http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/08/irivers-e-book-reader/

Iriver has announced a dual page reader with leather exterior. It runs on AAA batteries which allegedly power it for 6 months. SONY get your act together, upgrade the reader, upgrade the software or get ready to lose another battle when the competition catches up.

// threads merged

News from CES 2007, iRiver seems to launch its own eink technology ebook reader device.

iRiver's prototype E-BOOk reader comes swathed in luxurious leather, features side-by-side dual touch sensitive e-ink screens, and uses AAA batteries for up to 6 months battery life (we didn't find out how many turns). From couple of pictures, it looks like iRiver also includes FM and MP3 playback in its new ebook gadget. iRiver still isn't even sure if they're going to launch this thing at home or abroad.

Looks nice, more competition is always better, but I prefer the single screen of the Sony, this would be harder to use I think like laying in bed.

iRiver has never been a content company, so I wonder if they'll sign any deals for content.

A prototype, with no clear plans, I don't think Sony is quivering in their boots.

I have to agree with this comment posted over at Engadget concerning the Iriver reader:

"Why in the wide, wide world of sports would it need to have TWO pages? Twice the price, for what? If you really need it to open like a book, just put a hinged cover on it. Having two complete displays is such a stupid idea that I'm suspicious that this might be a joke."

Unless their first market is Playboy.

Would give that "staple in the navel" a whole new look. :)

This looks like a prototype from Jinke. That dual one....

I'm always happy to see more eink around...but I think the dual-screen approach is a bit counter-productive...but I know others disagree, so it probably has it's place.

It looks like "E-ink version of panasonic's sigmabook".
Two E-ink panels are fantastic but twice expansive than Sony Reader??

I am keen on a two page device - I think having two pages on view is an important part of how normal paper book reading works. We do a lot of "reading ahead" without realising it - not reading the words, but the layout, the approach of new chapters, paragraphs, etc.
It's also nice just to be able to see more of the text without doing a lot of page flipping.

Having said that I'm not so keen on the design of this prototype. The screen frames and the hinge look huge and obtrusive.

It would be better for large pdf files assuming it can switch between landscape and portrait but on the other hand having two displays will bump the cost up by an order of magnitude. Worth keeping an eye on what happens though because I think this year should be an interesting one for e-ink readers and ebooks in general.

"Why in the wide, wide world of sports would it need to have TWO pages? Twice the price, for what? If you really need it to open like a book, just put a hinged cover on it. Having two complete displays is such a stupid idea that I'm suspicious that this might be a joke."

Perhaps the reason is that you can read one page while the other one is refreshing. I STILL think it is an overkill, it just might be an answer to your question.

In what's available to see, if you look closely at the size relationship between the headphone jack and the device itself, the screens are not much bigger than 4" high.

A plus for two screens; you don't need a jacket because the screens close together thus protecting them. And doing it this way you could have your text on one side and a dictionnary on the other. Or a touch screen on one side to take notes associated to the other side's text...

Open your minds here, other possibilities could exist. My computer has two screens. When I do graphics work such as CAD or photo retouching, I have my drawing or picture on one screen and all open tools on the other. I also often have Word on one side and a pdf on the other.

Personally I don't mind two screens, especially if they can display independent data. For example your ebook on one and mp3 player on the other, or a stock ticker or something if it has wireless (ok not a continuous ticker but you get the idea, maybe RSS).

The other question that comes to mind is power consumption. Is it more energy efficient to update two screens at once or less? Overall though I like the clamshell like design. I guess we will have to wait and see where iriver takes this if anywhere.

Two screens could be interesting if I can take notes in one and read in the other, for example. (I'm an "info pad" coveter). But-- call me a fanatic if you want-- I won't buy it if the only model comes with leather. Hopefully they'll also have a "vegetarian" model. ;)

// threads merged

News from CES 2007, iRiver seems to launch its own eink technology ebook reader device.

iRiver's prototype E-BOOk reader comes swathed in luxurious leather, features side-by-side dual touch sensitive e-ink screens, and uses AAA batteries for up to 6 months battery life (we didn't find out how many turns). From couple of pictures, it looks like iRiver also includes FM and MP3 playback in its new ebook gadget. iRiver still isn't even sure if they're going to launch this thing at home or abroad.
Too big of a deal, too much of a gadget just to read and it will probably be expensive gadget just to read ! No thanks. Sony has no worry here. What happens to simplicity? the Reader has the simplicity of just pick it up and go.

Yes but you have the added task of protecting the screen!

The regular cover is enough for me for now Mr Box-maker.

iRiver usually produces great products (still got my iHP-140). I'm not sure that there's a real point here in having 2 screens though... It seems that the trend for e-ink readers is just beginning, we'll see more and more of these devices in the upcoming months.

The regular cover is enough for me for now Mr Box-maker.
I was thinking more of a clamshell like cover as in a Zaurus. :wink:

Hmmm.... I think I like the two screens and the clamshell design. Although it would depend on how heavy it is. Anything heavier than a large paperback would put me off. But I can see the advantages such a device could have.

I multitask a lot on my computer. I have two 19 inch monitors connected and I wouldn't want to go back to only one. I find this setup invaluable when I am proofreading. Tiff images or Abby Fine Reader on one screen and FrontPage or Word on the other. I am getting a new computer shortly that has a graphics card capable of displaying three monitors. Knowing me, I shall probably use a third one too.

does anybody have more specific hardware information like resolution, grey scales etc. etc.

does anybody have more specific hardware information like resolution, grey scales etc. etc.
I think we're still pretty much in the dark. My guess: the "typical" 6-in 800x600 display with 4 grey scales, if it's using E Ink.

I strongly doubt that the "double display = double costs" formula holds true. The price for epaper is nowhere in the range of LCDs but way cheaper.

I remember reading an article on the prospects of eInk about a year ago. There, the estimated (future) Production costs for one square meter was about 35 or 70$ (my memory is really not that exact, but it was astoundingly cheap)! Mind you, that was the price for full scale production, not the intitial rollout, but it gives an idea of what to expect in the coming years.

And that will more likely be pimped wallpapers than gadgets that fit in your pocket.

Personally, i think i will be quite happy with my Sony Reader (when it arrives in a few days, YES!), but among some friends who aren't into mobile reading, the "bookishness" of the BOOK2 was way more attractive to them than that of my cherished Sony Reader [sniff].

So, in a few years, i hope to be able to buy a 200-pages ebook reader (will instantly zap one third of your battery juice, but hey, that's browsable eBooks for you ;-).

So, in a few years, i hope to be able to buy a 200-pages ebook reader (will instantly zap one third of your battery juice, but hey, that's browsable eBooks for you ;-).Now that's an intriguing idea. Of course if it's 200 pages thick, they'll have plenty of space for a nice big battery in the spine, so maybe it'll only zap 1/6th of your battery per refresh. :wink:

Hmm, 200 page Reader, with Wifi. Imagine an Encyclopedia of Wikipedia book that the pages auto-refresh over Wifi based on web content updates.

Here is one benefit about the double page.... You are reading one page while it updates the other. Also if turn on its side could split the document. AKA 800 x 1200 so to speak.

But I though this was just a prototype for them.. Nothing planed so to speak?

Hmm, 200 page Reader, with Wifi. Imagine an Encyclopedia of Wikipedia book that the pages auto-refresh over Wifi based on web content updates.
While you're at it, imagine (http://www.amazon.com/Diamond-Age-Illustrated-Primer-Spectra/dp/0553380966) a voice actress hired on contract to read it out loud. ;)

:joker: :joker:
This would be great for those that like to read 2 books at once.
:book2: :book2: