Remember that iriver Story Touch Edition e-reader we spied last month? Well, iriver is showing it off at IFA this week, with plans to release the little 6-inch touchscreen device in Europe and Korea in the next week or so. We played around with it a bit, and while the 800 x 600 E Ink screen resolution is a little disappointing, and the resistive touchscreen layer impacts readability in a small but noticeable way, the software is certainly pleasant, and iriver is up to its usual standard in hardware design
Amazon’s third major iteration of its flagship reading device, the Kindle, comes out of the gate looking strong: the new graphite finish (just like its big brother, the Kindle DX ) with a slimmer, lighter form factor, plus a bumped refresh rate for its E Ink screen. Best of all, the WiFi only and 3G readers have newly lowered prices (though they’re still not exactly bargain basement level). We’ve spent the past few days putting the tinier Kindle through the paces to see just how much Amazon’s improved it.
The New York Times’ Bits blog is reporting that “people with direct knowledge” of Amazon’s plans say that Lab 126 — the division of the company which designed the Kindle — is currently looking into other hardware, i.e. devices that are not the Kindle. One unnamed source reports that such devices would be a “means to an end,” meant to enable easy purchasing of Amazon ’s content, which currently includes music, movies, and digital books
Gone so soon, Kindle ? Due to what we can only assume is unprecedented demand or a terrible shortfall in supply, Amazon’s third-generation Kindle (you know, the one with 3G and WiFi ) is already sold out
We knew Android phones were selling like gangbusters — Google has been none too shy in telling us as much — but numbers were slightly less clear in a larger context.
The Engadget Podcasters are chattin’ re: magic, black magic, crack, GHB, Kmart, and Ashton. Hosts: Joshua Topolsky, Nilay Patel, Paul Miller Producer: Trent Wolbe Music: Sadnes - Wicked Game 00:01:29 - New Amazon Kindle announced: $139 WiFi-only version and $189 3G model available August 27th in the US and UK 00:07:33 - Amazon sees e-book sales surpassing paper versions, has Mirasol technology in the Kindle labs 00:13:30 - RIM takes control of blackpad.com, laughter takes control of our minds 00:13:53 - RIM’s 9.7-inch Blackpad rumored for November launch — yes, Blackpad 00:14:22 - RIM and AT&T event next Tuesday — BlackBerry slider and OS 6 en route
Boy, Sony sure loves to drag its heels when it comes to obvious industry trends. First netbooks were ” a race to the bottom ,” now the company’s saying it “won’t sacrifice the quality and design” of its e-readers in order to lay claim to being the cheapest. This comes as a reaction to the Kindle’s aggressive new $139 entry price point and continues Sony’s reluctance to fiddle with what it sees as a successful formula .
You might’ve heard about a new Kindle model or two this evening, and good news if they tickled your fancy — they’re now on Amazon and available for pre-order. Both the WiFi-only and WiFi / 3G models are shipping August 27th, the former in graphite and the latter in graphite and white options. Search your pocketbook, if you know it to be coveted.
