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How would you change Amazon's Kindle 2?
Right around 13 months ago, we were asking you fine readers how you'd change Amazon's original Kindle. Now that it has had some time to think about things and deliver a refined version of its hit e-reader, we're giving early adopters the chance to fire off yet another round of criticism. Did Bezos & Co. address all of your gripes with the first iteration? Are you still bummed by anything? Is the screen sharp enough for your tastes? Battery life up to snuff? Do you still want more freedom when it comes to using that built-in EV-DO connection? What could Amazon do to make you even more stoked about being a Kindle 2 owner? You never know what the next firmware update could bring, so choose your words wisely.
Apple, MONEC in lawsuit over iPhone e-book apps
If you've ever thought that the iPhone might be a lawsuit magnet, we now have even more proof for you. It looks like a company called MONEC Holding Ltd., based in Berne, is suing Apple for patent infringement, unfair trade practices, monopolization, and tortious interference (whatever that means). MONEC's January, 2002 patent (No. 6,335,678 -- titled "Electronic device, preferably an electronic book") describes a light-weight, touchscreen electronic device that has the "dimensions such that [...] approximately one page of a book can be illustrated at normal size, this display being integrated in a flat, frame-like housing." Doesn't sound like every handheld device out there, does it? We'll keep you posted.
Mentor-branded 5-inch e-reader surfaces alongside PocketBook collection
Ah, the lovely world of rebadged e-readers. If you'll recall, we saw a nice trio of Astak Mentor e-book readers way back in May of last year, and now we're seeing a smaller, more curvaceous version pictured alongside those very devices. Early assumptions were that this new 5-inch model would also belong to PocketBook, but those rumors have already been laid to rest. What we're left with is a few solid images, a Mentor label and a mind full of mystery. It's almost like reading a Danielle Steel novel, but only in the emotional sense.[Via MobileRead, thanks Nate]
Fujitsu melts faces and wallets with FLEPia, the first color e-book for general consumption
After years of teasing -- FLEPia was first announced in April of 2007, and first proven in 2006 -- Fujitsu has at last released its color e-book (or e-paper mobile terminal, as they'd like you to call it) to the masses. Featuring an 8-inch XGA screen capable of displaying 260,000 colors, along with Bluetooth, WiFi and up to 4GB of storage via SD card, and measuring less than half an inch thick, FLEPia's not just getting by on color alone. Fujitsu promises 40 hours of continuos use, and the unit can be operated by its touchscreen or the assortment of function buttons. Naturally you can do the regular e-book thing, but the Japanese version of the device also includes full-on Windows CE 5.0, which would probably be a bit of a chore to use with the relatively slow screen refresh times of e-ink (1.8 seconds for a single wipe), but undeniably retrofuturistic. FLEPia ships on April 20th in Japan for 99,750 Yen (about $1,010 US).Update: Now with snazzier press shots![Via Engadget Japanese]Read - English press releaseRead - Videos of FLEPia in action
Engadget's recession antidote: win a BeBook e-reader!
This whole global economic crisis, and its resulting massive loss of jobs got us thinking. We here at Engadget didn't want to stand helplessly by, announcing every new round of misery without giving anything back -- so we decided to take the opportunity to spread a little positivity. We'll be handing out a new gadget every day (except for weekends) to lucky readers until we run out of stuff / companies stop sending things. Today we've got a BeBook e-reader on offer, which is totally laughing at that "Kindle" thing right about now. Read the rules below (no skimming -- we're omniscient and can tell when you've skimmed) and get commenting!Special thanks to BeBook for providing the gear!The rules: Leave a comment below. Any comment will do, but if you want to share your proposal for "fixing" the world economy, that'd be sweet too. You may only enter this specific giveaway once. If you enter this giveaway more than once you'll be automatically disqualified, etc. (Yes, we have robots that thoroughly check to ensure fairness.) If you enter more than once, only activate one comment. This is pretty self explanatory. Just be careful and you'll be fine. Contest is open to anyone in the 50 States, 18 or older! Sorry, we don't make this rule (we hate excluding anyone), so be mad at our lawyers and contest laws if you have to be mad. Winner will be chosen randomly. The winner will receive one BeBook e-reader. Approximate value is $299.99. If you are chosen, you will be notified by email. Winners must respond within three days of the end of the contest. If you do not respond within that period, another winner will be chosen. Entries can be submitted until Tuesday, March 17th, 11:59PM ET. Good luck! Full rules can be found here.
