Sep 12

Plastic Logic 100 unveiled, set to bring e-textbooks to Russian schools

Posted in: e reader, e-book, e-books, e-readers, education, Today's Chili
Plastic Logic 100

Well, it’s certainly not much in the looks department, but Plastic Logic finally has a product out the door that will at least get some use. The Plastic Logic 100 is the shatterproof descendant of the canceled Que, which will be arriving in Russian classrooms later this month. Underneath is soft-touch plastic exterior is 4GB of storage and an 800MHz processor pushing Windows CE. There’s no wireless connectivity to speak of (loading texts on it is accomplished via microUSB), but it does sport a 10.7-inch, 1280 x 960 capacitive screen with a touch-based UI. There’s even a software keyboard for making notes and highlighting passages. But, at 12,000 Russian Rubles (just shy of $400) we can’t help but think the Kremlin might as well have picked up a bunch of cheaper Kindle DXs. Check out the PR after the break.

Continue reading Plastic Logic 100 unveiled, set to bring e-textbooks to Russian schools

Plastic Logic 100 unveiled, set to bring e-textbooks to Russian schools originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Sep 2011 01:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sep 12

Amazon to launch Netflix-style service for digital books?

Posted in: amazon, business, e reader, e-book, e-books, e-readers, money, netflix, rumor, Today's Chili
Details are still sketchy here, but the Wall Street Journal is reporting that Amazon‘s looking to launch a Netflix-like subscription service for digital books, much to the chagrin of some publishers. According to unnamed sources familiar with the matter, Amazon is currently “in talks” with several publishers about the program, which would provide access to an online library in exchange for an unspecified annual fee. The insiders also claim that the service would be available for Amazon Prime subscribers (who currently pay $79 per year for free shipping and access to shows and movies) and that the proposed library would feature primarily older works, with monthly restrictions on the number of books a subscriber could read for free. Publishers would reportedly pocket a “substantial fee” for signing on to the program, though some are reluctant to participate, for fear that doing so would “downgrade the value of the book business,” according to one publishing exec. In fact, it remains unclear whether any publishers have thrown their hats in the ring, but we’ll certainly be on the lookout for any developments.

Amazon to launch Netflix-style service for digital books? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Sep 2011 03:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sep 10

UK book seller Waterstone’s to enter the e-reader race

Posted in: e reader, e-book, e-books, e-readers, ebooks, Today's Chili, uk
Waterstone's

Waterstone’s isn’t exactly the biggest name in book sales (at least not stateside), but it knows that to survive in this market it’s gonna have to get on the e-book train. The British company’s managing director, James Daunt, told Radio 4 that it planned to enter the market with both an electronic book store and an actual reader by spring of 2012. Mr. Daunt claimed he was inspired by the success of the Nook, and the challenge it posed to Amazon’s Kindle, to finally take a stab at ushering the UK chain into the 21st century. Of course, while we hate to harsh his buzz, Waterstone’s has already been offering e-books and e-readers since 2008 through a partnership with Sony with only minimal market impact. And we’ve already seen one major book seller (one twice the size of Waterstone’s) fall flat on its face as it tried to enter the digital age. But still, we wish Daunt and his company the best of luck.

[Image credit: Chrisloader]

UK book seller Waterstone’s to enter the e-reader race originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 10 Sep 2011 03:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sep 08

Michael S. Hart, e-book inventor and Project Gutenberg founder, dies at 64

Posted in: e reader, e-book, e-books, e-readers, Today's Chili
There’s some sad news coming out of Illinois today, where Michael S. Hart, the e-book inventor who founded Project Gutenberg, has died at the age of 64. Hart’s literary journey began in 1971, when he digitized and distributed his first text, after being inspired by a free printed copy of the Declaration of Independence he found at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. That same year, the Tacoma, Washington native founded Project Gutenberg — an online library that aims to “encourage the creation and distribution of eBooks” and to “break down the bars of ignorance and illiteracy.” By 1987, he’d already digitized a total of 313 books, including works from Homer, Shakespeare and the Bible, before recruiting more volunteers to help out. As of this June, Hart’s pioneering library housed about 36,000 works in its collection (most of which are in the public domain), with an average of 50 new books added each week. Described by Project Gutenberg as an “ardent technologist and futurist,” Hart leaves a literary legacy perhaps best summed up in his own words. “One thing about eBooks that most people haven’t thought much is that eBooks are the very first thing that we’re all able to have as much as we want other than air,” he wrote in July. “Think about that for a moment and you realize we are in the right job.” Michael S. Hart is survived by his mother and brother.

Michael S. Hart, e-book inventor and Project Gutenberg founder, dies at 64 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Sep 2011 04:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sep 07

Velocity Micro Cruz T408 8-inch tablet gets its FCC credentials, goes on sale at $240

Posted in: e reader, e-book, e-books, e-readers, minipost, Today's Chili

The T408 has been loitering around pre-order pages for a while now, but without a nod from the FCC it was going nowhere. Fortunately, it’s just been given a clean bill of 802.11 b/g/n health and can be yours for $240 from Best Buy Amazon. That outlay gets you an 8-incher with a front-facing camera, 4GB of built-in storage and a microSD slot. Watch out though: like previous Cruz tablets, it omits Android Market support out of the box, which tells you something about its target audience.

Update: Looks like the T408 isn’t available from Best Buy, at least not yet. But, you can put in your pre-order over at Amazon if you so desire.

[Thanks, Nathaniel]

Velocity Micro Cruz T408 8-inch tablet gets its FCC credentials, goes on sale at $240 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Sep 2011 09:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sep 01

Boogie Rip eWriting pad stylus-on (video)

Posted in: e reader, e-book, e-books, e-readers, ebooks, hands-on, Ifa2011, Today's Chili, video


Hey, remember that new product from Improv Electronics that we told you about yesterday? We managed to sneak in some time with the device today at IFA, and we have to say, we like what we see. The Rip (that’s “Record. Image. Preserve.”) is the latest addition to the Boogie eWriter line, devices that let you scribble notes and drawings and can be wiped away with the press of a button (think a more legible Etch A Sketch). The Rip ups the ante with the addition of a microUSB port, which lets you transfer notes as PDFs to your computer.

Improv was careful to point out that the device is currently in prototype mode, so we won’t hold too much again the company for the product’s plasticy feel — though, if its predecessor is any indication, the final version likely won’t be too far from this one, and the company confirmed that the final version will have the same charcoal color. And while the product is indeed plasticy, it certainly feels sturdy. More after the break.

Gallery: Boogie Board Rip eWriting pad hands-on

Continue reading Boogie Rip eWriting pad stylus-on (video)

Boogie Rip eWriting pad stylus-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Sep 2011 14:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sep 01

Amazon’s @author lets you tweet, pester your favorite writers via Kindle

Posted in: amazon, amazon kindle, AmazonKindle, e reader, e-book, e-books, e-readers, ebooks, kindle, minipost, Today's Chili, twitter

If the Amazon Kindle’s passage-sharing Twitter integration wasn’t social enough for you, the outfit just unleashed a new option: @author. The new feature uses Twitter as a springboard to connect writers to their fans, giving users a chance to nitpick their favorite authors line-by-line. If you’ve ever shared a quote using the Kindle, you know the drill: highlight some text and type out your tweet — just make sure you preface it with the @author marker. This limited beta is launching with only a handful of writers, but between Robert “Rich Dad” Kiyosaki and Brad “Identity Crisis” Meltzer, we’re sure you can find something to ask.

