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Convert an old iPad into a dedicated e-reader
When iOS 6 arrives later this year, iPad pioneers who are still using their first-generation devices will find that they can't upgrade to the new operating system. If you're not handing that iPad over to your kids (or parents), you might wonder what you can do with the device. Sure, you could still run iOS 5 and all of your previous apps, but Macworld's Lex Friedman has a better idea -- turn that old iPad into a dedicated e-reader. While you can buy an Amazon Kindle for as little as US$79, there are some advantages to using an iPad as an e-reader. Compared to its one-trick brethren, the iPad has a more powerful processor, a brighter display, and the advantage of multi-touch gestures. On the other hand, that inexpensive Kindle is much lighter and more readable in daylight... Should you decide to keep the iPad as a Kindle substitute, Friedman suggests paring the distracting apps down to a minimum, disabling notifications (or even setting the device to Airplane Mode so it can't access the Internet), and locking the screen orientation. For software, there are plenty of reading apps -- Amazon's Kindle Reader, Apple's iBooks, Newsstand, Zinio, and even Nook and Kobo. Reading content from the Web is easy with apps like Instapaper ($3.99), Pocket (free), and Readability (free). What about you? Do you have a first-generation iPad that you'll be replacing? What are your ideas for repurposing that hardware? Leave us a note in the comments.
PSA: Got a Nook Color? Then you can get dual-booting Nook2Android
Here comes a public service announcement: Eat slower and you'll feel fuller. Oh sorry, wrong one. We meant: Nook Color owners, you can now dual-boot your slate using the specially-created Nook2Android SD card. The card makes installing Android 2.3 a snap and it's now shipping with a dual-boot file courtesy of XDA developers, which means you can choose to boot into the original Nook OS without having to remove the card. You're looking at $35 for an 8GB card, rising to $90 for 32GB. Alternatively, if you're happy to get a bit of oil on your hands, you can try the manual approach. Mmmm, Gingerbread, chew every mouthful.
Fujitsu's e-reader gets a refreshed look at e-Book Expo Tokyo (video)
Fujitsu got to show off its recent color e-reader flossy flossy at the e-Book Expo Tokyo (the former Digital Publishing Fair) in Japan last week. Besting its previous market entry -- the FLEPia Lite -- this 8-inch, 157 dpi cholestric LCD module sheds both its predecessor's weight and Windows OS for a 220 gram, Linux-operated, slimmed-down profile. While the 4,096 color range remains exactly the same, it's the elimation of dithering from the display that'll be brightening up your future literary experiences. Processing speed also got a significant makeover here, translating into 0.7 second writing speeds -- a number the company promises will go down as full color capacity increases. Unfortunately, this slab of technicolor ebeauty doesn't appear to be headed for a US debut, so interested parties should start saving for that import option. Robo-Brit voice-over video demonstration after the break.
CyanogenMod 7 on the Nook Color hands-on (video)
It's hard not to love Barnes & Noble's Nook Color, especially if you're amongst those who'd rather look at text on a quality backlit screen than an e-paper display. Not only did we enjoy the e-book reader when we first reviewed it, but it keeps getting better thanks to updates to its hidden Android core plus the recent addition of its own app store complete with Pandora and Angry Birds. And while there's also a decent bundled web browser and music player, it's not the software that we like the most -- it's the hardware, and particularly the value proposition. See, $250 ($200 on sale) buys you a gorgeous 7-inch 1024x600 pixel capacitive IPS panel with excellent contrast and viewing angles, an 800MHz TI OMAP 3621 CPU, a PowerVR SGX 530 GPU, 512MB RAM, WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth, 8GB of built-in storage, an accelerometer, and a microSD card slot -- all wrapped in an attractive 12mm thin package. Sure, there's no 3G radio, no camera, no microphone, no ambient light sensor, and no haptic feedback, but despite its lower-end specs, the Nook Color just begs to be turned into a full blown Android tablet. And that's just what we did, by installing CyanogenMod 7 on Barnes & Noble's color reader, complete with Android 2.3.3 (Gingerbread) and the full suite of Google apps. Take a look at our screenshots gallery below and hit the break for our hands-on video and impressions. %Gallery-125927%
Barnes & Noble selling Nooks for $99 on eBay
