08:29 AM by Nate the great in E-Book Readers | Amazon Kindle

David Carnoy, over at Crave, was invited by Amazon to an event in NY on Monday the 19th. He thinks that Amazon might announce the Kindle.

I think there is very small chance that the Kindle will be announced on Monday. If they announce it before Christmas, it would have to be available almost immediately in order to make the Christmas season. To announce it and then not sell it during the Christmas season would not be smart. I strongly doubt they would make that mistake.

I think they will announce it at CES in January.

08:38 AM by Nate the great in Archive | Handhelds and Smartphones

Access has released a Virtual Machine of PalmOS 5 for the Nokia 770, N800, and N810. I haven't tried it yet because I need to charge my 770 first. I also wanted to share it immediately.

Do you realize what a great idea this was? First of all, this is the only Garnet VM anywhere. No other Palm emulator went beyond OS4. Plus, I think there is a significant number of people moved on from Palm to one of Nokia's ITs. Most of us miss our Palm software, still have it backed up, and now we can run it again.

When Access releases the next PalmOS in a couple years, there will potentially be a large number of people who still use their Palm software, and will consider moving back to the PalmOS.

Brilliant.

http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/13/v...tablet-hoozah/
http://www.access-company.com/products/gvm/

05:08 AM by Alexander Turcic in E-Book Readers | Sony Reader

While we're sure plenty of you have already made up your minds about the new Sony Reader, those still on the fence now have a fresh review from Nate Anderson of Ars Technica to aid in their decision-making. Overall I think Nate did a pretty good job describing the pros and cons of the Reader.

Despite some quirks, the new Reader is a beautiful device that excels at what it was designed to do: display e-books. It's also a reminder that Sony can still develop some incredibly slick hardware in slim packages. At $300 a pop, though, it's fair to ask how many people are going to buy it... Still, if the Reader sounds like the sort of gadget you can't live without and you can live with its quirks, it's a superbly built device with a screen that will blow you away. It comes highly recommended, but only to those certain they have a use for it. Everyone else will want to check one out, wonder at the screen, then leave it on the shelf.

10:10 PM by Barcey in More E-Book Readers | Bookeen

I'm sure that there are others out there reading on a PDA and considering an E Ink Vizplex reader so I thought I'd write my first impressions on the CyBook Gen3 as a comparion with my Sony Clie TH55. The PDA has a very good bright back lit LCD display but isn't practical in sunlight and I get eye strain if reading for longer then an hour. I've been following the E Ink technology for years and just waiting to buy a device.

The Screen

I work on a computer all day staring at a back lit LCD display. My Cybook arrived just after noon so I plugged it in to charge it but wasn't able to try it out until the end of the day. As per normal my eyes were tired at the end of the day when I was finally able to power it up and try it out (I'm a man of uncommon will power for short periods of time). I alternated between reading a couple of pages on the Gen3 and then the Clie and I can't describe the difference. I swear that I could feel my eyes relaxing when I read the Cybook and straining when I read the PDA. You really have to see the screen to know what I mean.

I've included pictures comparing the two devices under poor indoor lighting and outdoor lighting. You can see that the PDA looks brighter indoors but believe me this doesn't make it's easier to read. The outdoor shot wasn't under bright sunlight but you can already see how much better the CyBook reflective screen is. I've managed to read in direct sunlight with the Clie but you have to hold it at just the right angle and you can barely read it. People looked at me like I have two heads and probably thought I was staring at a blank screen.

Page Turns

Hands down the PDA is better and this is the biggest disadvantage of the E Ink technology. I was half way through a chapter on the PDA Mobipocket book that I was reading and decided I didn't want to synchronize the bookmark to my computer and then back to the CyBook so I thought I could jump to the closest chapter and page forward until I found my place. This took longer then I expected because I'd read that the Vizplex was faster.

The jog dial on the PDA works well and it's an eye blink to turn a page but the CyBook takes getting used to. I found that I have to press the button with about 3/4 of the last line unread so that it turns when I'm done. This becomes automatic after a while though and you don't even think about it. The best way I can describe it is that it's like when you're reading a paper book and start to turn the page when you're a couple of lines from the bottom. One thing I've noticed is that the time isn't consistent. I'm not sure if it's the 1.0 firmware but sometimes it refreshs when I'm on the last word and sometimes I wait a couple eye blinks. This is nothing where I could meaure the difference but I don't think it's my imagination. Don't let this scare you away though because it really isn't that bad. Just buy the technology with open eyes.

Other PDA Features

The PDA has the capability of automatically scrolling the text. When I first bought it I thought I'd use it all the time... until I tried it. It's difficult to get it to scroll at the correct speed and I would constantly adjust the speed via the jog dial. It was easier to just flip the pages. If you haven't tried reading with automatic scrolling it's difficult to describe the nausea you get after reading for 1/2 an hour and then looking up and seeing the room scroll. It took me three of these sessions before I gave up but I'm a slow learner. The E Ink refresh rate won't allow this feature and I won't miss it.

