One of the surprising details about the second Kindle Oasis is how it doesn’t have a frontlight where you can adjust the color temperature.

Like my counterpart, before Amazon released the 7" Oasis, I was expecting that their next Kindle would feature an integrated color-changing frontlight. Amazon, Apple, and Google had all added a a similar feature to their reading apps, and Kobo had even released a couple ereaders where you could adjust the color of the frontlight.

Kobo was the first to release an ereader with an adjustable frontlight color, the Kobo Aura One, in late 2016, and then they followed that up with the second-gen Kobo Aura H2O, in the summer of 2017.

And now even the Nook Glowlight 3, and the Tolino Epic, have frontlights where you can adjust the color temperature.

So why not the Kindle?

I myself have never found much use for the feature; yes, changing the light emitted from a screen so it has an orange or reddish tint has been proven to actually help make it easier to get to sleep, but I have found it is just as effective to simply put down the gadget at some point in the evening and then not pick it up again. Plus, I've just never liked the idea; whenever I used it, it felt like a bug rather than a feature, and I kept wanting to "fix" it by returning the colors to normal.

I'd never use this feature, but I could be in a minority here.

How about you? Do you think Amazon should add an adjustable frontlight to the next new Kindle?

You just finished reading Do You Think the Next Kindle Should Have a Have Color-Shifting Frontlight? which was published on The Digital Reader.

Apple has a launch event scheduled next week. The invite suggested that it would focus on the ed tech market, and now it appears that the presentation will center on a price cut for the iPad.

From Bloomberg:

Apple is preparing to introduce new low-cost iPads and education software next week in a bid to win back students and teachers from Google and Microsoft.

In its first major product event of the year, Apple will return to its roots in the education market. The event on Tuesday at Lane Technical College Prep High School in Chicago will mark the first time Apple has held a product launch geared toward education since 2012 when it unveiled a tool for designing e-books for the iPad. It’s also a rare occasion for an Apple confab outside its home state of California.

In Chicago, the world’s most-valuable technology company plans to show off a new version of its cheapest iPad that should appeal to the education market, said people familiar with the matter. The company will also showcase new software for the classroom, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing private plans. Apple declined to comment.

Steve Jobs made schools a priority for Apple early in its life. But as the company has driven toward mass-market and higher-margin products in recent years, Google and Microsoft have had success breaking into classrooms with inexpensive laptops and tablets. Last year, the global educational technology market generated $17.7 billion in revenue, according to research firm Frost & Sullivan.

This is of course only a rumor, but it does make sense and it fits with Apple's past trends.

Apple has cut the price on the iPad several times. The lowest-priced 9.7" model now costs $329, down from $499 when the iPad launched 11 years ago, so it makes perfect sense that Apple could be planning to cut the price again.

This is great news for me. I lost my iPad, in 2016, and now will be a good time to replace it.

You just finished reading Apple to Unveil Lower-Cost iPad Next Week (?) which was published on The Digital Reader.

Amazon has popularized waterproof ereaders, but they are far from the first company to release one. Over the past 4 years quite a few ereaders have been released by a bunch of companies.

The first official release of a waterproof ereader came from Pocketbook, followed by Kobo, Barnes & Noble, and finally Amazon last October.

Here's a list of ereaders that are currently available in various markets around the world.

Amazon

Amazon's flagship ereader, the Kindle Oasis 2, is the first Kindle to have a 7" screen and it is also the first Kindle to be released with waterproofing. It has an IPx8 rating, meaning it is certified for up to 60 minutes immersion in up to 2 meters of water.

Netronix

Netronix makes several waterproof ereaders, including a couple models for Kobo and the previous Nook model.

Barnes & Noble’s last Nook model, the Glowlight Plus, is waterproof and has an IP67 rating. It’s still available on Amazon for $119 (new) and $104 (refurb). B&N sells refurbished units for $79.

Kobo also carries a couple waterproof ereaders made by Netronix. The Kobo Aura One features a 7.8" screen. It has waterproof guts that give it an IPx8 rating, meaning it is certified for up to 60 minutes immersion in up to 2 meters of water.