What do you do just before you decide to upgrade your old device with some new hotness? You sell the old stuff on eBay, right? Well, B&N doesn't seem to have any better ideas than you as it's started offering its classic Nook e-reader for $99 on the online auction site, undercutting its own price by $50. This is the WiFi-only dual-screen unit, as you might surmise, not the Color tablet that's been treading dangerously close to being a fully fledged Android slate. If you're an E Ink loyalist on a budget, this might just be the opportunity you've been waiting for, though don't blame us if Barnes & Noble comes up with a fancier, more lustworthy model in the time it takes for that free delivery to reach your door. [Thanks, Sheldon]
Doom 2 gets ported to PocketBook 360 Plus e-reader (video)
Porting Doom to unexpected devices may be one of the oldest tricks in the game-porting book, but seeing it (or Doom 2, no less) run in a somewhat playable fashion on an e-reader is still a feat worth noting. That was recently done on the as yet unreleased PocketBook 360 Plus e-reader, apparently in an effort to demonstrate its new Pearl E Ink display and Freescale processor. Head on past the break to check out the results for yourself -- and, no, Doom 2 unfortunately won't actually be included with the e-reader. [Thanks, Zach]
Nook matches Kindle by bundling free web access to NYTimes.com with digital edition sub
Adhering to strict alphabetical order, where Amazon leads, Barnes & Noble follows. The Kindle was last week announced to include access beyond the New York Times' freshly erected online paywall as part of its device subscription to the NYT and now, lo and behold, the Nook family (including the Nook Color) is following suit in identical fashion. If you're happy to obtain your sub to New York's finest paper from the Nook Newsstand -- which costs $20 per month, same as Amazon's levy -- you'll get the bonus, complimentary, free-of-charge privilege of being able to access NYTimes.com without any constraints as well. So what if the online edition used to be free for the past eleventy years? The new Times dictates some fealty be paid and we're happy to see these e-reader purveyors helping to alleviate (mask?) that cost for some of us. Full PR after the break.
Sony aims for half of Japan's e-reader market by 2012
Given the dominance of Sony's Walkman over in the Land of the Rising Sun, it's a little surprising to think that Sony has been all but silent regarding the Japanese e-reader market. We heard back in May that the mega-corp was planning an e-reader launch in Japan by the year's end, aiming to build out an elaborate e-book distribution platform with local telecom operator KDDI. Fast forward a few months, and it seems as if thing's are finally falling into place. New reports are suggesting that the 5- and 6-inch Sony Reader devices will be on sale in Japan on December 10th, with pricing set for ¥20,000 ($237) / ¥25,000 ($297), respectively. Additionally, it's planning to crack the seal on an online e-bookstore with around 20,000 titles, and that one should be ready to roll prior to the "year-end shopping rush." Perhaps more stunning, however, is Sony's intentions to "sell 300,000 Readers in the first year and win half the domestic market by 2012" -- that's according to Sony Marketing Japan president Nobuki Kurita. Bold words, Sony, but we love the ambition.
Sony Reader Daily Edition (PRS-950SC) now shipping for $299
Just a couple of months after Sony refreshed its longstanding Reader Daily Edition, that very product is now shipping to the masses. 'Course, you're probably laser-focused on Hanvon's new color E Ink device on tap for next March, but if you just can't wait for that bad boy -- and you're not interested in any of the LCD-based alternatives -- the PRS-950SC is now available in stores and through SonyStyle. As a refresher, this guy's got a 7-inch touchscreen, WiFi and 3G, a spartan web browser and 2GB of integrated storage space. All yours for a buck under $300.
Hanvon to be first with color E Ink reader, sizes it at 10 inches, makes it a touchscreen
While Amazon and Sony are still hemming and hawing about taking their ebook-reading adventure into the color E Ink realm, China's Hanvon is plunging straight in. The New York Times is reporting that the company intends to grace this year's FPD International trade show with the news that a 10-inch touchscreen e-reader, equipped with the first color-displaying panels from E Ink Holdings, will be arriving in the Chinese market in March. That's a little later than the originally promised "by the end of 2010," but it's not like anyone else is beating Hanvon to the market. Pricing in China is expected at around $440, and though there are no plans to bring it Stateside just yet, we imagine Hanvon would do so quite willingly if it can reach the volume necessary to offer up a more palatable price. And we'd be very happy if it does, the Nook Color's been looking a little lonely in the color ebook reader room.
