Feb 09

Plastic Logic announces content partners, open publishers platform

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

Plastic Logic‘s Reader may not be headed for mass consumption until 2010 (though certain “key customers” should see it in 2H 2009), but at least we’re getting a bit of assurance that said dates won’t slip yet again. Today, the outfit has formally introduced its first partners in crime: Ingram Digital (e-books), LibreDigital (e-newspapers), Zinio (e-magazines) and a direct relationship with Financial Times and USA Today. We’re also told that prospective buyers (you know, ones that skip out on Amazon’s hot ‘n fresh Kindle 2) can expect an e-content store where readers can download all sorts of engrossing material. Speaking of which, the company has also announced the simply-titled Publishers’ Program, which is completely “open” and designed for content creators, publishers and content aggregators to “create, format, sell and distribute content for easy viewing and use on the Plastic Logic Reader.” More details are, of course, tucked away in the read links below.

Read – Content partners
Read – Publishers’ Program

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Plastic Logic announces content partners, open publishers platform originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Feb 2009 18:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Feb 09

Plastic Logic Announces E-Reader Content Partners

Posted in: e reader, kindle, Today's Chili

Plastic_Logic.jpg

As you’d expect, the Amazon Kindle 2 announcement is all over the Web today. In other e-reader news, though, Plastic Logic, the company behind the very promising device we first heard about last year–it’s larger than others at 8.5 by 11 inches, very thin and lightweight, and even flexible–has announced content partners for its first iteration as a business reader.

So far, at least, the Plasic Logic Reader will offer content from Ingram Digital and FictionWise for e-books, LibreDigital for e-newspapers, Zinio for e-magazines, the Financial Times, and USA Today.

The company announced that its Reader will support the PDF format; one big complaint about the Kindle is that it doesn’t support PDF files without conversion.

YouTube is hosting numerous videos showing the Plastic Logic Reader in action. I’ll embed one after the jump.

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Feb 06

Google and Amazon debut cellphone e-books, eye strain

Posted in: amazon, amazon kindle, AmazonKindle, e reader, e-book, Google, iPhone, kindle, Today's Chili

Sure, we pretty much figured that the V-Book (which is actually not a book at all) would be the final nail in the coffin of what was once known as “literature,” but it looks like both Google and Amazon have other plans. Not only have their been rumblings of a new Kindle, but Amazon has announced that it’ll soon be making the popular e-reader’s some 230,000 titles available for your cellphone. The company hasn’t said when the titles will be available or exactly what phones would be supported — but we’re guessing that we’ll be seeing handsets with nice, big screens like the G1 and the iPhone on the list. If that weren’t enough, Google’s Book Search holdings — about 1.5 million public domain works — will soon be available for cellphone-based e-readers like Stanza. This is good news for people who need access to data on the go — and really good news for anyone who would like to curl up next to the fire with a nice glass of wine and their Curve 8900.

[Image courtesy of Spacesick, Via Unwired View]

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Google and Amazon debut cellphone e-books, eye strain originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Feb 2009 14:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Feb 06

Giant e-paper display spotted, ogled at Taiwanese book show

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

Now showing at a Taiwanese book expo: two gorgeous e-paper displays, one in black-and-white and one in color. The approximately 24-inch readers were created by Delta Electronics (no relation to the airliner) and are being used by a local newspaper publisher to survey attendees and gauge interest in their future use. Our friends at Engadget Chinese tell us the color one is less contrasty than its monochrome partner, but beyond that, details are scarce and no one at the booth could provide any specs. One thing’s for certain: they’re a helluva lot crisper than those 28-inch e-paper billboards popping up around Tokyo. Hit up the read link for more pics.

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Giant e-paper display spotted, ogled at Taiwanese book show originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Feb 2009 12:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jan 25

Plastic Logic e-reader not coming until early 2010

Posted in: delay, e reader, Today's Chili

If you’ve been waiting (and waiting) for Plastic Logic‘s ultra-durable e-reader, you’ll have to stick with recycled paper for another dozen months or so. According to a company representative at the outfit’s CES kiosk, the device is now scheduled for an “early 2010” release, and as expected, final pricing has yet to be determined. Though, Mr. Joe (seriously, that’s his first name) did admit that it would be “competitively priced for rapid adoption” and that the company would be pushing hard to get this into corporations / enterprises. Don’t believe us? The full five minute interview is there in the read link.

[Thanks, credo]

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Plastic Logic e-reader not coming until early 2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 25 Jan 2009 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jan 12

Sony’s flexible OLED mockups

Posted in: concept, e reader, OLED, sony, Today's Chili, vaio

Sony hasn’t gotten very far along with these units — they’re really just plastic shells — but we like we’re they’re headed with it. They showed off a full-screen laptop (pictured), bendable e-reader, and Walkman bracelet concepts, all based around flexible OLED technology and built with “flexible bioplastics,” along with the flexible display that going to power them all when they hit the market… in the year 2000.

Gallery: Sony’s flexible OLED mockups

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Sony’s flexible OLED mockups originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Jan 2009 11:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jan 01

iRex Digital Reader 1000S gets the hands on treatment

Posted in: e reader, e-book reader, E-bookReader, Today's Chili

iRex’s Digital Reader 1000S didn’t exactly do a whole lot to distinguish itself when it debuted alongside its two other 1000 series counterparts a few months back but, judging from Engadget Chinese’s hands-on of the unit, it seems to at least hold its own against your average e-book reader, even if it may not be able to justify its premium price tag ($749). On the upside the 10.2-inch, 160 dpi display appears to deliver as expected, with it provided a fairly comfortable reading experience, although some small text may have you reaching for the zoom function. Unfortunately, the device as a whole seems to be a tad on the sluggish side, and there is that small matter of the price, which puts the iRex well above the likes of the Kindle and some other upstart e-book readers. Still undecided? Hit up the link below for a closer look.

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iRex Digital Reader 1000S gets the hands on treatment originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Jan 2009 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dec 31

BeBook eBook reader gets reviewed: a library rental, at best

Posted in: e reader, e-book, review, reviewed, Today's Chili

At least overseas, Endless Ideas’ BeBook is competing most directly with Sony’s succulent Reader, and reviewers over at Trusted Reviews immediately noticed the step back in style. If you can get over that, the device was said to be delightfully light, though the user interface reverted their brief smiles back to frowns. This up and down (or love and hate, if you will) affair continued on throughout the review, with critics finding a nitpick for every glimmer of awesomeness. The real bummer came when they attempted to use USB 1.1 for mass transfers — it’s practically 2009 people, and USB 2.0 is a must. All in all, the crew couldn’t bring themselves to calling the BeBook a bad device, with the broad format support, satisfactory screen and longevous battery all earning high marks; that said, the clunky interface and sluggish overall performance really put a damper on things, particularly when you consider a Sony PRS-505 can be had for around £30 less.

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BeBook eBook reader gets reviewed: a library rental, at best originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 31 Dec 2008 07:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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