Hearst Corp. is getting set to launch an electronic reader that it hopes can do for periodicals what Amazon’s Kindle is doing for books.

According to industry insiders, Hearst, which publishes magazines ranging from Cosmopolitan to Esquire and newspapers including the financially imperiled San Francisco Chronicle, has developed a wireless e-reader with a large-format screen suited to the reading and advertising requirements of newspapers and magazines. The device and underlying technology, which other publishers will be allowed to adapt, is likely to debut this year.

So-called e-readers like Kindle and the Sony Reader are hand-held gadgets that use electronic “ink” displayed on a crisp, low-power screen to deliver an experience that approximates reading on paper - without the cost of paper, printing and delivery, which can account for as much as 50% of the cost of putting out a periodical.

Hearst executives declined to provide specifics about the forthcoming e-reader, but Kenneth Bronfin, who heads up the interactive media group for Hearst, told Fortune in an interview for a forthcoming magazine story that the publishing company has a deep expertise in the technology. “I can’t tell you the details of what we are doing, but I can say we are keenly interested in this, and expect these devices will be a big part of our future,” Bronfin told Fortune. [via cnn]

Kindle 2 users complained about their new device:

“I was super-eager to try Kindle 2, but after a day spent test-driving it, I’ve decided to send it back in favor of my old reliable K1. A few of my disappointments are related to my poor vision, but most are not.
1.In response to users who found Ki’s page-turning buttons too easy to hit accidentally, Kindle has made the new ones annoyingly resistant to a light touch, and the “previous page” one is located in a spot that makes it almost impossible to turn using your right thumb, which was easy on K2.
2. Similarly, the 5-position “joy stick” is also stiff and doesn’t “flow,” like K8’s sliding cursor.
3, Oddly enough, despite the 16 shades of gray recognized by K2 (which do indeed make pictures much clearer), the contrast of printed words on the screen is MUCH less sharp than on K1–what were they thinking?
4. A personal disappointment: on “Basic Web,” K2 has CNN instead of MSNBC news; I thought the latter had stories that are much more serious and actually related to current news. CNN today led with a diet story,,,,
5. As with Ki, they have not solved the page-numbering problem, which is parhaps my only real complaint about K1.
On the plus side, the text-to-speech feature isn’t bad, and there’s no question that books you order download faster than with K1. But I, for one, don’t need them to arrive in less than 60 seconds! 
If you have the K1 and have ordered the K2, I would definitely recommend test-driving the new one for at least a day before getting rid of the old one. I’ll be really intersted to hear what y’all have to say.”

…………………………………………………………………

“I absolutely agree. I started another thread on this very point (”K2 screen seems blurry…“). I currently have two K2s and one K1 at home and did a side-by-side test and also asked a friend to pick the one that was “easiest to read.” The K1 won hands down.
Based on the other comments in that thread, there seems to be about a 50/50 split between whether existing K1 owners find their new K2s to have a worse screen than their K1s or whether they find the screens comparable. It’s unclear if the “hard to read” quality of the K2 is a defect or if it’s just the way the new screen is.

I’d encourage anyone who has a K1 and a K2 to pull up the same book/page on both and really carefully evaluate whether the K2’s characters are easier or harder to read than the K1 and post their findings either here or in the other thread.”

……………………………………………………

“I agree about the screen. My K1 is much easier on my eyes using Font Size 4. I am having a hard time adjusting to the more “washed out” appearance of the screen on my new K2. Thank God I didn’t sell my K1 on Craigslist. I am going to put it through its paces for a week or so and then make my decision.”

…………………………………………….

“I am a K1 and K2 owner. My three biggest complaints about the K2:
- The K2 screen offers noticeably less contrast than K1. The words on the K2 are not as dark, and the screen background is an odd greenish beige as opposed to the light gray background on the K1. The effect is that the text looks quite washed out even in relatively bright lighting conditions. At first, I wondered whether I simply got a defective screen, but the number of complaints on here suggests it’s something with the design of the screen itself.

- There’s no article list for newspapers anymore. Instead of being able to page through the article titles, I have to flip through each article, one by one, to see what’s available. The section list — which replaced the article list function — is useless for newspapers such as the Wall Street Journal. The article list feature for blogs is improved on Kindle 2; I’m not sure why Amazon didn’t simply provide the same improvement to newspapers.

