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Cube's 6-inch capacitive touchscreen e-reader is a Windows Mobile 6.5 fantas...

via Engadget by Thomas Ricker on 9/02/10

If you're a sucker for immaculate specs at a discount price then the Cube e-book reader might be the device for you. The Chinese outfit is said to be working on a 6-inch, E Ink reader built around the Windows Mobile 6.5 operating system with baked-in WiFi (sorry, no mention of 3G data) for "remote server synchronization." And as declared in the image above, the Cube e-reader features a capacitive touchscreen just "like the iPhone." Apparently, it'll do more than just display e-books though, with a touted ability to make VoIP calls, browse the web, send and receive email, and download music and photos -- all this for just 999 Chinese Yuan or about $146. Sure, go ahead and build it Cube, but until we see a product render at least forgive us for being skeptical.

Cube's 6-inch capacitive touchscreen e-reader is a Windows Mobile 6.5 fantasyland originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 05:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Notion Ink to have competition to encourage development for Adam reader, might release two versions


Back at CES, we were pretty excited to get our hands on Notion Ink's far out, Pixel Qi display-boasting reader, Adam. Well, Notion Ink is on the move, and encouraging development for the Tegra-powered little devil is apparently a top priority. The company has unveiled plans to hold an App Competition with one million dollars in prize money for the development of Adam-compatible software. There are no final details about the contest yet, but we think we'll probably be hearing more about it next week at MWC. Slashgear's got some interesting renders Notion Ink sent over which give us an idea of what a final production model might look like -- and it's definitely different than the prototype we saw in Las Vegas. The company also told Slashgear that it's considering having two retail versions of the Adam -- but has only said that one might measure 12.9mm thick, and the other 11.6mm thick -- so we're not sure what other differences might be in tow. We'll let you know when we hear more details about that million dollar prize money, though.

Notion Ink to have competition to encourage development for Adam reader, might release two versions originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 01:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nook now in stock online and in US stores, with new 'More In Store' content


If you're a book lover who wants to take your relationship to another level entirely, you're in luck! It looks like Barnes and Noble has finally kicked production of the Nook in high gear, just in time for Valentine's Day. And when you do take hold of your e-reader (which should start appearing in stores this week), the company has plenty for you in the way of its all new, exclusive "More In Store" content, including: A short story by Adriana Trigiani (who you love), a Valentine's Day recipe for red velvet cupcakes from Anne Byrn, the Cake Mix Doctor, and something called "Read Between the Wines," a regular feature by renowned wine expert Kevin Zraly, a dude who tells you how to pair your favorite books with the perfect vintage. (Hint: if you're reading Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon, you might want to pop open a vintage 2007 Dancing Bull.) You can either order online (shipping is free for the time being) or, if you prefer to pick one up in person, hit up the In-Store Locator beginning February 10th to see when they're in stock at your fave B&N location. PR after the break.

Continue reading Nook now in stock online and in stores, with new 'More In Store' content

Nook now in stock online and in stores, with new 'More In Store' content originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 11:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Amazon job postings ask for display and wireless experts, hint at Kindle things to come?

So, we already assume Amazon's thinking touch for the Kindle, what with that recent Touchco aquisition and word of similar behind-the-screen touch tech being on PVI's roadmap. PVI owns E Ink, and is naturally bullish about its upcoming products, but what about E Ink in the new Kindle? If you're into reading the tea leaves of job postings, Amazon might be telegraphing its intentions. It's looking for a "Hardware Display Manager" who, among many other things, is supposed to have "Significant exposure to high volume manufacturing environments; you will know the LCD business and key players in the market." That might have you thinking the next Kindle will go LCD, but the requirements also mention a "deep knowledge of current display technology and potential future technologies," and nothing about the role seems exactly prescriptive of an LCD expertise -- more of a general focus on displays and product design, whatever tech might come. Pixel Qi or Mirasol, anybody? Amazon's also looking for all sorts of software expertise, including a "Software Design Engineer" who will be reponsible for radio stacks "including but not limited to" 3G and WiFi. Again, these are requirements (among many) for a role, not necessarily implications of a Kindle 3 spec sheet, but there's one thing clear: Amazon's gearing up for something.

Amazon job postings ask for display and wireless experts, hint at Kindle things to come? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nook firmware 1.2 ready for download now (Update: video!)


