enTourage Systems announces Documents To Go

Ebook readers seem to be heading the way of netbooks in the near future – and by that, we mean having them come in dime a dozen formats. Well, enTourage Systems stands out from the crowd thanks to it bringing the first dualbook in the world known as the enTourage eDGe. This time round, the company has announced that they will be introducing the Documents To Go software from DataViz which will be pre-loaded into all enTourage eDGe units. In this partnership with DataViz, the multi-functional enTourage eDGe will further evolve its role into being a comprehensive solution when it comes to reading, note taking, Web surfing and working from virtually anywhere.

To get a better idea on what the enTourage eDGe is, it merges an e-paper and LCD screen to form a dual-screen device which will bring together the functionality of an e-reader, tablet netbook, notepad and audio/video recorder and player in a single device. Augment that with the potential productivity power of Documents To Go and you will be able to view, create and edit Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint files on-the-go. Not only that, the enTourage eDGe will also be able to view Adobe PDF files right on its display just as though you were looking at it on a computer, making it a snap to make changes to your documents on the spot. Bored? You can always listen to music over it or watch a couple of videos, battery-life permitting.

enTourage Systems also has its own e-book store, although this one pales in comparison to what Amazon is offering with its Kindle. Still, having some form of software backbone is better than none, and enTourage Systems have no where to go but up from here. All sharing between devices and document storage happen on the company’s servers so that material created or saved on enTourage eDGe units will receive a higher degree of protection. Powered by the Google Android operating system, the enTourage eDGe can be pre-ordered now, retailing for $499 as it ships on February 1st onwards.

Aluratek e-book reader, the Libre, hands-on

The Libre isn’t the first e-book reader that I have reviewed, and I must admit that I have reviewed few of them. I didn’t find the Libre from Aluratek to be different from the last one that I reviewed.

Then again, last year brought about more e-readers than I think the general public really wanted, as most were only turning to Amazon’s Kindle to satisfy their e-reading needs. I suppose that this will be the year of the tablet and its derivatives.

But I digress. I will discuss what the Libre does that is different. According to the company, the Libre’s 5 inch black and white screen has “the same appearance and readibility” of printed paper. Since it has no backlight, it is just like reading a book. I think that most other e-book readers can do that, actually.

I do like the way that the Libre wants the first-time e-book user to get reading. It is made to be set up to get an easy Internet connection so you can download many free titles from ebook sites from googlebooks.com and gutenberg.org. The Libre also comes with a 2GB SD Card with 100 titles on it. You can see a complete list here.

The battery life is good for 24 hours worth of reading, and it can also do music files. No big surprise there, as for the support of BMP, JPG, GIF, MP3, and animated GIF picture format. I do like the page turning controller on the left hand side, which feels a little like turning the pages of a real book.

Marvell to deliver new Moby tablet

Marvell also wants in on the budding tablet market, and has recently announced that they will be rolling out a brand new high performance mobile tablet which will be based on its leading silicon platform. Retailing for approximately $99, the Moby tablet prototype from Marvell is tipped to change the way students learn because it is capable of delivering an always-on, high performance multimedia tablet that boasts live, real-time content in 1080p full HD resolution and 3D media, and not to mention full Flash support when it comes to webpages on the Internet. Basically, Marvell is trying to position this tablet for students so that there will no longer be any need to purchase and tote around textbooks. After all, when was the last time you carried a school bag? Those stuff even come with rollers in selected countries simply because it could prove to be too heavy for a first grader to carry on his/her back.

The new Moby tablet will supposedly address a trio of important issues of today, with the first being printed textbooks being outdated the moment they are published. After all, don’t you think that an electronic version of the textbook which can be updated as well as refreshed as and when new information is available so much better? Here’s an interesting statistic according to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) – the average cost of a single textbook for even secondary school students can range from $60 to $200, and it can only go nowhere but up, making the $99 price point so much more appealing than ever.

