Items tagged with E-reader
Amazon has announced a new iteration of its Kindle Paperwhite e-reader that is changed significantly from the previous generation. The new Paperwhite has a thinner and lighter design with a flush-fitting front display and waterproofing. The waterproof design of the new Paperwhite means that users can read while they are in the pool or at the beach with no fear of liquid damage. Amazon uses a soft and grippable material to cover the tablet that is designed to stay in the hand easily, and with water resistance, the additional grip will be welcome is used in the pool or bath. The new Paperwhite is thinner than the previous version of the e-reader at 8.18mm thick and it is lighter as well at 182g;...
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If you're in the market for a new tablet that also doubles as an e-reader, you may want to hold off for just a little bit. Rumors suggest Barnes & Noble will be releasing a new iteration of its NOOK Tablet in the very near future to battle in the low-end sector of the tablet market traditionally dominated by the Amazon Kindle Fire. According to the leaked specs, it seems certain that this NOOK, called Tablet 7, will not be that expensive. It is likely being used to help Barnes & Noble better compete against the likes of Amazon, which itself offers a meager-spec'd Fire tablet for a mere $50. Under the upcoming NOOK Tablet 7's hood is a MediaTek MT8163 CPU, a Mali-T720 GPU, a 3,000...
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Sharing is caring, right folks? With that in mind, Amazon today announced a new over-the-air (OTA) software update for its Kindle, Kindle Voyage, and Kindle Paperwhite (most recent version) devices that will enable sharing Kindle books with an Amazon account of a spouse or partner. Using the new Kindle Library feature, you'll be able to link two devices to easily share books. The update also includes a new feature called Word Wise. When enabled, short and simple definitions will appear above more difficult words. It's intended to help readers learning English, as well as children learning to read. To see different meanings for the same words, you can tap it to bring up a card with definitions,...
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We're in the midst of a bad run for mobile devices when it comes to evaluating the level of difficulty in repairing or replacing defective components. Teardown after teardown has shown that mobile device makers are infatuated with adhesive, though there's one portable product that finally bucks the trend -- Amazon's Kindle Voyage. The teardown specialists at iFixIt got their eager mittens on Amazon's latest dedicated e-reader device, and unlike the crop of tablets and smartphones that have landed on the operating table before it, the Kindle Voyage isn't overflowing with glue at every turn (though it's not completely devoid of adhesive, either). Like the Kindle Fire HD 7 we recently reviewed,...
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Now that the FAA has relaxed some of the rules for devices that passengers aboard commercial flights can use during takeoff and landing, ereader users everywhere can rejoice and also squeeze in some extra reading time on flights instead of just staring glumly at the back of their seats. To celebrate, Amazon announced that for one day only, it’s offering a 15% discount on the Kindle Fire HD, Kindle Fire HDX 7-inch, and Kindle. That puts the price tag for the Kindle Fire HD at $118, the HDX 7-inch at $195, and the Kindle at just $59. Customers can use the promo code “ThnksFAA” at checkout to get the deal. (Limit one discount per customer.) “We’ve been fighting for...
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Barnes & Noble was expected to launch a new ereader in October, and the company managed to slip its new 6-inch Nook GlowLight in just under the wire. Launched in time for the holiday sales push, the ereader is designed to compete with the Kindle Paperwhite and offers a soft, built-in reading light. The flyweight device is just 6.2 ounces and has a 6-inch 1024x758 E Ink display and an 800MHz processor, built-in WiFi, and a battery that purports to last 8 weeks on a charge. B&N claims that it can hold up to 2,000 books, and you can get free cloud storage, too. B&N is undercutting Amazon on price, too; the Nook GlowLight is $119 ad-free, whereas the Kindle Paperwhite is $119 with ads...
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Amazon may have inadvertently let the cat out of the bag about its new model Kindle Paperwhite. Prior to any official announcement, a user on a Croatian web forum noticed that Amazon listed the second generation Kindle Paperwhite device on its website, though it was pulled offline as news began to spread. Not only is the site back up, but Amazon is now accepting pre-orders. It's not clear if Amazon intended to launch its new Kindle Paperwhite today all along, or if it realized there are no do-overs on the Internet, so it might as well re-list the item and forge ahead. Either way, it's online now, and you can secure yours for $119 with Special Offers, or $139 without the homescreen ads. There...
