11-22-2011, 04:07 AM | #1 |
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Kyobo Mirasol-based ebook reader launched in South Korea
The Digital Reader has the news that the first Mirasol-based ebook reader has just been launched in South Korea.
The display is a 5.7" diagonal, 1024x768 pixel (223ppi) full colour display. More info about the ebook reader and the display are at the mirasol website. Touchscreen, colour, scrolling, video, weeks of battery life, and a built-in 'front light', so it can be used in low-light levels. $310. Kyobo Platinum club members can purchase for $265. I wonder who'll be the first to use the display in a ebook reader available in the rest of the world? Unlike The Digital Reader, I think people will pay more for a device with a reflective, hi-res, high speed colour display that gives weeks of battery life. |
11-22-2011, 04:54 AM | #2 | |
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The Digital Reader has a video of a drop test of the Kindle Fire and the Nook Tablet and when the testers took the devices outdoors, you could really see the glare on the screens. In contrast, the Digital Reader had a link in his article on the Korean reader to the Mirasol website where there were videos and it was clear that the Mirasol screens had the same outdoor advantage that e-ink has over LCD. |
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11-22-2011, 04:56 AM | #3 |
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I have to ask, though, if you are using the tablet for high speed things (lots of scrolling, lots of video), is it going to have a battery life of weeks? Tablets last longer than the 8-11 hrs they are quoted as if you don't run video and instead do things like reading books or other fairly static things.
Personally, though, I'd find this more appealing if it were a larger screen. Most of the uses for color books are for formats large than 5.7 inches. |
11-22-2011, 05:05 AM | #4 |
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I would buy it for no other reason than kids books. It looks great!
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11-22-2011, 07:14 AM | #5 | |
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As far as I'm concerned, the screen size hardly matters if the devices have the same resolution. The Kyobo reader and the iPad have the same 1024x768 resolution but text will actually look sharper on the Kyobo reader because it has higher ppi. I'll be buying this once it's available on eBay for less than $500. I've been waiting a long time for a device like this. |
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11-22-2011, 07:19 AM | #6 |
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Everything but the user replaceable battery...Pretty good for this day and age..
Everybody focuses on the reader price. It's the books you will spend most of your money on. (50 Baen books @ $6 a book = $300). Oh yes, the firmware looks miserable. No way to keep a 1,000+ book library organized (looking at the videos...) Here's to a wave of new Mirasol devices. Last edited by Greg Anos; 11-22-2011 at 07:26 AM. |
11-22-2011, 08:49 AM | #7 |
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I hope to see this in the Kindle within a year or so.
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11-22-2011, 12:32 PM | #8 |
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This looks very cool. I could get my hands on one if I wanted to pay the price.. but I'll wait until it hits readers out here.
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11-22-2011, 12:40 PM | #9 |
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Great news-hope they do well enough in SK to get production levels up for international sales.
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11-22-2011, 12:46 PM | #10 |
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According to the official Kyobo site, it weighs 338g and measures 174*119*12.9, has 521MB of RAM and 2GB of storage, welcomes 32GB microSD/SDHC cards, and sports a 3.5 jack. Also : USB 2.0, WiFi B/G/N, 1800mAH battery, Android 2.3, and mp3
Last edited by Lbooker; 11-22-2011 at 01:57 PM. |
11-22-2011, 01:19 PM | #11 | |
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11-22-2011, 01:28 PM | #12 | |
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11-22-2011, 01:30 PM | #13 |
The Grand Mouse 高貴的老鼠
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The important point about this eReader isn't whether it's the right one for you, but just that a mass-market eReader using the Mirasol screen is now actually in production.
Mirasol are supposed to be having a new big production line underway for completion in 2012 that should allow them to produce the millions of screens that would be needed for a world-wide product launch by someone like Amazon or Apple. Hopefully we'll see several new eReaders in 2012 using the screen. |
11-22-2011, 01:35 PM | #14 | |
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11-22-2011, 01:44 PM | #15 | |
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http://www.kyobobook.co.kr/product/d...=2090000003529 Ships via fed ex. No exchanges or returns if shipped internationally unless damaged. It really is expensive for what it is, considering the screen size and the availability of tablet e-readers like Kindle Fire. I know Mirasol may be easier on the eyes and is cool technology, but at that price, I don't really expect it to sell well. Lots of complaints about price in all of the "reviews." |
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