While it’s great that new eReaders are arriving and validating the eReader space (as is the success of the Kindle and Nook), it’s getting a bit much.
In just the last 2 days we’ve had 5 new eReaders announced.
The ones we’ve already talked about -
- Skiff Reader.
- Netronix Android eReader.
And 3 new eReaders (courtesy MobileRead) -
Digibook ADB 106 eReader
Ambiance Technology of Netherlands announced the Digibook ADB-106 eReader with these specifications (see the flyer on your kindle - at-digibook) -
Display – 6 Inches Electronic Paper Display
Resolution – 600×800 pixel (16bit Greyscale )
Processor – Samsung Arm 9 Core
Operating System – Linux 2.6
RAM Memory – 64MB SDRAM
Battery – 900mAh Li-ion Battery
I/O – High Speed USB 2.0
Expandable Memory – SD Card/ MMC
Text Format – TXT, PDF, EPUB, RTF, TCR, PDB, PRC,MOBI, OPF, OEB,HTM, HTML, CHM,FB2, DJVU, IW44, IW4, DJV
Supported Audio – MP3 (32kbps-384kbps)
Supported Image – JPEG, PNG, TIF, GIF, BMP
Languages Supported – English, German, French, Spanish, Dutch,Portuguese, Italian, Russian
Dimension – 178(L) x 128.4 (W) x 9.9(H) mm
Weight – 228g
PocketBook 901
PocketBook 901 has a 9.7″ plastic eInk screen and goes on sale in early 2010. The large screen size and the flexible screen seem to be the big selling points.
Here are more details -
Uses a flexible plastic screen that is resistant to shock and bending. Light weight of only 350 grams. Small size – Dimensions of 24.02 × 18.07 × 1.1 cm. Flexible plastic screen is 9.7 inches. Slot for an SD-card reader; Availability of dictionaries. High-capacity rechargeable battery; Ability to simultaneously store up to 10 000 books in memory and map the device
More details at this translated page.
Scan eReader
Scan 5″ eReader from Scan.co.uk - 155 pounds (on sale for a few days) and includes ePub, PDF and Doc support. The details -
Media Format Supported: TEXT: TXT, HTXT, HTML, PDF, EPUB, DOC
Audio: MP3/WMA/WAV Sound and Speakers too.
Image: JPG, TIF, BMP, PNG, GIF
Background Music.
Screen: 5″ 800×600 Hi-Res Monochrome Screen.
Memory: 4Gb Memory with SD Card.
To see more of the various eReaders that are available please check out my Electronic Book Reader landscape post.
Existing eReaders keep evolving and ePub keeps growing
There’s also a lot of news related to existing eReaders -
- Txtr are sold out and have to delay even some preorders. Txtr got Nooked
. - Foxit eSlick now supports DRM-free ePub and eReader formats.
- The Aluratek Libre added Adobe Digital Editions support which means reflowable PDFs and the option to add DRM.
- The Hanvon N516 added Adobe ePub support.
- Shortcovers added Adobe ePub versions of its ebooks.
Combine these updates with China and Taiwan’s verbal agreement to support ePub and it’s looking like the format wars are going to come down to Kindle Vs ePub.
Why are there so many new eReaders?
No one reads any more. Isn’t that the common wisdom from Steve Jobs.
Why then are there nearly 50 companies making eReaders?
Kindle Nook Sony Reader
Plastic Logic Que Apple Slate Fujitsu FLEPia
Scan Aluratek Libre Hanvon N516 Samsung SNE-50K
Dell Reading Tablet Asus Dual Screen eReader MSI eReader
Hearst Skiff eReader PocketBook Digibook Entrourage Edge
Foxit eSlick Neolux Nuut 2 Hanlin eReader Azbooka
BeBook Cool-er Bookeen Cybook Opus
Onyx Boox Jetbook txtr Brother SV-100B
Hanlin v2 Netronix EB900 iRex Digital Reader
Spring Design Alex Spectrum eReader Mirasol eReader
These are just the ones uncovered after a few searches.
Whether you look at -
- The 50 or so companies making eReaders.
- The dozen or so companies developing ePaper technology.
- The web giants like Google and Apple getting into eBooks.
It’s pretty obvious that there’s a huge opportunity in eBook and eReaders. That’s why we’ve had 5 new eReaders announced in the last 2 days. 2010 is going to be crazy .
Filed under: eBook Reader Devices | Tagged: ebook reader, eReader
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I could be way off base, but after looking at all of the specs of the different devices, one thing is missing: where are they getting their books? I may be willing to go to Project Gutenburg and download files to my computer, go to Baen Books and download files to my computer, and go to O’Reilly and download files to my computer, but I’m not sure how many other people want to look at multiple sites for books. Something needs to be said about the different devices book store, or lack thereof.
To be attractive to the majority of readers, I think that the eReader experience needs to include easy access to a book store. Wireless access is even better.
I’m not currently impressed with any existing book stores other than Sony’s, B&N’s, and Amazon’s. As such, even as the other eReaders look good on paper, they have a very large hurdle to meet.
Maybe the upcoming Google book store will meet their needs? Will the upcoming devices work with Google’s new book store?
I’m also impressed with the Amazon book store’s embracing of independent authors. But if a book is developed and sold through Smashwords, independents can also get into the B&N & Sony book stores. So all three of them are relatively open.
Fred you make a great point. A lot of ereaders are making the mistake of thinking of it as a device rather than a new medium for books.
They are depending on Google and Shortcovers and other ebook focused retailers.
Smashwords and Kindle Store are both great for indie authors. It’s not until recently that Smashwords got indie authors into B&N and Sony. Will have to see how much of an impact that will make.