As mentioned earlier, school bags are getting way too heavy for students, making neck and shoulder injuries from overweight backpacks being one of the fastest-growing health concerns for the world’s children. Since the Marvell Moby tablet is ultra thin and lightweight, it is capable of holding the entire year’s books with a weight of less than half that of a typical textbook. It is also interesting to note that Marvell is currently the largest sponsor of the One Laptop per Child program – perhaps they have found this to be a lucrative market to dive into? We can’t but wait to see just how the Moby will turn out – how about you? There are a few things that we do know about the Moby though, which would be it carrying a GHz-class processor speed, 1080p full-HD encode and decode, intelligent power management, power-efficient Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/FM/GPS connectivity, high performance 3D graphics capability and support for multiple software standards.

M-Edge Accessories offer Camouflage line of jackets and bags for the Amazon Kindle

It is interesting to note that the Apple iPad has made quite an impact as expected, with many third party manufacturers coming up with a whole lot of accessories for the iPad. Nice to see that M-Edge Accessories has the Amazon Kindle in mind instead, with their new line of Camouflage jackets as well as bags for said device. Both covers and bags will include specialized digital camouflage patterns, hence its name, that were specially designed for three divisions of the armed forces—Army, Marines, and Navy. Hmmm, guess our men on the battlefront do need to relax as well, reading their favorite ebooks – but certainly not during a special and covert mission, eh?

This new line came about in an effort to help boost troop morale, as M-Edge has partnered with Len Edgerly of The Kindle Chronicles, a weekly podcast concerning the Amazon Kindle, in order to provide a Kindle for an Army Sergeant who is deployed on active duty in Afghanistan. This initiative has seen Len Edgerly and Ken Clark, a former military officer, to co-found E-Books for Troops so that U.S. military personnel deployed overseas will be able to enjoy the wonders of free e-book readers in order to enhance their opportunities for recreation and renewal when on tour. M-Edge has done the needful by donating a camouflage jacket and e-Luminator booklight for each Kindle that is picked up by E-Books for Troops.

We do wonder whether wherever our troops are will be able to download their favorite copies of paperbacks? Whatever the case is, there is a trio of styles from M-Edge’s existing Sport Line, where it provides the perfect solution for on-the-move readers in rugged environments without having to worry about sand, wear and tear, and screen scratches. Made from durable and easy-to-clean ripstop nylon, a plush grey fleece on the inside helps keep your Kindle well protected. The Leisure Jacket will utilizes a clear vinyl cover which protects Kindle’s screen from sand, dust, and moisture without sacrificing full functionality of the buttons and keyboard. As for the Latitude Jacket, it zips closed thanks to a hidden double zipper. Last but not least is the Journey Bag that functions as a messenger-style bag that is perfectly sized to accommodate the Kindle as well as its accessories when traveling.

Borders to carry Kobo eReader

eBook readers seem to be all the rage these days, but it has yet to catch on in a big way across all sections of the population simply because it is still too expensive for those living in developing countries, while there are many different formats out there for users to consider before making a purchase. Well, this has not stopped the iPad from doing gangbusters in terms of sales, with the Amazon Kindle also being another contender to worry about if one is going to enter the market (granted, the iPad is not an eBook reader per se, but it does carry the ability to read downloaded copies of your favorite tomes). Borders, the mega bookstore chain, will dip their toes in the market by taking pre-orders for the Kobo eReader while debuting its eBook store and apps powered by Kobo from next month onwards in order to keep up with the times. Guess they know that selling books alone with some accessories and media on the side isn’t going to cut the mustard any more, and hence has embarked on a strategy that will provide rich digital content and a wide variety of devices that feature emerging technologies. Another advantage that is has is being a device-neutral, rich-content provider, letting them sell the Kobo eReader alongside a range of other eReading devices in Borders stores in special digital shops called Area-e which will roll out this August.