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It's easy to view the overall decline in the print newspaper business, coupled with the surge in e-reader and tablet ownership, as a death knell for paper books. After all, the printed word has been around for so long, that surely it must be on its way out -- right? Well, perhaps in some instances, but not in others. A new Rasmussen Report suggests that three in four U.S.-based readers "still prefer a traditional book over an electronic book-reading device and continue to reads books that way." The report is based on a telephone survey, and it found that 75% of American Adults would rather read a book in a traditional print format than on an electronic book-reading device like a Kindle. Fifteen...
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While the e-reader market isn't exactly exploding in the way smartphones are, there are still plenty to go around -- and plenty of demand to be filled. Kobo seems to be doing just fine keeping up with Amazon's Kindle line and B&N's Nook range, and today it's introducing a limited-run unit to please those looking for something a bit more uncommon. It's the Aura HD E Link eReader, boasting a 6.8" E Ink display and shipping in ivory, expresso and onyx colors. It'll be up for pre-order soon for $170, boasting a 1GHz processor, 4GB of storage, and Wi-Fi. Wayne White, EVP and General Manager of Devices, isn't holding back on his adoration: "To us, the Kobo Aura HD is the Porsche of eReaders and...
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Libraries may feel like an item of a past era, and books themselves are already starting to feel a little antiquated. It's an Internet-driven world, and e-books are slowly but surely taking the place of many hardcovers. The education world has caught on in the past few years, and many students already have the option of getting their new books in digital format. Macmillan, a huge name in the publishing sector, has recently launched a pilot program that'll sell e-books to public libraries, perhaps breathing fresh life into buildings that have no doubt seen fewer feet walking through the doors. The new initiative will include around 1,200 titles from the Minotaur imprint, and all titles will have...
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A market research firm forecasts media tablet shipments around the world will reach 145 million units in 2013. New players, a wider range of lower cost tablets to choose from, and increased interest from business sectors will help media tablets to "continue to take the market by storm," ABI Research says. "The rate of innovation is slowing as tablet vendors augment their product portfolios to meet the needs of market audiences," says ABI Research senior practice director Jeff Orr. "The late 2012 launches of Apple’s iPad mini and a variety of slates based on Intel architecture and new Windows operating systems will only begin to show their progress this year." Where does that leave dedicated...
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If all goes as planned, Texas could be the home to the nation's first all digital library by the end of this summer. San Antonio's Bexar County will be the home of this book-less public library. The project, referred to as BiblioTech, was announced recently by the Bexar County Commissioners Court. Plans for the 4,989 square-foot BiblioTech project include an Internet café-style reading room, computers, take-home eReaders, study areas, meeting rooms, and an initial 10,000 eBooks. BiblioTech is expected to cost $1.5 million to start. BiblioTech will look like a modern library. The all digital library will have a children's area with interactive tables and interactive walls. The library is...
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You may not know it by listening to the evening news, but there's something of a silent war ongoing in the education sector. And perhaps not surprisingly, that war involves tablets. Apple held their own live event around 11 months ago just to show off their new iTunes U and iPad education initiatives, and Amazon started years ago by introducing the (now dead) Kindle DX. But in a world already dominated by Apple and Amazon, does a name like B&N even have a chance? Evidently they do. Pearson is a major name in publishing, and it just announced a proverbial vote of confidence for Barnes & Noble by taking a 5% stake in Nook Media. That's B&N's arm that handles the Nook tablets and e-readers,...
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E-readers are a dime a dozen, but they aren't quite a dime in cost. But it's getting close. While e-reader prices overall have been sinking lately, this sets a new bar. A new low bar, that is. The new Txtr Beagle is said to be the world's smallest e-reader, and perhaps the cheapest as well. It doesn't require any cables or chargers, and is the first e-reader to receive e-books sent from a smartphone. The unit itself is just 5mm thick, weighing 128 grams and operates using two AAA batteries. Users can start reading any of the preloaded eBooks or book previews in seconds by simply switching the device on and selecting the book of choice. The txtr beagle communicates with the txtr Android reading...
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Those sneaky Pete's in Amazon's marketing department sent out an announcement this morning stating that the Kindle Fire, the best selling product in the company's inventory since it launched nine months ago, is now sold out. As in, the general public completely depleted all of Amazon's Kindle Fire inventory. It's no coincidence the timing of Amazon's 'sold out' notice comes just weeks before the mega e-tailer plans to hold a press event launching new Kindle models, of which it's been rumored a larger size Kindle Fire is on tap. "We’re grateful to the millions of customers who have made Kindle Fire the most successful product launch in the history of Amazon," said Jeff Bezos, Amazon.com...