Pandigital Novel PRD09TW e-reader hits the FCC
Pandigital may have not exactly hit a home run with its first Novel e-reader, but it looks like it might already be coming back for another try with a new model. That device recently hit the FCC with the model name PRD09TW, and it seems to be mostly identical in appearance to the current Pandigital Novel, with the notable exception of four buttons along the bottom. Unfortunately, there's no specs to be found, but it does appear to boast a 7-inch 9-inch screen (here's hoping for capacitive this time around), and the test reports do at least reveal the presence of WiFi. What's more, as the folks at Wireless Goodness have noted, a 6-inch E Ink-based reader from Pandigital has also hit the FCC alongside this new Novel, although it's not clear if it's actually a new model or just an early version of the company's Novel Personal reader (the only different is a slight change in button placement). In fact, the same could be said of the PRD09TW, but the current Novel did already hit the FCC back in May.
Energy Sistem debuts colorful Color Book Series color e-reader
You may have more e-reader choices than ever these days, but if you primary concern is a device with a color screen that's also available in a number of different colors, you might just want to consider Energy Sistem's new Color Book Series e-reader. Of course, you won't actually get a touchscreen (just a regular 5-inch, 800 x 480 LCD), but there are plenty of buttons to make up for that shortcoming, and you will get a few decent features like audio and video playback, support for comics, a microSD card for expansion, and a case that doubles as a stand -- nothing crazy like a web browser or WiFi, though. Look for the 2GB model (available in red or blue) to set you back €129, or about $180, while 4GB white model and 8GB black model will run you €145 and €159, respectively.
Amazon announces 14-day lending feature for Kindle books, newspapers and magazines for Kindle apps
Nook users can already lend ebooks they've purchased to others, and it looks like Kindle users will soon be able to do the same. Amazon has just announced that it will be offering a similar feature "later this year" that will let folks lend books they've purchased to other Kindle users for a 14-day period, during which the person that actually purchased the book won't be able to read it themselves. That feature won't be available for all ebooks, however, as it will be up to individual publishers and rights holders to enable it for a particular book. What's more, Amazon has also announced that Kindle newspapers and magazines will soon be readable on the various free Kindle apps available for other devices -- look for that feature to launch in the "coming weeks."
Barnes & Noble Nook goes on sale at Walmart next week (update: Kobo, too)
We still don't know what Barnes & Noble is announcing at its "very special event" next week, but the company has just made another fairly big announcement: the Nook will be hitting the shelves at some 2,500 Walmart stores beginning "as soon as" October 24th (in addition to Walmart's online store). That includes both the 3G and WiFi-only Nook models, and some Walmart stores will even have a "Nook-branded eReading area" where customers can try out the device. Head on past the break for the complete press release. Update: Not to be outdone, Borders will release the Kobo e-reader at Walmart next week as well. Competing devices on the very same shelf -- imagine that!