- Old issues of newspaper subscriptions apparently are automatically deleted after 2 weeks. Frankly, I liked having an archive of old issues and then being able to search the text quickly.

Another minor nit: The K2 seems to have some weird issues with text justification. On seemingly almost every screen, one or two lines are not properly justified, which is distracting.

Aside from these complaints, the K2 is nice — better button placement, improved screen responsiveness, the 5-way joystick — but since this is supposed to be a reading device, it is hard to get excited about those improvements when the screen contrast is so much worse. Very disappointed here.”

[via amazon]

[via ifixit]

Prime View International is gearing up for mass production of flexible electrophoretic displays (EPDs) by the second quarter of 2009, with production of color displays soon to follow. The devices are the world’s first flexible active matrix EPD made in a volume thin film transistor (TFT) fab.  The move is in response to what the company believes is a new wave in the e-reading revolution. Much of the work will be done at Hydis, PVI’s Korean subsidiary. Since acquiring Hydis in mid-2008, PVI has shifted its EPD production to Hydis’ three facilities.

Prime View manufactures active matrix e-paper displays using TFT technology for the backplane with an electrophoretic frontplane using E Ink’s technology. The displays are made possible by a combination of MagicMirrorÒReflective Technology and the EPLaRprocess developed by Philips Research, to which PVI now has exclusive license. The company claims that its e-reading devices have an extensive battery life of up to 7,000 page turns per charge, equal to approximately 20-full-length books. In addition, since the products employ a Si gate (poly Si-gate) driver, the devices are more robust and compact. [via epapercentral]

Onyx BOOX ebook reader is going to be announced at CeBIT next week.

Specifications:

Operation System 
 Linux/WinCE (Optional) 
 Interfaces 
 I/O: USB 2.0 OTG
Slot: SD/MMC/SDIO/SDHC 
 Headphn: 2.5mm Stereo 
 Optional: Wi-Fi/CDMA/EVDO/GSM and more 
 Battery: 1700mhr Li-ion 
 Hardware Spec. 
 400mhz & up/6″, 8″, 9.7″ E Ink®/16 level/128MB 
Ram/512MB FlashFormat Support 
 PDF/TXT/HTML/CHM/RTF/PDB/PRC(Mobipocket)/TTS/JPG/PNG/GIF/BMP/TIFF/MP3 
 Customized formats optional 
 Feature Support 
Text Reflowable/Zoom in/out & pan/Search 
 & annotation/Text to speech “TTS”/Dictionary,Various connectivities

[via onyx-international]

It’s exciting to see eBook Readers based on free, open-source operating systems (Linux)

Kindle 2

The eSlick Reader

The txtr reader

Neolux, a Korean electronic paper display manufacturer, announced recently that it has developed an upgraded version of its electronic paper device, the “Nuut2.”

Nuut2 is based on an advanced chipset co-developed by E-ink and Seiko Epson. It represents only the second appearance of this configuration on the world market after Amazon’s Kindle device.

Nuut2’s response time is twice as fast as the previous version because of the improvements made to the grey levels of the black and white e-paper-from four to eight-which enables the device to display images more clearly. 

The installed e-Book reader program supports the ePUB global standard format as well as the PDF and TXT universal formats. In addition to local newspaper publishers and France’s Le Monde, Neolux anticipates that the Nuut2 device and other company solutions will attract even more customers. 

The Nuut2 will begin appearing on shelves during April; its price has not yet been determined.  [via telecomskorea]

Some specs:

1. The new EPSON Chip response speed, resolution, and display performance.
2. WiFi wireless Internet functionality by default.
3. International support with a variety of formats, including electronic books, PDF, Epub.
4. Domestic and international newspapers, English and Japanese books will include many content services.

[via nuutbook]

Shortcovers lets you read the first chapter of any book free of charge. It then gives you the option to either buy a chapter at a time, or purchase the whole book. Single chapters are expected to cost around 99 cents each, with full books averaging between $10 and $20. You’ll also have the option to have the book shipped to you physically if you prefer.

Shortcovers is owned and operated by Indigo Books & Music, supposedly the largest book retailer in Canada.

