from its customers’ Kindles.

Amazon on Sunday proposed in a posting on the Kindle Community board that it had all been part of the effort to fight for cheaper ebooks. Readers, especially those who read ebooks, will have to decide whether cheap ebooks are worth the cost of Amazon’s quest for monopoly control.

http://www.themillions.com/2010/01/amazon-ebook-pricing-battle-gets-ugly.html

A Guide to eBook Readers

2010-02-16T19:20:00.000-08:00

For those who want to read on the go, eBooks are the perfect solution. With the ability to store hundreds of books these gadgets, similar in size to the average paperback, also offer Internet and email access. Choosing the right model may come down to picking a brand that works for you, though.
What Features Should I Look for in an eBooks Reader?

The best eBook reader is easy to carry, has a long battery life, and can be read in any environment – whether you’re on a sunny beach or around the campfire. LED lighting, touch screens, and the Read to Me feature on the Kindle 2 make reading a pleasure. Screen size and wireless capability are also important features to think about, as is E-ink technology. E-ink is a special kind of digital paper that uses very little power to be displayed, keeping you reading for longer.
Content

Because many models have similar features, a very important thing to think about when choosing an eBook reader is what kind of reading material you’re after. Amazon claims to have the biggest range of titles, boasting over 285 000 popular books, while eBooks.com is a viable alternative. While Amazon’s Kindle is not the original wireless reader, it is the first to achieve mass market success, while Sony’s more recent models have the advantage in being compatible with all books on eBooks, as well as open source books on the web. Virtually all eBook readers support HTML, .txt, MP3 and JPG files.
Value for Money

The best eBook readers have the latest features, allow you to read what you want to, and don’t come with a hefty price tag. At the top of the range are Amazon’s latest Kindle 2 and Sony’s Reader Daily Edition. Both are quite pricey, with the Kindle 2 coming in at around £200 and Sony’s Daily Edition being priced at £245, but both have great features. Amazon’s Kindle 2 has a slightly smaller, not fully touch, screen, and a slightly shorter battery life. Both models have 3G wireless Internet connectivity and make use of E-ink technology. An alternative eBook reader is the BeBook Reader (£179), which is lightweight and has a battery life of 9 000 pages, but doesn’t have a touch screen.

There’s a world of choice in the booming world of eBooks readers, and choosing the right one for you is well worth the time spent researching your options. With Amazon claiming that ‘millions’ of people have bought their Kindle since it came out two years ago, you won’t be the only one on the beach reading from a digital screen.

http://www.mobile-computing-news.co.uk/ebook-readers/1613/a-guide-to-ebook-readers.html

LG e-reader will "compete with Apple and Amazon"

2010-02-15T19:18:00.000-08:00

LG is developing an e-book reader that it expects will directly challenge the iPad and Kindle, the company's Middle East and Africa chief KW Kim claimed late Thursday. He didn't explain its features but expected it would "compete with Apple and Amazon" in the increasingly crowded space. It will most likely ship by April, Kim said.

LG is one of the largest display manufacturers in the world and is likely to exploit its research of e-paper or other screen technologies to give itself a competitive edge. It's unlikely to use the large, flexible e-paper shown off recently but has also been developing color e-paper and similar techniques. At the same time, the company is believed to be paradoxically supporting Apple: it received a large order from the American firm for the iPad's 9.7-inch LCDs, according to Emirates Business.

Korean companies have historically been somewhat slow to adopt e-readers en masse as both LG and Samsung have only this year signaled their intentions to compete in earnest. Most have come from either neighboring countries like China and Japan as well as Europe and the US.

Kim also broke word that LG is striking a deal with carriers like the Middle East's etisalat to offer subsidized 3G netbooks based on "Google's operating system," although whether this would involve Android or Chrome OS wasn't discussed. Chrome OS is more likely as it's specifically intended for conventionally-shaped notebooks.

http://www.electronista.com/articles/10/02/12/lg.thinks.e.reader.can.fight.ipad.kindle/

Koobe's New e-Book Reader Features Neonode’s Optical Touchscreen Solution

2010-02-15T04:58:00.001-08:00

The JinYong Reader incorporates an ARM-based application processor connected to a high contrast 6 inch electronic ink display and Neonode´s optical touchscreen, supporting smooth finger input with gestures and sweeps.

The JinYong Reader will feature the work of renowned Chinese martial arts novelist Jin Yong among others and will be sold mainly in the traditional Chinese-language market (including but not limited to) Taiwan and Hong Kong. It will be available in the major book stores and consumer electronics channels.

The JinYong Reader is the slimmest multi-touchscreen capable eReader ever. The device supports text in a wide variety of formats such as PDF, ePub, html, txt, as well as images in JPG, BMP and PNG formats. The internal memory of 2GB can store up to 1500 e-books and can be expandable with a micro-SD memory card (up to 16GB).

Page-turning on the JinYong Reader can be done with a single slide on screen or button, while other basic functions like bookmarking, page refresh and annotation can be done with one touch, as well. Touch operation is simple and can be done with either hand.

“We are pleased to work with an e-publishing leader like Koobe to incorporate our innovative zForce e-Book touchscreen platform into the Koobe products. Our zForce e-Book touchscreen will help to enable feature rich e-book applications that can be enjoyed by the growing user base in Asian markets,” said Thomas Eriksson, CEO of Neonode Technologies AB.

Neonode delivers a touch solution that is many times more cost effective than any other high performance touch solutions currently in the market. Neonode’s technology incorporates all functionality and performance features from traditional touch screen solutions such as resistive and capacitive response (i.e. iPhone). zForce supports high resolution pen input, multi-finger touch control and zoom-in gestures combined with superior picture quality. zForce is currently being integrated into products such as mobile phones, mobile internet devices, e-books, digital picture frames and tablet PC’s.

source

nook(TM) eBook Readers In Stock This Week in Barnes & Noble Stores Just in Time for Valentine's Day

2010-02-14T19:13:00.000-08:00

NEW YORK, Feb 08, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- --Barnes & Noble Launches Exclusive In-Store Content and Promotions

Barnes & Noble, Inc. /quotes/comstock/13*!bks/quotes/nls/bks (BKS 20.99, +0.19, +0.91%) , the world's largest bookseller, announced that its popular nook eBook reader -- the ultimate gift for book lovers -- is in stock online at nook.com and will be rolling out in the majority of Barnes & Noble stores beginning mid-week, just in time for Valentine's Day. While in-store, nook customers will enjoy exclusive holiday-themed online content, kicking off this month.

Barnes & Noble quickly sold out of nook stock online over the holidays due to unprecedented customer demand. Since then the company has ramped up production and is shipping stock to the majority of its stores, beginning this week. Customers can visit the Barnes & Noble nook In-Store Locator at www.bn.com/nook/instore, updated daily beginning February 10, to find local stores with devices in-stock.

Enhanced in-store connectivity allows nook customers to seamlessly access fast, free Wi-Fi in Barnes & Noble stores. There, they can browse the extensive library of more than a million eBooks, magazines and newspapers and enjoy exclusive "More In Store" content and promotional offers, officially launching in February, which include:

-- A short story by bestselling favorite Adriana Trigiani featuring characters from her newest blockbuster, Brava, Valentine.

-- A Valentine's Day recipe for red velvet cupcakes from Anne Byrn, the Cake Mix Doctor.

-- "Read Between the Wines," a regular feature by renowned wine expert Kevin Zraly, guides readers and wine lovers through the mystery of pairing books with the perfect vintage.

"nook is the perfect Valentine's Day gift for anyone who loves reading. Demand for nook continues to be very high, and we're pleased our customers will be able to try and buy nook in our stores and online and enjoy it in time for the holiday," said William J. Lynch, President of Barnes & Noble.com. "In Barnes & Noble stores, nook owners will enjoy exciting nook-only content from their favorite authors and other valuable offers, along with fast and free in-store Wi-Fi, which nook customers have been accessing in droves over the last few weeks."

New Barnes & Noble in-store content will be updated weekly and available for a four-week period. nook users can stay apprised of upcoming exclusive More In Store content at www.bn.com/nook/moreinstore. Also in February, nook users in Barnes & Noble stores can enjoy 10 percent off any CD. nook customers need only show the special offer on their nook to the cashier to redeem.

Barnes & Noble has continued to optimize nook software for an improved reading experience with the newly updated nook v1.2. Automatic over the air (OTA) updates, which do not require any action from nook customers, are underway and will be conducted seamlessly through this week. nook customers currently using the previous version can also immediately download v1.2 at www.nook.com/support, where additional update and technical support information is available.

nook marries innovative technology and sleek minimalist design with access to the Barnes & Noble's digital store of over one million eBooks, newspapers and magazines. nook's color touch screen for navigation along with a best-in-class E Ink display offer an immersive, enjoyable e-reading experience. It offers both 3G wireless and Wi-Fi access and is the first to offer digital lending for a wide selection of eBooks through its LendMe(TM) technology.

To learn more and experience nook, visit www.nook.com. Follow our eBooks and other updates on www.bn.com/twitter. To learn more about the free Barnes & Noble eReader software and Barnes & Noble eBookstore apps, visit www.barnesandnoble.com/ebooks.

About Barnes & Noble, Inc.

Barnes & Noble, Inc. /quotes/comstock/13*!bks/quotes/nls/bks (BKS 20.99, +0.19, +0.91%) , the world's largest bookseller and a Fortune 500 company, operates 775 bookstores in 50 states. Barnes & Noble College Booksellers, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Barnes & Noble, also operates 636 college bookstores serving nearly 4 million students and over 250,000 faculty members at colleges and universities across the United States. Barnes & Noble is the nation's top bookseller brand for the sixth year in a row, as determined by a combination of the brand's performance on familiarity, quality, and purchase intent; the top bookseller in quality for the second year in a row and the number two retailer in trust, according to the EquiTrend(R) Brand Study by Harris Interactive(R). Barnes & Noble conducts its online business through Barnes & Noble.com (www.bn.com), one of the Web's largest e-commerce sites, which also features hundreds of thousands of titles in its eBookstore (www.bn.com/ebooks). Customers can buy and read eBooks on a wide range of platforms, including nook by Barnes & Noble, the iPhone and iPod touch, BlackBerry(R) smartphones, as well as most Windows(R) and Mac(R) laptops or full-sized desktop computers.

