We know Onyx better as a BlackBerry smartphone codename or a touchscreen cellphone prototype, but in China it’s also the name of an ebook reader manufacturer. Engadget Chinese had a chance to play with their new product, the Boox, a WiFi-enabled touchscreen device with an internet browser as well as an ebook app.
ASUS have revealed a few more details about their upcoming ebook reader, the tentatively-named Eee Reader. Potentially landing in late 2009 “at the earliest”, the Eee Reader will – say industry sources, in usual DigiTimes style – come in two versions with either a 6- or 9-inch monochrome touchscreen.
The few live images of iriver’s new ebook reader, the sensibly-named Story, whet our appetite; now German site Heise have had the chance to go hands-on with the Kindle-esque device. Unfortunately they’ve also found that, right now, a WiFi-equipped model is merely “planned”, while a 3G version only “conceivable” if iriver can find a suitable mobile module.
Polymer Vision has reportedly been sold to an unnamed Asian company, who will restart the firms development of foldable e-ink displays. Having declared bankruptcy back in July, Polymer Vision – whose first device, the Readius, was to be a cellphone with a large fold-out e-ink display – will now retain around 80-percent of its staff after new contracts were signed this week.
Images of iriver’s new ebook reader, the Story, have emerged, together with partial specifications for the 6-inch E Ink device. As well as having a full QWERTY keyboard and a memory card slot content with up to 32GBs, the Story is compatible with PDF, epub, txt, ppt, doc, xls and other ebook formats without requiring their conversion.
It’s been a while since we’ve heard anything of ASUS’ ebook reader intentions, but according to DigiTimes the company’s CEO, Jerry Shen, has confirmed that they plan to have a device on the market by the end of 2009 at the earliest. Slotting into the company’s Eee brand of low-priced consumer electronic devices, Shen failed to give suggestions of specifications or pricing for the upcoming reader.
Sony have announced their third new ebook reader, the Sony Reader Daily Edition, and as has long been expected it includes wireless 3G connectivity. The new $399 device comes with a new version of their eBook Library software, 3.0, now Mac and PC compatible and which can also be used to organize notes made on touchscreen Sony ebook devices. Sony have also revealed Library Finder, an electronic “ebook borrowing” system.
Sony’s PRS-600 ebook reader has seemingly made its way to Canadian retailers, with two confirmed sightings of the 6-inch touchscreen slate. Feedback seems mixed, with some of Sony’s boasts about the new E Ink device – faster page turns, more flexible font sizes – turning out to be either unnoticeable or pretty much useless in these demo units.
Demo video after the cut
Perhaps what the world of ebook readers needs for true market adoption is not slick new features and bargain pricing but handsome leather detailing. That seems to be Matsunichi’s approach, anyway, with their ER600 ebook reader having a tactile leather grip section at the bottom and stylish brushed metal around the 5- or 6-inch E Ink display.
Sony’s upcoming Reader team press conference has left us wondering what the company has left in its ebook reader bag to announce, but according to a report in the New York Times there’ll be changes in both file format and hardware line-up. The paper is suggesting that Sony will scrap their proprietary ebook format, BeBB, in favor of the open ePub standard; as well as that, they’ll reveal plans for a wirelessly-enabled ebook reader for release later in the year.
Update: Sony have confirmed the switch to ePub; press release after the cut.
SlashGear Japan