Just to get an idea on how the Kobo eReader stacks up against its immediate rival, Wired Magazine has touted it as “the real Kindle killer” due to its attractive features and low price of just $149.99, making it one of the most affordable eReaders available. Guess decent hardware coupled with a great content delivery system (which hopefully is what Borders can offer) will make this a great device, eh? After all, each purchase will get you started right out of the box since the Kobo eReader will come preloaded with 100 classic books, arriving at your doorsteps from June 17th onwards, just in time for Father’s Day if you were wondering what to get dad on that day.

The upcoming Borders eBook store will boast more than a million titles, making this a truly exciting time to be in as customers look set to be spoilt for choice. Which camp will you side?

Belkin Light and Cases for Amazon Kindle

Belkin has got Amazon’s back with a new light as well as cases for the Kindle e-book reader, where we will concentrate on the compact eBook Light today. This device will illuminate your Kindle accordingly, suiting your reading environment so that you won’t miss a single page of action (virtual one, that is) despite your partner being one who is extremely sensitive to light when trying to get some shuteye. The ebook light offers a brilliant yet warm glow for comfortable reading, where there is a trio of powerful LED lights which are capable of casting the same illumination as six regular LEDs. You get to choose from two brightness settings in order to optimize your environment’s lighting, while being able to take advantage of its adjustable arm to position in almost any angle.

Acer LumiRead ebook reader announced

Who would have thought that even a company like Acer would take the plunge into the world of ebook readers? Well, that has happened with the Acer LumiRead, the latest device from Acer that touts to offer users an excellent reading experience as it seamlessly integrates in the Acer clear.fi solution. Since the Acer LumiRead is also DLNA compliant, it can access Acer clear.fi and share contents like eBooks and audio-books as well. Being light and extremely slim in profile, the Acer LumiRead is perfect for those who want to catch up on their reading when traveling, regardless of whether you’re indoors or outdoors, reading on the e-Ink display is a snap. Just in case you have already finished all of your downloaded tomes, you can also hook up via a Wi-Fi or 3G connectin to download the latest bestseller as well.

Currently, Acer has already signed agreements with Barnes & Noble, where they already offer over a million titles in its eBooks store. As for those living in Germany, an agreement has been signed with Libri.de, Germany’s leading Internet book retailer offering over 4 million titles. Folks in China can liaise with Founder, while others living in France and Italy will have to wait a short while more as other agreements are more or less being formalized as you read this. What does the LumiRead offer? For starters, it comes with a 6″ e-Ink display that is glare-free, making it suitable to be read even under bright sunlight. Measuring a few mm thin, you can be sure that toting this around is a joy.

2GB of flash memory ought to be able to hold around 1,500 books, but you can easily expand that amount by throwing in a microSD memory card. The inclusion of an innovative ISBN scanner lets you scan ISBN codes, allowing you to create your own wish-list and search on supported online libraries and book stores. Acer also introduced a QWERTY keyboard onto the LumiRead, making it easier to browse the web while finding and sharing information on books. With an auto-layout, you are easily able to adjusts the content to offer the best reading experience according to the format automatically. No word on pricing or availability as at press time, but we hope that more details will roll out soon.

E-Ink Next Generation Display Platform

With the proliferation of e-book readers these days, it makes perfect sense for manufacturers to jump aboard the e-book display bandwagon, where among them E-Ink has already done a pretty bang up job in the past. The company has just announced that it will be releasing its next generation display technology known as Pearl in the second quarter of the year. Pearl will be the way where E Ink expands the capabilities of reflective displays, helping bring electronic paper performance to the next level. It is touted to offer the whitest reflective displays in the industry, while its contrast ratio is now rated at approximately 50% more than today’s products, making text on the Pearl seemingly “pop” from the page, resulting in a reading experience most similar to reading text on printed paper. Now, where have we heard of that before?

It would be interesting to see whether the E-Ink Pearl’s introduction in more and more devices would mean the iPad would be used less as an e-book reader and more like a tablet device for surfing and browsing. Apart from that, the Pearl is a more lightweight and eco-friendly product compared to ordinary paper, since you will experience with less eye strain and longer battery life when compared to LCD technology. Those who are more technically inclined would be interested to known that the E-Ink Pearl design builds on the current generation of Vizplex designs.

