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]

 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]

The timing is surely not coincidental. Next Monday, Amazon looks set to unveil the second version of the Kindle. So today, Google came up with a version of its Book Search that works on mobile handsets.

“Book Search” is a bit of a misnomer: it’s actually shaping up to be more of a “Book Read”. With the mobile service, Google says you can access the full text of 1.5m out-of-copyright books on your handset . And lest there be any doubt, it had this to say about its long-term ambition:

“Ultimately, we envision a future where people across the globe can search, discover and access the world’s books from any device.” [via blogs.ft.com]

A beta version of eReader.com’s eBook software is now available for S60 3rd Edition. eReader is a long standing eBook store which provides some of the current best sellers in eBook form, protected via its own form of DRM. They provides a version of their reader for multiple platforms. However a few years ago they seemed to lose interest in support Symbian OS handsets, but under the new ownership of Fictionwise this seems to be changing.
The S60 3rd Edition version of eReader will be most attractive for those who have already bought books using eReader. If you’re looking at buying an eBook for the first time you may also want to investigate the Amazon backed Mobipocket which provides both reading software and eBook store.

Both Mobipocket and eReader povide similar features in their software (full screen mode, the ability too look up words, bookmarks, autoscroll, font and text settings). Both can also be used to read standard .pdb file (non-DRM) which is useful for reading public domain content from sites such as Memoware.

Mobipocket is currently the more mature reader (and is also available for UIQ handsets), but hopefully the eReader software will progress during the course of its beta.

eReader is owned by Fictionwise, another eBook store, which has the notable positive feature of providing many of its books in multiple formats including both eReader and Mobipocket. Books bought from Fictionwise are therefore less susceptible to being left behind by changes in DRM. [via allaboutsymbian]