eReader status checks

Now that the iPad is out and the reviews are flooding the www; it’s a good time to remember some of the other strong players in the market.

Available;

iRex – http://www.irextechnologies.com/

Kindle – http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0015T963C

Nook – http://www.barnesandnoble.com/nook/index.asp?cm_mmc=Redirect-_-nook.com-_-Storefront-_-nook

Sony – http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&categoryId=8198552921644523779&XID=O:sony%20ereader:dg_read_gglsrch

Available but really hard to find;

Fujitsu Flepia – The only full color e-ink style device.  Not in the North American Market Yet.  This link is to a REVIEW - http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/07/hands-on-with-fujitsu-flepia-color-e-book-reader/

Things to look forward to;

Pixel Qi – This company makes screens but are often rumored to be coming out with their own product – http://www.pixelqi.com/

Plastic Logic Que – The original ship estimate was April 2010, that’s now moved out to ‘Summer’ – http://www.plasticlogic.com/ 

Skiff - http://www.skiff.com/skiff-reader.html

enTourage eDGe – This is not a dedicated eReader.  The dual screen (1 standard screen & 1 e-ink screen) make this a working unit - http://www.entourageedge.com/

Units with LCD type screens are not listed.

Pixel Qi – Gizmodo Review

Matt Buchanan reviewed the Pixel Qi for Gizmodo; here are his comments http://gizmodo.com/5443895/e+ink-is-dead-pixel-qis-amazing-transflective-lcd-just-killed-it

But, will the dual function screen kill e-ink?  I’m not sure. 

I see it more as different functions; Paper Books exist happily with big glossy full color magazines.  Neither one is morphing into the other because they don’t fill the same function.  They have both developed independent markets. 

The future of paper publishing is electronic but I don’t believe one type of screen will out compete all others.  Use and function will drive screen development and there will be several choices. 

E-ink is too energy efficient to be pushed from the market and while Pixel has an exciting product, it’s not going to kill e-ink. 

Link for Pixel Qi http://www.pixelqi.com/

—-

The above is an opinion of the Authors.

Pixel Qi and Notion Ink Adam

Nope, not an eReader.  So, why talk about it?

Ah, because the screen is the curious item here.  It’s from Pixel Qi (say ‘chee’) and their one screen does two things; it flips from full color LCD to monochrome grey (mimicking e-ink).  Other offerings are dual screen; two screens each dedicated to one display type, such as the Nook and the enTourage eDGe. 

As much as e-ink and e-paper bring to the eReading experience, we’re still missing color and we love color.  

We especially love animated color and that’s the potential with the Pixel Qi screen.

Notion Ink Adam, showcased at CES 2010, is a Prototype Tablet still in development.  Here are links to more detailed information (note the unit is not available, it is still in development);

Slashgear’s review of the Notion Ink Adam with lots of great pictures (and lots of glare on the prototype screen which I hope they don’t go into production with), http://www.slashgear.com/notion-ink-adam-hands-on-0969281/

Pixel Qi (‘chee’) site, worth surfing around in, http://www.pixelqi.com/

—-

The above is an opinion of the Author’s.© alias Hubbaloo and www.Hubbaloo.wordpress.com, October 2009, to Date. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to alias Hubbaloo and www.Hubbaloo.wordpress.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.