Currently, E-Ink technology products are the lowest power displays in the market where e-book readers are concerned. The Pearl will carry forward that capability with next generation performance, and is completely bi-stable, requiring no power to hold an image or page of text. This als means there is no longer any more need for bookmarks, as an E-Ink display is full well capable of holding your page and save your battery life for weeks and perhaps even up to months, depending on how often or rarely you use your e-book reader.

Amazon has new Kindle DX in stores

Amazon’s Kindle ebook reader has been quite a winner for some time already, at least until the Apple iPad came onto the scene, moving an insane number of units within the first couple of months of its shelf life. Well, while the iPad is not a dedicated ebook reader, the Amazon Kindle is, which is why Amazon decided to step up their game against its rather illustrious opponent by introducing the new latest generation Kindle DX at a more pocket-friendly price of $379, which is a good $110 cheaper compared to its predecessor of the same name. Not only that, you will still be able to enjoy free 3G wireless connectivity without worrying about monthly bills or annual contracts. To know more about its enhancements, read on in the extended post.

The Kindle DX is the 9.7″ large screen member of Amazon’s family of revolutionary portable readers, where it sports a new graphite enclosure and an all new, high contrast electronic ink display with 50% superior contrast for the clearest text and sharpest images. If you’re interested, you can already place your pre-order as it will ship sometime later this week – July 7 to be exact. It seems that the folks at Kindle are claiming you won’t turn back to other models once you read on their beautiful new Kindle DX screen, since the 50% better contrast and darker fonts go a long way in helping you read wherever you are, be it under the bright sunlight or in low light conditions of your living room.

For those who swallow up books like there is no tomorrow, you will be pleased to know that the Kindle Store has more than 620,000 books, including New Releases and 108 of 111 New York Times bestsellers, with prices starting from $9.99 or less. Over 200,000 books have been added to the U.S. Kindle Store in the last six months, where among them include the full selection of John Grisham titles. Not only that, those who are penniless can pick up more than 1.8 million free, out-of-copyright, pre-1923 books, including classics such as “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes,” “Pride and Prejudice” and “Treasure Island.”

Android-powered Pandigital Novel hacked

E-book readers are all the rage these days, and it is interesting to note that more and more folks in developed countries who have a good reading habit are making the jump to digital books. After all, having a single device that can tote around hundreds and hundreds of tomes without weighing you down is always a boon, especially if you tend to do a whole lot of traveling. Of course, having an e-book reader might be considered to be a luxury for some, but it might just be the device for you if you want a gadget that gives you back much more than you can ever imagine, as we know (the right) books open up the mind when read and digested. There are many e-book readers around at the omment, but at $179 a pop, the Pandigital Novel is not the most affordable one in the market although it is one of the cheapest general purpose Android tablets available in the US. Of course, it is rather strange that the company did not market the Pandigital Novel in that manner.

As mentioned earlier, the Pandigital Novel is powered by Google’s Android operating system, where it includes a 7″ color touchscreen display to keep up with the times. Of course, you will need to have the smarts and technical ability to be able to bypass the custom software interface that is found on the Pandigital Novel, but once you have done so, you are able to install third party apps, where among them include the Amazon Kindle app, Aldiko, or other eBook apps. Not only that, the Pandigital Novel can be an entry level portable media player with its ability to handle games and other media, although don’t expect its relatively slow processor to be able to keep things running nice and smooth.

Needless to say, it isn’t all a bed of roses, since currently there is no way for one to access the Google Android Market, so if you happen to want to have the latest apps running on your Pandigital Novel, you will need to download the APK installer files by yourself for each app that you want to install. Of course, a few hacks will also need to be applied if things were to be up and running without any hiccups. Heck, you can even have Google Calendar, Contacts, Maps, Voice, and Gmail apps running on the Novel as well if that’s your cup of tea.