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E-readers seem to be going the way of the netbook. And strangely, it seems that netbooks and e-readers both have a single product segment to blame: tablets. As more and more users found tablets to be a suitable, more portable substitute for netbooks, so have avid bookworms. Instead of springing for a device that just reads, why not pick up a multifaceted product like the iPad, Kindle Fire or Nexus 7 for just a bit more? Still, the e-reading market isn't quite dead yet, and indeed, Sony's still looking to make new headway in a maturing market. The new Reader, PRS-T2, was launched today. It's a 6" device that sleeker and slimmer than prior iterations, and it'll ship in red, white or matte black....
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The e-paper universe has largely been dominated by once giant force: E Ink. But there was another player, too. That would be SiPix Technology, and its wholly owned subsidiary SiPix Imaging. The company was founded in 1999, but soon, it won't be operating on its own any longer. E Ink has just agreed to buy shares of SiPix, enhancing its e-paper portfolio and making its stance in the market even stronger. "E Ink is committed to growing the ePaper market and the purchase of SiPix shares is part of our long term growth strategy," said Scott Liu, Chairman of E Ink Holdings. "Our goal is 'E Ink On Every Smart Surface' and we are continuing to make investments in technologies that will open new markets...
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Inconspicuously wedged into a typically tedious Q3 earnings report, Qualcomm mentioned that it was going to license its mirasol display technology and would be commercializing only a few products. Specifically, the quote from the report is as follows: With respect to QMT, we're now focusing on licensing our next-generation mirasol display technology and will directly commercialize only certain mirasol products. We believe that this strategy will better align our updated roadmap with the addressable opportunities. Reportedly, actually manufacturing the mirasol ereader screens is tough to do--The Digital Reader has it on good authority that it cost too much to meet the necessary quality standards--and...
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It's been said that patience is a virtue, but in the land of technology, it can also be a money saving tactic for those willing to wait. And wait and wait and wait. In this case, if you've always wanted a Kindle Keyboard Wi-Fi + 3G but couldn't swallow the price tag, with or without the so-called 'Special Offers' price, you're in luck. Daily Steals is selling recertified units for $80 a pop. That's an incredible value and one of the lowest prices we've seen. Yes, it's recertified (from the factory), but it also carries a 90-day warranty and ships in full retail packaging. What's more, this is the regular version Kindle Keyboard Wi-Fi + 3G, and not the one that streams ads and special offers....
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Microsoft sure has been making the news quite frequently, and not all of it has to do with Windows or Xbox. This week, the company is announcing a strategic partnership in a new Barnes & Noble subsidiary, which will reportedly "accelerate the transition to e-reading, which is revolutionizing the way people consume, create, share and enjoy digital content." It's interesting to think about this given that Microsoft itself killed a 'Courier' project a few years back that had the chance to eat the Kindle's lunch (let alone the Nook), but now, Microsoft is left to buddy up with companies still in that game in order to get a slice of the pie. The new subsidiary will initially be called Newco, and...
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If you had the forethought to pre-order a NOOK Simple Touch with its gently glowing screen for night or day reading, you’re in luck--Barnes and Noble said in a press release that pre-orders are shipping “over the next week”. The caveat? Supplies are limited, but if you pre-order pronto, you can still snag one in time for Mother’s Day. (PSA: Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 13th this year. Don’t forget.) If you’re quick, you might be able to pick one up in a store; they’re coming in limited quantities in early May. The press release also noted that the new NOOK will be on display and available for tinkering in B&N stores, so if you’re on the...
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Barnes & Noble announced a new E Ink Reader that's designed for people who like to read both day and night without disturbing those around them. Using new lighting technology, the NOOK Simple Touch with GlowLight makes it easy for someone to read in bed without needing to have a light nearby. The NOOK Simple Touch with GlowLight combines the fastest E Ink display with an infrared touchscreen, anti-glare capabilities, and an evenly distributed and adjustable light for reading in the dark. This new NOOK is also the lightest NOOK yet and features a battery that can last for over one month on a single charge, even with the light on. The NOOK Simple Touch with GlowLight will sell for $139 and...
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