Amazon’s new Kindle reader should prove that there’s still a healthy market for dedicated ebook readers amidst slew of iPads and other Android-based tablets. The upcoming 3rd-gen Kindle features an improved design that’s 21 percent smaller and 15 percent lighter than the previous model while maintaining the 6-inch screen size and a profile that’s as slim as a pencil. Performance should be way better too, with a new E Ink Pearl display that offers better contrast and faster page turns, and a battery that’s listed to last for a month if you turn off the wireless antennas.
These iPad-looking devices make up Velocity Micro’s Cruz line, a family of Android-powered touchscreen slates that start at $200 (or $150 if you’re looking for a reader for your kids). Now, we’re not sure if it’s right to label them as iPad rivals just yet, but you should probably check them out if you’re in the market for a cheaper, Android-based slate. (more…)
After unveiling the Eee Pads at Computex, Asus brought out another touch-based slate device called the Eee Tablet. It’s a different kind of animal compared to the Eee Pads though: this is more of a complimentary mobile accessory that’ll let you read text, scribble notes, and draw rather precise sketches on its 8-inch (1024 x 768) grayscale display. To sum it up, the Eee Pads are basically slim Tablet PCs, while the Eee Tablet is more like a digital sketch pad.
According to a report over at Bloomberg, Amazon is preparing to launch a new Kindle ebook reader in August. The sources haven’t been named (described instead as “two people familiar with its plans”), but some details have been revealed to describe a device that won’t really compete with Apple’s iPad.
While Pandigital is more widely known for coming out with digital photo frames, this new foray into full-color ebook readers looks promising. Right off the bat, the Novel’s design looks spot-on, with the clean lines and attractive interface. Add a nice, 7-inch colored touchscreen and Wi-fi connectivity, and it suddenly makes it an interesting option if you’re in the market for an eBook reader.
