Android E Ink e-reader "Crema Shine" launches in Korea

Alexander Turcic · 08-06-2013, 08:16 AM

E-book aficionados from South Korean, rejoice! As we heard earlier this morning, Seoul-based Kepub is introducing the Crema Shine, the first E Ink e-reader in South Korea that features a frontlight.

Specifications:

Display: 6" E Ink
Resolution: 1024x758 (16 grey levels)
Storage: 8GB (expandable with Micro SD)
RAM: 512MB
CPU: 1GHz
OS: Android 4.0 (ICS)
Battery: 1500mAh
Connectivity: WiFi
Formats: ePub, PDF
Dimensions: 169x116x9.5mm
Weight: 185g
Prize: KRW149,000 (~US $130)

[Edit: This device looks similar to the tolino reader, which is distributed by Deutsche Telekom and various German booksellers. Thanks manfred63!]

You can pre-order it through various booksellers and channels like Yes 24 and Aladin. Official launch date: August 26th.

To see the Crema Shine in action check out this Youtube video:

[via Betanews.net]

kevinp · 08-06-2013, 08:33 AM

Other than having more competition in the market, I don't see anything special about this one. I think I'd rather have the Kindle PW.

manfred63 · 08-06-2013, 08:33 AM

Nice but somehow I think I've seen something quite similar before. Anyway now we know how Tolino II is supposed to work maybe.

Alexander Turcic · 08-06-2013, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by manfred63

Nice but somehow I think I've seen something quite similar before. Anyway now we know how Tolino II is supposed to work maybe.

Good find. Thank you.

manfred63 · 08-06-2013, 08:48 AM

Glad I could help.

jehane · 08-06-2013, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevinp

Other than having more competition in the market, I don't see anything special about this one. I think I'd rather have the Kindle PW.

The target market is South Korea. The comparison should be whether it is appropriately priced to the local market (how much does it cost to buy and ship a PW to South Korea), whether competing devices offer native (to the device) Korean language support, and what format the local shops are selling Korean language ebooks in.

gabby98 · 08-06-2013, 04:23 PM

Interesting concept, but I dont see the point of having Android 4.0 if they are going to do anything special with it.

darkpoet · 08-07-2013, 12:48 AM

Well, I can tell you this is a very competitive price against other e-readers I've seen in the country (yes, I'm in the ROK)... and the built-in lighting is a bonus. Other e-readers look like (and probably are) older-gen models, and thus (I guess) linux-based.

Outside e-readers can't be popular here. The Korean language is double-byte and typically ANSI-encoded. I never did figure out how to get Hangul epubs working on my Sony unless they had embedded fonts. So, the only competition is iRiver and some other second-tier brands...

Some high schools have been pushing e-readers instead of a bag full of books... but I haven't seen that take full-force yet. I suspect once students realize the power of these things, they'll become very popular... especially thanks to built-in translation dictionaries - which by the way, is why I suspect Android will be the choice in Eastern Asia for e-readers. Multilingual dictionaries (even if paid apps) would be a godsend for the average university student.

The apps will also likely lean towards online webcomics, which are insanely popular here. Of course, I am assuming still that this reader will allow apps. If not, then why bother?

But, like most Korean electronics, it could flounder or sell millions. Jeez, Windows XP is still the most common OS in this country, IE is still the browser of choice, and people still play Starcraft 1 and Counter-strike. Meanwhile, we all know Samsung owns the smartphone market and I rarely see any old SD TV's anymore... so...

jlynton · 09-16-2013, 12:09 PM

Android 4.0, hmmm, very interesting indeed!

Does anyone know of a european distributor?

Hellmark · 09-17-2013, 09:36 PM

As someone who is running a rooted STR Glowlight, Android with eInk is quite handy, especially if they don't try to lock it down (like B&N and Sony). My biggest gripe about my nook is that it is stuck on Android 2.1, so there are quite a few apps that would be perfect for eInk, that I can't use due to requiring 2.2 or 2.3.

jlynton · 09-19-2013, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hellmark

As someone who is running a rooted STR Glowlight, Android with eInk is quite handy, especially if they don't try to lock it down (like B&N and Sony). My biggest gripe about my nook is that it is stuck on Android 2.1, so there are quite a few apps that would be perfect for eInk, that I can't use due to requiring 2.2 or 2.3.

I would love to get my hands on a Crema Shine, just hoping that there will be a distributor in Europe!

Rizla · 09-20-2013, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlynton

I would love to get my hands on a Crema Shine, just hoping that there will be a distributor in Europe!

Ditto, but higher versions of Android use more battery (I think).

jlynton · 09-20-2013, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rizla

Ditto, but higher versions of Android use more battery (I think).

Hopefully 1500 mAh will be aple for that.

winstonma · 11-13-2013, 02:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlynton

I would love to get my hands on a Crema Shine, just hoping that there will be a distributor in Europe!

You can get it from GMarket.

Hope this helps

08-06-2013, 08:16 AM	#1
Alexander Turcic Fully Converged Posts: 18,171 Karma: 14021202 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Switzerland Device: Too many to count here.	Android E Ink e-reader "Crema Shine" launches in Korea E-book aficionados from South Korean, rejoice! As we heard earlier this morning, Seoul-based Kepub is introducing the Crema Shine, the first E Ink e-reader in South Korea that features a frontlight. Specifications: Display: 6" E Ink Resolution: 1024x758 (16 grey levels) Storage: 8GB (expandable with Micro SD) RAM: 512MB CPU: 1GHz OS: Android 4.0 (ICS) Battery: 1500mAh Connectivity: WiFi Formats: ePub, PDF Dimensions: 169x116x9.5mm Weight: 185g Prize: KRW149,000 (~US $130) [Edit: This device looks similar to the tolino reader, which is distributed by Deutsche Telekom and various German booksellers. Thanks manfred63!] You can pre-order it through various booksellers and channels like Yes 24 and Aladin. Official launch date: August 26th. To see the Crema Shine in action check out this Youtube video: [via Betanews.net] Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Alexander Turcic; 08-06-2013 at 09:05 AM.

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08-06-2013, 08:33 AM	#2
kevinp Fanatic Posts: 580 Karma: 3549018 Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Michigan Device: Kindle Scribe, Kindle PW (10th & 11th gen); Fire HD 10	Other than having more competition in the market, I don't see anything special about this one. I think I'd rather have the Kindle PW.

08-06-2013, 08:33 AM	#3
manfred63 Connoisseur Posts: 67 Karma: 1175224 Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Chemnitz, Germany Device: Kobo Glo	Nice but somehow I think I've seen something quite similar before. Anyway now we know how Tolino II is supposed to work maybe.

08-06-2013, 08:48 AM	#5
manfred63 Connoisseur Posts: 67 Karma: 1175224 Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Chemnitz, Germany Device: Kobo Glo	Glad I could help.

08-06-2013, 04:23 PM	#7
gabby98 Wizard Posts: 1,751 Karma: 2667650 Join Date: Jul 2012 Device: Android, Nook Simple Touch, Nook Color, ..., Glo	Interesting concept, but I dont see the point of having Android 4.0 if they are going to do anything special with it.

08-07-2013, 12:48 AM	#8
darkpoet ePub Headbanger Posts: 47 Karma: 7940 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Korea Device: Boox Poke4 / Sony PRS-505	Well, I can tell you this is a very competitive price against other e-readers I've seen in the country (yes, I'm in the ROK)... and the built-in lighting is a bonus. Other e-readers look like (and probably are) older-gen models, and thus (I guess) linux-based. Outside e-readers can't be popular here. The Korean language is double-byte and typically ANSI-encoded. I never did figure out how to get Hangul epubs working on my Sony unless they had embedded fonts. So, the only competition is iRiver and some other second-tier brands... Some high schools have been pushing e-readers instead of a bag full of books... but I haven't seen that take full-force yet. I suspect once students realize the power of these things, they'll become very popular... especially thanks to built-in translation dictionaries - which by the way, is why I suspect Android will be the choice in Eastern Asia for e-readers. Multilingual dictionaries (even if paid apps) would be a godsend for the average university student. The apps will also likely lean towards online webcomics, which are insanely popular here. Of course, I am assuming still that this reader will allow apps. If not, then why bother? But, like most Korean electronics, it could flounder or sell millions. Jeez, Windows XP is still the most common OS in this country, IE is still the browser of choice, and people still play Starcraft 1 and Counter-strike. Meanwhile, we all know Samsung owns the smartphone market and I rarely see any old SD TV's anymore... so...

09-16-2013, 12:09 PM	#9
jlynton Evangelist Posts: 414 Karma: 216544 Join Date: Feb 2012 Device: Kobo Clara HD, Moaan Inkpalm 5.	Android 4.0, hmmm, very interesting indeed! Does anyone know of a european distributor?

09-17-2013, 09:36 PM	#10
Hellmark Wizard Posts: 2,579 Karma: 4290425 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Foristell, Missouri, USA Device: Nokia N800, PRS-505, Nook STR Glowlight, Kindle 3, Kobo Libra 2	As someone who is running a rooted STR Glowlight, Android with eInk is quite handy, especially if they don't try to lock it down (like B&N and Sony). My biggest gripe about my nook is that it is stuck on Android 2.1, so there are quite a few apps that would be perfect for eInk, that I can't use due to requiring 2.2 or 2.3.

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