While there are e-readers for the iPhone like Stanza and services like Bookworm already available, Shortcovers will be leveraging its close ties to the publishing industry to differentiate this service.

At launch, Shortcovers expects to have about 50,000 full books available, with another 200,000 individual chapters and excerpts in its library. According to PCWorld only a third of the titles will be public domain or copyright-expired works. The rest will be current commercial offerings.

Shortcovers plans to offer news and magazine articles, short stories, and blog posts in addition to the book content. [via cnet]

Finally the wait for Amazon Kindle 2 is over! People, who want to own the revolutionary e-book reader, can immediately order for one as the company has started shipping the device. Amazon has announced the shipment of the next-generation Amazon Kindle, aptly named the Amazon Kindle 2.

Google developed Android explicitly to run on cell phones, but it is robust enough to run on other devices. Because Android is open source, and supported by a robust development community, it is a candidate to grow beyond its mobile device roots. 

The development of a USB driver brings Android operating system to the E Ink development kit. Now a new world of creative developers can extend the functionality of and write applications for this low-power screen technology.

Why E Ink?

E Ink is an electronic paper display technology with a paper-like, high contrast appearance, ultra low-power consumption, and a thin, light form. It is “bi-stable” - meaning it only uses power when it refreshes the screen. The advantages of this kind of low-power screen device updated via wireless internet access could bring this connected technology to wearable computing or other screen uses that demand long-term deployment before recharging.

Digging Deeper

MOTO labs is working towards customized solutions that employ not only Android but Ubuntu, Linux, and Adobe AIRplatforms for custom web-connected application development.  We are actively extending our multi-touch and gestural interfaces expertise to these platforms. MOTO is also developing prototypes for better remote management of connected devices with a range of approaches from Mac & PC based device management applications to over-the-air wireless firmware and software updates. Stay tuned to labs.moto.com for more on this thread.

Building a Bridge

Picture below shows how the E Ink broadsheet development kit is connected to Beagle Board via USB. A custom E Ink driver acts as the bridge.

The E Ink screen image shows the signature Android clock-scape. [via moto]

Reducing paper use does more than save trees. Pulp and paper mills are also a major source of pollution. They release into the air CO2, nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur oxides (SOx), carbon monoxide, and particulates, which contribute to global warming, smog, acid rain, and respiratory problems. In addition, bleaching paper with chlorine can produce dioxin, which is known to cause cancer. Paper mills also produce large amounts of solid waste and require a lot of water. The industry is trying to clean up, but anyone who’s driven past a paper mill has smelled the challenge.

The Amazon Kindle therefore saves 6,500 MJ and 690 kg of co2 a year. A gallon of gasoline has 131 MJ of energy and emits 8.8 kg of CO2, so switching to an e-book would be like saving 50 gallons of energy and 78 gallons of co2 emissions. A reduction of 690 kg of co2 is 3.5% of the average American’s 20 metric tons of yearly emissions. [via selfpublishingreview]

 NewspaperDirect Inc., the world leader in multi-channel newspaper and magazine content distribution and monetization, is showcasing its iPhone Reader Application and new iRex DR 1000 PressReader features at the O’Reilly Tools of Change for Publishing Conference being held in New York City, February 9-11, 2009.

PressDisplay.com’s PressReader software was introduced two months ago for the iRex Digital Reader 1000 series, resulting in thousands of downloads of the application on one of today’s hottest e-Readers. With only one PressReader software download, iRex DR1000 users can quickly and easily download hundreds of their favorite publications and read them at their leisure. This week, NewspaperDirect and PressDisplay will unveil its new PressReader features on the iRex DR1000, which will allow readers to view publications not only in a full image replica format, but now in an easy-to-read text view, with tables of contents listed and active link jumps. Unlike the Kindle e-Reader which uses RSS feeds to populate the device with limited website content, PressDisplay’s PressReader application delivers the full content of a printed edition to supported devices, giving readers more of what they want, when they want it. [via newspaperdirect]

You may use this e-book for your personal use. This e-book is protected by copyright. Please don’t make copies of it. If you think a friend would benefit from this e-book, please refer your friend to the promo page to download it.Thanks for your assistance in this matter! Download Page

