Archive for January 8th, 2010

Spring Design Unveils Dual Screen Android-Based eReader

If you listened to the Mobiletech Addicts podcast that James and I were guests on a few days ago, you’ll know that one of the subjects that we discussed in detail was the popularity of the Android OS and how it is being integrated in to more than just mobile phones, finding it’s way in to the Archos 5 internet tablet and several Netbooks already.

Today at CES California based Spring Design Inc. announced their latest eReader, strangely named, Alex. The eReader will feature two screens. a 3.2″ Colour display will be used for the user interface while a 6″ EPD screen will be used for displaying books and documents.

The press release can be seen below. I wonder if we’ll see anything like this in the UK?

Spring Design Unveils Alex Dual Screen Android-Based eReader at CES 2010

First eReader with Internet Browsing While Reading

FREMONT, Calif. –(Business Wire)– Jan 07, 2010 Spring Design http://www.springdesign.com will take the wraps off the AlexT, the only dual-screen Google Android-based eReader to fully integrate web browsing and reading, at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas January 7-10, 2010.

The debut of the Alex will take place at the press-only Lunch at Piero’s media and innovator event January 7 and 8 where the company will demonstrate Alex’s full browser capabilities and patented dual screen interaction technology, the Duet NavigatorT that enables Alex users to search the Internet on the 3.5″ color browser LCD screen while displaying books, periodicals and even personal, educational and corporate documents on the Alex’s paper-like 6″ EPD screen. The Alex browser and virtual keyboard provide handy access to email, calculator and will accommodate a growing number of programs from the Google Android community.

Alex’s network connections with WiFi, 3G, EVDO/CDMA and GSM, makes it the first truly mobile wireless e-reader device that gives users access to the Internet and their own personalized library on the go, whenever and wherever they need it.

Alex can be purchased for $399.00 starting February 22, 2010 on the www.springdesign.com site with other availability to be announced.

Spring Design created the Alex as an open systems device with the ability to download any book or document that conforms to the Adobe ePUB/PDF/DRM standard or .txt or HTML format. Alex’s fully functional browser gives users the flexibility to explore the Internet to access text, music, video, and images to enrich their reading experience, or annotate text with comments, multimedia or user-selected hyperlinks to other web sites and resources found online or stored by the user on the Alex eReader removable microSD card.

“We designed Alex to expand the users’ reading enjoyment, enriching the content whether it is reading for pleasure, education or business, and enhancing the capabilities with access to the growing suite of Android applications,” said Spring Design Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Eric Kmiec. “We believe Alex enables readers to transcend the printed page to an interactive multi-media reading experience; letting children browse classic picture books with music to serious students who can view videos of science experiments online on the LCD screen while reading textbooks on the EPD screen.”

Spring Design Eric Kmiec will be a speaker on a panel at HigherEdTECH, “From Dewey to Digital Free,” an exploration of how eBooks, digital devices and sophisticated search engines are shaking up the world of textbooks and academic scholarship, moderated by John C. Itelson, Professor Emeritus, California State University Monterey Bay and Director of Instructional Technologies K20CETC, Friday, January 8 at 3:30 at Room N264 North Hall. Alex will also be on display at both Marvell booth locations, one in the eReader tech Zone in Central hall, and a main booth in South Hall. Credentialed press wishing to see the Alex at Lunch at Piero’s may request an invitation at www.lunchat.com/mediaregistration.html.

Posted by: Matt

Eye-Fi announces new Wi-Fi enabled memory cards

Eye-Fi just busted out at CES with its next generation WiFi-enabled SD card, the Eye-Fi Pro X2. The big features of the new 8GB Class 6 SD card are 802.11n support and the Endless Memory mode, which automatically clears photos and videos as they’re uploaded to your machine over WiFi, and there are also some new sharing options in the mix, as well as geotagging support. No word on a ship date, but it’s up for pre-order on Amazon and other retailers now for $149. Eye-Fi is also launching its new Eye-Fi Center software, which should make managing media delivered from Eye-Fi cards a little simpler — it’ll be out later this month.

Eye-Fi

The Eye-Fi card is the 1st wireless memory card. It looks, stores media, and fits into cameras just like a regular SD/SDHC card. On top of that, the Eye-Fi card has built-in Wi-Fi that uses your wireless network to effortlessly transfer photos and videos.

Upon setup, specify which networks the Eye-Fi card uses to transfer your media. Add up to 32 networks for your card to use. The next time your camera is on within range of a specified network, your photos and videos will fly to your computer and to your favorite sharing site.

It’s certainly a neat concept and the good news is that Matt has just got his hands on one of these, so be sure to keep an eye (fi) out for the review.

To check out further details have a look at the Eye-fi website here.

Posted by: James