Amazon outs new Kindle for the masses

The e-book reader scene is slowly but surely picking up steam, and the Apple ipad has certainly done its bit to spice up competition amongst various e-book manufacturers. Amazon might have been the most successful with its Kindle for sometime already, but with the iPad’s appearance, the folks over at Amazon certainly aren’t going to rest on their laurels. No sir, the company has come up with a spanking new Kindle to replace the #1 bestselling item on Amazon.com for two years running. This all-new Kindle will come with a new electronic-ink screen that will supposedly boast a 50% better contrast compared to any other e-book reader, while featuring a much sleeker design that is 21% in size without compromising on its 6″ size reading area. Apart from that, traveling with your Kindle is now lighter than ever thanks to a 15% reduction in weight to just 8.7 ounces. Of course, what’s all that if the processor underneath the hood is not improved? The new Kindle sports 20% faster page turns, alongside up to one month’s worth of battery life. Storage has also doubled, allowing you to hold a whopping 3,500 books that ought to last you for quite some time. Perhaps they could give prisoners Kindles to keep their minds occupied instead of just figuring out how many days they have left to spend behind the bars? More on the Kindle in the extended post.

Of course, there is also an integrated Wi-Fi connection for you to download your favorite digital tomes just in case you aren’t around an area with great 3G connectivity. Some of you out there might not take too kindly to the graphite color option though, but for $189, it might just be well worth your dough. There is also another addition to the Kindle family this time now – the Kindle Wi-Fi. This will target readers who do not need the convenience of free 3G wireless connectivity, where the price has dropped to a mere $139. Of course, this would mean you will need to look out for a Wi-Fi connection if you want to download and purchase your favorite books. If you place a pre-order now, it will ship to more than 140 countries and 30 territories from August 27th onwards.

Sony has new line of Digital Readers

Sony knows that the ebook market is here to stay, which is why the company has rolled out new Digital Readers to the masses recently, where the models would include the new Reader Pocket Edition, Reader Touch Edition and, in only the US for the moment, the wireless Reader Daily Edition. All three of them will be chock full of the latest technology and design enhancements which makes them ideal for just about any reader’s lifestyle. Expect aluminum to be the in thing where construction material is concerned for gizmos these days, as the new Reader models will boast elegant aluminum designs and all new, highly responsive touch screens. Not only that, Sony will also back up hardware with software, having announced development of a set of applications for iPhone and the Android Marketplace which will be able to extend the Readers experience via a variety of portable devices.

Each generation ought to see improvement, which is why Sony has reduced the size and weight in this restyle. All three models will now come with improved, optical touch screen technology that was specially designed for digital reading. This new first-to-market technology will help enhance the ease of use and increases reading clarity, enveloping the reader in an immersive reading experience. All it takes is the lightest swipe of a finger or stylus pen to jump into the world of the author’s fantasy and imagination. Apart from that, the three models will use E Ink Pearl electronic paper displays that are capable of duplicating a paper-like display which can be read comfortably even under direct sunlight. The screens deliver a high contrast ratio with 16 levels of grayscale, where all text and images remain crisp and easy to read.

The Reader Pocket Edition will come with a five-inch, full touch screen in silver and pink colors, aided by 2GB internal memory and wil retail for $179. As for the Reader Touch Edition, this 6-inch device will also have 2GB of internal memory that can be further augmented via dual expansion slots for up to 32GB of additional memory, while doubling up as a portable audio player with MP3 and AAC playback capability.

Borders to deliver new Kobo Wireless eReader

Love reading, but have yet to make the jump over from a paperback to a digital book reader? Well, if you frequent Borders and would love to see what the fuss about eBook readers are all about, let Kobo satisfy your curiosity with their new Kobo Wireless eReader. This model will finally come with Wi-Fi connectivity to make sure it remains up to date with the rest of its rivals in the market. Apart from the built-in wireless connection, you will also be able to select from onyx, porcelain with a metallic silver back and porcelain with a pearlized lilac back colors. A new processor also comes in handy, delivering far faster page turns to keep up with all you speed readers out there. As for its dimensions, toting it around is a snap as it is a mere 0.4 inches thin, weighing all of 7.8 grams.