The Kobo Aura H2O 2 has a smaller 6.8" screen and the same IPx8 rating as the Aura One. Kobo also used to sell the Aura H2O. It had a waterproof shell, but is no longer available.

Waterfi

Watefi is a company that sells waterproofed electronics. They crack open the device, seal the electronics, and then close up the shell, taking such care that you wouldn't even notice it had been opened - until you dunk the gadget in water.

Waterfi sells a waterproof Kindle Paperwhite for $199. It comes with a 1 year warranty and has an IPX8 rating.

Pocketbook

The Pocketbook Aqua 2 is the second waterproof model from this Ukrainian ereader maker. It has an IP57 rating and can handle being submerged in up to 1 meter of water for up to 30 minutes.

Tolino

Tolino has 2 waterproof ereaders, including the 7.8" Epic and the 6" Vision 4HD. Both devices have waterproof guts covered in HZO, giving them protection for 30 minutes of immersion at a depth of 1 meter.

Onyx

This Chinese ereader maker is selling at least one waterproof ereader, the Robinson Crusoe. It has a 6" E-ink screen, and its internal components have been sealed with a coating of HZO.

The Robinson Crusoe is only available in Russia.

You just finished reading Waterproof eReaders Currently on the Market which was published on The Digital Reader.

Amazon may balk at releasing a Kindle with anything larger than a 7" screen, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t any other options for large screen ereaders out there.

There have never been a lot of choices for larger ereaders but we've always had at least a few options. For example, Irex released the first true large-screen ereader in 2006. That was the 8" Illiad, and it was soon followed by other Irex models, and then the Kindle DX in early 2009.

Here’s a roundup of the larger E-ink ereaders that are currently available in March 2018.

Amazon

The Kindle oasis 2 has a 7" screen. That hardly qualifies as a _larger_ ereader, although it technically is larger than the Paperwhite. You can buy the Oasis from Amazon for $249.

Remarkable

Released in late 2017, the Remarkable is a brilliant writing slate with limited ereader abilities. It has beautiful hardware built around a 10.3" screen with a great stylus, but its software is still limited and it is not really a very good ereader.

You can buy one today for $499.

Pocketbook

Pocketbook has released a couple 9.7" and 8" ereaders over the years, but its current plus-sized catalog is limited to only 2 models, the InkPad 2 and the Pocketbook 740 (aka the InkPad 3). The former has an 8" screen, while the latter has a 7.8" screen.

You can find both in Europe.

Boeye (Boyue)

This company has been teasing a 10.3" ereader for a a bout a year before releasing it as the Likebook Note. Alas, they did not update the OS while they perfected the hardware.

Boeye also makes the T80, an 8" ereader that sells for $177, and the Likebook Plus, a model with a higher-resolution 7.8" screen and much better hardware that sells for $213.

FYI: The T80 has also shown up as the Inkbook 8.

Onyx

Onyx has had a lot of large screen ereaders, but most are available in just one market or another, and most models were replaced within a couple years.

• The Boox Chronos, for example, is a 9.7" ereader that is sold only in Russia. It cost $346 when it shipped last September.
• The Boox Note launched in January with a 10.3" screen and a $551 price tag. It can be bought online for $574.
• The Boox Max 2 is Onyx's third flagship 13.3" ereader. It retails for $834.
• The Boox N96 is a 9.7" ereader. It is available as a couple different models with different features, and can be bought for $389.

Netronix

This company makes at least two large-screen ereaders that we know of, and possibly a third (the evidence in inconclusive).

The Kobo Aura One is a 7.8" ereader made by Netronix and carrying the Kobo brand. You can buy it for $229.

Netronix also makes Sony's DPT-CP1 writing slate, but that device hasn't shipped yet, and we really have nothing to go on other than a few details from the FCC paperwork.

Speaking of Sony -

Sony

Sony is still selling its second 13.3" writing slate, the DPT-RP1. This device has two touchscreens, and  retails for $699.

You just finished reading Large eReader Roundup (March 2018) which was published on The Digital Reader.

