Kindle for iPhone

aha looks like Amazon are playing both sides of the fence, they said they’d offer the Kindle services in non-Kindle devices, but I don’t think anyone expected it to be so soon.

The iPhone app is free, so saves you forking out $360 for a Kindle, it can access all of the eBook content available on Amazon (although strangely you cannot do this through the application itself, you have to use the web browser), the application then copies the files from your account. A terrific feature named Whispersync, keeps your current location in a book in sync with the Amazon servers,  so those that own a Kindle can keep both in sync, including notes. Unfortunately it only reads Amazon’s proprietary formats and is limited to North America, but without having to worry about a hardware distribution chain for the iPhone app, this may be a simple way for Amazon to spread their Kindle market share worldwide, let’s hope so!

more info here:

Google
Washington Post
CNET
Mac World
PC World

Fujitsu Explores eNewspaper potential at cafe

Fujitsu Ltd are testing coloured ePaper readers in a cafe in Japan.

Customers of “Termina Kinshicho Fujiya Restaurant” can pick up the terminals equipped with a color electronic paper module on the tables and browse newspapers and advertisements wirelessly sent to the terminals. The four companies will verify whether the electronic paper module can be accepted as a terminal for reading newspapers and other content, and whether the service can promote sales and boost customer satisfaction.

Users can read the newspapers by operating the terminal while waiting for their orders, or enjoy viewing the advertisements and timetables that are automatically switched to a different screen every several minutes when the terminal is not being operated, such as when the users are eating.

Full story here Tech On

No more newspapers, it’s the law!

OK not exactly, but hey we’re talking newspapers here, and they’re not exactly know for their restraint with sensationalised headlines! Anyway, here’s an interesting link I just picked up on Jeff Jarvis’s blog.

In essence using newspapers to post “Legal Notices” should now be a last resort not the default, as the circulation is deemed too small, or not covering enough of the population to be effective!

In a unanimous decision published Tuesday on the court’s Web site, Associate Justice William Clifford wrote that the practice of putting lawsuit notification in a newspaper began “when newspapers were the only means of print mass communication, and when newspapers were more widely and intensely read than is now the case … Because service by publication has become less likely to achieve actual notice of a lawsuit, it is also less likely to meet the requirements of due process.”

“We are forced to conclude that service by publication was not reasonably calculated to notify the defendant of the action and, although technically compliant with the rules, did not meet the requirements of due process.”

Amazon to reKindle it’s love affair with eBooks

Well it’s not exactly new news, but in case you’ve missed it, it would appear that on Monday 9th, Amazon will eventually announce the Kindle 2, whether they announce the much rumoured free “premium subscription” Kindle is anyone’s guess.

For more info, ahem, “rumours”, check out the links below.

Engadget:
Amazon to host press event at library, innocently whistling when asked about Kindle 2

Citigroup analyst says 500,000 Kindles were sold in 2008

Appleinsider:
Amazon rumoured to introduce Kindle 2 next Monday

Boy Genius Report:
Amazon Kindle 2 may be coming on February 9th

image from Boy Genius Report

1981: Online Newspapers, Now There’s an Idea ; )

There’s more to eBooks than Books!

Here’s an interesting snippet of news, Verizon is looking for eBook Reader partners for it’s Open Development program. This approach would of course take Amazon’s Kindle head on, which is great news for consumers everywhere, but there’s a comment at the end asking can anyone take on Amazon, as they have existing relationships with publishers, but I don’t think that’s a problem.

I don’t see the future of eBook Readers as simply devices that hold numerous published books, that’s a tiny market compared to blogs, news, internal company files & manuscripts. Having a device that can remotely connect and download the latest files off your company servers or collate the news for you from your preferred news networks etc when you’re on the road is a great asset. eBook-Readers will be the mainstay for the business traveler, road warrior or remote technician/support staff, that requires up to date information on a device which batteries won’t run out after only a few hours!

Forget literature & published books, think information, think unpublished content, think business documents, think data retrieval, think user generated content, think open formats, think free content! It’s estimated we read 10 times as much business documentation than we do compared to books for leisure, so Amazon may have relationships with book publishers but there’s a huge untapped market out there waiting to be accessed!

OLED Christmas Tree

Not how you’d normally expect to utilise 15 feet of OLED’s, but the development boys & girls at GE Global Research have created the first ever (at probably last) OLED christmas tree. Who knows, maybe next year they’ll make OLED wrapping paper?

you can get more info here

Foxit eSlick Reader Announced

Foxit Software announced today that it will be selling it’s very own branded eBook Reader, the eSlick Reader for the amazingly low introductory price of only $229.99 (then $259.99), which is incredible when compared to Sony’s eReader $399 and Amazon’s Kindle $359.

The eSlick has a 6 inch, 600×800 pixel screen, which uses the same display technology as the Kindle as supplied by E Ink Corporation. The unit weights just 6.4 ounces (180g) and is only 0.4 inches thick (9.2mm). It has 128meg of memory, capapble of holding hundreds of books, with a battery life of over 8,000 page turns.

The eSlick is expected to ship in 5-7 weeks, but unfortunately will only be available within the US.

For more details visit Foxit Software

Plastic Logic on CNN

Plastic Logic profiled on CNN (it’s a shame we’ll have to wait until 2010 for the Plastic Logic Reader)
Embedded video from <a href=”http://www.cnn.com/video” mce_href=”http://www.cnn.com/video”>CNN Video</a>

Foldable OLED display mobile phone concept

Today at the FPD International Show in Yokohama, Samsung revealed a very interesting concept mobile phone. The standard looking phone, opens like a book to reveal a large colour display, using it’s AMOLED (Active Matrix OLED). Unfortunately this is still a concept, so no details on price or release date for availability.

Could this be the future of eBooks? I think so… I cannot help but be reminded of the Readius by Polymer Vision, while that device uses a 5″ flexible greyscale e-Ink display, and Samsung’s approach is more akin to using a book, they both tackle the same problem of carrying around a large display in your pocket. Sony are also developing a flexible OLED display.