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Tablet maker Pandigital no longer offering warranty replacements, reminds us it's now out of business
To be completely fair, Pandigital officially called it quits back in July of this year, when it handed the remaining of its assets to a liquidator in order to comply with the don't-call-it-a-bankruptcy process. Now, however, the creator of that 7-inch Novel slate has been contacting former customers -- that are experiencing tablet woes -- to let them know it will no longer be able to offer such customer service, noting that "due to this liquidation process any further requests for warranty replacements cannot be honored." Given its earlier filing with the Credit Management Association, the notice doesn't exactly strike us a surprise, but it does tell us not to expect the Supernova maker to splash a comeback any time soon. You'll find the original email sent to troubled customers right after the break. Due to this liquidation process any further requests for warranty replacements cannot be honored. Please be advised that Pandigital, Inc (the 'Company'), executed a General Assignment for the benefit of its creditors in favor of Credit Management Association on July 13, 2012 (the 'General Assignment'). A general assignment is a common law means of concluding the affairs of an insolvent debtor as an alternative to the Chapter 7 bankruptcy process. Pandigital is currently in the process of liquidation by the Assignee. You are receiving this email as you have recently been shipped a warranty replacement for a Pandigital product.
Pandigital 7- and 9-inch Android tablets hands-on
Pandigital isn't beating around the bush with the two tablets it's showing here at CES -- they run Android 2.1, they're not getting Froyo, and they're most certainly not getting Honeycomb. These slates come in 7 and 9-inch varieties, and the 9-inch Novel comes in both AT&T 3G and WiFi-only models. To rub salt in the wound, these guys don't have any Android Market support, and they won't be getting it any time soon (or ever, for that matter). On the bright side though, you get B&N's Nook app pre-installed on the Novel (get it?). Unfortunately, we're most upset that Pandigital hasn't seemed to change any of the things we disliked so much with the first version -- the screens aren't glamorous and the performance is still painfully sluggish. If you're looking for a cheap Android tablet, we'd probably suggest waiting for something with a little bit lot more flare. %Gallery-113073%
Pandigital's Multimedia Novel gets AT&T 3G, still cheap
Here are some facts we know about this subject: This is a tablet called the Multimedia Novel, built by Pandigital. It's very much like another Multimedia Novel tablet Pandigital sells at CVS for $214, except now it's $280 because there's a 3G radio inside. We really disliked the 7-inch version. It's on AT&T but it's contract free -- you pay as you go. The 9-inch screen is resistive, which sucks even if there's contract free AT&T on it. That's just our opinion, though. Android 2.0 is the OS. Barnes & Noble's Nookbook Store is pre-loaded. You can't access the Android Market by default. There's an unspecified 800MHz ARM11 processor running everything. It's probably slow. The 800 x 480 resolution will probably make your eyes bleed at this size. But hey, it's cheap. %Gallery-112444%
Pandigital's 9-inch Novel now on sale... as a QVC exclusive
Those wily shoppers at QVC have beaten the world once again in securing an exclusive on Pandigital's 9-inch Novel tablet. You'll recall that we weren't exactly overwhelmed with joy after handling the 7-inch Novel, and sadly this new slate looks like nothing more than a growth spurt, bringing as it does the same resistive touchscreen, B&N ebook store access, 2GB of integrated storage, and 802.11b/g WiFi highlights. Admittedly, QVC throws in a 4GB microSD card and prices it at an affordable $214, but we're always wary of Android devices that neglect to state which version of the OS they're running. Hit up the source link if you're more courageous -- or if you just want to watch the longest infomercial of your life.
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.
Pandigital takes a second shot at digital reading with the Novel Personal eReader
Second time's got to be the charm, eh Pandigital? No, we weren't exactly the biggest fans of the company's Android-running, LCD e-reader, but its new e-ink based Novel Personal eReader definitely follows a simpler approach. Aimed at those that wish to read in any and all environments (see Amazon's latest commercial for that real life example), the 9.1-ounce device has a 6-inch Sipex/AUO ePaper touch display, integrated WiFi, access to Barnes & Noble's eBookstore, an accelerometer and 2GB of onboard storage / a built-in card reader that accepts up to 32GB cards. Not too shabby in terms of raw specs, that's for sure, but its functionality better be damn impressive for its $200 MSRP -- considering, you know, that Barnes & Noble's own WiFi-equipped Nook starts at $149 these days. Of course, we fully expect that price to drop once it hits those familiar big-box retailers, but until you see it in that colorful weekend circular we leave you with the full press release and press shots below to look over. %Gallery-105243%
Pandigital Novel review
It's our guess that the Pandigital Novel has been turning quite a few heads at retailers across the US during the last few weeks. How could it not? It's got a full-color, 7-inch touchscreen, 2GB of on-board memory, runs a skinned version of Android and is priced around $180 (depending on where you're shopping). Oh, and it's got access to Barnes & Noble's e-book store. About one-third the price of the iPad, we sure can see the attraction, but after attempting to read an entire novel on it we can't help but wonder how it found its way past product development and into the stock rooms of Walgreens, Bed, Bath & Beyond and JCPenny, to name a few. Hit the break for our full review and to see just exactly we're talking about. %Gallery-99816%
Hackers start hacking the Pandigital Novel e-reader
The Pandigital Novel e-reader may have had its share of problems since its launch just a month ago, but it's starting to look like a slightly more attractive option for those willing to hack the device. As detailed by Nate of The Digital Reader blog, the procedure for installing a new home screen and additional apps is fairly straight forward, and doesn't involve actually rooting the device (although others are working on doing that as well). Of course, it's not quite a seamless experience as an Android tablet (there's apparently some stability issues), but it doesn't look too shabby for a $179 device. Head on past the break for a video of the hack, and hit up the link below for the necessary details to do it yourself.
Pandigital Novel preview
Sure, Pandigital's Novel may be delayed until next month because of some firmware issues -- and we haven't heard the most positive things about the 7-inch LCD based e-reader / tablet -- but we had to check it out for ourselves. At $179.99 $149, the all-plastic reader isn't going to win any build quality awards (it's also rather heavy for what it is), but the Android 2.1-powered gadget does have a pretty attractive user interface. In use, however, the resistive screen had to be pressed quite firmly to make selections and the software was noticeably sluggish. Surprisingly, the device did play a standard definition video smoothly and it has an accelerometer -- which is more than the Archos 7 Home Tablet can brag. Barnes & Noble's eBookstore will be preloaded, and it also has a skinned Android browser of some sort. We've got a short hands-on video after the break, but you've got the picture here: the Novel isn't what we'd call novel, you just get what you pay for. %Gallery-96241%
Kohl's pulls Pandigital Novel eReader for a firmware fix?
It seems Pandigital read a bit too far ahead in the story of its Novel eReader. The Digital Readers, which has been covering the device extensively, reports that Kohl's is currently going through something of a recall so that Pandigital can install an updated firmware. Customers can return it for a full refund -- and if the publication's review is to be believed, that might be the best course of action. In one of the first impressions pieces we've seen, TDR lambasts the Novel both as an e-reader and as a tablet. Apparently the hardware is overly heavy, the screen is laggy, WiFi is broken, and it doesn't charge over USB... but don't just take our word for it. See and hear it for yourself in the video critique after the break -- and if you're still jonesing, JCPenny continues to list it on sale. Read - Recall Read - Review Read - First impressions
Pandigital Novel goes on sale, hopes you'll take a look
It may not be the color e-reader that turns Amazon's Kindle and the B&N Nook into relics, but Pandigital's Novel is actually one of the more interesting me-toos to surface. Boasting a 7-inch LCD, 1GB of storage space (not to mention an SD / MMC card slot), integrated WiFi and access to the Barnes & Noble eBookstore, the Novel is now on sale in at least a couple of places. If we were you, though, we'd probably opt for that Kohl's link -- you know, unless you just enjoy paying $50 over the $199.99 MSRP. Update: Whoops! Looks like the Kohl's "sale" is off as well, with the price shooting up to $259.99. No deal.
Pandigital Novel e-reader / handheld hits the FCC
Pandigital's already manage to at least pique our interest with its Android-based Novel e-reader / handheld, and it looks like the device has now reached one more milestone on the road to availability -- it's just turned up at the FCC. As you can see, the particular device undergoing testing is black (not white as the final version will apparently be), and the FCC unfortunately doesn't give us much of a look of that bright 7-inch LCD in the on position. It has, however, given us a glimpse of the device's insides, subjected it to the usual battery of tests, and kindly provided us with the device's user manual -- though there's not too many surprises in there at this point. Hit up the link below for all that and more.
Pandigital intros 7-inch Novel e-reader, nabs access to B&N eBookstore
Pandigital's best known for its hard, hard work in the game-changing digital photo frame world, but the company's feeling a bit froggy of late. It's latest leap is into the burgeoning e-reader market, and unlike those from Barnes & Noble and Amazon, this one's sporting a 7-inch LCD -- you know, now that Apple has suddenly made that "okay" again. At any rate, the forthcoming Novel boasts a full-color 800 x 600 resolution touchscreen, inbuilt WiFi and dimensions of 5.5- x 7.5- x 0.5-inches. The highlight here is the partnership with B&N, which gives this guy access to the bookseller's eBookstore, not to mention the ability to share content via LendMe. Pandigital also throws in 1GB of internal memory, an SD / MMC card slot, orientation sensor, and the rechargeable battery is said to be good for a mediocre six hours on a full charge. The $199.99 Novel should be out and about next month supporting PDF, ePUB and HTML formats (yeah, there's a web browser), and in case you were wondering, it's based around Android and gets powered by an ARM 11 processor. Did Pandigital -- of all companies -- just out a remotely interesting e-reader? Yes, yes it did.