Sharp announces Galapagos e-reading tablets: 5.5 and 10.8 inches, getting e-bookstore in December
Sharp has just taken the veils off its bold new e-reader devices, dubbing them both Galapagos in honor of the evolution the company believes they represent. The 5.5-inch Mobile version (pictured above) has a delightfully dense 1024 x 600 LCD screen, while its 10.8-inch Home sibling offers a very decent 1366 x 800. There's 802.11b/g WiFi on both, while the littler slate is also enriched with a navigational trackball. Sharp's emphasis here really seems to be on the cloud-based ecosystem it's creating for these "terminal" devices -- 30,000 newspapers, magazines and books have been lined up for its planned December launch and an "automatic scheduled delivery" facility will help you get at them as soon as the latest issue's ready for consumption. Sadly, we should note that this is specifically tailored to suit the Japanese market, which makes an international release seem somewhat unlikely. For a size comparison between the two tablets and the full press release, jump past the break.%Gallery-103366%
The Sharper Image announces Literati color e-reader
The Sharper Image may not be quite the retail presence it once was, but it looks like it's still in good enough shape to hop on the latest trend -- it's just announced "The Literati by The Sharper Image," a $159 e-reader with a 7-inch color screen. That device actually comes courtesy of MerchSource, and relies on Kobo's ebook service to get books on the device (which can be downloaded via WiFi). Otherwise, things look to be fairly basic -- the screen is 800 x 480 (and not a touchscreen), and there's apparently no web browser or other types of apps on the device to be found. You will get 150 free public domain books with the device though, along with a free case, and your choice of a white or black / brushed metallic model (which actually look to be slightly different in design). It also looks like you'll be seeing a lot of it -- The Sharper Image says that it will have the "broadest retail footprint of any eReader," with it set to be available at more than 7,000 retail stores this October, including Bed Bath & Beyond, Best Buy, JC Penney, Kohl's and Macy's. Full press release is after the break.
Acer LumiRead set for an IFA showing, October launch in Germany
Given how fast the new Kindle's been selling, we doubt many of you were keenly holding out for Acer's alternative -- but if you were, the wait is apparently nearing an end. An Acer spokesperson has confirmed that the barcode scanning-LumiRead will be shipping out to retail channels (in Germany, at least) this October, and early speculation on its price places it at around €250 ($316). That's an unconfirmed number, so don't freak out just yet, and Acer points to the fact it'll pack one of the widest German-language e-libraries on any e-reading device. Maybe prices will be somewhat more competitive in other territories, where the major attractions will be WiFi and 3G wireless capabilities, a 6-inch, 800 x 600 E Ink display, and a Barnes and Noble content partnership. And hey, maybe when we hit IFA in a couple of days they might finally let us take it out of the box as well, eh? We can only dream.
Foxit kills off eSlick ebook reader, focuses on licensing software instead
It's hard out there for a dedicated e-reader these days, and it looks like Foxit has now found that out first hand. The company has just announced that it's killing off its eSlick e-reader, and says that it will instead focus on licensing its ebook software to other companies -- it notes it won't do both to avoid competing with its partners. That move doesn't exactly come as a huge surprise, however, especially when you consider that the eSlick hasn't received an update since it debuted back in December 2008, and has remained stuck at $199 amid the recent e-reader price wars. Foxit certainly seems confident that its now on the right track, though -- head on past the break for its glass-half-full press release.
Elonex 710EB color e-reader gets cheeky price bump, available for pre-order
Good golly, not another e-reader! Well, for once the Brits may actually be getting something rather affordable here -- we were promised a £99 ($152) price point when Elonex announced its 710EB e-reader back in April. Sadly, this 7-inch 800 x 480 color LCD device never materialized in mid-May, but a quick phone call to Elonex just now revealed a new launch date in early August. Before you cast your doubts, this is also semi-confirmed by the availability date on HMV's pre-order page -- we're just slightly mystified by the slight price bump to £119.99 ($184). Either way, here's hoping that we actually see something before the autumn rain keeps us indoor.
Velocity Micro shows off $199 Cruz Reader
We haven't heard much about Velocity Micro's Android-based Cruz Reader since it sort of came out of nowhere back in April, but it's now finally nearing a release (sometime in August), and the company is starting to show it off a bit more. As expected, the Cruz Reader is just one of a series of tablets from the company and, despite the "reader" moniker, is actually more of a full-fledged Android tablet, complete with support for apps, games, web browsing, and other tablet-like activities. Velocity Micro is playing up the reader angle though, and has announced a partnership with Borders and Kobo to deliver ebooks to the device. Somewhat confusingly, however, it will be joined later in August by the $299 Cruz Tablet, which opts for a 16:9 capacitive display, adds 4GB of internal storage and an 8GB SD card, and Flash support, which the Reader apparently doesn't have (we're not quite sure what that means OS-wise). Rounding out the initial group is the kid-friendly Cruz StoryPad, which boasts a spill-resistant case and will run $149. Head on past the break for a look at the Cruz Reader on video, and the complete press release.
