Librarian's eBook Newsletter

New & Forthcoming eBook Products

Over the past few months, details about several new (or at least "new to me") and forthcoming ebook products from around the world have been trickling in. The following is an overview of what's to come in the ebook world.

eBook Hardware:

Estari 2-VU: From the ashes of the failed Everybook EB Journal project comes the latest dualscreen ebook product. Due on the market in the fourth quarter of 2002, the 2-VU device consists of two, side-by-side color LCD screens, each with 15" diagonals. The screens can display two pages of the same ebook, a page from two different ebooks on each screen or a page of notes beside a page from an ebook. The 2-VU comes with a 20 GB hard drive and a 1.6GHz Intel Mobile P4 Processor, running on either Windows 2000 or Windows XP. Communication is possible via ethernet network adapter, 802.11b and Bluetooth wireless, and modem. For those frustrated with the tiny on-screen keyboards on current handhelds and ebook devices, the 2-VU has the capability to function with a wireless keyboard and a standard keyboard via a USB keyboard port, as well as the on-screen keyboard. The system comes preloaded with Acrobat Reader and DocAble Organizer Professional (suite of document management tools). With a rechargeable battery life of only 2 hours, users cannot wander too far from an electrical outlet. Estari expects that the initial users of the 2-VU will be lawyers, engineers and medical professionals, which might explain the hefty price tag of $3,995 reported by the New York Times (4/4/02).

@folio: Out of France comes a different take on the dual screen concept. The two screens on the @folio device are placed back to back, thus turning the device over is the equivalent of turning the page. Although there are no specifications yet available, it appears that the special LCD screens will be very energy-efficient, thereby reducing the size and weight of the battery. No information about pricing and distribution is currently available.

MyFriend: A first-hand report to the listserve ebook-co mmunity indicated that the MyFriend ebook device, manufactured by the Italian company IPM-NET, has graduated from a concept document to a functioning device. Built upon Microsoft Windows CE operating system, the device comes preloaded with several Microsoft software products, including the Microsoft Reader and Pocket Word. Similar in look to the REB1200 with its flexible leather cover, MyFriend weighs approximately 2 lbs and has a 7.5" diagonal color screen. The battery provides 6 hours of use before needing recharging. Texts can be loaded onto the device via an internal modem or through either an IRDA or USB connection with a desktop computer. Possible add-ons include a GPRS module which, in Europe, enables wireless Internet navigation, sends and receives emails and turns the device into a wireless phone. The device is expected to price around $1,200, but there is currently no information if and when the device will be distributed in the United States.

OQO (pronounced Oh-Q-Oh): At the Microsoft Corporation Windows Hardware Engineering Conference 2002 in April was introduced the first "ultra-personal computer." The OQO, developed by a San Francisco company of the same name, is a "full-feature PC" that is small enough to fit into your pocket (4.1" x 2.9" x 0.9"). The device comes with an energy-efficient 4" diagonal color screen and built-in 802.11b and Bluetooth wireless. The device can be docked with a keyboard and monitor, transforming it into a fully-functional desktop computer. The 10GB hard drive is large enough to store thousands of texts and MP3 files, as well as three full-length movies. Currently OQO's Windows XP software is theoretically compatible with the Adobe Acrobat eBook Reader 2.2, Microsoft Reader 2.0 and Mobipocket Reader 4.4. OQO is expected to be commercially available in the second half of 2002 at a price "less than most notebooks."

eBook Software:

Mobipocket Reader 4.4: In April the latest version of the Mobipocket Reader software was released. Initially only compatible with PDAs, the Mobipocket Reader can now be loaded onto any Windows 95, 98, Me, NT4, 2000 and XP desktop computer. Following the leads of Adobe and Microsoft, Mobipocket has developed its own subpixel rendering technology, MobiType, to improve display on PalmOS devices. Another significant feature of the new software is the ability to load ebooks on two different reading devices (PCs and PDAs) at the same time. Moreover, this feature can be retroactively applied to ebooks already purchased.

ICE Book Reader: The features of this ebook software focus specifically on the reading of large text files (.txt, .html, .rtf and .doc). Many aspects of the text display, including font size, color and spacing can all be customized by the user. The text itself can be automatically scrolled on the computer screen anywhere from 1 to 500 lines per second. As a full Unicode application, the software can support any languages available in Microsoft Windows. Free trials of the software are available, with the full version costing $19.95.



