Tech News and Reviews
Posts tagged e-reader
Qisda QD060B00 e-reader hits the FCC
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We’ve already seen MIDs, high-res phones, and a few other odd devices from Qisda since it spun off from / encompassed BenQ, and it looks like it’s now trying its hand at another e-reader as well. Still no official word about this one, but the device does look like it’ll hold its own with a 6-inch capacitive touchscreen (16 levels of gray), along with built-in WiFi, a microSD card slot for expansion, and support for all the basic formats you’d expect (including ePub and PDF) — the e-reader itself is also Linux-based. Coming from Qisda, it’s also possible that this one will be picked up by someone else and rebadged before its released, although there’s no indication of that just yet. There are plenty more pics (both internal and external) to be found at the link below, however, along with the device’s user manual.
Samsung’s E6, E101 and E61 e-readers shown on video
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We were fortunate enough to get a quick moment with Samsung’s new assortment of e-readers back at CES, but the cool kids over at Notebook Italia were able to get the E6, E101 and E61 on video. There’s little doubt that these look awfully different than all of the other me-too options on the market, and the touch input seems to be extraordinarily responsive based on the demonstration. Speaking of which… hop on past the break to have a look yourself, cool?
Mustek MER-6T is another Twilight-loving touchscreen e-reader
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Mustek isn’t in the business of making out-there products, but maybe it’s changing its tune by slapping the Twilight cover on its MER-6T e-reader. Just another 6-inch, e-ink reader sans a content ecosystem or wireless connectivity, we can only imagine that they want you to stab the MER-6T right in the SD card slot in a fit of vampire e-reader-hating rage. Ah, but then when the blood is slowly dripping off its .4-inch thick body and into its 3.5mm headphone jack, you to realize that it’s got a touchscreen, built-in music player, and that it comes with a luring wrist strap all which make you want to ravish the device forever into the night. You sick bastards, Mustek. There’s no pricing on the MER-6T, but the experience seems pretty priceless.
BeBook Neo e-reader launches with WiFi and WACOM capabilities
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We’re still patiently waiting for Endless Ideas to launch a 3G-equipped e-reader to compete with the masses, but ’til then, we suppose we’ll have to be satisfied with the WiFi-toting BeBook Neo. Boasting a 532MHz Freescale CPU, Vizplex display (800 x 600 resolution), 512MB of internal storage, 3.5mm headphone jack, USB 2.0 connectivity and an SD expansion slot, the 6-inch, February-bound Neo brings to the table very little that we haven’t seen elsewhere — in fact, it’s a dead ringer for Onyx International’s Boox. Naturally, you’ll find support for a multitude of file formats (ePUB, PDF, HTML, JPG, PNG, etc.), and the internal battery is good for 7,000 page turns on a full charge. The company is also playing up the unit’s ability to access a wide variety of third-party ebook venues, which gives you the option of purchasing books from any given outlet rather than a predefined store. There’s also WACOM tech built in, which should delight those who love to annotate and add text mark-ups. We’re told that future software updates will add a multitude of new features, but it’s tough to say if that promise is enough to coax you into dropping $299 on a pre-order.
OPPO Enjoy looks like just another Android e-reader
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Another day, another Android e-reader. We apologize for not sounding overly enthusiastic about this one, but going off of the picture of the OPPO Enjoy we don’t anticipate the 6-inch e-ink reader to be the next Kindle or Nook killer. The rest of the specs are unknown, though it looks like the main controls are the trackball on the right edge and touch navigation keys on the left. You know what, maybe we’re being too pessimistic. Perhaps the Enjoy really runs the next version of Android, is Tegra 2 powered and actually has a color display. Alright, that’s all very unlikely, but a reader can dream.
iriver Story e-reader shipping to US soil this month, WiFi version coming in Q2
0863 days
by Arlene.L
in Peripherals
iriver‘s first legitimate shot at making an e-reader has been floating around in various corners of the globe for months now, but finally we’ve confirmation from the company that the device is coming Stateside. Announced here in Las Vegas, the iriver Story will ship to US retailers later this month, with an “updated WiFi version” slated to ship in early Q2. For those who’ve forgotten, the 0.36-inch thick reader packs a 6-inch e-ink display, an integrated MP3 player, 2GB of internal memory, an SD expansion slot, USB 2.0 connectivity and a battery good for 9,000 page turns. As for the MSRP? iriver tells us it’ll be “competitively priced,” with more details to be released as “content and retail partners are finalized.