Testing Spring Design’s Android-Powered Alex e-Book Reader

2010-01-31T01:04:00.000-08:00

A full color LCD screen with the familiar Google Android interface sets Spring Design’s Alex e-book reader apart from the growing pack at CES.

Barnes and Noble may have been the first to append a full-color LCD screen to an otherwise dull e-Ink display with the Nook, but Spring Design knows how to make those pixels sing. The company’s new Alex e-book reader features an enormous color touch screen that you might just mistake for an Android phone at first glance. That’s because functionally, it almost is.

Although the Alex lacks the voice capabilities of an ordinary Android handset like the Motorola Droid, it uses a built-in Wi-Fi to perform many of Android’s other handy tricks, including a full Web browser, e-mail access, and MP3 player. It feels, in many ways, like having a smartphone lashed to the bottom of a Kindle. You can even use it as an auxiliary reading screen for your e-books in the dark, where its backlight makes it handier than the more efficient e-Ink display above.

Although the Alex currently lacks the built-in connectivity of the Kindle or Nook (company reps say they’re currently shopping around for a provider), Spring Designs has partnered with both Google Books and Borders to provide content for the device. It also supports the open ePub and PDF formats for grabbing content from other providers.

Hands on, we liked the Alex’s familiar-feeling Android interface, sturdy hardware, and the quality of both screens – especially the bottom one, which is notably larger than the Nook’s. Although a $399 price tag will make it one of the most expensive e-readers on the market at the moment, it’s also fair to call it one of the most functional.

Currently, Spring Design plans to launch the device on February 22.

Blio E-Book Platform: No Reader (Yet), But Great Graphics

2010-01-30T01:06:00.000-08:00

Does the world need yet another e-book platform? Voice recognition guru Ray Kurzweil and his partners in KNFB Reading Technology think so--especially for books that depend heavily on graphics.

Unveiled this week at CES, KNFB's Blio software for PCs and mobile devices promises to not only preserve but enhance the print experience for titles with lots of illustrations and other design elements, while also offering traditional e-book options such as the ability to resize and reflow text.

What Blio won't have when it makes its debut in the next few weeks (as free downloads for PCs and iPhones) is dedicated hardware: There are no Blio e-book readers, although the software's creators say they expect such devices to follow. (The download will be available on the Blio Web site.)

Microsoft Technologies

Blio is based heavily on Microsoft technologies including XPS (XML Paper Specification) and (Windows Presentation Format). Support for additional devices (beyond PCs and iPhones) will be forthcoming via Microsoft's Silverlight browser technology.

You'll be able to acquire Blio content via a storefront that's integrated into the application (a la iTunes). Blio's digital rights management technology allows you to associate up to 5 devices with your account (but unlike iTunes, Blio doesn't let you deactivate a device in order to add a new one--5 is supposed to be a lifetime limit). At launch, Blio officials said their storefront would offer access to more than 1.2 million free and DRM-protected titles.

Beautiful Graphics

Where Blio really shines is in its ability to display beautiful graphics on a PC monitor. In a demo at the Microsoft CES booth, a heavily illustrated children's book looked terrific on an LCD monitor--as did pages from a medical anatomy textbook.

Blio can also integrate an audiobook with its electronic counterpart. Click on a word to highlight it, and you can hear that word spoken. Blio representatives explained that while most audiobooks are organized by chapters, Blio authoring tools allow association with the written text.

Blio can also integrate Web content with a book. In the CES demo, clicking on an illustration in the medical textbook initiated playback of an embedded video--within the page.

Lack of Dedicated Hardware

But while Blio can faithfully recreate printed pages, so can PDFs. However Blio also provides many more traditional e-book options, such as the ability to resize and reflow text. Blio also supports synchronization between associated Internet-connected devices, much the way Amazon's Whispernet lets you pick up reading on one device at the point where you left off on another.

Blio also provides good-looking annotation tools, as you might expect from PC software. You can, for example, highlight text in color.

It remains to be seen whether lack of dedicated Blio hardware will prove a major obstacle to the format. Most people who want e-book readers have devices, not software, in mind. On a gadget with a great, high-res color display, Blio could bring a whole new chunk of content into the e-book fold.

Alex E-Reader to Feature Borders E-Book Store

2010-01-29T01:03:00.000-08:00

Spring Design announced Thursday that its Alex e-reader will feature the Kobo-powered e-book store from Borders.

The two companies have signed an "agreement in principle," according to Spring Design. The Borders store, which will be available on Borders.com and and via a Borders mobile app, will feature more than 2 million titles.

"The combination of Borders' leadership in the book industry and Spring Design's innovation and experience in consumer electronics will create a world class service for eBook readers," Dr. Priscilla Lu, chief executive officer of Spring Design, said in a statement. "This partnership delivers one of the critical foundations of our business growth going forward."

"Our agreement with Spring Design represents another step in our digital strategy, which continues to focus on offering book lovers-including our more than 35 million Borders Rewards loyalty program members-high quality content on the device of their choosing," said Borders Group Chief Executive Officer Ron Marshall. "We look forward to bringing a world class eBook experience to Alex users."

Alex will be available starting Feb. 22 for $359 on www.springdesign.com. The device made its official debut this week at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.

Last year, Spring Design sued Barnes & Noble over the bookstore's Nook e-reader, which Spring Design said is basically an unauthorized copy of the Alex.

Earlier this week, Spring Design said that the Google Books library will also be on the Alex e-reader.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2357904,00.asp

Apple iPad review, specs, price and other details

2010-01-28T19:30:00.000-08:00

San Francisco: Apple iPad review, specs, price and other details. Apple tablet, iPad is out and it will be available to you in 60 days. iPad, an Apple wonder as called by a commentator will be available in three price segments. The first model that cost $499 is a basic model with 16Gbytes flash memory. Another offer with the memory capacity of 32Gbytes will cost $599 and third model with 64Gbytes is priced at $699.

An extra $130 will be charged for each model if it is equipped with the facility of 3G network capability. That means the maximum rate will be $829.

It is supposed that iPad will be the most suitable device to read e-magazines and e-news papers. At the moment in the market, there is a leading product for this purpose, that is the Kindle from Amazon. But, iPad peculiarly differs from Kindle with its feature to browse the Web. The data connectivity for iPad is provided by AT&T.

The operating system used in iPad is another slight version used in iPhone, that means 140,000 or so applications workable on iPhone can also be used in iPad. The new tablet has got a wonderful virtual keypad, which can be used when it is required. The screen is the most attractive one that can show full picture clarity and high-definition movies.

The battery on iPad, according to Apple can power the device for 10 hours and 30days in standby power. Some commentators predict that with these features iPad can survive in the market.

Source: http://www.khabrein.info/news/Apple_iPad_review__specs__price_and_other_details_1264691308/

Reviews of Apple iPad and iBooks

2010-01-28T19:29:00.000-08:00

As Nancy noted, the reaction to Apple's new iPad falls far short of the upper-case WOW! that has accompanied the launch of the iPod and iPhone. Maybe it's because the device looks like an iPod Touch on steroids. Or because it simply combines current functionality -- music, video, e-reader -- without leap-frogging them. At least Apple got the pricing right -- a range that starts at $499 -- but that is still substantially higher than the basic Kindle and nook. Here's what others are saying about the iPad, with particular attention to e-reader capability:

Baltimore Sun -- [UMd. professor Ben] Bederson said he didn't think an Apple tablet would eliminate consumer demand for other e-book readers, like the Kindle, at least in the near future. The Kindle is a lighter device and geared specifically toward avid readers, he noted, adding that the full impact of the iPad on the consumer marketplace might take time to be felt.

Los Angeles Times -- It's hard to see the iPad as anything other than a mortal threat to Amazon.com's market-leading Kindle reader. Today you can buy a top-of-the-line Kindle, the DX, for $489. For that you get 4 gigabytes of storage, enough to hold (Amazon says) 3,500 books. ... For only $10 more, you can have Apple's entry-level iPad, with four times as much storage, a high-contrast full-color screen -- also 9.7 inches diagonally -- a dedicated eReader application that looks as if it will be less clunky than the Kindle's, and Web-browsing capability that the Kindle lacks.

New York Times -- Apple’s announcement that it was diving into the growing e-book business put the company on a collision course with Amazon. ... John Doerr, a Silicon Valley venture capitalist who serves on Amazon’s board and is also an adviser to Apple, said there could be room for both companies, noting that Amazon sells many books to iPhone owners who use its Kindle application, which will also work on the iPad.

Wired -- Not only is the book reading experience better because the screen is in color, the iPad solves the Kindle’s biggest problem: layout and graphics. Reading a newspaper or a magazine on a Kindle is disappointing. On the iPad, you get the publication virtually as it was designed to be read in print, with extras like video and photo slide shows that you don’t get in print.

Source: http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/books/blog/2010/01/reviews_of_apple_ipad_and_iboo.html

Apple iPad Reviews: The Critics Weigh In

2010-01-28T19:28:00.000-08:00

Now that the mania of Apple's iPad (such a bad name) announcement has begun to calm and people are checking bank accounts instead of RSS feeds for more information, big-name critics are pulling out their swords and taking swings at Apple's latest creation. The overall reaction has been, in a word, underwhelming. What was hotly anticipated has mostly turned into cold soup. So what happened and what is being said?

There is, without a doubt, much disappointment surrounding the iPad. Bloggers curb-stomped it for its shortcomings:

No multitasking
No Adobe Flash (yet)
No camera or iChat capabilities
No HDMI port
4:3 aspect ratio
Still dependent on AT&T's 3G service
Dependence on adapters

... and the list goes on.

What I found interesting is that the "big-name" critics took a more compassionate view of the iPad. David Pogue from the New York Times outlined three phases of "the standard Apple new-category roll-out," starting with feverish speculation and hype, then hands-off negativity, then release-date positivity. Pogue urged caution from the knee-jerk types: "it's too early to draw any conclusions." Furthermore, he writes, "as we enter Phase 2, remember how silly you all looked when you all predicted the iPhone's demise in that period before it went on sale."

Om Malik had a positive take on the iPad over at Gigaom. He loved the single button, landscape and portrait modes, Web browsing experience, Maps, and the ability to "plow through" e-mails. Still, a hint of wariness came at the end of Malik's brief first impression when he said, "If I didn't own a Kindle or an iPod touch, the decision to buy an iPad would be an easy one. But I own both, and even if I only owned one of them, it would be a tough decision."

Who better to weigh in on the iPad than Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak? In this video, Wozniak commented on the possible future of the iPad but lamented its productivity capabilities -- specifically its inability to edit movies or fiddle with music.

Tech guru Walter Mossberg approached his first impressions of the iPad evenly without making overly harsh judgments. The keyboard and the tablet's size, in his opinion, may be the iPad's biggest downfall. "Finally, while it's too early for me to say without lots of testing, the size of the iPad's virtual keyboard may be a liability. I found it almost too wide for thumb typing, and a colleague who's a whiz at touch typing and tried it briefly found it awkward to type on. Apple is offering an auxiliary physical keyboard that docks with, and charges, the iPad. But you won't want to lug that around."

You might be wondering where TechCrunch's Michael Arrington fits into this hoopla. As of this writing, Arrington hadn't given his two cents (or two thousand dollars) to the iPad, though he's likely writing his tome now. I'm more interested than usual about Arrington's take given that his own tablet, the CrunchPad, went down in flames.

Michael Hiltzik of the Los Angeles Times ran down the laundry list of oft-repeated iPad shortcomings, but hinted at its hopeful possibilities. "... depending on how it's exploited, eventually it could be much more."

The round-up of other influential tech blogs brought the same lukewarm response I believe we should expect from what looks to be a wishy-washy on-the-fence device. Gizmodo, quite simply, hated it. In a very long, multi-person take, Engadget was kinda "meh." ZDNet, like many, urged caution. And the editors here at PC World teetered toward the negative in multiple editorial takes.

So that's the general take on Apple's latest product. What's even more appealing to me is getting the audience's reaction. So what do you think about the iPad?

Source: http://www.pcworld.com/article/188073/apple_ipad_reviews_the_critics_weigh_in.html

Hands on: Apple iPad review

2010-01-28T19:23:00.000-08:00

Is Apple's iPad everything the hype machine promised?

Apple provided us with hands-on time with its new iPad after Wednesday's big announcement, letting dozens of greasy-fingered journalists poke, swipe, and droll over the svelte hardware and the first-party built-in applications.

And while some of the software was a tad underwhelming in its prerelease state, playing with the iPad quickly revealed its potential for greatness. We simply can't wait to see what developers make for this thing.

Picking up an iPad for the first time, you immediately notice its thin, light body, weighing in at just 0.68kg and only half an inch thick.

KEY PRESS: Testing the software keyboard, with the same hold-a-key contextual options as the iPhone's

The aluminum backing has a graceful curve, and the smooth glass screen with its attractive black border just begs to be touched.

The iPad is well-balanced enough to hold in one hand like a tray of drinks while using the other hand to navigate, or to grip with both hands while you drive the UI with your thumbs, or even to balance on your knees while poking at it with both index fingers.

We never felt like we were going to drop it, or that our hands were too small.

IPAD PROFILES: Apple's reps wouldn't or couldn't explain how Profiles work, but we're intrigued

The 9.7-inch screen is brightly illuminated by LED backlighting, and the IPS technology kept the images viewable from wide angles without appearing to fade.

Everyone who's ever used an iPhone with the brightness cranked up to navigate a dark room during a power outage will be glad to know the iPad gets even brighter.

OILY FINGERS? Multi-touch controls really shine in the Photos app. Unfortunately, so do fingerprints

Despite the same oleophobic coating found on the iPhone 3GS, the iPad's screen did pick up fingerprints like mad.

In fact, a friendly Apple gadget handler had to keep wiping it clean for us, smiling politely at our jokes about how the tech press is at least 30 percent more oily than the average citizen.

The units we saw had only Wi-Fi (802.11n) and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR for connectivity, since the 3G-equipped models won't be available at launch. Web pages loaded quickly and looked fabulous.

Imagine the ease and fun of navigating websites on the multitouch iPhone or iPod touch, but with none of the frustrations of those devices' small screen sizes. You can see the whole page at once - and actually read it - and then still zoom down to an area of interest with just one tap or pinch.

You'll quickly stop caring that your favourite site doesn't have an iPhone-optimized version, because on the iPad, full-size sites just work. Of course, running an iPhone OS means the iPad doesn't have Flash, so sites that rely on Flash-based navigation interfaces, or feature Flash videos or games, are still useless here.

iPad Maps

The Maps application also benefits greatly from the increased screen real estate, with Google Street View showing half a city block comfortably (no squinting on our part).

Location Services triangulates your position based on proximity to Wi-Fi hotspots, plus uses the digital compass - only the upcoming 3G models will feature assisted GPS and cell-tower triangulation as well.

Still, it found our location in downtown San Francisco in about a second, and the compass helped the Star Walk application ($2.99 in the App Store) instantly reorientate its view of the night sky based on which way we turned.

iPad speaker and buttons

It was impossible to hear the built-in speaker in such a loud room, but a tiny speaker does reside on the bottom-right, near the 30-pin dock connector.

A Sleep/wake button, mute switch, volume rocker are all that resides on the slim slides of the device, with only the black Home button gracing the front, blending in to near-visibility, especially since the iPad works in any orientation.

PICTURE THIS: Apple's iPad Dock has a 30-pin connector for charging and syncing, plus can automatically run a photo slideshow, acting like the best-looking digital photo frame you've ever seen

We ran into some problems with the first-party software, although Apple still has ample time to fix them before shipping. (These were demo units, not review units, it's important to keep in mind.)

iPad keyboard

We spent some time with the software keyboard, for example, and found it easier to use than the iPhone's, thanks to the larger keys and more space between them, although it's still virtually impossible to type without looking because of the lack of tactile feedback.

Switching keyboard layouts for other languages is a snap, but after we'd fiddled with that setting and then flipped back to English, the software keyboard got a little buggy, often not rendering the whole way when we held the iPad in landscape orientation.

BIG UP: The software keyboard is easier to type on than the iPhone's thanks to the added space

Also, the well-designed Mail client lacked a Media Browser for adding images to new messages, although we could copy and paste images from the Web, the Photos app, and other emails into new messages. The icons on one home screen stopped responding temporarily, fixed by cycling the power.

But all in all, Apple did a fabulous job of designing UI for all the iPad's default apps - their many contextual menus providing all the control you need without cluttering up the screen with unnecessary buttons and sliders.

IPAD MAIL: Apple's redesigned Mail app works beautifully in either orientation

iPad apps

The demo iPads were loaded with unmodified iPhone apps, so we could test the experience of blowing up an iPhone-sized app interface to fit the iPad's screen, with a tap of the 2x button.

This works by simply doubling the pixel size, without any additional smoothing or scaling. In a text-heavy app like Facebook, the pixellation was noticeable and detracted from the ease of reading.

IPAD APPS: Unmodified iPhone apps can run full-screen on the iPad, with larger-than-normal pixels

But in fast-moving games like Super Monkey Ball and Need for Speed, we didn't notice as much, and the tradeoff between tiny pixels and bigger ones was totally worth it for the more immersive experience of playing on a big screen. We can't wait to see what game developers can do, programming for the big screen.

The bottom line is that the iPad has tons of potential to be a huge hit for Apple, as well loved by its users as the iPod touch and iPhone.

It'd be hard to have an iPad as your sole computer, since you need to sync it with iTunes on a traditional Mac or PC - or you're OK with getting all of your content via the App Store, iTunes Store, and iBookstore (which wasn't running on the demos yet).

AT HOME: Each Home screen can hold 20 app icons plus the ever-present bottom four

Still, the hardware is solid, the touchscreen works beautifully, and the potential for innovative software is through the roof. Once you pick one up, it's hard to put down.

Just ask the patient Apple employees who gently repeated, "We're getting ready to close it down," over and over until we finally left the demo room.

IPAD SYNCING: An intriguing File Sharing screen in the Settings app hints at over-the-air syncing to come

Source: http://www.techradar.com/news/mobile-computing/portable-computing/hands-on-apple-ipad-review-666884?artc_pg=3

Entourage Edge 'Dualbook' ebook reader launched

2010-01-28T01:16:00.000-08:00

The Entourage Edge is the world’s first two-page ebook reader, unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show 2010. It features a 9.7-inch e-ink page, typical to those found on other ebook readers, and a 10.1-inch colour LCD.

Entourage Edge 'Dualbook' reader

enTourage eDGe ebook reader video

Find out more about ebook readers in our ebook reader report.

The Entourage Edge opens like a regular book with the two screens facing inwards, and both screens provide touchscreen control. An included stylus is used for making notes on and controlling the functions of the e-ink page.

E-ink screens only allow for grey images and text to be displayed, but the Entourage Edge will allow you to view these images in colour by moving them across to the LCD screen. Videos embedded in pdf documents can be played – something that isn’t currently possible with other ebook readers.

Wi-fi enabled ebook reader

The Entourage Edge provides wi-fi connectivity, so any web links within a document can selected and the web page open on the colour LCD screen.

To save power, the ebook can be used without switching on the LCD. The Entourage Edge maker claims that the battery will last for around 40 hours when using the e-ink page alone, and that you’ll get around eight hours of use when using both the LCD page and the e-ink page.

The Entourage Edge is now available for pre-order, and will begin shipping in the US in February when it will cost around $490. The company said that the Entourage Edge will launch in the UK later this year.

Apple iPad might be the name of the Apple Tablet PC

2010-01-28T01:01:00.000-08:00

Apple iPad might be the name of the Apple Tablet PC

Apple has confirmed that they are set to launch something new this coming January 27.

It is pretty much clear that the company would launch a tablet PC like device that can take on the eBook readers in the market along with tablet computers.

Market analysts are now playing the guessing game on the name of this brand new product from the company.

Apple iSlate, iGuide, iTablet are some of the names that we have already heard.

The latest reports claim that the company could name this new product iPad.

Remains to be seen what exactly Apple has to offer to us later this month.

http://news.techwhack.com/11625-apple-ipad-2

10 best ebook readers for the UK

2010-01-27T00:44:00.000-08:00

The must-have readers you just won't want to put down

Is it time to burn your books? Hyped by the tech press, the ebook reader is yet to become a 'must have' gadget, but dropping prices, web browsing and the genre's eco-friendly credentials could be about to spark genuine literary interest.

Presenting a six to ten-inch screen, the ebook reader's primary skill is capacity. They're able to hold around 1,000 books, and most are expandable using SD cards, though it's important to understand how the market is divided.

There's basically two choices. The first is to buy one of Amazon.co.uk's Kindle devices, which can cleverly download from the online retailers 307,000-strong ebook library. Expensive but an absolute cinch to use, the casual reader will love the Kindle, though being locked into a single retailer's catalogue and pricing structure won't be comfortable for many.

Although we expect other retailers and consumer electronics brands to copy this idea, all other ebook readers at present represent the other side of the market. These devices, from the likes of Sony and iRiver, are more free and easy.

The primary way of getting ebooks onto them is by purchasing EPUB files online, typically for best sellers and newer titles, and manually transfer them using a PC or Mac. Classic and often obscure material can usually be found for free, as PDF, RTF or TXT files, from sites such as ProjectGutenberg. The non-Kindle models often support a myriad of filetypes, including MP3.

Ebooks can seem rather pricey; a new release will cost the same as a hardback, and older books similar to the price of a paperback. Publishers argue that the editing and production costs are still high but when you're paying a few hundred for your own reader, you might expect cheaper ebooks to make up for your initial investment.

Where ebook readers do represent efficiency is with battery life. The devices only uses power when a page is turned, so a full charge can last for a week or more of reading.

1. iRiver Story £195

Stylistically a Kindle copy, iRiver's Story does have something to say that's all its own. Lighter than a Kindle, the Story is almost identical in looks, right down to the Qwerty keyboard and six-inch screen.

Able to handle more file types than the Kindle (including PDF, TXT, RTF, JPEG, BMP, GIF, EPub – and even a basic interpretation of Word, Excel and Powerpoint files), the Story doesn't flirt with WiFi. Instead, a SD card slot takes the memory up to a maximum of 32GB, though its built-in 2GB capacity is decent.

One reason for that memory is music. The Story is able to play MP3, OGG and WMA files through a couple of teeny speakers, while you read. Equipped with a tiny Mic, the Story can also record voice as MP3s.

Recently reduced by £30, the well-designed Story is a nice alternative to a Kindle with some innovative extra features.

2. Amazon Kindle International £250

Amazon's ebook reader is a bit special. It has a 3G connection built in so that, without having to hunt for a Wi-Fi hotspot or even muck about downloading books on your Mac then sideloading them to another device, you can shop directly from Amazon.

Read our Amazon Kindle review

There's no contract – Amazon pays the data fees. You shop for DRM-protected books and newspapers from Amazon.com too, but sadly, though there are many tens of thousands of books available, it's still a subset of the range available to the US.

As deals are made with UK publishers, more books will appear, but there are glaring omissions at present with both the book choice, and the service. The Kindle contains a web browser, but it doesn't work in the UK. The Kindle also lacks support for photographs, which does lessen the power of newspapers, especially.

Well built and so easy to use, the success – or otherwise – of the Kindle will most probably define the ebook reader genre as a whole.

3. Interead Cool-er £189

There a few gadgets that divide opinion in the TechRadar office more ebooks, and none more so than this pink British one.

One of the cheapest, smallest and lightest of such devices to date, the Cool-er also boasts one of the funkiest designs, though it looks very much like an over-sized iPod nano.

Read our Interead Cool-er review

Its six-inch screen isn't touchsensitive, and nor does it deal in Wi-Fi or 3G, but as an entry-level electronic reader it works perfectly fine; if it was priced around the £99 mark it would be a five-star, must-get device. At £189, it is let down by a few minor design flaws that make it feel a little bit too cheap and flimsy.

4. Elonex ebook reader £180

Despite having teamed-up with the now bankrupt Borders book shop, this Elonex ebook reader shouldn't be left on the shelf. With a six-inch screen, SD card slot and 8mm depth, the Elonex is just 180g – lighter than the Kindle, or Sony's ebook readers.

Capable of 8,000 page turns on a full charge, the Elonex does struggle with image-heavy PDFs when page turn can be slow (around 4-5 seconds); text, HTML and purchased ePub books are much faster, though there is some 'ghosting' when the page is turned.

Read our Elonex ebook reader review

The Elonex is a much simpler device than the Amazon Kindle; no keyboard, no wireless connection and no automatically connected ebook account, but it does have 512Mb of storage – enough for about 1,000 books.

Beyond the slow page turn and slightly clunky interface, this versatile ebook reader is a convenient way to put hundreds of them in your bag without weighing yourself down.

5. Sony Reader Pocket Edition PRS-300 £170

Small, light and very good looking are three ways to accurately describe Sony's gorgeous device. It's just one centimetre thick and the screen is a pleasure to behold.

It measures five inches diagonally, and despite the low sounding resolution of 800x600, text displays much more crisply than it does on the finest LCD.

Read our Sony Reader PRS-300 review

Sony claims the battery lasts around 6,800 page turns, but although the eInk screen is initially spectacular, after a while it becomes clear that it doesn't have the high contrast of a normal paper page, and you need more ambient light to read it. Navigating a book is also tricky – texts can't be searched, and flicking back a few pages is impractical.

You don't have to buy books, though. The Pocket Edition is compatible with PDF, RTF, TXT and Microsoft Word files, and has 512MB of internal memory.

Assuming 400kb per book, you could easily fit a few years' worth of reading on, and its compatibility with non-DRM formats means it could serve a few other practical purposes, such as being a highly portable reference device.

6. Samsung E101 £TBC

Just announced at Las Vegas' CES and due to start selling in the UK during March, Samsung's first foray into the UK ebook market (last year's Papyrus never launched in the UK) is a bit different.

For not only does the E101 measure a full ten inches, but it is the only e-book apart from the Kindle to feature WiFi connectivity. Instead of Amazon's expensive subscriptions and book purchasing over 3G, however, Samsung's E101 (and the smaller E6) simply uses wireless broadband to download books straight from Google Books – or share them with other Samsung e-book readers.

Armed with squillions of free content, the E101 can also be fitted with purchased books in the common ePub format, while also supporting TXT, PDF and MP3 files.

The E101 comes with a stylus pen, which lets you write straight onto the e-paper, as well as highlight portions of text in a book or file to save.

Ridding the e-book of both tiny keyboards and the need to constantly transfer files manually, the E101

7. Amazon Kindle DX US$489 (around £305)

With the news that Amazon is to release its previously US-only Kindle DX to us Brits, the ebook reader market just got more interesting.

Read our Amazon Kindle DX review

At 9.7-inches, the DX is one of the largest – and certainly the most expensive – ebook reader around, though the pre-paid 3G connectivity to Amazon's Whispernet book download service will prove irresistible to some. It's also set to mark the birth of web browsing on Kindle devices, which should also apply to the older International device.

Buy it from 19 January.

8. Apple iPhone £Various

It's far smaller, and uses a lot more battery, but if you're keen to make the most of your iPhone then it can easily be used

as an ebook reader. Stanza – a free download from the App store – is one of the best. As well as offering loads of links to free content from sites such as Project Gutenberg and Random House (great if you fancy reading 'classic' books such of the ilk – and age – of Alice's Adventures In Wonderland, Around The World In Eighty Days or A Christmas Carol.

Other ebook readers Apps for the iPhone are available (such as BookShelf for £5.99, or some ebooks – such as The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – downloadable as one-trick Apps), though Stanza is now the default choice.

Stanza also offers links to pay-for US websites such as BooksonBoard and FictionWise, where novels can be purchased in the EPUB format – Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol sells for an extortionate US$29.95, though older titles shuffle around the US$10 mark.

Using Stanza on the iPhone is a simple affair, with a swipe of the finger creating a page-turning graphic, though it's small size does make the iPhone useful only in emergencies.

9. Bookeen Cybook Opus £200

Though hardly cheap, Bookeen's latest ebook reader keeps things simple. Natively supporting EPUB, TXT, PDF, HTML, JPG, PNG and GIF files, this white reader with rounded edges features a a stunningly simple fascia – no Qwerty keyboard in sight.

Like an iPhone the screen flips if you turn the Opus on its side, something most ebook readers cannot do. There's no WiFi connectivity so transferring books onto the Opus has to be done manually, but its built-in 1GB capcity can be increased by using a Micro SD card slot.

Despite being expensive and small – the screen measures just five inches in diameter – the Opus has the specs, simplicity and style to seriously impress.

10. Sony Touch Edition PRS-600 £220

Bringing the touchscreen idea to the genre may be obvious, but it makes Sony's six-inch effort unique – so far. No wonder it's one of the most popular around; stocks in the US almost ran out in the run-up to Christmas.

Available in black, red and silver, the PRS-600 does lack any kind of wireless option, so is best seen as a great alternative to the Kindle for anyone comfortable with the idea of buying ebooks online and manually transferring files.