	Table of Contents > Main Articles

	New & Forthcoming eBook Products Over the past few months, details about several new (or at least "new to me") and forthcoming ebook products from around the world have been trickling in. The following is an overview of what's to come in the ebook world. eBook Hardware: Estari 2-VU: From the ashes of the failed Everybook EB Journal project comes the latest dualscreen ebook product. Due on the market in the fourth quarter of 2002, the 2-VU device consists of two, side-by-side color LCD screens, each with 15" diagonals. The screens can display two pages of the same ebook, a page from two different ebooks on each screen or a page of notes beside a page from an ebook. The 2-VU comes with a 20 GB hard drive and a 1.6GHz Intel Mobile P4 Processor, running on either Windows 2000 or Windows XP. Communication is possible via ethernet network adapter, 802.11b and Bluetooth wireless, and modem. For those frustrated with the tiny on-screen keyboards on current handhelds and ebook devices, the 2-VU has the capability to function with a wireless keyboard and a standard keyboard via a USB keyboard port, as well as the on-screen keyboard. The system comes preloaded with Acrobat Reader and DocAble Organizer Professional (suite of document management tools). With a rechargeable battery life of only 2 hours, users cannot wander too far from an electrical outlet. Estari expects that the initial users of the 2-VU will be lawyers, engineers and medical professionals, which might explain the hefty price tag of $3,995 reported by the New York Times (4/4/02). @folio: Out of France comes a different take on the dual screen concept. The two screens on the @folio device are placed back to back, thus turning the device over is the equivalent of turning the page. Although there are no specifications yet available, it appears that the special LCD screens will be very energy-efficient, thereby reducing the size and weight of the battery. No information about pricing and distribution is currently available. MyFriend: A first-hand report to the listserve ebook-co mmunity indicated that the MyFriend ebook device, manufactured by the Italian company IPM-NET, has graduated from a concept document to a functioning device. Built upon Microsoft Windows CE operating system, the device comes preloaded with several Microsoft software products, including the Microsoft Reader and Pocket Word. Similar in look to the REB1200 with its flexible leather cover, MyFriend weighs approximately 2 lbs and has a 7.5" diagonal color screen. The battery provides 6 hours of use before needing recharging. Texts can be loaded onto the device via an internal modem or through either an IRDA or USB connection with a desktop computer. Possible add-ons include a GPRS module which, in Europe, enables wireless Internet navigation, sends and receives emails and turns the device into a wireless phone. The device is expected to price around $1,200, but there is currently no information if and when the device will be distributed in the United States. OQO (pronounced Oh-Q-Oh): At the Microsoft Corporation Windows Hardware Engineering Conference 2002 in April was introduced the first "ultra-personal computer." The OQO, developed by a San Francisco company of the same name, is a "full-feature PC" that is small enough to fit into your pocket (4.1" x 2.9" x 0.9"). The device comes with an energy-efficient 4" diagonal color screen and built-in 802.11b and Bluetooth wireless. The device can be docked with a keyboard and monitor, transforming it into a fully-functional desktop computer. The 10GB hard drive is large enough to store thousands of texts and MP3 files, as well as three full-length movies. Currently OQO's Windows XP software is theoretically compatible with the Adobe Acrobat eBook Reader 2.2, Microsoft Reader 2.0 and Mobipocket Reader 4.4. OQO is expected to be commercially available in the second half of 2002 at a price "less than most notebooks." eBook Software: Mobipocket Reader 4.4: In April the latest version of the Mobipocket Reader software was released. Initially only compatible with PDAs, the Mobipocket Reader can now be loaded onto any Windows 95, 98, Me, NT4, 2000 and XP desktop computer. Following the leads of Adobe and Microsoft, Mobipocket has developed its own subpixel rendering technology, MobiType, to improve display on PalmOS devices. Another significant feature of the new software is the ability to load ebooks on two different reading devices (PCs and PDAs) at the same time. Moreover, this feature can be retroactively applied to ebooks already purchased. ICE Book Reader: The features of this ebook software focus specifically on the reading of large text files (.txt, .html, .rtf and .doc). Many aspects of the text display, including font size, color and spacing can all be customized by the user. The text itself can be automatically scrolled on the computer screen anywhere from 1 to 500 lines per second. As a full Unicode application, the software can support any languages available in Microsoft Windows. Free trials of the software are available, with the full version costing $19.95.

	Comments, Questions & Suggestions		Last Updated: