E-Readers of the Future

Braille e-reader would be possible

2009-04-22T17:44:00.004-04:00

The concept of a braille e-reader seems timely, given the battle between disability groups and the Kindle--as groups demand that the read aloud function be restored. In the same vein, this proposed braille reader would address another need for some readers. Apparently the technology to fashion such a reader is available and a group of people have prepared a prototype.

I think this is one of the better proposed e-readers to come up as of late. I know that the market for such a reader would be quite small but I think it's very refreshing to see technology put to such good use, making e-reader available to those who would otherwise be shut out.

The Kindle going newspaper-sized...maybe!

2009-04-14T15:46:00.002-04:00

The rumor mill is abuzz with the news that the Kindle may be expanding its screen size to compete with other newspaper-friendly e-readers in development. Rumor also has it that this device might be available by Christmas 2009--watch out Hearst!

Barnes & Noble working on their own e-reader?

2009-04-09T11:08:00.003-04:00

Rumor has it that Barnes and Noble is jumping into the e-reader mix, developing a Kindle-like e-reader of their own. Unlike many other potential e-readers out there, the B&N reader would reportedly take advantage of a Whispernet-like technology via a celluar service (Verizon or Sprint, perhaps). I'm not sure having such a similar device would be competitive, unless B&N could undercut Amazon with a price cut.

Small format color e-reader coming soon?

2009-04-07T23:27:00.003-04:00

Via a rumor on Teleread, Netronix and Astak will produce a 9.7-inch color e-reader in 2010. This is the first mention of a smaller format e-reader available in color. Other proposed color e-readers are larger in format, suited for magazines and newspapers.

Kindle Gets Smart on PDF and EPUB?

2009-04-07T23:09:00.004-04:00

I was very surprised to read today that the Kindle was now able to read PDF and EPUB files. Wow. There's one big catch--it's not Amazon that has set up this capability. A developer, who swears he didn't hack the Kindle (though I have my doubts), came up with the application that allows the formerly unavailable formats to be viewed on the Kindle. But as with any hack, buyer beware...

Murdoch talks of a color e-reader

2009-04-04T22:41:00.002-04:00

Well, this is a short post, because there's not a lot of details on this yet. But, it seems that Rupert Murdoch has mentioned his investment in a larger format, color e-reader that would compete with the Kindle to provide an electronic platform for newspapers. Some have posited that he's refereing to the Hearst e-reader or the Fujitsu e-reader, but I think he may be working with Plastic Logic or some such company. Guess we'll have to wait and see!

Verizon to compete with Sprint in wirelessly connecting other e-readers?

2009-04-04T22:37:00.004-04:00

Finally, it seems that the "other guys" might be catching on. Verizon has made murmurings about working with e-readers to support the same kind of wireless connectivitiy that Sprint does for the Amazon Kindle. The Kindle's wireless connectivity is generally what set it apart from other e-readers (ever if the Kindle is less desirable than the other e-readers in other ways). Today's readers demand such connectivity, so it will be exciting to see how soon and how ubiquitious these other networks become.

Fictionwise launches Blackberry E-book Reader

2009-03-31T22:34:00.000-04:00

Fictionwise, which was recently bought by Barnes and Noble, has launched a free e-book reader for the Blackberry. In an attempt to compete with Amazon's Kindle for iPhone application, it looks like Barnes and Noble is jumping into the market of e-readers for. To turn up the heat even more, Fictionwise promises an e-reader application for other Android and Linux phones in the future. Fictionwise's e-book store houses 60,000 e-books available, providing a much-needed boost to Barnes and Noble's e-book offerings.

I think this poses a stiff competition to the Kindle/iPhone behemoth, in that not everyone has an iPhone and the Kindle doesn't seem keen to open up to many, if any other, formats than the iPhone. This sort of "walled garden" approach that Amazon seems intent on fostering may (I hope) start to prove futile and monetarily costly for them.