The flipside of that is increased freedom. One-click buying may be off the menu, but the PRS 600 is compatible with almost anything you throw at it. PDF, TXT, RTF and, of course, ePub files are also dealt with, while almost any kind of photo will also display.

A built-in memory of just 512MB is a bit stingy, but the PRS-300 is easily expandable using either a memory stick or SD card.

http://www.techradar.com/news/portable-devices/10-best-ebook-readers-for-the-uk-663285?artc_pg=2

Ebook readers to become popular among users

2010-01-26T00:20:00.000-08:00

E-Book-Reader. Though the ebook reader has yet not become a hit among the gadget freaks, but they can get a great hype with sinking prices, web browsing and the genre's eco-friendly credentials.

A good ebook reader essentially has a six to ten-inch screen and is able to hold1, 000 books. Most e-book readers are expandable using SD cards, though it's important to understand how the market is divided.

The users can choose from two ebook readers. First is one of Amazon. co. uk's Kindle devices, which can efficiently download from the online retailers' 307,000-strong ebook library. Though it is quite expensive, but the casual reader will love the Kindle.

It seems that all other retailers and consumer electronics brands will copy this idea. As of now, other ebook readers represent the other side of the market. Sony and iRiver have the devices, which are more free and easy.

The best way to get ebooks onto them is by is by buying EPUB files online, typically for best sellers and newer titles, and manually transfers them using a PC or Mac.

Sites such as ProjectGutenberg provide classic and often obscure material for free, as PDF, RTF or TXT files. A myriad of filetypes, including MP3, are often supported by the non-Kindle models.

As of now, Ebooks are not popular as it is out of reach of many due to high prices. However, the new release will cost the same as a hardback, and older books similar to the price of a paperback. Though publishers are of the viewpoint that the editing and production costs are still high; however if a user is paying a few hundred for his own reader, he might hope cheaper ebooks to make up for your initial investment.

Ebook readers also have long battery life as the devices use it only when a page is turned. This means that a full charge can last for a week or more of reading.

Here is a list of some e readers with their price

1. iRiver Story £195

2. Amazon Kindle International £250

3. Interead Cool-er £189

4. Elonex ebook reader £180

5. Sony Reader Pocket Edition PRS-300 £170

http://www.stockwatch.in/ebook-readers-become-popular-among-users-24419

Hearst unveils flexible Skiff ebook reader

2010-01-25T01:14:00.000-08:00

Hearst, the major US publishing house, has revealed the Skiff Reader — a new ebook reader. Why does this matter to the UK? Because the uber-skinny device uses a new flexible technology.

We’ve seen flexible ebook tech before in devices demonstrated by Plastic Logic, but the Skiff reader still looks pretty impressive. With 3G connectivity, it’s an 11.5in display with a 1200 x 1600 resolution screen and is just 0.25in thick making it the thinnest ebook reader so far.

The big difference between the Skiff and current ebook readers like the Amazon Kindle is that it’s ditched a glass screen in favour of a flexible display made of a thin sheet of stainless steel foil. LG’s behind the new flexy tech which means it could easily be used in UK bound devices.

Hearst plans to control sales of and content for the Skiff Reader itself just as Barnes & Noble has done with the Nook. It’s not released any pricing details or a release date yet but it’s hitting the show floor at CES. We’ll do our best to hunt it down.

Don’t buy an ebook reader until you read this

2010-01-25T00:09:00.000-08:00

The ebook reader market may reach saturation point this year, with manufacturers launching model after model in an attempt to grab a slice of what is so far a pretty small market.

Buyers in the UK don’t have quite the same number of devices to choose from as those in the US, but with Amazon now offering both sizes of Kindle to international customers and new models on the way after CES launches, the choice will widen.

As with any new technology with no single ruling standard though, choosing an ebook reader isn’t an easy task, but Gizmodo has compiled a useful guide to what it considers to be the seven key devices — a mix of available-now and available-soon models.

The guide covers the Barnes & Noble Nook, Entourage Edge, Plastic Logic Que, Spring Design Alex Reader, Sony Daily Edition Reader, Kindle 2 and Notion Ink Adam Pixel Qi, and while no single device stands out as being the perfect ebook reader, a couple clearly have a technological edge.

If you’ve got money for an ebook reader burning a hole in your pocket, however, we suggest waiting a few weeks before making a decision to see what Apple announces at the end of January. If it turns out to be a tablet device, it may well wipe out the need for a dedicated ebook reading device — and offer much more functionality into the bargain.

An Apple tablet is likely to be much more expensive than any single-purpose e-ink gadget, of course, but even so, any innovations it introduces may well influence other ebook manufacturers, so it could still pay to wait to see how the market shapes in the subsequent months

http://www.mobilecomputermag.co.uk/news/100115/dont-buy-an-ebook-reader-until-you-read-this

With the Nook e-book reader, Barnes & Noble challenges Amazon's Kindle

2010-01-24T00:06:00.000-08:00

Amazon.com's Kindle is no longer the only e-book story out there. The Seattle retailer's devices still dominate the market, but other companies are responding with their own wireless e-readers.

At last week's Consumer Electronics Show, for example, Sony showed off its new Sony Reader Daily Edition while name-brand vendors such as Samsung and newcomers such as Plastic Logic introduced a variety of e-reader devices. And another veteran book retailer -- Barnes & Noble -- now sells a tablet called the Nook.

Like the Kindle, the $259 Nook combines an "e-ink" screen and free wireless access to download books on the go -- then adds a second, touch-sensitive color display and a WiFi receiver to cover for gaps in its AT&T-provided service.

Like Amazon's reader at its debut, the Nook has limited availability; yesterday, Barnes & Noble's site listed an "expected ship date" no earlier than Feb. 12.

Is the Nook worth that wait? After a week of testing a borrowed one, I'd say not quite. The Nook includes an important feature that Amazon misses, but it doesn't match the Kindle's elegance and ease of use.

The Nook's problems start with that dual-screen setup. First, having only one screen accept touch input invites confusion (though going to the next or previous page requires only tapping large buttons on the Nook's sides). Second, because the touch screen turns off automatically, doing anything on the main screen often requires waking up the other display with a tap of its home button.
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The color display, with the WiFi receiver, seems to limit the Nook's battery life. A solid day of browsing and reading left only a quarter of a charge.

The Nook's primary display shares the issues of other e-ink screens. Although this grayscale display needs little power and is readable in sunlight, its contrast and sharpness is little better than a trade paperback's. And turning the page involves waiting a second while it flashes a photo-negative image of the prior page.

The Nook's AT&T wireless service never dropped, which is a good thing in light of its inept WiFi interface. Instead of showing available signals, the Nook makes you type a network's "SSID" (that is, name), select its encryption method (quick, do you use WPA or WPA2?) and enter a password on an on-screen keyboard.

In Barnes & Noble's own shops, the Nook connects automatically to the in-store WiFi. But at the Clarendon store two weeks ago, the Nook did not display the promised in-store coupons.

The Nook logs on to the same e-book store as the e-reader software Barnes & Noble introduced in July. Most new titles sell for $9.99; older titles can come at a slight discount (William Gibson's 2003 science-fiction novel "Pattern Recognition" cost $6.39, only 80 cents less than B&N's Web price for a paperback) or may not be available at all.

With your account registered on the Nook, buying a book requires only a few seconds' wait to download it. You can also read the book on any other gadget with Barnes & Noble's reader software -- Mac and Windows computers and BlackBerry, iPhone and iPod touch devices, with support for Android and Windows Mobile phones coming late this winter.

Barnes & Noble also provides hundreds of thousands of public-domain titles through Google Books, plus subscription access to a small set of newspapers (this one included) and magazines. You can copy PDF, ePub and PDB documents; MP3 music files; and screen-saver and wallpaper images after connecting the Nook to a computer; the Nook has 2 gigabytes of built-in memory and a MicroSD Card slot for more.

Gibson's book was mostly pleasant to read, but one indented paragraph was cut off on the right -- different fonts and type sizes failed to fix the problem. The Nook's search function was slow and inaccurate -- after 45 seconds it failed to find a phrase that occurred a few chapters before. And there's no text-to-speech function to read anything aloud.

Nook e-book downloads come wrapped in "digital rights management" (DRM) software to control your use of them. This user-hostile feature probably does nothing to promote book sales, but at least Barnes & Noble allows limited sharing of books. If one supports this "LendMe" feature, you can lend it once --only one time, ever -- to another Barnes & Noble customer for 14 days.

Attempts to lend Barnes & Noble e-books from its Windows reader program, the only other one capable of sending a loan invitation, yielded "error 2067" messages; a publicist suggested they had been incorrectly labeled as lendable. I had no problem lending a book from the Nook to my own account.

For all its faults, though, the Nook gets one thing right. It employs the widely supported ePub format and a DRM system that allows for reading on other devices. So if the Nook flops, you should have a chance of taking your e-books elsewhere. The Kindle's proprietary file format and DRM close off that escape route -- which, considering the competition coming to e-books, increasingly looks like a mistake.

Sony Reader Touch: Third Out of Three

2010-01-23T00:02:00.000-08:00

Sony's edition of the eBook reader has taken a more impressive turn with the Sony Reader Touch. Instead of keys as with lower tech models, the Touch uses a touch screen interface with black and white texting and images. A stylus in included if you don't like using
your finger. Sony tries to get into the eBook reader market as much as booksellers Amazon and Barnes & Noble, but Sony still has some catching up to do.

Good

The good points about Sony's Reader Touch is that it has a higher tech touch screen instead of a hard keypad like other and less expensive models. For $299 you get a sleek and comfortable book reader that is a general improvement over earlier models of the same brand.

Sony gives you access to Google's vast library of public domain books, which totals over a million titles. Now you can have free copies of Shakespeare, Steinbeck, and Dickens any time you want. The number of titles is about the same as with other readers as far as books for which you pay.