The new Kobo Wireless eReader will allow you to go through over 1.5 million books that are currently available in the Borders eBook store, while you will also gain the ability to update your digital library wirelessly, straight from the eReader device, a smartphone or the Borders Desktop Application. An intuitive control pad ought to make it a snap for even hardcore luddites get started right out of the box, while a built-in library-management system makes it a snap for you to navigate and organize your library by title, date last read and author in ease and style.

Not only that, an SD memory card slot is there for storage augmentation purposes, where you will also be able to add other documents through it as well as Adobe Digital Editions or drag-and-drop. Support for EPUB and PDF documents are included, giving you the flexibility and freedom to enjoy the option of borrowing and reading free eBooks from your local library. Reading it is like reading print on paper, thanks to a specialized E Ink screen that delivers 16 grey scale levels. You will find graphics display to be sharp while text remains crisp so that your eyes won’t tire out after spending a fair amount of time with it. For $139.99, it will come pre-loaded with 100 free classics.

Ectaco introduces jetBook mini

Once you’ve taken a look at the title, do not groan and say “Oh no! Not another e-book reader that has descended upon us!”. Well, that might be the case, but you need not worry about Ectaco’s latest offering as the jetBook-mini will be an extension of the world’s leader in portable language learning and translation technology, empowering book lovers everywhere (whether they like flipping through virtual pages or not is another matter) to enjoy digital reading just about anytime and any place. Retailing for a dollar shy of a Benjamin, the new jetBook mini which was recently unveiled at the Frankfurt Book Fair and Consumer Electronics Show in Hong Kong, delivers all the more notable features of the jetBook family such as an ultra crisp 5″ reflective TFT screen technology, instant page turns, multiple language support and portability, all crammed into a body that sports a new look as well as 90 hours of non-stop reading time – all on just a quartet of AAA Energizer batteries. How’s that for longevity, eh? Of course, that makes perfect sense since this e-book reader will not be able to perform other functions that more powerful tablet devices can, making it a decent enough trade-off.

If you’re a stickler for details, then we are proud to say that the jetBook mini should not disappoint at all. After all, it will sport a new feel with a stylish design, and is pocket friendly while coming in a range of colors without weighing you down at just 5.7 ounces. That would mean this is the lightest e-book reader in the world at the moment. You can now read in 4 different directions with notable features which comprise of an option for Line Spacing, Line Breaking, 6 Different Font Sizes and language support.

To get things started, famous science fiction writer Robert Sawyer has graciously contributed his short stories to the mix which will be free for all jetBook owners, now how about that? Ectaco has also invited writers to send in their own written material in order to have a chance for their writings loaded to every jetBook sold.

Barnes & Noble “surprises” people with NOOKcolor

Barnes & Noble’s entrance into the ebook reader market with their NOOK device didn’t exactly burn up the sales charts since its debut, but that doesn’t mean the company is going to roll over and give up just like that. Well, Barnes & Noble has come up with a new version, bringing color to the fore this time around. We’re talking about the NOOKcolor, which is touted to offer the “ultimate reading experience”, where this will be the first full-color touch Reader’s Tablet which delivers digital books, magazines, newspapers and children’s books in immersive, gorgeous color, where everything is crammed into a beautiful, thin and highly portable device. Sounds perfect enough for the frequent traveler who prefers to spend their time reading instead of playing video games on a portable games console.

The NOOKcolor will be the first full-color touch device that is specially dedicated to reading everything and built on the Android platform, where the NOOKcolor will open up a whole new world of digital reading materials of all sorts. Not only that, it will also offer access to the largest bookstore with an unprecedented selection of more than two million digital titles which are just a single search away. The NOOKcolor will feature a stunning 7-inch VividView Color Touchscreen display to get you started, where shopping for virtual books can take just seconds if you download it via its built-in Wi-Fi connection. Not only that, the NOOKcolor gets more social since Barnes & Noble’s new NOOKfriends technology allows you to share what’s going on with friends via Facebook, Twitter and email.