Keeping up a fine tradition, Barnes & Noble has today let slip an internal memo that discusses a forthcoming version 1.2 firmware update for the Nook. There's not much in the way of info on fresh new features or optimizations, but we do know that B&N retail locations will be getting the update "this week" alongside new units shipping with v1.2 preloaded onto them. We're also told that the update would be an effortless side-loading affair via USB, but the bit about "prior to the software being released to customers" suggests that perhaps we won't all be riding the latest software by this weekend. Let's just be patient and do what we usually do: fantasize about what the future may hold.

Update: Turns out B&N will be rolling out an OTA update to customers in a few days, but the manual download is all ready for collection from right here. You'll find the full list of changes after the break

Update 2: Now with video, after the break.

[Thanks, Doug].

Continue reading Nook firmware 1.2 ready for download now (Update: video!)

Nook firmware 1.2 ready for download now (Update: video!) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Feb 2010 03:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kindle display maker PVI promises touchscreens, color and flexibility in 2010 models

Love your Kindle? How about your Sony Reader? Good then lean in close because your electrophoretic display (EPD) maker wants to have a word. Prime View International (PVI) chairman Scott Liu says that his company (the owners of E Ink) will be introducing a wide variety of new e-reader displays this year including color, flexible, and touchscreen EPDs. PVI also says that response times have been improved enough to allow for animation support on products in 2010. Of course, flip books provide animation as well but we wouldn't want to use one for any considerable amount of time -- but let's wait and see what they have before coming to a conclusion.

Interestingly enough, PVI says that it's developing pressure touch sensors that sit behind the display rather than using conventional touch-panels that can obscure the display's brightness. Funny, that sounds a lot like the Touchco technology just purchased by Amazon two days ago. Kindle 3, we're waiting... unfortunately for Amazon, the rest of the industry isn't.

Kindle display maker PVI promises touchscreens, color and flexibility in 2010 models originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Feb 2010 05:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kindle dev kit now rolling out in limited beta


Back on the 21st of January when Amazon announced that it would release its Kindle Development Kit, A/K/A KDK, we heard it would begin rolling out in limited beta this month, with a wait list of people getting access to the kit as space was available. Well, that moment has arrived, and you can now sign up to receive said KDK. Our tipster wasn't able to get the software in hand yet, but we'll keep on the lookout for it. Hit the read link to sign up, and to check out Amazon's FAQ, as well.

[Thanks, Mark]

Kindle dev kit now rolling out in limited beta originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 06 Feb 2010 23:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The E-Book Empire Strikes


Apple held most of the music industry virtually at knifepoint for years, and that wasn't necessarily a bad thing, especially if you were a consumer who wanted a legal way to get popular music at a fairly reasonable price. It was only about a year ago that iTunes let go of its dollar-store policy and allowed for a little leeway in its pricing. True, that leeway amounted to only a few cents per song, but the point is, for a very long time, it was the distribution channel dictating prices, not the publisher.

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Authors' Amazon Awareness

Geoffrey.landis writes "Many book lovers were surprised this week when Amazon.com removed books from the publisher Macmillan from the shelves (later restored), including such popular imprints as St. Martin's, Henry Holt, and the science fiction publisher Tor. But readers shouldn't have been surprised, according to the Author's Guild. The Author's Guild lists a history of earlier instances where Amazon stopped listing a publisher's books in order to pressure them to accept terms, dating back to early in 2008, when Amazon removed the 'buy' buttons for works from the British publisher Bloomsbury, representing such authors as William Boyd, Khaled Hosseini, and J.K. Rowling. In response, the Author's Guild has set up a service called Who Moved My Buy Button to alert authors when their books are removed from Amazon's lists."

Amazon's actions have generated ill-will on the parts of many authors, who — being authors — are only too happy to explain their viewpoints at length. Two such examples are Tobias Buckell's breakdown of why Amazon isn't the righteous defender of low-prices they claim to be and Charlie Stross's round-up of the situation.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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Amazon and Macmillan Agree: You Should Pay More for eBooks

Macmillan printed books and eBooks began to return to Amazon last night following a dispute over Amazon’s $9.99 eBook pricing scheme. Under the agreement, publishers can now raise prices to up to $14.99.

Macmillan, which was later joined by fellow publisher Hachette, requested the price increases over fears that Amazon would undercut its hardcover sales.

Amazon reacted by pulling all Macmillan books, but later conceded to the publisher’s demands. Under the agreed agency model, Amazon will receive 30% commission on sales.

Will you pay up to $14.99 for eBooks? Let us know in the comments.

[via The NYTimes]


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