As expected, Apple launched a new iPad in Chicago on Tuesday, but it's not really cheaper than previous models, although it is also better in several ways.

The new Apple iPad will cost schools $299 (retail is still $329). It has the same 9.7" screen size, bezels, Touch ID sensor, and button placement as before, but it also gains Apple Pencil support, which works the same as it did on the iPad Pro, and it has been updated to the A10 CPU. Like the previous model, the new iPad has an 8MP rear camera, a measly 1.2MP front camera. Weighing in at 1lb, the iPad has 10 hours of battery life.  It also has a gyroscope, and is built for AR, according to Apple.

This tablet is a nice incremental upgrade, which is good news for anyone who bought an Apple iPad recently. Surprisingly, there is no Smart Keyboard connector, which seems like a big mistake given that the iPad has to compete in the academic market with Chromebooks.

The new Apple iPad is available in silver, gold, and space gray, and it is shipping today. Retail is $329, and the Apple Apple Pencil is $99 extra.

O O O

So that's the hardware; what about the software and platform?

From the press release:

Everyone Can Create is a new, free curriculum that makes it fun and easy for teachers to integrate drawing, music, filmmaking or photography into their existing lesson plans for any subject. The new curriculum joins Apple’s successful Everyone Can Code initiative as one-of-a-kind programs for teachers that keep students excited and engaged.

Everyone Can Create is designed to take advantage of the new 9.7-inch iPad and Apple Pencil, so teachers and students can be even more creative.  ...

Apple also announced Schoolwork, a powerful new app that helps teachers create assignments, see student progress and tap into the power of apps in the classroom. Schoolwork builds on the success of Apple’s Classroom app, which is used in schools around the world to help  integrate iPad into the classroom. Schoolwork and Classroom are designed to help teachers and administrators get the most out of integrating Apple technology into schools.

Nifty.

Apple is late to the party, but I am sure their platform will be pretty. Whether it will be pretty useful compared to its many competitors, now that is another question.

You just finished reading New Apple iPad Gains Support for Apple’s Apple Pencil, and Schools Can Get it at a Discount which was published on The Digital Reader.

Kobo's next ereader has shown up on the FCC website, but unfortunately that is just all I can tell you about it right now.

According to the paperwork, the Clara HD is going to be made by Netronix, just like Kobo's previous ereaders. Judging by that one screenshot in the paperwork, it will have an E-ink screen and Wifi, and it will run Kobo's software.

Unfortunately, I cannot tell you the screen size or whether the  Clara HD will be waterproof. But it's worth noting that Kobo's last ereader was the 6.8" Aura H2O2, and before that they released the 7.8" Aura One, which suggests this is a 6" model.

I can't even tell you the launch date with any certainty (the embargo ends in September, leaving a long possible launch window).

But I can tell you this first of April that Kobo has a new ereader coming.

I can't wait to see it, can you?

FCC

You just finished reading Kobo Clara HD Clears the FCC which was published on The Digital Reader.

Over the past several months a number of sources have claimed that Apple was about to get serious about competing in the ebook market. I discounted the reports as baseless clickbait hype, but it would appear I was wrong.

A trusted source has sent me several photos of Apple's first ebook reader, as well as a lot of information on what it can do.

Yes, you read that right; Apple is going to release an ebook reader. It will be called the Apple Reader, and it will have a next-gen Domino 7.9" E-ink screen.

The Domino E-ink screen hasn't been announced yet, but I am told it is nearly twice as fast as existing E-ink screens, and with a resolution of 450 ppi, it is also significantly sharper. Apple has reportedly been customizing this screen for over three years, and my source says it has an improved frontlight and a touchscreen so sensitive that you could write calligraphy on it.

The Apple Reader is currently running a modified version of iOS which includes the iBooks app and Apple's office suite but will not include support for most apps. Apple is optimizing for the screen's performance, rather than trying to make the Apple Reader as capable as possible.

The Apple Reader will not have a speaker, but it will have Wifi and Bluetooth, and  you will be able to stream Apple Music.

