04:10 AM by Alexander Turcic in More E-Book Readers | Netronix

We received word (thanks Eric!) of a new e-reader device launched in South Korea today. Take the hardware case of the STAReBOOK and equip it with the latest technology E Ink currently has to offer, and what you get is the NUUT eBook Reader. And while it's not the size of its screen that is going to impress your friends (6-inch is de facto standard today), it's most likely to be the doubled refresh speed and the 20 percent boost in brightness compared to previous E Ink readers.

The Vizplex Imaging Film technology was only recently introduced by E Ink.

The specs:

• Weight: 178g
• Screen: E Ink Vizplex (6-inch / 168dpi / 600x800 pixels)
• CPU: ARM-compatible 32bit RISC CPU (250Mhz) operated at 200MHz
• Memory: 8MB (Boot ROM) + 32MB (SDRAM) + 512MB (RAM)
• Battery: Li-ion (one charge for 7'500 pages)
• Expansion Slots: SD Card
• Other Interfaces: USB 2.0, headphone

Street price will be around US$300.

If you can figure out which e-books format the NUUT supports, feel free to comment here.

04:23 PM by Alexander Turcic in More E-Book Readers | Bookeen

Because we all are just dying for Bookeen to hurry up and deliver us a full-fledged E-Ink based e-reader, we can't help but mention a couple of specs that were leaked to us through MobileReader Hadrien. The new Cybook by Bookeen will have pretty much the same hardware specs like eREAD's STAReBOOK reader, and just like the STAReBOOK, it'll be conveniently light-weight (the STAReBOOk weighs only 176g vs. the Sony Reader with 250g).

If Bookeen's engineers did their job right, they'll surprise us with a very capable software. Current rumor has it that the Cybook will support Open eBook, PDF, HTML, RTF, at least one format with DRM (perhaps most likely Mobipocket (see Nat's reply)), and MP3. Other formats may also be possible.

The rumored launch is summer 2007 at a price of around 350 Euro and US$350 in Europe and the US, respectively.

We'll try everything to squeeze out some more information from Bookeen for you.

Edit: Some additional info found via this French blog:

• Weight: 183g
• Dimension: 118 x 188 x 8,5 mm
• Screen: (90mm by 120mm) 6-inch SVGA 800x600 4 grey scales, 166.7 ppi
• Battery: 8.000 page turns

Related: Picture of New Bookeen Cybook

01:47 PM by NatCh in More E-Book Readers | Bookeen

Bookeen seems to have updated their site with an image of their new Cybook hardware. In a way, it's a bit disappointing, because they've adjusted it so that it seems this is the only page available at the moment.

However, there is a nifty picture of the new hardware, which you're also seeing here, and they do note that we should "stay tuned" so perhaps this is a very short term thing.

I suspect this may shed some light on the delays that the NAEB e-Reader has experienced.

09:59 AM by Adam B. in iRex | iRex Developer's Corner

Thanks to jhaker and ricewind for creating an advanced PDF reader for the iLiad.

Features : Here's a list of the included features.

• Power Saving / CPU Frequency Scaling - (rincewind) - The iLiad's processor speed is changed to conserve power. It runs at 100 MHz when idle, 200 MHz when scribbling, and 400 MHz for page turning.
• Fullscreen Mode - (jharker) - Fullscreen mode is now implemented. New documents open by default in fullscreen mode. The tool panels are hidden and the entire screen is used for display.
• Quick Erase - (rincewind) - To erase scribbles, simply scribble over things you want to erase, and continue to hold the pen down for a second after you stop. When you lift the pen, your scribble will be erased along with any other scribbles you crossed.
• Remembers Pen Settings - (rincewind) - Current pen settings are saved with the file and loaded when it's re-opened.
• Remembers Fullscreen Settings - (jharker) - Current fullscreen/toolbar settings are saved with the file and loaded when it's re-opened.
• Default Select Scribble - (rincewind) - When a file is opened, scribble mode is selected automatically by default.
  