BeBook e-reader getting WiFi, new firmware update: eyes-on
Clearly, the big news from Endless Ideas today at CeBIT was its next-generation BeBook 2. But what about all those existing / to-be BeBook 1 owners? We've got a bit of excitement to share with you folks as well. While prying for information today in Hannover, we were informed that one of the biggest issues with the BeBook is being resolved very soon. Yes, friends, WiFi is coming. In just a few months, BeBook users will be able to buy a WiFi-enabling SD card (and download a new firmware update) which will provide wireless access to eBook stores, RSS feeds and lots of other goodies that can only be touched with a live internet connection. We're told that the WiFi SD card will be sold directly on the BeBook website for around $40, and it should be listed for sale within the next few months. We took the chance to grab some hands-on footage of the original BeBook in video form for you Yanks who've yet to see one, and if you hang in there 'til the end, you'll hear us get tipped off on the forthcoming card.
BeBook 2 e-reader revealed and in the wild at CeBIT 2009!
There it is, folks -- the BeBook 2. We knew Endless Ideas was bringing its next-generation BeBook to CeBIT, but we had no idea it'd be this well under wraps. We chatted with the company's CEO and managing director a bit about the direction of the BeBook as a whole, and they're very much believers in keeping format support wide open and giving readers the choice of where to pull content from. We were blessed with a few minutes of hands-on time with the new and improved e-reader, and while the software was still not finalized (thus our inability to photograph it more), we were impressed with what we saw. The next iteration of the BeBook should be a serious contender in the e-reader market, particularly in Europe where Amazon's Kindle has yet to invade. The inclusion of WiFi and 3G is a good move (great move, actually), as those two additions open up all sorts of possibilities that non-connected readers simply can't access. As for the device itself? We're digging it. The build quality felt remarkably sturdy, the aesthetics were beautiful and the thinness was certainly notable. The e-ink display has also stepped up the greyscale level from the original BeBook, and battery life should remain the same despite not being as bulky. As you can tell, the screen also supports doodling, and it tracked inputs as well as we could've hoped. We still couldn't pry out a price, but you can be on the lookout for this to drop worldwide somewhere in the Q3 to Q4 2009 time frame.
Pixelar e-Reader reviewed -- not too shabby, also "not a Kindle"
Slash Gear starts its hands-on review of Pixelar's e-book reader by stating the obvious: "this is no Amazon Kindle 2." And while there may be no integrated WiFi, no hardware keyboard, no Tom, and no Oprah, this device is not without its charms. It supports a generous helping of file types (including PDF, DOC, MP3, HTML, TXT, CHM, and at least a dozen others), comes with 512MB internal memory, supports USB and SD cards, and the reviewer found build quality to be "reasonable." The e-ink display shows some intermediate flicker, however, and the page turn speed "is just a little too long" for the reviewer's tastes. Probably the most off-putting thing about the device is its cost: in the UK (where the Kindle isn't available) it's going for a base price of £229.99 ($324), while Sony's Reader, for instance, is currently priced at £224 ($317). Intrigued? We bet you are -- check out the video after the break for even more e-book excitement.