The stylus is a good thing as it avoids any fingerprints. A stylus also makes it easier to highlight and save text of the book you are reading for later recall for book clubs, homework, or just personal notations. Adding footnotes to the marked text happens easily too as with other readers.

Bad

There is still some glare on the screen that is done better by the other two readers on the market, the Kindle and Nook. While not so annoying when there is not much ambient light, if you have a bright room you may have to finagle your reading position in the room. While you won't need to start taking up yoga to find a position to read, it is a minor aggravation.

For the price, I was hoping for some kind of wireless connection like the competition so that you won't have to connect to a computer to download titles. If you want ultimate portability, the Sony Reader Touch will come in third in the market for this reason alone.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2596967/sony_reader_touch_third_out_of_three.html

Hands-on with Plastic Logic's touchscreen Que e-book reader

2010-01-22T01:12:00.000-08:00

Ebook readers have been the star of this year's CES, but don't tell 3D TV, which has been trying to steal the limelight. It seems ebook innovations are arriving thick and fast from companies keen to see our bookshelves sit dusty and unloved in the corner. The Que reader, from a British company called Plastic Logic, caught our eye though, mainly because one of the company's employees brought us one to see at the CNET live stage.

What we liked about the Que was that it uses a touchscreen interface to help you navigate around your books. This means the machine itself is sleek, and totally free of any buttons. There are downsides with the touchscreen, however: we noticed that it wasn't quite as responsive as we might like, which could be a problem when you're using it every day.

Extra features though, such as syncing with your Outlook calendar and (at some point in the future) accessing your email on the device, helped convince us that this is a super little product. Irritatingly, it's not cheap, starting at $649 (£400) for the basic, 4GB model, and jumping to $799 (£495) for a version with 3G mobile data and 8GB of storage.

Despite its UK roots -- Plastic Logic is a spin-off of Cambridge University's Cavendish Laboratory -- the Que is currently only available in the US. A European launch is promised in the summer. You can be sure we'll have more then.

E-book revolt!

2010-01-22T00:00:00.000-08:00

I wouldn’t have gone as far as my fellow Kindle owners who flamed the book Game Change with 1-star reviews on the Amazon.com site this week, this after the book’s publisher, HarperCollins, declined to release the book in digital format. But I’m right there with them in their frustration, and I represent one more missed sale for the publisher.

The simple fact of the matter is that I now own and love a Kindle, and I am determined to use it to read books. Not all books – in fact, I’m currently reading a handsome anniversary hardcover version of Michael Herr’s Dispatches, the insanely brilliant Vietnam War correspondence that first made a young man think he might like to be a journalist way back in 1977. But I’m curious about Game Change, a book that roots around in the muck of the last U.S. presidential election, and I don’t understand who wins by preventing me from reading it on my Kindle.

In fact, I only see losers.

HarperCollins is trying to protect the hardcover sales generated by the book’s considerable pre-launch media buzz by holding off on e-book versions until Feb. 23. Other publishers are doing the same; they feel they need to cash in on the expensive hardcover versions of their books while they still can. As Simon & Schuster chief executive Carolyn Reidy told The Wall Street Journal: “We believe some people will be disappointed. But with new [electronic] readers coming and sales booming, we need to do this now, before the installed base of e-book reading devices gets to a size where doing it would be impossible.”

Okay. Fair enough. I get their make-hay-while-the-sun-shines thinking. But they’ve somehow missed the point about what their considerable pre-launch marketing was supposed to achieve, and they've failed to understand the habits of the typical e-reader.

Hey, HarperCollins, we're not thick – Game Change is just some sensational journalistic account of an election, and much of its grittiest dirt has already been vacuumed up by the media. This isn’t, for instance, Dispatches, the kind of correspondence that rises to the level of art and is reissued a generation later as a classic. Hell, this is not even that well reviewed a book.

But all the marketing around Game Change has made me want to read it, and read it now. Not at the end of February – today. It should have been a cinch for me to satisfy my curiosity, download it to my Kindle for $11.99 and burn through it in a week or so. The Kindle’s prices actually make that kind of publicity-induced reader curiosity financially viable; I would not have taken the same chance on the $32.99 hardcover version.

Personally, I can’t wait for the day, as predicted by Simon & Shuster’s Carolyn Reidy, when e-book readers make up enough of the market to prevent them from being ignored. Until then, we digital devotees will bide our time, many of us still buying hardcover copies of books that have a lasting meaning in our lives, and reserving our e-readers for the less vital, hit-and-miss confections that make up the vast majority of book sales.

In short, it is unlikely that HarperCollins’ antenapster strategy forced many e-readers to buy a hardcover version of Game Change. Instead, it probably prompted them to spend their money elsewhere, or not at all, resulting in a net loss for everyone concerned.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/blogs/in-other-words/e-book-revolt/article1436349/

Spring Design Alex ebook reader - First Look review

2010-01-21T23:56:00.000-08:00

eBook readers are starting to gather pace, and that means there are now plenty to choose from. Spring Design's Alex ebook reader sprung on to the scene late last year, and has already garnered interest because of its similarities to the Barnes & Noble Nook.

As it turns out, it's the, but design copyrights aside, is the Alex any good, can a dual screen really be the answer, and what's the reading experience like anyway? We managed to get a play with the new ebook reader at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

Slim but tall is the best way to describe the Alex. For those interested in the exact measurements they are 120 x 225 x 14mm with a weight of 310 grams. The design is made up of two screens stacked on top of each other, an E Ink display for reading and an Android powered touchscreen for moving around the menus.

The main reading screen is of course the EPD (electronic paper display) that measures 6-inches in diagonal and comes with a resolution of 600 x 800 pixels. Beneath that is the 3.5-inch colour touchscreen.

It might sport a touchscreen display, but that hasn't meant that designers have created a buttonless device. Far from it, and down either side of the colour screen are forward and backward buttons for page turns, a back key and power switch. The inclusion of the buttons is mainly for when you don't want to use the secondary screen, something that you'll probably find happening a lot of the time, if you are worried about battery life.

When you aren't worried about the battery life then the touchscreen lets you access the menu system, choose your books to read and do a host of other things that only the inclusion of an Android powered touchscreen could.

That means you get an internet browser access so you can look up words you perhaps don't understand, add annotations to your pages via voice rather than writing directly on the reader screen (it's not touchscreen remember) and access all the other features the Android OS has to offer like email, apps and games.

All this connectivity is capable thanks to the inclusion of 3G and Wi-Fi, although it's not entirely clear at the moment whether the reader will come with its own connection package if you plan to make use of that 3G connection to go surf the web. We presume it will.

In use and the Alex seems nippy, both parts, certainly faster than the Barnes & Noble Nook, with the touchscreen being responsive to touch and the ebook display refreshing pages quickly. The design of the device is on the long side, certainly compared to other ebooks on the market, but the touchscreen display, compete with on-screen keyboard is considerably easier to use than the Kindle's fiddly QWERTY keyboard offering.

In an attempt to make sure the battery isn't drained within minutes by powering the second screen, it automatically turns off when not in use and considering that you won't need it for the most part, you should still get a decent battery life from the unit. Spring Design promise 7500 page turns or 6 hours of media playback. We weren't able to test either claim in our 30 mintues with the unit on the show floor.

Perhaps what would have been nicer is if the second screen could slide away creating a thicker but more compact design.

Source

Asus DR-570; A color ebook reader

2010-01-20T23:55:00.000-08:00

We saw a rush of E book readers flooding the market this year. Some looked quite promising, others plain ordinary. But one E book reader has been anticipated since quite some time for its extremely unique feature- A full color OLED screen. The Asus DR-570 is getting ready to be released to consumers worldwide, as we see the frequency of news leaks regarding it, increase.

Asus, it seems, were not satisfied with the symbol of E book reads- The Amazon Kindle, so they decided to take matters in their hands and bang! We have the DR-570. It boasts of specs which can make the Kindle, or any E book reader for that matter, look like a mere toy. Apparently, Asus has done away with the traditional E ink used in E book readers, and have developed a much advanced OLED screen. The screen has full color support which adds a ton of extra uses to its name. It can now also have support for magazines and Comic books. Presumably, it is also designed to run web sites and allow the users to read newspapers. Rumors also suggest that it has support for Flash Video as well! It also has built in Wi-Fi and 3G. It can run for an out-of-this-world duration of 122 hours on a single charge. We have to wait and see how an OLED display can last for that long considering its 1,530 mAh battery weighs 3 pounds. It has a lightning fast page turning speed of 0.03 seconds, which is an incredible 23 times faster than the Kindle. It has 4GB onboard memory and supports SDHC expansion. Asus has also added a RSS reader to this device. It has an audio-video player and a text to speech engine (Probably the Svox with support for over 26 languages). Rumors also hint at online video streaming support via Amazon video on demand. We can safely presume that it may also have 3D gaming which will round it up as a complete entertainment device. It has explicit support for PDF (It’s and E book reader after all), txt, Mp3, Mp4, ePub and AVI formats. This is one hell of a capable device in terms of support. We have to wait and see wit how much proficient a device it is.

There has also been a news leak regarding Asus’ second E book reader. It has been dubbed the DR-950 and is expected to come earlier that the DR-570. It is not a color E book reader (But it has 16 shades of grey) and sports a 9 inch Sipix Panel of resolution 1024x768. DR-950, like the DR-570, also features a Svox text-to-speech engine supporting 26 languages. Its web browser supports both landscape and portrait modes with a built-in RSS reader. It has virtual keyboard and handwriting input (To scribble and make your E book untidy) and a dictionary with real time translation. It is also a media device with a 3.5mm jack and stereo speakers. To put this to full use, it has a 4GB inbuilt memory expandable through SD card. It also packs in Wi-Fi and HSPA and also has an optional WiMax model. This device is expected to launch earlier than the DR 570. Both these devices are expected to come out later this year.

