Hasta La Gadget!

ASUS just dumped Windows Embedded Compact 7 for Android for its lower-end tablet devices, and CEO Jerry Shen is passing along the savings. He’s pledging that the 10-inch Eee Pad EP101TC, due to ship in March, will cost under $399 — and if the Notion Ink Adam is any indication that means it’ll be $398. Then there’s the EP121, a 12-inch tablet running Windows 7 that’s positioned rather higher up in the market, as indicated by its $1,000 price tag. Shen says this high cost is due to that docking station able to intriguingly transform it into a laptop when it ships around December or January. Next is yet another Eee Pad due around January, one that will run Windows Embedded Compact 7 on a 10-inch screen and at a price somewhere south of $499. Finally, there’s the grayscale Eee Tablet e-reader thing, formerly rumored to be under $599 but now priced at a solid $300 and, supposedly, shipping in October. Surely we’re mere months away from tablet saturation at this point.

ASUS prices 10-inch Android Eee Pad under $399, 8-inch Eee Tablet at $300, other tablets too originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Aug 2010 07:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oh sure, you’ve been able to get your hands on iPads, iPhones and Kindles when checking in before, but a Kobo? Nah. Well, until now. Announced today, the a-okay e-reader company has landed a deal with Fairmont that’ll put e-book readers into the hands of select guests at select properties. Specifically, Fairmont Gold-level guests that are members of the (free to join) President’s Club will be able to trial a Kobo during their stay free of charge, and they’ll find each one brimming with a variety of fiction, non-fiction and high drama titles. Upon returning the device (as if there’s another alternative, right?), patrons will be gifted with a $2 off coupon for Random House titles, and if you’re curious as to which ten properties will be involved in the offer, head on past the break and have a look.

Continue reading Kobo e-reader sashays into ten Fairmont hotel properties, adds to your poolside experience

Kobo e-reader sashays into ten Fairmont hotel properties, adds to your poolside experience originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Aug 2010 12:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The New York Times’ Bits blog is reporting that “people with direct knowledge” of Amazon’s plans say that Lab 126 — the division of the company which designed the Kindle — is currently looking into other hardware, i.e. devices that are not the Kindle. One unnamed source reports that such devices would be a “means to an end,” meant to enable easy purchasing of Amazon‘s content, which currently includes music, movies, and digital books. The source said that CEO Jeff Bezos’ intent for Lab 126 was initially to build multiple devices — including apparent discussions to enter the mobile phone market — but that the Kindle eventually became the main hardware focus. The report also notes that Amazon’s hardware division currently has about 80 job openings, which would lend credence to the idea that more devices could be on the way.

Report: Amazon building prototype hardware other than Kindle originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Aug 2010 16:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Things were looking bad for iRex Technologies a few months back. Its DR 800 e-reader didn’t get to retail in time for the holiday season and, at $450, it wasn’t exactly price competitive anyhow. As the company filed bankruptcy, CEO Hans Brons remained optimistic, saying “expectations are still positive,” and now we can see why: the company is being reborn as IRX Innovations. This time it will skip the pesky retail market altogether, hoping to find businesses willing to pay the roughly 100% premium over a comparable 3G Kindle or Nook or what have you. It’s unclear whether IRX will be offering the same products or will start showing off new, more business-minded ones, but with the WiFi Kindle now shipping for a mere $140 we’re hoping the new company has some lesser expensive offerings.

Bankrupt iRex can’t buy a vowel, gets new lease on life as IRX Innovations originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 08 Aug 2010 09:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Amazon has just announced the launch of its UK Kindle Store, furnishing UK netizens with a localized storefront from which to browse and purchase their ebooks. It starts life with an imposing 400,000 book collection, and is claimed by Amazon to offer the lowest prices “of any e-bookstore in the UK.” Guess that gives price comparison sites a new avenue to branch out into. More than 170 magazines and newspapers are also available, for one-off purchases or on a subscription basis, while the new lighter, better, cheaper Kindle is up for pre-order and set to ship at the end of the month. Good to see that Amazon isn’t neglecting its extra-American markets.

Continue reading Amazon’s Kindle Store opens digital doors in UK

Amazon’s Kindle Store opens digital doors in UK originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Aug 2010 07:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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