There have been a lot of updates since my eReader Release Date post in early November. Here’s an ebook reader release date list that covers 2010 -
January 2010 ebook reader release dates
There’s a lot going on in January, with CES 2010 as the focal point.
CES 2010 ebook reader releases -
- Plastic Logic Que, the business ebook reader, will be unveiled.
- Asus’ dual screen ebook readers will be revealed. There are two models and both are supposed to have dual LCD screens.
- Asus have promised that one of the two will be super low priced.
- The first Pixel Qi based device, Notion Ink’s Android based Smartpad, will be shown.
- Samsung will show off their SNE-50K ebook reader. A US release date has not been announced, although it’s available in Korea.
- Cool-er have said they’ll show off a 3G capable ebook reader.
- Entourage Edge will be present. It ships in February and it’s already available to preorder.
- There are rumors that a Dell Reading Tablet will be on display.
In all there are 63 Exhibitors related to eBooks.
We have the known ebook reader manufacturers -
Aluratek, Bookeen, Ditto Book, Entourage Systems, Foxit (makers of eSlick), Interead (makers of Cool-er).
Onyx (makers of the Boox ebook reader), Plastic Logic, Tianjin Jinke Electronics System (makers of Jinke ebook reader).
Western Graphics Inc. (makers of the PocketBook ebook reader), Team Research (makers of Astak ebook readers)
We also see some new companies jump in -
Aiptek, DAZA Inc., Ewig Enterprise Company, Gajah International, HanWang Tech (WISEreader), HiVision Co. Limited.
Hongfutai E-Tech, Key Ingredient Corporation (makers of Demy recipe reader), Shenzhen Bamboo Technology Company (makers of a 7″ Tablet called Bamboo),
No news from Spring Design (makers of Alex) and iRex.
Various other January releases -
- Kindle for Mac is rumored to be out in January or February 2010.
- The International Kindle DX should also be out in January or February 2010. There’s a very slight chance plastic screens are included although that’s likelier for a mid-year Kindle DX 2 release.
- B&N have said Nook will get a software update that fixes some issues and enable in-store browsing. This is separate from the update going out today which is supposed to make page turns faster.
- Txtr might be available in early 2010. They are accepting registration for preorders (which are sold out) and will email you when there is Txtr stock available.
- iRex DR800 had stock issues and wasn’t able to deliver in 2009. It ought to arrive in full force in January 2010.
- The Syntron Mirror Tablet Reader will be released - Although it is being positioned as an Android tablet it looks like it’ll be a viable ebook reader.
February 2010 ebook reader releases
- It is probable that Kindle 3 is released in February 2010.
- It’s quite likely that Sony will have new ebook readers - Sony have tended towards a 6 month release cycle and the latest set of models were announced at the end of August 2009.
- Entourage Edge will be released.
- Kindle for Blackberry ought to be out this month or by March.
From this point onwards the ebook reader release dates get sketchy. Therefore, will be listing dates by Quarter - the specific release month will only be listed if known.
Q1 2010 ebook reader release date list
- This is around the time the new lighter, plastic 9.7″ screens from PVI will be available. That could mean Kindle DX 2 arrives sometime between April and June 2010.
- Netronix EB900 Release Date of Q1, 2010 had been confirmed – It’s a 9.7″ screen ebook reader with WiFi, 3G, handwriting support, and more.
- Bridgestone start a trial of their color ebook reader in Japan.
- Spring Design’s Alex ebook reader might be out in Q1, 2010. There’s a chance Spring Design’s case against B&N is still going on and the Alex release is delayed.
- PocketBook 302 from Western Graphics is slated to reach the US market in Q1, 2010.
Q2 2010 ebook reader releases
- Kindle DX 2 should definitely be out in Q2, 2010.
- Rumors point to a summer 2010 release of the Apple Slate/ Reading Tablet.
- Kobo, the Indigo-Borders joint venture, will launch their ebook reader by summer 2010.
- We might see Amazon move ahead on the Kindle Electronic Pen (for which a patent was filed in summer 2009).
- Hearst Skiff ebook reader will launch.
- Netronix and Texas Instruments are working on an Android based ebook reader scheduled to launch in summer 2010.
- Microsoft Courier Tablet is rumored to be out in Q2, 2010 too.
- MSI are launching an eReader and it should be out in Q2, 2010.
- We should see a resolution to the Google Books Settlement.
- Google Editions will probably be launched.
Q3 2010 ebook reader release date list
There are various companies promising color ebook readers by 2nd half of 2010 –
- ebook readers that use Qualcomm Mirasol Displays are supposed to be out by second half of 2010.
- BenQ have said that a color version of their nReader will be out in the second half of 2010.
- Fujitsu has been testing their color ebook reader in Japan since March 2009 and ought to bring it over to the US by mid to end 2010.
- PVI have also claimed that color eInk will be available by the end of 2009.
- Jinke makes the Hanlin line of ebook readers and they have three 10″ plastic, flexible screens lined up for release for 2010.
Please note that this list is always a work in progress.
Ebook reader release dates and stock seem to fluctuate constantly so we might see some of the Q2 and Q3 ebook readers show up sooner and also have some release dates pushed back a few months or more. 2010 is going to be anything but boring.
Filed under: eBook Reader Devices Tagged: | ereader release date, ereader release dates
I have purchased e-books for the past 4-5 years to read first on my Palm device, then my Palm Treo phone, them my iPhone & iPod Touch and now on my Kindle. Since I paid for the books already, I don’t think I should have to pay for them again just because I have changed devices, sometimes because the previous device quit working.
Writers and publishers are entitled to earn something for their efforts. That is why I pay for the books I read. I do not believe, however, that they are entitled to more money just because I changed the device on which I read their work.
It matters little to me if a file has DRM associated with it or not. What matters is that the purchases I make are portable from one device to another.
Register a device with a vendor, use a password mechanism, limit the number of devices that a book may be on at any one time, whatever. Just let me move my purchases from one device to another. Don’t punish me because I have provided financial support to the creators of reading material.
It seems to me that all of the current DRM mechanisms for electronic books violates the fair use principle. It is time for the publishing industry to get creative, not become punitive to those who provide them with their living.
In reply to Dave D.
I’ve been investigating B&N’s Nook but in the mean time have downloaded their software (it’s free) to my Blackberry for reading. The books are on my phone and in my account with B&N. If you purchase books through B&N (via phone or the Nook) it should solve your issue of changing devices and losing books. Just go back to B&N and download your book(s) to your new device. Apparently Kindle doesn’t allow this? Like I said I’ve just started looking into e-readers and decided to not purchase one until later this year to see what “the competition” comes up with.
Pam, Kindle does allow this for PC, iPhone, and soon for Mac and Blackberry.
Where Nook has an advantage is that it could possibly set its eBook DRM such that any Adobe DRM powered eReader could use its books. It doesn’t do this at the moment. Sony does.