Apple Reader owners will also enjoy Apple's new subscription ebook service, the Apple Library. Apple's alternative to Kindle Unlimited will have a million titles in it at launch, including ebooks from three of the Big Five trade publishers.

The Apple Library will cost $9.99 a month.

So when can we expect this beautiful device to reach the market and throw Amazon off-kilter?

That I do not know for certain. I was told that the Apple Reader was supposed to be announced last week and scheduled to ship this fall, but the Apple Reader was pulled from the event at the last minute.

Your guess is as good as mine as to when the Apple Reader will be announced, but I do, however, have a small bonus for you; Apple is also testing a 6" ereader, the Apple Reader mini.

It is a less amazing but also more pocketable alternative to the Apple Reader, and it might be launched at the same time.

P.S. April Fools.

P.P.S. The device shown in the first couple photos is the Boyue Likebook Plus, a Chinese ereader than has a 7.8" screen. The second model is the T62, a 6" ereader also from Boyue. Both devices run Android, and what you see on the screen are screenshots from my friend Juli Monroe's iPad Mini.

It is amazing what you can do with screenshots, isn't it?

You just finished reading Apple Reader to Feature a 7.9″ E-ink Screen, Will Ship With Apple Library Subscription eBook Service which was published on The Digital Reader.

New York City's most famous bookstore is getting into the ereader market.

The Strand has announced that their first ereader will be called the Strindle. Boasting that the Strindle will "never runs out of battery - it's powered by the white-hot rage of book lovers all over the world", the Strand says their ereader will:

• Search our 18 miles of e-books for a title
• Add that book to your library
• Or a book pretty similar to that book
• Or a book a Strand employee says is way better than that book
• Plus six or seven other books you didn't know you wanted but now have

The Strindle has unique hardware features not found on any other ereader, including a rear screen that automatically displays the title of a very impressive and grown-up book - whether you're actually reading it or not.

You can find more info on the Strand's website.

You just finished reading Strand Bookstore Launches Its First eReader, the Strindle which was published on The Digital Reader.

Amazon Prime members can get a big discount on select Kindle and Fire tablet models right now. Amazon has knocked $20 to $40 off most models, including the basic Kindle, the Paperwhite, and several Fire tablet models. Amazon even has a bundle where you can get the Fire HD10 and an Echo Dot for $149 (a discount of over $100).

• Kindle - $49
• Kindle Paperwhite - $79
• Fire tablet - $35
• Fire HD8 - $55
• Fire HD10 - $110

You can find more deals on Amazon's website.

You just finished reading Kindle, Fire Tablets On Sale for Prime Members which was published on The Digital Reader.

Thanks to a tip from a reader I am pleased to report that Onyx has revealed the new devices they will be showing off at the Hong Kong Electronics Fair in the coming weeks.

There are only a couple new ereaders in the brochure (PDF) beside the models previously announced, and that means we probably won't be seeing much in the way of new hardware this year.

The brochure mentions the following existing models:

• Onyx Boox Nova
• Onyx Boox Kepler
• Onyx Boox Max 2
• Onyx Boox Note Pro

Onyx is also going to show off the e-Music Score, a device that is basically just a white Max 2 turned on its side and given more storage.

e-Music Score

• CPU: 1.6GHz quad-core
• Screen: 13.3" Mobius Carta, 2200 x 1650 resolution
• OS: Android 6.0
• RAM: 2GB
• Storage: 128GB
• Touchscreen: Wacom stylus, capacitive touch
• Connectivity: Wifi, BT
• Ports: microHDMI
• Speaker, mic
• Battery: 4.1Ah
• Size: 325 x 237 x 7.5mm
• Weight: 550 grams

The image in the brochure also shows little foot pedal page turn buttons, which is nice. It's kinda weird, though, that the e-Music Score is shown in landscape orientation; sheet music is usually displayed in portrait orientation, so one would think that the digital version would follow suit.

Onyx also showed off a new 9.7" ereader called the Onyx Boox Note S. It has a new OS, but an old low-res screen.