Amazon's Kindle for iPhone hits the App Store
Sure, Amazon could pit the Kindle squarely against phone- and PDA-based e-book apps, but why not play both sides? The company had previously mentioned its desire to embrace non-Kindle devices in its digital delivery ecosystem, and the first fruits of that labor have now hit the iPhone App Store. The uncreatively-named Kindle for iPhone allows you access to all of your Kindle content right from the comfort of your iPhone or iPod touch, and if you have the good fortune of owning an honest-to-goodness Kindle, Whispersync will kick in to keep your location synchronized between readers. It's a huge win for owners of both devices, considering that the Kindle's still just a little bit big to be carrying everywhere you go, but your phone -- well, if you don't have that everywhere you go, you're just plain weird. [Warning: iTunes link] [Via The iPhone Blog]
Video: Hands-on with Onyx International's Boox e-reader
Onyx International may just be breaking into the e-reader world, but it's pretty confident that its Boox will be a hit when it ships (at least to the US) in three or so months. We spoke with representatives from the company that were on hand here at CeBIT, and while they wouldn't divulge a definite price, they were adamant that it would be cheaper than Sony's PRS-700 Reader (which is $400). The model they had on hand wasn't quite ready for shipping, as the final model will sport a slightly different chassis than the white shell used for display. The OS, on the other hand, seemed ready to go, and we were able to catch an Onyx employee as he walked through a number of the menus and options. Have a look at the video after the break to judge for yourself if it's ready to compete with the big boys. %Gallery-46400%
iriver Japan looking to brand its own e-reader?
It's a touch early to truly understand what's going on here, but it looks as if iriver Japan (read: not the same iriver Korea you're used to) is hoping to make a splash in the burgeoning e-reader market by popping out a device of its own. Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be much innovation going on, as we're pretty certain this is simply a rebadged version of the Netronix reader we spotted about this time last year. Word has it that the unit will handle PDFs and feature a simple joystick control scheme, an SD card slot and compatibility with music files. We'll be keeping a close eye out for any developments, but our gut tells us this thing won't make it far outside of Japan's walls, anyway.
Endless Ideas launching next-gen WiFi BeBook at CeBIT
Endless Ideas' original BeBook wasn't exactly the same smash hit as, say, Amazon's Kindle, but the company's hoping to refocus some of the spotlight back on itself next week in Germany. According to a succulent teaser page on the company's website, it has proudly announced that the next-gen e-reader will be on display at CeBIT, bringing with it WiFi and 3G capabilities, touchscreen navigation and wireless RSS support. Sadly, we're not giving any pictorial clues, but we are told to expect "a complete redesign." Consider our interest piqued.[Via Pocket-lint]
Amazon sorta capitulates, will let publishers decide text-to-speech availability
While affirming its stance on the legality of Kindle 2's text-to-speech feature -- and in fact stating it'll actually get more customers interested in buying audiobooks -- Amazon's announced that it'll now let the books' rights holders decide on a title-by-title basis whether or not they'll let TTS be enabled. No word on when the update'll be fed to the devices, but we bet somewhere right now, Paul Aiken's cracking a tiny smile. Full release after the break.
Onyx International to unveil the Boox e-reader at CeBIT
Look out, Amazon -- Onyx International has your number. Among the electronic bounty we'll be checking out at CeBIT will be the Boox e-reader. The device boasts a 6-inch e-ink touchscreen with 16 shades of gray, 512MB storage, WiFi, support for various formats (including EPUB / PDF / HTML / TXT / CHM / MOBI / JPG / BMP / PNG / GIF / TIFF / MP3), and text to speech (but sadly, no Tom). We don't have a price yet, so we're not entirely sure how threatened you should feel, but if we had to wager we'd probably bet on "not very."
Hearst to launch wireless e-reader, potentially revolutionize print media
Hot on the heels of Amazon's highly anticipated Kindle 2 launch comes this: news that Hearst Corporation -- which publishes iconic magazines including Cosmopolitan and Esquire along with the San Francisco Chronicle -- will be launching its own wireless e-reader. While many may be quick to label this forthcoming device as a Kindle competitor, the concept behind this is far more elaborate than simply knocking Amazon from its perch. In an effort to "preserve the business model that has sustained newspapers and magazines" while moving forward with technology, Hearst is planning to ship a larger-than-usual reader (around the size of a standard sheet of paper), giving publishers (and advertisers, by extension) about the same amount of space as they're used to when pushing out e-articles. Reports suggest that the device -- which will do the monochrome thing until a color version debuts later -- could land as early as this year, with Hearst & Friends planning to sell them to publishers and "take a cut of the revenue derived from selling magazines and newspapers on these devices." No exaggeration here -- this may be the biggest news we've heard for print media in years, not to mention the promise of an all-new e-reader for gadget nerds to swoon over.