• The five-way rocker is definitely a step up in terms of navigation — it makes getting around page way eaiser by allowing you to skip through individual words, and you can actually navigate simple web pages the way you’re used to.
• The new dictionary pop up (it brings up your definition on the bottom of the screen as you’re scrolling through text) is a huge win. It was a pain before, but looking up words is now super easy. Unfortunately — according to Ross Rubin — footnotes are still handled in the slow, laborious way they’ve always been.
• Text-to-speech is a nice touch, but it’s still hard to get over that computer voice. We can see using this to hear a recipe or short news article, but we’re not convinced it’ll be enjoyable for a full novel.
• Screen refresh is way, way faster than the old model (they say 20 percent). The difference is welcome and noticeable. Moving through documents and back and forth between pages is a snap now. If you’ve been frustrated with the slowness before, this will be a big relief.
• The size difference is pretty remarkable. If you loved the crazy old design, you’ll be disappointed, but the tradeoff in thickness is probably worth it. Furthermore, the new button placement is a big improvement, one which will likely make those accidental page turns a thing of the past. [via engadget]

Amazon launches new Kindle 2 on their site (pre sales only).  As you see the Kindle 2 is slim but largest than Kindle 1 which is a bit odd for me.

Compare dimensions:

Kindle 1 - Size (in inches): 7.5″ x 5.3″ x 0.7

Kindle 2 - Size (in inches): 8″ x 5.3″ x 0.36″.

Here the other details:

Slim: Just over 1/3 of an inch, as thin as most magazines
Lightweight: At 10.2 ounces, lighter than a typical paperback
Wireless: 3G wireless lets you download books right from your Kindle, anytime, anywhere; no monthly fees, service plans, or hunting for Wi-Fi hotspots
Books in Under 60 Seconds: Get books delivered in less than 60 seconds; no PC required
Improved Display: Reads like real paper; now boasts 16 shades of gray for clear text and even crisper images
Longer Battery Life: 25% longer battery life; read for days without recharging
More Storage: Take your library with you; holds over 1,500 books
Faster Page Turns: 20% faster page turns
Read-to-Me: With the new Text-to-Speech feature, Kindle can read every book, blog, magazine, and newspaper out loud to you
Large Selection: Over 230,000 books plus U.S. and international newspapers, magazines, and blogs available
Low Book Prices: New York Times Best Sellers and New Releases $9.99, unless marked otherwise [via amazon.com]

 Gutenberg.com Officially Opens - Invites Ebook Lovers and Neophytes Worldwide to Become Part of Growing Ebook Community

www.Gutenberg.com brings together a wide variety of ebook people, including avid readers of ebooks on devices such as Amazon Kindle or Sony Digital Reader, and services like Stanza or Google Book Search. Gutenberg.com is also for those who are new to ebooks, as well as the ebook industry. Includes sections on finding ebooks, ebook reading devices and accessories, and new ebook technologies. Gutenberg.com also announces agreement with Gutenberg Museum for special section on Gutenberg.com that pays tribute to the history and culture of the book.

Palo Alto, CA — February 9, 2009 — Gutenberg.com launched today, as a new central information resource and social network for the ebook community. Gutenberg.com is for people who read ebooks or would like more information about them, as well as professionals involved in the ebook and publishing industry.

Patricia Schroeder, the President and CEO of the Association of American Publishers (AAP) says, “For folks who want to know more about ebooks, they should go to Gutenberg.com. It’s a great new central information resource for book lovers.”  [via gutenberg]

Amazon Kindle 2 Leather Cover $29.99

Patagonia Book Case $39.99

Cole Haan Grain Cover Case $99.99

Cole Haan Patent Cover Case $119.99

Cole Haan Smooth Cover Case $99.99

Cole Haan Woven Cover Case $119.99

Belkin Neoprene Sleeve Case $24.99

Amazon will soon be making its Kindle e-reader books available on mobile phones. In fact, the cyber-store giant said the gadget’s books will soon be available on a variety of handsets.

Amazon hasn’t announced which phones will be able to access the Kindle book collection, which currently features about 230,000 titles, but is launching a redesigned Kindle page later this month.

Of course, we all know that Google already announced plans to put books onto mobile phones; while Kindle titles are newly released books and best sellers, the popular search-engine company’s are mostly public domain works. [via g4tv]