Asus has a made a grand entry into the world of E books and is ready to take it by fire. The key to the success of these devices lie in their pricing and worldwide availability. We can also expect to see some competitive pricing from fellow rivals. The Kindle, which has dominated the E Book reader market for an inordinate amount of time, finally found some great competition from many companies this year. Ultimately we can expect to be the greatest benefiter as companies will be forced to innovate and bring down prices due to the immense competition.

Apple tablet rumour round-up — T minus two weeks and counting…

2010-01-20T01:08:00.000-08:00

As the countdown to the rumoured end-of-January Apple event ticks down to zero, yet more rumours are starting to circulate about what Steve Jobs will be pulling out of his (probably metaphorical) back pocket.

On the tablet/slate front, there are reports that Apple has been buying up stocks of 10” screens of both the LCD and OLED variety. The news comes from tech site TG Daily, who quotes a disgruntled anonymous source from the CES show floor as saying:

We were designing a product for a customer and we needed 10-inch screens, but we've been trying for months and can't get one from any of the Asian suppliers. We were told that Apple pre-ordered them all. All 10" LCDs, and all 10" OLEDs too.

That sounds like an awful lot of 10” screens to take delivery of, but Apple has been known to hoover up other components — flash memory for its iPhone and iPod Touch, for example. Even so, a 10” OLED screen is almost certainly too expensive for any mobile device that Apple could sell in large numbers (the Sony XEL-1 11” OLED TV sells for around $2,500), so we don’t put too much stock in this report.

Some more sensible speculation can be found at Gizmodo, where John Herrman has been pondering how Apple might have solved the input problem for a tablet computer. As he points out, a scaled-up version of the iPhone on-screen keyboard almost certainly won’t cut it on a 10” screen — it’s just too large for two-thumbed typing with a tablet held in two hands.

The post runs through the various options open to Apple, from voice control to stylus input to something completely new based on technology developed by FingerWorks. Apple acquired FingerWorks five years ago and until then, the company was selling multi-touch based input systems for Macs.

Interestingly, the old FingerWorks web site was still online until a few weeks ago, but it suddenly went offline this week. Mysterious, eh..?

John Gruber has also chipped in on the France Telecom tease from Monday. Deputy CEO Stéphane Richard made an offhand remark about a hypothetical Apple tablet with a built-in camera for video calls, but Gruber reckons that the device will lack a camera of any kind.

Finally, if all these Apple tablet rumours are getting you down, don’t worry — the Apple iPhone rumour mill has now started! The first round reckons that the iPhone ‘4G’ could be with us by April this year and will have an OLED screen, video chat, dual-core processor, better graphics and even a removable battery. Put us down for a definite “Hm…” for that one.

We'll spare you any more speculation on new Apple products umtil next week — unless something juicy turns up before then, of course..

The Ultimate Guide To Ebook Readers We Care About

2010-01-20T00:22:00.000-08:00

There are too damn many ebook readers and it’s a struggle to figure out what’s worth buying and which reader will even survive the market. To make things easy, here’s our guide to the readers that matter – for now.

Of course we’re skipping some of the many ebook readers floating around, but quite frankly we can’t really stomach all of them. We decided to focus on the ones that matter to us& – whether because they stand a shot of surviving the over-saturated market, or simply because they are examples of what we think matters about these gadgets. Feel free to let us know if you disagree with any of our survival odds or if you think we missed a significant device.

Barnes & Noble Nook

When we reviewed the Barnes & Noble Nook, we decided that it was pretty damn good all around. At the time, we mainly focused on pitting it against the Amazon Kindle, but even without that limited comparison the Nook remains a rather good device:

It’s got a second screen which actually serves a useful purpose

Expansion and evolution possibilities of this very device are great, especially with touchscreen and Android OS

Lending and in-store Barnes & Noble action will be huge

Native ePub support

A little thicker than Kindle, but as a trade-off, it’s a little smaller footprint

Wi-Fi doesn’t seem to matter now – hopefully it will prove to be an advantage later

LCD and other features mean less battery life than Kindle, but still adequate, “measured in days”

Many of the Kindle killer functions, like lending and in-store perks, weren’t tested, as they are rolling out this week

Current software is buggy and sluggish in spots; hopefully fixes and optimisation will come soon

Second-screen possibilities are great, but current implementation is cautious and conservative

Taking all those features and shortcomings into account, we think that the Nook’s survival chance is 80 per cent – if it can fix its firmware and get production up to speed.

Entourage Edge

A hands on of the Entourage Edge left us hesitant about whether there’s actually a market for something that has the price tag of a good netbook and barely more features than most readers:

It does have two full screens on which actual work can be done

Can run Android applications and be used to browse the web

Wi-Fi built-in, so you’re not stuck relying on 3G

Two built-in microphones for noise-cancellation, but unfortunately no synchronisation with notes

Note taking can be done using a stylus

Switching between the screens allows for websites to be loaded on one screen and “pushed” to the other

Just as with most other readers, you can highlight, annotate and bookmark

It’s three whole freakin’ pounds (1.4kg) and ridiculously bulky

$US500 price tag.

The Edge shows us what happens when you try to make a reader into what it’s not – a pseudo netbook or tablet. We think the device’s survival chance is 0 and consider it pretty much DOA.

Plastic Logic Que

We liked the feel of the Plastic Logic Que when we got our hands on it, but we didn’t like the price tag. The device is mainly aimed at business folk who want to carry a notepad-sized device instead of a stack of documents, but it could make a rather nice reader if you crave for a large screen:

At 8.5 x 11 x .33 inches, its about the size and thickness of a standard notepad. It weighs about half a kilo. Like a heavy notepad.

The screen is huge – and I mean huge. Over 10 inches.

Because of Plastic Logic’s obsession with its namesake material, the Que is light as a feather

Formatting from magazines and other publications is maintained on the screen

The interface seems snappy and intuitive

Que Mail and Que Calendar services allow email and calendar updates to be pushed over Wi-Fi and 3G networks

While odd to look at, the wide bezel actually makes the Que a lot more comfortable to hold than some other readers

The back of the device is a magnet for fingerprints. It’s annoying, but not unusual for shiny toys like this.

$US650 for the 4GB model with Wi-FI and $US800 for the 8GB model with Wi-Fi and 3G are quite the prices to swallow

We think the Que’s features, design, and business as well as consumer appeal leave it with a survival chance of 70 per cent – higher if businesses feel like spending so much on a device that will certainly help cut back on paper use. Or if Plastic Logic manages to cut back on that price.

Spring Design Alex Reader

Our hands on of the Spring Design Alex Reader left us thinking that the Nook might have some serious competition, but even on its own the Alex is a rather good device:

It’s thin – we thought we’d break it just by holding it – but it turned out to be surprisingly sturdy

You can run any Android app including the browser, email client and music player apps

The interaction between the two screens doesn’t seem fully worked out

No news about whether there’s a data provider secured for the device

$US399 makes the Alex a wee bit pricier than the nook

Assuming that a data provider is secured for the Alex, we could see its survival chance being 80 per cent – higher if there’s a price drop to bring it closer to the Nook’s.

Sony Daily

When the Sony Daily Edition reader was announced, we got a bit excited about its electronic library program and wide screen, but alas, we’re still waiting to actually get one of these devices into our hands to check out all the features:

Sony’s got plenty of partners for this device to provide content

The on-screen content is rotated automatically to allow viewing in a nice, comfortable, and super wide landscape format

Native ePub support

The electronic library program will let you borrow books from your local library’s electronic collection

Free 3G service is included—but limited to accessing the Sony Store

$US399 is a bit much for a device with so few tricks up its sleeve

Until we actually take a Daily for a test run, we’re deeming its survival chance as 40 per cent – mostly because the library program is appealing along with the push for EPUB formatting.

Kindle

In our review of the Amazon Kindle 2, we discovered that it’s not too different from the original model, but we still liked all the features:

The rounded design makes the device appealing to hold and look at

Zippy interface, decent refresh rate

Plenty of internal storage and long battery life

Text-to-speech book reading

Crisp, sharp display

It’s hard to read longer, more complex books

While the Kindle 2 wasn’t a huge leap from the first generation, we still think the device about an 80 per cent chance of survival, especially if Amazon works on improving the interface and how the device treats flipping through book sections.

Notion Ink Adam Pixel Qi

When we got our hands on the Notion Ink Adam Pixel Qi, we discovered that it’s more of a tablet than it is a reader and that it tries too hard to be both:

The device runs on Android 2.0

There’s a snappy Nvidia Tegra 2 processor lurking inside

10.1-inch panel that can switch between backlit LCD mode and low-power electrophoretic reflective mode

3G service, which is becoming fairly standard among readers

LCD colours aren’t as vivid as a plain LCD

Despite having “ink” in its name, the Adam falls too far into tablet territory for us to take it seriously as a reader so we give it a 40 per cent chance of survival in that particular market. As a tablet device though, it might actually do rather well.

Any Others?

Those are the ebook readers we think deserve some discussion right now. There are plenty we left out – super cheap ones, poor imitations of readers mentioned already, and some that just plain make us gag. We didn’t want to promote crappy products or those where “you get what you pay for” rings a bit too true. That disclaimer aside, we welcome discussion and mentions of other readers, simply because it’s always possible that we omitted something worthwhile by accident. So let’s hear it in the comments.

http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2010/01/the-ultimate-guide-to-ebook-readers-we-care-about/

Astak eBook readers

2010-01-20T00:04:00.000-08:00

Astak eBook readers : The market for eBook readers seems to have been opened up definitely. The first sale figures in Europe are slowly coming in and almost all the sale figures far surpass the expectations. The American market has already gotten used to reading digital texts, Amazon has being doing good business, but now also lesser known manufacturers such as Astak are making appearances. What this will mean for E-ink readers is not yet clear, but it could mean an early reduction in prices. The CES show displayed several eReaders. The Astak 6-inch Mentor and the Astak 5-inch EZ Reader Pocket Pro are such readers that will also fight for the much-desired market share.

eBook reader : Astak EZ Reader Pocket Pro
The Astak EZ Reader Pocket Pro has an extra: an SD card slot with which the memory can be extended to 16 GB. It is possible to extend the image size in three steps, and grey values can be changed in eight steps. Both settings allow for reading ease. The 400 MHz processor has to assure for a quick processing of the data. The Astak 6-inch Mentor has a large format display, but is designed as Basic.