E-reader privacy policies compared: Big Kindle is watching you
0873 days
by Raymond.J
in Peripherals
It’s definitely shaping up to be the year of e-book readers: the Amazon Kindle is flying off (virtual) shelves, and we’d expect the Barnes & Noble Nook to start moving at a decent clip once the kinks get worked out. But any device with an always-on 3G connection to a central server raises some privacy questions, especially when it can broadcast granular, specific data about what you’re reading — data that’s subject to a wide spectrum of privacy laws and regulations when it comes to real books and libraries, but much less so in the digital realm. We’d say it’s going to take a while for all the privacy implications of e-books to be dealt with by formal policy, but in the meantime the best solution is to be informed — which is where this handy chart from our friends at the Electronic Frontier Foundation comes in. As you’d expect, the more reading you do online, the more you can be tracked — and Google Books, the Kindle, and the Nook all log a ton of data that can be shared with law enforcement and various other third parties if required. Of course, we doubt the cops are too interested in your Twilight reading habits, but honestly, we’d rather users weren’t tracked at all. Check the full chart and more at the read link.
Aigo jumps on the e-reader bandwagon with EB6301
0880 days
by Raymond.J
in Peripherals
It’s official: everyone’s making an e-reader. While we’re still a little unsure of where all this is heading (hey, call us Luddites, but we actually like turning pages!), we’re always glad to see an ever-expanding offering of literacy-encouraging gadgets. Chinese company Aigo has just announced its own model, the daringly named EB6301. This one boasts a 6-inch E Ink display, a host of buttons running down its left side in addition to the navigation panel, and has 2GB of built-in storage. There’s no WiFi on this unit which is a disappointment, and it’s going to run 2,499 yuan — about $366. There’s no word on availability outside of China at this time.
Mag+ digital magazine concept makes e-readers cower with envy.
0882 days
by Raymond.J
in Peripherals
As the decade comes to a close, we’re seeing a bevy of real and mythical devices bent on saving main stream media through the execution of a variety of proposed content partnerships. Unfortunately, it’s still hard to imagine how all this will play out in reality. That’s where slickly produced concepts can be of benefit. Like this one from the R&D wing of Bonnier, the publisher of Popular Science magazine among others. While the concept still treats electronic magazines as periodic issues, the interaction is entirely new and immersive compared to their printed forms. Interestingly enough, our future is ad free if the video (and not Google) is to be believed. Compelling stuff and a possible glimpse at our not too distant future.
Bridgestone announces flexible touchscreen color e-reader
0933 days
by Arlene.L
in Peripherals
When we heard word of a “big announcement” back in July we imagined an e-reader of some sort, but what is it that we have here? Based on a technology Bridgestone calls Quick-response Liquid Powder, the company’s all-color touchscreen e-book reader is about 5.8mm thick, features a 13.1-inch touch-sensitive e-paper display (with 4,096 colors and a refresh rate of about 0.8 seconds), and some sort of unspecified mobile phone connectivity. Most exciting, of course, is that the entire package — circuit board, touchscreen, and housing — are designed to bend together. A neat trick, sure, but probably not too practical for jotting down notes with your stylus. Still, we’d take two. Trials begin at the Kansai Urban Banking Corp early next year, but you can check it out sooner at FPD International 2009 in Yokohama City, Japan, starting tomorrow.