Amazon's Kindle 2 listed as "in stock" -- for now, anyway
We heard that Amazon was already prepping the earliest Kindle 2 orders for shipment, but now we're seeing a flood of shipment notifications head our way. So far as we can tell, the second iteration of the Kindle e-reader is shipping en masse, and Amazon even lists the thing as "In Stock" on its website. Of course, the original Kindle had that status for about 3.87 (okay, 5.5) hours before slipping into backorder land for far too long, but we're hoping the supply chain's a bit more ready for the rush this go 'round.[Thanks, Dan]
Plastic Logic announces content partners, open publishers platform
Plastic Logic's Reader may not be headed for mass consumption until 2010 (though certain "key customers" should see it in 2H 2009), but at least we're getting a bit of assurance that said dates won't slip yet again. Today, the outfit has formally introduced its first partners in crime: Ingram Digital (e-books), LibreDigital (e-newspapers), Zinio (e-magazines) and a direct relationship with Financial Times and USA Today. We're also told that prospective buyers (you know, ones that skip out on Amazon's hot 'n fresh Kindle 2) can expect an e-content store where readers can download all sorts of engrossing material. Speaking of which, the company has also announced the simply-titled Publishers' Program, which is completely "open" and designed for content creators, publishers and content aggregators to "create, format, sell and distribute content for easy viewing and use on the Plastic Logic Reader." More details are, of course, tucked away in the read links below.Read - Content partnersRead - Publishers' Program
Google and Amazon debut cellphone e-books, eye strain
Sure, we pretty much figured that the V-Book (which is actually not a book at all) would be the final nail in the coffin of what was once known as "literature," but it looks like both Google and Amazon have other plans. Not only have their been rumblings of a new Kindle, but Amazon has announced that it'll soon be making the popular e-reader's some 230,000 titles available for your cellphone. The company hasn't said when the titles will be available or exactly what phones would be supported -- but we're guessing that we'll be seeing handsets with nice, big screens like the G1 and the iPhone on the list. If that weren't enough, Google's Book Search holdings -- about 1.5 million public domain works -- will soon be available for cellphone-based e-readers like Stanza. This is good news for people who need access to data on the go -- and really good news for anyone who would like to curl up next to the fire with a nice glass of wine and their Curve 8900.[Image courtesy of Spacesick, Via Unwired View]
Giant e-paper display spotted, ogled at Taiwanese book show
Now showing at a Taiwanese book expo: two gorgeous e-paper displays, one in black-and-white and one in color. The approximately 24-inch readers were created by Delta Electronics (no relation to the airliner) and are being used by a local newspaper publisher to survey attendees and gauge interest in their future use. Our friends at Engadget Chinese tell us the color one is less contrasty than its monochrome partner, but beyond that, details are scarce and no one at the booth could provide any specs. One thing's for certain: they're a helluva lot crisper than those 28-inch e-paper billboards popping up around Tokyo. Hit up the read link for more pics.
Plastic Logic e-reader not coming until early 2010
If you've been waiting (and waiting) for Plastic Logic's ultra-durable e-reader, you'll have to stick with recycled paper for another dozen months or so. According to a company representative at the outfit's CES kiosk, the device is now scheduled for an "early 2010" release, and as expected, final pricing has yet to be determined. Though, Mr. Joe (seriously, that's his first name) did admit that it would be "competitively priced for rapid adoption" and that the company would be pushing hard to get this into corporations / enterprises. Don't believe us? The full five minute interview is there in the read link.[Thanks, credo]