If you are interested, NOOKcolor can be purchased for $249 as a pre-order at www.NOOKcolor.com and at Barnes & Noble stores from tomorrow onwards. Shipping will commence on or around November 19th, where it will also make an appearance at Best Buy, Walmart and Books-A-Million from late November onwards. It might be half the price of an Apple iPad, but then again it isn’t able to perform that many functions either.

NOOK kids announced by Barnes & Noble

Barnes & Noble has just announced something for the little ones while the adults can have fun with their NOOKcolor – we’re talking about NOOK kids. This is a state-of-the-art digital reading experience that will target little ones, making NOOK kids the first-ever platform which can deliver the largest and growing collection of nearly 12,000 popular children’s picture and chapter books in an enhanced and engaging digital format. It will range from beloved children’s classics to new releases, where NOOK kids will launch with over 130 digital picture books, doubling before 2010 comes to a close. We will look at NOOK kids in greater detail in the extended post.

Barnes & Noble children’s chapter books will come with a wide range of favorites which will be part of the company’s vast array of over two million digital titles, making it one of the world’s largest digital content catalogs. NOOK kids will also premiere on the newly announced NOOKcolor by Barnes & Noble, which we covered earlier this morning with it being the first full-color touch Reader’s Tablet.

Reading is a good habit to have, and starting young is always recommended. NOOK kids will offer parents and children a new method of experiencing and enjoying reading together. Storytime moments come to life using Barnes & Noble’s exclusive, patent-pending AliveTouch technology, where kids are invited to interact with words and pictures on the page, letting them find their favorite story in a jiffy, and others can also have some read aloud to them. In due time, NOOK kids eBooks will also feature light motion graphics and interactivity which fits into the story and plotlines. NOOK kids on NOOKcolor allows parents to take their children’s entire digital library wherever they go, regardless of whether the trip is long or short.

We do wonder though, with a device like this, would adults want to share it with their kids? Why not manufacture a kid-friendly model instead that can stand up to the rigors of unruly kids?

Hanvon color e-reader offers yet another option

E-book readers have been around for some years already, and the amount of progress in that department hasn’t really caught on as fast as we would like to have. After all, we are finally about to take the plunge into the world of color e-readers after some time, which is pretty sad considering how other devices such as cell phones have long adopted the color feature for some time already. Perhaps there really isn’t a need for color in an e-reader, but times might have changed as well. After all, e-readers are meant to be lightweight and consume as little juice as possible so that it can complement the digital page turners that you have already uploaded unto it. Hanvon jumps aboard the color bandwagon with their new e-reader, thanks to technology from E Ink, whose black-and-white displays are used in 90 percent of the world’s e-readers, including the Amazon Kindle, Sony Readers and the Nook from Barnes & Noble.

Why the E Ink screen? Well, it wins over LCD in two sections – they sip far less battery power and are easy on your eyes even in the glare of direct sunlight. Unfortunately though, this new color E Ink display does have its drawbacks – it will not be as sharp and colorful as LCD, where the colors themselves look muted, as though you were looking at a faded color photograph. Not only that, E Ink is unable to handle full-motion video but does simple animations at best. That might not sound like much at the moment, but at least it is progress in some way.

Guess the Hanvon color e-reader will be more suitable as a childrens’ device instead of being one that targets adults, making it more of an educational tool than anything else. Expect this device to sport a 9.68-inch color touch screen when it hits China this coming March, with prices starting from around $440 after conversion. This makes it more affordable than an iPad in China, which is actually going for about $590. It will be marketed as a business product, complete with Wi-Fi and 3G wireless connectivity to provide it more punch. There is also a chance of this hitting the US, so stay tuned!