I did use the colour capabilities on the PDA to change the background and text colours but I did this primarily to reduce the eye strain when reading for long periods of time. I won't miss it. I'm not one to highlight text when I read but if you do stick with the PDA for now.

Night Reading

I don't often read in the dark so it's not a big issue for me. I included some pictures to demonstrate that with an inexpensive external book light it's not a problem at all and I find it a much better reading experience then the PDA. I normally have to turn the brightness down on the Clie in the dark but didn't in the picture.

Overall Experience

I LOVE the E Ink reading experience. I find that I can read it comfortably in lighting conditions where I would not read a paper book but under proper lighting it just keeps gets better. I can't remember the last time that I've been this happy with a purchase. The combination of my love of books and gadgets is a great marriage.

It's been less then a week so am I looking through rose coloured glasses and can't see the rash that will itch and irritate me in the future? Maybe but I don't think so. Ask me in a couple of months after I've had the opportunity to try it longer and take it on vacation.

Will I wish that I waited and lust after every new technology advance? You bet I will, but I'll by enjoying reading my CyBook while I do it.

My Recommendation

Buy it you won't regret it. You know you want it.

The rational thing to do is to wait because they're just going to get better and cheaper also company XYZ is just about to come out with something better... but face it if you're reading this forum you're probably an early adopter like me and can't wait any longer. Did I tell you how happy I am?

07:00 AM by Alexander Turcic in Miscellaneous | Week in Review

In case you've missed any MobileRead news from this week, here is our usual roundup:

E-books - Elsewhere on the Net

• Time snubs e-book readers for Invention of the Year
• DearAuthor's e-reader Xmas shopping guide

E-books - Content

• Rudy Rucker's Postsingular free download

E-book Devices - iRex iLiad

• iRex Blog: A look inside the iLiad and prospect of Vizplex

E-book Devices - Bookeen Cybook Gen3

• NAEB/Baen sells Cybook OEM device for US$375

Mobile Devices - General Talk

• The painful side of the mobile bleeding edge

Mobile Devices - Handhelds and Smartphones

• Google announces Android open mobile phone platform

12:13 PM by tribble in More E-Book Readers | iRex

On the iRex Blog there is an interesting article about the internal workings of the iLiad, a bit of information about where and how it is produced, and what differentiates the iLiad electronics from other E Ink devices.

It also mentions that iRex is looking into E Ink's latest Vizplex technology; in fact, they are testing it right now.

Related: iRex iLiad Internals (photos)

08:44 PM by wallcraft in More E-Book Readers | Bookeen

Pamela Gadsden has posted NAEB's price of the Cybook Gen3 OEM device @ Baen's Bar:

The reader with its' own battery + 1 USB cable + 1 USB AC charge device + 1 cover + 1 SD card 1 GB + earphones.

$375 USD
plus shipping and handling (S&H) and tax where applicable

The statement is also at naebllc.com.

This is basically the Cybook Deluxe edition, at a $75 saving. Pamela also says:

If you're in the euro zone order the reader direct from Bookeen.

I'm ready to send in my money.

01:54 PM by Bob Russell in E-Book Readers | Alternative Devices

Google and the Open Handset Alliance have shaken up the mobile phone industry today with the announcement of the Android mobile phone platform.

It clarifies previous rumors of a possible Google phone - there will not be a Google phone. It will be a platform, which may impact the mobile computing world much more significantly than any one line of phones would have. And in the fallout of the announcement, one expects that an open platform backed by Google and such heavyweights would seem to spell trouble for Palm, Access, WindRiver who are all working on competing Linux based phone platforms.

Computerworld reports that "Android is 'the first truly open and comprehensive platform for mobile devices.' The internet search firm worked with T-Mobile, High Tech Computer Corp., Qualcomm Inc. and Motorola Corp. to develop Android through the Open Handset Alliance (OHA).

'By providing developers a new level of openness that enables them to work more collaboratively, Android will accelerate the pace at which new and compelling mobile services are made available to consumers,' the statement adds."

PC World says, "As previously reported by IDG News Service, the open-source platform will have a complete set of components, including an operating system, middleware stack, customizable user interface and applications." An early version of the SDK will be released next week for developers.

The first phones based on Android will probably not appear until at least second half of 2008. I don't have the inside scoop on expected capabilities, but expect it to be highly web-focused, and to have a lot of impressive web compatibility right off the bat. The growing set of Google online applications is not likely to be ignored.

Apple, of course, is not among the consortium members, and the iPhone is not likely to adopt the Android platform.

From PC World.