• Button Functions - button press duration : function : description ... (author)
  • Up Arrow - short : Toggle Erase : Toggles erase on/off. Somewhat obsolete with the new Quick Erase feature. (rincewind)
  • Up Arrow - long : Toggle Fullscreen : Toggle fullscreen mode on and off. Currently fullscreen mode does not automatically change the zoom setting, it merely reveals more of the page. (jharker)
  • Dot - short : Show/Hide Scribbles : Toggle whether scribbles are visible. Very useful for temporarily hiding scribbles you don't want to see. (rincewind)
  • Dot - long : Show/Hide Toolbar : In fullscreen mode, this toggles whether the toolbar is visible. Useful for bringing up the toolbar to use zoom/pan/rotate/check your page. (jharker)
  • Down Arrow - long : Manual Refresh : Manually refresh the screen, good for removing ghosting and other artifacts. (rincewind)

Mambo has created an easy installer for the package here: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22152

Source: http://forum.irexnet.com/viewtopic.php?t=1313

02:38 PM by NatCh in E-Book General | News

WildCharge, one of the companies that has been working on wireless chargers, has set a date for release of the first commercial product of this type: 07/07/07.

We've had reports on these technologies before, but they've always been 'in the future'. Technically, next month is still 'the future' but it's at least a specific date, which is a huge improvement.

WildCharge's approach is a mat that has charging contacts arranged in lines along it, which require devices that are designed or retrofitted to work with the mats. They're designed to charge multiple devices (whatever will fit on the mat, evidently), which require differing voltage and currents, all at the same time.

Follow the link above for their rather exuberant announcement on their site, as well as a bit more detail on how the things work.

Hat tip to SciFi Channel's Tech Blog.

01:44 PM by Alexander Turcic in Miscellaneous | Announcements

With already over 350 carefully styled and handmade e-books for the Sony Reader, and brought to life less than 2-1/2 months ago, the Book Upload section has been a phenomenal success. My personal thanks to everyone who has been so fervently contributing up to today!

It's now about time to expand the uploads with formats for other e-book readers. Please take a second to participate in the poll which we will use as an indication how you'd like us to expand the forums. Thanks!

Hint: This is a multiple choice poll.

10:44 AM by Alexander Turcic in E-Book Software | Reading and Management

While Adobe is preparing the first commercial release of Adobe Digital Editions, I already had the chance to play with a near-final version of their dedicated e-book reader software.

Compared to the last public beta, the release candidate has a revamped user interface, adds support for multiple bookshelves, improves the PDF viewing with smooth scrolling and enhanced zooming, and adds annotations capabilities with support for bookmarks, highlighting, and text notes.

Adobe Digital Editions Beta 3:

Adobe Digital Editions Release Candidate 1 (1.0.455):

Related: Adobe Digital Editions 1.0 around the corner

10:50 PM by Bob Russell in E-Book Readers | Alternative Devices

I've never owned a tablet PC before. Until now. I just broke down and spent what feels like my life's savings on a Lenovo X61 tablet convertible. It won out over my other alternatives: a Q1 Ultra or the yet unreleased Asus T83.

Some of you may wonder why I would choose a bulkier X61 over a UMPC, when I clearly love the advantages of a lighter device with a 7"-10" screen size.

The decision was based mostly on the quality and power and years of service it should give me versus a Q1 Ultra. How could I compromise features with the Q1 just to cut the size in half? I am hoping that the additional size and weight of the X61 is somewhat offset by the ability to use it as a slate on my lap. As wonderful and useful as the Q1 would be, it seemed a bit too much like an underpowered toy, and I preferred a convertible form factor. In addition, I know that UMPCs are going to be revolutionized in price, features and power over the next couple of years anyway, so it just seemed too early to get one.

I suppose the Lenovo tablet might be "overkill", but I know it's got the power and storage I need, and now I get to see how both active and passive digitizers work as well as getting a larger screen. That should give me a much better basis of experience for making decisions about future UMPC purchases. (You know... somewhere around the year 2020 after my gadget budget recovers from this purchase!)

I prefer the Q1 size, but I just didn't feel that the UMPCs are quite mature enough to spend all that money on one. I do still long for a UMPC in addition to my X61 because I think the portability would revolutionize my computing life. But at this point a UMPC is going to have to wait. Maybe in 2020!

Obvious warning: Don't assume that the X61 is the right choice for everyone. It was the right choice for me, but a UMPC might be your perfect choice. As they always emphasize about tablet devices over at JKonTheRun, for example, these devices all involve trade offs. No single product is going to be best for everyone.

Obvious question: Will the X61 also be useful as a ridiculously expensive and overpowered e-book reader? I hope so!