Kindle Review – Kindle Fire Review, Kindle 4 Review

The Alex eReader DS-10 Manual is certainly worth a quick perusal – Alex eReader Manual.

Biggest takeaways from the Alex eReader Manual

These were the most compelling details -

1. The features are very well thought out. The number of options is a bit overwhelming. There are literally dozens of different settings. 
2. There are Notification icons in the LCD status bar including – new email, battery indicators, uploading/downloading data, and more. Plus you can scroll through notifications and open them. 
3. ‘Touch and Project’ feature that lets you project the text content of a website from the LCD screen to the eInk screen. 
4. There’s an Alex Market to download applications. You can also download applications from your browser. 
5. Alex’s browser has 5 text sizes, javascript, and a pop-up blocker. You can also clear the browser cache, history, and stored cookies.
6. Email App supports up to 5 POP3 or IMAP accounts. The Email App is very impressive.
7. Music Format Support is very impressive – mp3, m4a (iTunes), amr, wma (8), midi, wav, and ogg vorbis. The Music app only plays audio files saved on the SD card.
8. The Gallery App covers video and images. You can crop and rotate images and play a slideshow.
9. A Google Books App to access all the free Google Books.
10. There’s nothing about reading on the eInk screen. The User Manual doesn’t address the 90% use case.

Lots of cool features – It’s really strange that they don’t have a section on reading books or one on organizing books or for that matter anything on audiobooks.

More interesting things about the Alex eReader

Here are some more interesting things -

1. The buttons on the Alex are used either as “press” or as “long press” – the latter is holding down the button for 3 seconds. This includes a screen lock using the power button and going to Home using the back button. It’s a bit confusing.
2. The default applications on the Alex include a bookstore, a browser, a calculator, email, a photo and video gallery, a library, music, settings, wi-fi, and a user manual.  
3. The status bar on the eInk screen includes a CPU on/off indicator and a Font Size indicator.
4. You can choose your desired wallpaper for the LCD. 
5. You can choose a screen unlock pattern that works as a password.
6. With the keyboard you can touch and hold a key to enter accented letters.
7. There’s zoom in and zoom out in the browser.
8. You can open up to 8 web pages in the browser.
9. You can copy and paste text from a webpage to an email.
10. History with the last 250 sites you visited.
11. The browser can store your passwords for you. Pretty cool.
12. You can use music files as alarm ringtones.
13. Google Gears is available for the browser and you can enable it.
14. Lots of options in the Music App including repeat, shuffle, playlists, rewind, and fast forward.
15. Basic and Advanced Calculator Modes - The Advanced Mode includes sine, cosine, tangent, and more. The Calculator also has operations history.
16. You can add audio comments to a book.
17. It’s 11 ounces (310 grams) and 4.7″ by 8.9″ by .4″.

It’s really impressive to see all the options they have and all the little features – It is a bit overwhelming but there’s little doubt that Alex blows away every other eReader in the non-reading aspects. 

Letting users download and install any application is pretty generous. Given the risk of viruses and malware their advice to download applications only from the Alex Market is worth following.

Thoughts on the Alex eReader

There are some huge advantages – Email support, a full-blown browser, Android Apps, a dedicated Google Books App, and Sync feature to transfer website text from LCD to eInk.  

There are also a few significant disadvantages – The price is too high at $399 and the number of options are a bit overwhelming.

Which of my current eReaders (Nook, Sony Touch, Kindle, iPhone) would I exchange the Alex for?

Kindle – No (great range of books, simplicity, faith in the upcoming kindle app store). Sony Reader Touch Edition – No (the touch is a very good feature). Nook – Yes. iPhone – Hard to Say.

Why is it that Nook could be priced at $259 and Alex comes in $140 more expensive at $399?

Spring Design need to figure out a way to get the Alex to $259.

Spring Design’s site has been updated with a lot of good Alex information and pictures. The website talks of WiFi, 3G, EVDO/CDMA, and GSM compatibility – nothing about the latter 3 in the manual.

Alex eReader Technical Specifications

The Alex site includes all the specifications -

CPU: Monahan PXA303 (624 MHz).
EPD: 600 by 800 pixel resolution, 167 ppi. 6″ screen. 8 shades of grayscale enabled, 16 capable.
LCD: 3.5″ screen with 320 by 480 pixel resolution, finger based touchscreen, 16 bit color enabled, 24 bit capable.
Size: 120 mm by 225 mm by 14 mm. 4.7″ by 8.9″ by .4″.
Weight: 310 grams (11 ounces).

Battery: 3.7V, 1530MAH Lithium Polymer.
Battery Life: EPD – 7500 page turns. Media Playback – 6 hours. Recharge – 3 hours.
Storage: 256 Mb DRAM internal storage. 2 GB Flash Memory.
Expansion: MicroSD slot.

Audio: 2.5 mm stereo headphone jack, built-in stereo speaker, microphone.
Power: Charge from PC via mini USB or via Mini USB AC Power Adapter.
Connectivity: USB 2.0 (mini-B connector), Client Interface to PC, WiFi 802.11 B/G.

Operating Temperature: 32 to 104 degress Fahrenheit (0 to 40 degrees centigrade).
Storage Temperature: Minus 13 to 158 degress Fahrenheit (-25 to 70 degrees centigrade).
Included Accessories: Protective Cover, USB Mini connector Cable, Audio headphones, Mini USB AC Adapter, Quick Start User Manual.

The Alex eReader is a pretty compelling offering apart from the price - Hopefully they can find a way to get it to $259 as that would really stir up some eReader competition.

Filed under: eBook Reader Devices Tagged: | alex reader