Astak eBook readers
The eReaders are not completely developed yet, for example Wi-Fi is a much sought feature that people would pay extra for. With the introduction of the first eReaders, it was already stated that this was an important development for the book industry. Undoubtedly, but if this development will be positive for everyone, is still the question. Just think about the countless illegal electronic books that can be downloaded from the internet…

Astak eBook reader

http://www.letsgodigital.org/en/24762/ebook-readers/

DR-570: Asus announces its eBook reader!

2010-01-19T23:51:00.000-08:00

A true pioneer in the market for netbooks, Asus has been much less on that of the e-book readers. The Taiwanese manufacturer arrives late with the DR-570, a model strangely absent at CES 2010, an appointment that has yet gives pride to this product.

The device is distinguished by its backlit color OLED screen with a diagonal, which should reach 5.7 inches for a resolution of 768×1024 pixels. According to our colleagues to Electronista, the DR-570 will include 4GB of internal memory, 512 MB of RAM and will support Flash video. It also speaks of an SDHC slot, WiFi and 3G, 1.530mAh a battery and a battery life of 122 hours, although it is doubtful that last feature.

The availability of the Asus DR-570 is scheduled for the end of the year at a price still unknown

Reason For Adopting Ebook Readers | Internet Marketing News

2010-01-19T08:22:00.001-08:00

Ebooks, also identified as digital books, actually got their beginning at some stage in the 70s but it wasn't until more current times that they develop into a.

ASUS unveils DR-570 color e-book reader with 122 hours of battery ...

2010-01-18T08:30:00.001-08:00

Soon the easier question to answer will be which major tech company doesn't have an e-reader model. Asus has thrown their hat into the ring with the.

How Do I Know Which eBook Reader is the Most Suitable for Me ...

2010-01-17T08:22:00.001-08:00

When comparing eBook Readers there are a number of factors that one needs to take into consideration. The choices of devices are growing daily and the options.

Asus Eee News, Mods, and Hacks: The Ultimate Guide to Ebook ...

2010-01-16T08:22:00.001-08:00

Gizmodo has a pretty good post-CES guide on ebook readers although they notably left out any conclusions. Which is fine by me as I personally think the whole hullabaloo will eventually die down, sooner than expected, when netbooks start ...

The Progress of Ebook Readers in 2010 Â« e-oferte.com

2010-01-15T08:22:00.001-08:00

2009 saw growth in sales and popularity of eBook readers, although there was still an innate reluctance for people to read from screens rather than paper. 2010 will see a shift in emphasis towards e-ink and paper developments, ...

Sony PRS-300 Ebook Reader + 100 ROMANCE E-Books! | Best Digital ...

2010-01-15T00:26:00.003-08:00

Click here to buy!Privately read 100 installed ROMANCE NOVEL EBooks. My personal Favorite! Sony PRS-300 Ebook Reader Pocket Edition - Portable Ebook System.

The Tianjin Jinke A6 and A9 series ebook readers

2010-01-14T08:22:00.001-08:00

Just in case you need another ebook reader option instead of the Kindle or Nook or iRiver Story or Sony Reader or the ...

In Depth: 10 best ebook readers for the UK | TechOat.com

2010-01-13T08:22:00.001-08:00

Where ebook readers do represent efficiency is with battery life. The devices only uses power when a page is turned, so a full charge can last for a week or more of reading.1. iRiver Story Â£195 Stylistically a Kindle copy, ...

Physical and Engineering Sciences News Â» NCSU Libraries eBook ...

2010-01-12T08:22:00.001-08:00

The NCSU Libraries has 38 eBook Readers for loan through the D. H. Hill Library's eBook Lending program. 35 Amazon Kindles (5 Kindle DXs, 12 Kindle 2s, & 18 original Kindles) have a user-developed collection of over 250 popular reading ...

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2010-01-11T08:22:00.003-08:00

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Blio E-Reader : Free E-Book Reader Software

2010-01-11T08:22:00.001-08:00

San Francisco (GaeaTimes.com) - Blio is the latest name from the CES 2010 that is circling in the mouths of the gadgetophilics like us. It is nothing but a free e-reader by which you can read books and magazines in their original layout ...

1/11 Buy & Review Kindle, Nook, Sony | Digital Book Reader, eBook Reader » Ebook Reader

2010-01-11T00:19:00.000-08:00

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Buy & Review Kindle, Nook, Sony | Digital Book Reader, eBook Reader » Ebook Reader

What Do You, Oprah, and an eBook Reader Have in Common?
January 10, 2010 at 2:52 AM

It seems as if everyone these days is trying to simplify their lives and even Oprah is no exception. With our lifestyles to do that include travel from here to there, the eBook Reader is something someone with a busy lifestyle may want to consider. Even Oprah raves about her Kindle, arguing that saved the [...]

The Irex Iliad Electronic Reader 800SG Launches – My Irex Iliad eBook Reader Review
January 10, 2010 at 2:52 AM

Recently launched the iRex iLiad e-reader SG 800 is yet another eBook reader designed to capture some of the thunder of Amazon. My brief, digital book reader, review looks at iRex iLiad's features and specifications to see where you can take on the Kindle and, digital book reader, it seems win.It per minute [...]

The QUE Plastic Logic eBook Reader: The New Kid on the Block
January 10, 2010 at 2:52 AM

The new kid on the eBook reader by Plastic Logic is the QUE. Later.For pronounced like the letter 'Q', this has yet to be launched and seems to be an innovation in technology eReader, digital book reader, in all services and capabilities is claimed to offer: they, digital book reader, will be detailed [...]

Kindle 2 Reader – eBook Reading Device
January 10, 2010 at 2:52 AM

Not everyone is taken with the idea of digital music players. At first glance the concept seems to be the antithesis of what to read (especially for pleasure) is all feeling about.The to hold a heavy book in your hands, touch the paper and smell the distinct odor booky which are all part the experience [...]

The Rise of the Portable Ebook Reader
January 10, 2010 at 2:52 AM

There are many traditional industries, which have had a digital revolution, from the record player for the iPod, the wireless digital radio DAB and everything in between. Another area, digital book reader, that is undergoing a serious change is the publishing industry. The Internet has forever changed the publication ebook and portable players like [...]

Why a Portable eBook Reader Price War is Fantastic News For Consumers
January 10, 2010 at 2:52 AM

Interested in getting a good deal on a portable eBook reader? In this article, you're about to find out why the war eBook reader price is good news for potential buyers, and all just in time for Christmas too.The last few weeks have been quite a hectic digital world player in the book, Amazon Kindle [...]

Is an Electronic Book Reader For Me?
January 10, 2010 at 2:52 AM

Preparing to change the way we read forever! With, digital book reader, the new electronic book reader, that will happen. Gone are the days of multiple trips to the library or library. Gone are the days of having a library in your home. Now you can read what you want and do not have [...]

3 Reasons Every University Should Support Electronic Book Readers
January 10, 2010 at 2:52 AM

The e-book has been recently threatened, digital book reader, to remove one of the oldest traditions of mankind: the written word. But is that really a good thing. The books are a powerhouse of wild stories and fascinating stories, but the fact is that they are heavily outdated. Students struggling campus or from class [...]

Amazon Kindle Ebook Reader – Is it a Good Holiday Present?
January 10, 2010 at 2:52 AM

How do you know what makes a great gift for someone for Christmas? All those who want to do what he wants the gift of donation to get well right? You want the person who had the ability to feel the effort you put into getting to them, you want to understand exactly what was [...]

Digital Book Readers File Formats Information You Won't Find in eBook Reader Reviews
January 10, 2010 at 2:52 AM

I was recently written an article on the new Sony and Nook Daily capacity to manage digital book readers epub standard, a file format that is quickly becoming the preferred format for eBook publishers. It struck me that it can be useful if I explained the differences between proprietary formats and standards epub, something you [...]

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bit-tech.net | Review - Kindle vs Sony vs Cool-er eBook Readers

2010-01-10T08:22:00.001-08:00

Kindle vs Sony vs Cool-er eBook Readers. Is your collection of books threatening to take over your home like some unstoppable beast of literary greatness? Never fear! Thanks to the joys of flash memory and E-ink screens, ...

1/9 Buy & Review Kindle, Nook, Sony | Digital Book Reader, eBook Reader » Ebook Reader

2010-01-08T23:01:00.001-08:00

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Buy & Review Kindle, Nook, Sony | Digital Book Reader, eBook Reader » Ebook Reader

The QUE Plastic Logic eBook Reader: The New Kid on the Block
January 8, 2010 at 10:48 am

Kindle 2 Reader – eBook Reading Device
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The Rise of the Portable Ebook Reader
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Digital Book Readers File Formats Information You Won't Find in eBook Reader Reviews
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January 8, 2010 at 10:48 am

Not everybody is taken with the idea of digital readers. At first glance the concept seems to be the antithesis of what reading (particularly for pleasure) is all about. The feeling of holding a weighty book in your hands, touching the paper and smelling that distinct booky smell are all part of the experience of reading. [...]

The Kindle Improves the Reading Experience
January 8, 2010 at 10:48 am

The Kindle eBook Reader is Amazon’s entry into the eBook market. The device is a convenient way to read books on the go and has many advantages in today’s marketplace. Here’s just a few reasons why the Kindle is a geat purchase. The Kindle saves space. While books are great and it’s nice to have a [...]

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Barnes & Noble nook eBook Reader Review

2009-12-18T08:18:00.000-08:00