Plastic Logic is catching on

2009-03-30T14:26:00.000-04:00

Although the Plastic Logic Reader is not yet available, the Detriot Free Press is one of the first to jump on the train to make their paper available on the upcoming reader (as well as on the Amazon Kindle).

The press is quoted as saying, "We absolutely believe in the future of great newspapers, but we can no longer do business as usual," said Dave Hunke, CEO of Detroit Media Partnership and Publisher of the Detroit Free Press. "These changes allow us to focus our resources on strengthening the content we provide readers instead of investing in paper, ink and fuel. They allow us to take a big step towards exciting new relationships with readers, subscribers and advertisers."

It's refreshing to hear the newspaper industry step up to the plate and try to save the dying model of newspaper publishing. One does wonder how soon the Hearst e-reader will be available to swoop in and try to win a big share of the newspaper e-reader market.

Foxit eSlick e-reader--on the cheap!

2009-03-30T12:26:00.000-04:00

The Foxit eSlick e-reader is now shipping! For a mere $259.99, you could have your own Kindle killer.

The specs: "600x800 screen, E Ink display, 128 megs of RAM onboard with an SD slot that supports up to 5 gig SD cards (a 2 gig card is included with purchase price), 6.4 ounces, and a built in MP3 player" and it also comes in three colors: black, grey, and white. Hey--that's still better than your color selection on a Kindle!

The downsides to this reader: It only reads PDFs and .txt files and does not feature wireless connectivity (must use USB cable).

If you order today, you still won't get yours ASAP, as they are on backorder, expected to be back in stock on April 10. Will you buy a Foxit eSlick to save some money?

Samsung Papyrus to debut this summer (in Korea)

2009-03-25T18:20:00.000-04:00

Yet another e-reader is now being talked about, with a proposed debut of June 2009. Unfortunately, the touchscreen Samsung Papyrus will make its debut in Korea. From details provided, it sounds like the Papyrus is trying to be more than an e-reader, with capability as a "notetaker, world clock, diary, memo taker, calculator, and contacts."

One feature of this soon-to-be reader that really intrigues me: it comes in different colors. As silly as that seems, none of the other e-readers come in any color (other than black or silver) and you don't have a choice. Such a simple consideration, but one that seems utterly important when you try to keep up with iPods and iPhones of all colors.

One huge drawback to the Papyrus is that is does not feature always-on wireless--seems you'll have to connect your e-reader to a computer to upload content. Without wireless, this e-reader make not have much staying power, in my opinion. To get even close to competing with Amazon's one-click buying that they've practically transfered to the Kindle, I think all e-readers of the future must connect wirelessly.

Speak of the Devil! Fujitsu FLEPia available for order in Japan

2009-03-19T13:54:00.000-04:00

Just a few days ago, I mentioned the developing device, the Fujitsu FLEPia. Now, it's been announced that the device is now available for pre-order to arrive at the end of April. However, for the time being, it is only available in Japan.

Another devastating detail: the price tag is around $1,000! Nonetheless, the FLEPia features an 8-inch color touchscreen (with stylus), featuring wireless, 40-hour battery life, and a slim design rivaling the Kindle's. Many see this reader as a gateway to answer to the struggling magazine and newspaper industries. I certainly find this reader very intriguing and look forward to a simliar version available in the US, perhaps from Hearst.

A full-color E-Book Reader?

2009-03-13T14:19:00.001-04:00

This large-format e-reader also seems very well-suited to magazine or newspaper reading but has the added benefit of providing full-color to its users, making the Fujitsu FLEPia the very first of its kind. The reader is said to have 50 hours of battery life, wireless. Also, it is reportedly only 12mm thick and has touchscreen capabilties.

This thing sounds too good to be true. It is currently being tried out in restauants in Tokyo. Stay tuned for more...Seems like this device could be a possibile competitor for the proposed Hearst E-Reader.

My first blog post

2009-03-13T14:08:00.000-04:00

This is my first blog post--ever! I'm hoping that this experience will encourage me to do more blogging about many other topics. But for now, my focus is on E-Readers of the Future and trying to keep up with the daily slush of new e-reader devices that are proposed.