Contrary to earlier reports that retailer Borders were planning to enter the hardware ebook market with a device of their own, the company has denied that an own-brand reader is on the cards. According to Borders Chief Executive Ron Marshall, both the cost and the time involved are dissuading the firm from such a plan; "We're not a technology company" the CEO told Reuters, "We're booksellers."
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‘e ink’ Stories
Borders deny ebook reader plans: “We’re not a tech company”
Sony clinch e-subs of WSJ, New York Post, MarketWatch; gauging consumer interest in multimedia tablet
The scrabble to dominate the ebook and digital content space continues, with Sony apparently clinching a deal with The Wall Street Journal and the New York Post for digital subscriptions on their Reader series of ebook devices. MarketWatch subscriptions will also be available, and Sony expect monthly pricing to be $14.99 for the WSJ, $9.99 for the Post and $10.99 for MarketWatch. However Sony played down speculation that it plans a tablet-style device, with CEO Howard Stringer suggesting that the company would play a wait-and-see game to see which way consumers jump.
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E Ink remote control for Rovio demo’d [Video]
The image isn't especially clear, we know, but you're looking at a WowWee Rovio robot webcam being remotely operated by a flexible E Ink controller. It's the handiwork of the ASU Flexible Display Center, who took E Ink's AM300 development kit and used it for two-way communication with the Rovio. Not only can the robot be navigated, its camera feed is shown on the E Ink panel.
Video demo after the cut
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Barnes & Noble nook locator reveals which stores have demos
Barnes & Noble have announced in-store demo unit availability for their nook ebook reader, giving those still undecided about the dual-display device an opportunity to go hands-on before dropping $259. However, as previously revealed, stock shortages means that only certain stores will have access to demo nook units; the retailer has set up a nook locator tool which allows you to search for the store nearest to you that's taking part.
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Ambiance Technologies Digibook ADB-106 ebook reader teases with wireless icon
It's getting increasingly crowded in the ebook reader market, and it's too early to say whether Ambiance Technologies' Digibook ADB-106 has what it takes to stand out. Going from the scant information on the spec sheet [pdf link] there's not a huge amount to see here - 6-inch 16-gray-level e-ink display with a column of shortcut buttons down the side, SD card slot and MP3 playback - but the wireless icon has us wondering whether Ambiance have squeezed in WiFi without telling us.
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New B&N nook orders delayed until January 11th
Barnes and Noble can't seem to get a break with the nook ebook reader: having confirmed yesterday that the Android-powered dual screen device would only see limited in-store availability, the online listing now suggests that new year shipments won't begin until January 11th. That's a week later than the January 4th date B&N told us yesterday.
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txtr ebook reader loses WiFi; €299 pre-orders from Dec 1st
Of the flurry of ebook readers we've seen over the past six months or so, one of the more interesting has been the txtr, if only because it promises to embrace the open-source community with its freely-available APIs. Unfortunately, txtr seem less open with their launch updates; the reader is supposedly launching in Germany tomorrow, but the German startup has just revealed that it won't actually have WiFi.
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Barnes & Noble nook store availability limited; eBay prices doubling
Hoping to pick up a Barnes and Noble nook in time for the holidays? Don't count on it seems the message from B&N; not only have online preorders for the dual-display ebook reader sold out for December, pushing expected deliveries for orders placed now to January 4th, the company is now reducing its store roll-out. According to B&N VP Mary Ellen Keating, only "a very limited supply, along with demo units, will be available in our highest-volume stores" as of December 7th.
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Netronix Android ebook readers in 2010, plus 3.5G models
Netronix are developing Android-based ebook readers, working with Texas Instruments to push the e-readers out in 2010, according to company chairman Arthur Lu. Full specifications on the devices are unknown, though Lu has also said the the devices will be "able to interoperate" with both Android smartphones and embedded devices; the executive didn't go on to explain exactly what form that interoperation might take. Meanwhile, there's also 3G/3.5G WWAN integration coming.
While Lu didn't say that the Android-based devices would necessarily be the e-readers to get wireless, he did confirm that Netronix expect to release models with integrated 3G connectivity in mid-2010.
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iriver Story gets reviewed: intuitive & usable Kindle-alternative
iriver's Story has been simmering away in Korea for a few months now, but so far just how good an ebook reader it is has been a mystery. The Register have been playing with the Story and reckon its actually a white slab of alright, actually: they rate its battery life and decent audio player, though they needed a firmware update to get the best out of it.
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Sony Reader Daily Edition up for pre-order at $400
We've got to admit, having played with the mirasol ebook prototype earlier today, Sony's pre-sale of their Reader Daily Edition is looking marginally less appealing. Priced at $399.99, the Sony Reader Daily Edition has a 7-inch monochrome e-ink display, integrated 3G connectivity, and weighs 12.75oz; wireless access to Sony's ebook store is included in the sticker price.
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Qualcomm mirasol color video ebook readers to ship in 2010
Ebook readers are arguably coming of age, but don’t assume e-ink – and the push to produce color e-ink panels – have won the game quite yet. SlashGear met up with Qualcomm’s mirasol team today to discuss their latest display news, and while you might remember the technology from their early 1.1-inch single-color panels, they’re now showing off a 5.7-inch display capable of full color and video playback, with minimal impact on battery life. They’ve set themselves the target of having color ebook readers with mirasol panels on the market by the latter part of 2010, and are working with OEMs now to achieve that.
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