Amazon’s @author lets you tweet, pester your favorite writers via Kindle originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Sep 2011 09:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aug 31

Boogie Board Rip eWriting pad lets you jot down notes, save and export them too

Posted in: e reader, e-book, e-books, e-readers, Today's Chili
It’s been a few months since Improv Electronics updated its line of Boogie Board eWriters, and tomorrow at IFA the company’s set to show off its latest variant, dubbed Rip (“Record. Image. Preserve.”). The 9.5-inch pad is slightly improved from Improv’s previous iterations, as it’ll allow you to actually save any scribbles you’ve jotted down. Better yet, you’ll be able to export your doodles to a computer via its onboard micro-USB port. On the device you’ll find an erase lock to ensure your notes don’t get deleted, along with a stylus holder in case you’re prone to misplacing things. Similar to IE’s other Boogies, the Rip’s reflex LCD uses power only to erase what you’ve written, meaning you’ll get about a week’s worth of battery life per charge. There’s no word on pricing yet, but we’d imagine it’ll be a bit easier on the pockets than a Wacom Inkling — we shall find out when it ships out on November 1st. Full PR past the break.

Continue reading Boogie Board Rip eWriting pad lets you jot down notes, save and export them too

Boogie Board Rip eWriting pad lets you jot down notes, save and export them too originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 23:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aug 31

Hands-on with the Sony Reader Wi-Fi (video)

Posted in: e ink, e reader, e-book, e-books, e-readers, ebooks, Ifa2011, sony, Today's Chili, video
The Sony Reader doesn’t have all that large a presence here in the States, where the market is largely dominated by Amazon, and, to a lesser extent, Barnes & Noble. The Sony Reader Wi-Fi does go a ways toward keeping up with the competition, offering up WiFi (as advertised), an infrared touchscreen, and the Pearl E-Ink display seen on past versions. The hardware is nice, though it doesn’t feel quite as natural in the hand as the Nook or Kobo — it did indeed feel light, as advertised, though it’s hard to get a final judgement, seeing as how the demo product on the show room floor was all wired up. The software also zips along quite nicely, and pinch to zoom functionality is certainly a welcome addition in the e-reader market. Unlike many other Sony Readers, the thing also does well for itself pricewise, at $149. Hands-on video after the break.

Gallery: Sony Reader WiFi hands-on

Sony Reader WiFi hands-on

Continue reading Hands-on with the Sony Reader Wi-Fi (video)

Hands-on with the Sony Reader Wi-Fi (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 14:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aug 31

Sony’s new Reader Wi-Fi is the world’s lightest 6-inch e-reader with multitouch screen (update: powered by Android)

Posted in: Android, e ink, e reader, e-book, e-books, e-readers, Ifa2011, sony, Today's Chili

Sony’s just been showing off its Reader Store for the Android-powered Tablet S and Tablet P, but it hasn’t forgotten its more eye-friendly options. Announced at IFA just now, the self-explanatory Reader Wi-Fi (PRS-T1) claims to be the world’s lightest 6-inch e-reader with an “enhanced” touchscreen — the “enhanced” bit referring to its “Clear Touch Infrared” technology that supports multitouch for pinch-to-zoom, though it’s also bundled with a stylus. At 168 grams (5.93 ounces) light and 8.9mm thin, this device packs a 600 x 800, 16-level gray scale E Ink Pearl display, along with 1.3 GB of usable internal storage plus microSD expansion of up to 32GB.

The built-in 802.11b/g/n WiFi connectivity also lets users wirelessly borrow eBooks from public libraries — a first for e-readers, apparently — in the UK, US, and Canada. As for battery life, a single battery charge will keep digital bookworms busy for up to three weeks with WiFi enabled, or up to a month without WiFi (based on a half-hour reading time per day). Expect this ePub-compatible Reader Wi-Fi to hit the US and Europe in October for around $149, and it’ll come in a color choice of either red, white or black. Press release after the break.

Update: We now have confirmation that this reader is running on a heavily disguised Android (which is somewhat hinted by the buttons, anyway), so yeah, let the rooting begin!

Continue reading Sony’s new Reader Wi-Fi is the world’s lightest 6-inch e-reader with multitouch screen (update: powered by Android)

Sony’s new Reader Wi-Fi is the world’s lightest 6-inch e-reader with multitouch screen (update: powered by Android) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 11:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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