Cruz Storypad – Animated e-Reader for tots

It’s amazing how quickly kids grow up these days. the one thing that strikes me is just how much our kids want to be like us. It’s not always a good thing, I mean my 7 year old wants to wear makeup and have a cell phone. But there’s a product about to hit the market that might work to a parents advantage.

The Cruz Storypad is a full color, animated, touchscreen interface storybook e-reader for kids. It can also play, music, pictures, videos and games, making it a fully blown personal entertainment device.

Easy to use, with intuitive controls and made with kids in mind, in other words, durable and spill resistant. With a full color display and 1 GB on board storage, it includes an SD card slot for expansion. The Storypad utilizes a rechargeable Li-Ion battery and comes preloaded with 10 animation books and 3 interactive educational games. Comes in green, blue or pink.

I’d like to see my kid with an e-reader in her hands instead of some of the other electronics she has gotten used to. It really would be great to watch her reading, instead of trying to race a hedgehog around the jungle collecting bananas. I’m just saying.

Google eBookstore – Is bigger best?

I love to read, I pretty much read everything I get my hands on, including my morning cereal box. I have books on my iPod Touch, my iPad, my laptop and my phone, believe it or not, I think I’d still also enjoy having an eReader. I know I’m probably not the norm, but there are probably a few people out there just like me.

Enough folks like me, that the new Google eBookstore might just be a good thing. Touting themselves as having the largest digital bookstore in the world, the Google eBookstore is a bit different in a few ways. First, unlike Amazon, Google sells books that come in various formats and can be read on almost any device, from the iPad to your netbook or smartphone… but uh-oh, not on your Kindle.

Second, The Google eBookstore might just be bigger than it’s competitors, with over 3 million books available with many of them free and hundreds of thousands of titles for sale. The options are certainly extensive. Cheaper? Maybe not, but it certainly seems like a generous selection.

Lastly, Google also offers a Google eBook Web Reader, where you can buy, store and read Google eBooks in the cloud allowing you access to your ebooks like you would your messages in Gmail, using a free account with unlimited ebooks storage.

Not everybody needs all this, but I believe its better to have and not need, you know what I mean? But if you have a Kindle, then never mind.

Kno ships tablets to students at last

Do you know Kno? OK, so reading that aloud might sound a little bit weird at first, but if you haven’t heard about Kno, then this is the company that has come up with a new educational tablet, hoping students will pick it up instead of lugging around heavy textbooks and giving their shoulders a nice workout. The company has just announced that they will start to ship its highly anticipated product to pre-order customers, where the first batch of Kno tablets will start to arrive on doorsteps this week – perfect if you’ve placed a pre-order for your little bird who is about to leave the nest for university pretty soon. Kno’s tablets will come in two iterations – one with a single screen just like every other tablet device out there, while another will sport a couple of displays, which is pretty much like a blown up Nintendo DS, except that this is more educational centric instead of helping you while your time away playing games.

Why the name Kno, you ask? Well, it is apparently short for knowledge, where it boasts a rather generous 14.1-inch touchscreen display which will blend textbooks, course materials, note-taking, web access, educational applications, digital media, sharing and more into a single tool that delivers a more powerful and engaging educational experience. Not only that, Kno also boasts their very own digital bookstore (www.kno.com/store/books) that will hold tens of thousands of tomes from most of the major publishers, where new books will be added to the total on a regular basis. These digital textbooks will typically cost between 30 and 50 percent cheaper comapred to physical textbooks, and Kno claims that it will pay for itself in just 3 semesters with the amount of money saved in terms of textbook costs. Of course, having a physical textbook can be pretty rewarding for those who love thumbing through physical pages, but knowing how modern our students are these days, they might just fall for the Kno instead.

As mentioned earlier, the Kno will come as a single and dual 14.1-inch screen tablet, retailing for $599 and $899, respectively. Not everyone is able to purchase the Kno outright since it is available in limited quantity, and availability is also subject to invitation only. Shipments to pre-order customers will be staggered over this month and January 2011, so you might just be one of the lucky ones to get it before Christmas.