Note S

• CPU: 1.6GHz quad-core
• Screen: 9.7", 1200 x 825 resolution
• Frontlight: optional
• OS: Android 6.0
• RAM: 1GB
• Storage: 16GB, microSD card slot
• Touchscreen: stylus, capacitive touch
• Connectivity: Wifi, BT
• Ports: microHDMI
• Speaker, mic
• Battery: 2.8Ah
• Size: 249 x 177 x 8mm
• Weight: 380 grams

The other new device is the Onyx Boox Poke. At first glance this looks like a budget model, but it actually has better specs than the Kepler.

Onyx Boox Poke

• CPU: 1.2GHz quad-core
• Screen: 6", 1448 x 1072 resolution with frontlight
• OS: Android 6.0
• RAM: 1GB/512MB
• Storage: 8GB
• Touchscreen:capacitive touch
• Connectivity: Wifi
• Battery: 2.5Ah
• Size: 156 x 110 x 6.8mm
• Weight: 146 grams

thanks, Hüseyin! 

You just finished reading Onyx to Launch the Poke eReader, e-Music Score at the Hong Kong Electronics Fair which was published on The Digital Reader.

Amazon rolled out an update today for late-model Kindles.

One could look at the version number and conclude this is a major update, but according to Amazon they only added one new feature:

• You can now make multiple highlights with fewer clicks by turning off the highlight menu from Reading Settings.
• Performance improvements and other general enhancements.

The update can be installed on the Oasis, Voyage, the second and third Paperwhites, and the latest generation basic Kindle.

You could wait for Amazon to send it to your device, but you can also download and install it yourself by visiting the Amazon website.

You just finished reading Kindle Firmware Update 5.9.5 Improves Highlighting Functionality which was published on The Digital Reader.

This morning found me eagerly refreshing the FCC website, waiting for the embargo to be lifted on Sony's new DPT-CP1, but now it turns out we don't have to bother.

The new Sony digital paper that showed up on the FCC website last month is now listed on Sony's site in Japan. It is a 10.3" writing slate, just like the one that Sony was polling consumers about last year.

The Sony DPT-CP1 features a 10.3" E-ink screen (resolution 1404 × 1872). Built by Taiwan OEM Netronix, this writing slate has a capacitive touchscreen with matching stylus. It runs Sony's software on a Marvell IAP 140 quad-core CPU with 16GB internal storage, and can connect over Wifi, Bluetooth, or NFC.

Weighing in at 240 grams (almost as light as the Kindle Paperwhite), the CP1 measures 174.2 × 243.5 × 5.9 mm and has a battery life of about a month.

It only supports PDF, of course.

This device is in many ways a smaller copy of the Sony DPT-RP1; both devices have the same CPU, software features, and connectivity, but CP1 is missing at least one key detail: it doesn't have the dual touchscreens found on the RP1.

That could mean this model will be significantly cheaper than the CP1 when it ships this summer.

You just finished reading Sony DPT-CP1 Features a 10.3″ E-ink Screen which was published on The Digital Reader.

Chinese ereader maker Onyx was less than forthcoming when they announced their new models last week; they left out the most interesting model.

Onyx is working on a Kindle Oasis clone called the Ligo. While it has very similar specs to Onyx's other new ereader, the Poke, the Ligo takes after the Oasis by having page turn buttons only on one side of the screen.

The Poke and the Ligo run Android 6.0 on a quad-core 1.2GHza CPU with 512MB or 1GB RAM and 8GB internal storage. They have a 6" E-ink screen with frontlight and screen resolution of 1448 x 1072.

Both ereaders have a 2.5 Ah battery and Wifi, and they have been cursed with a USB type-C port. They ship with Google Play Store pre-installed, which will then allow you to install thousands of Android applications including the most popular for reading: Aldiko for the Epub, but also Kindle, Kobo, and Tolino.

You can see the Poke and the Ligo in the video below (the Ligo is shown at 2:10).

Notebook Italia

You just finished reading Hands On with the One-Handed Onyx Boox Ligo (video) which was published on The Digital Reader.

It looks like the promised Onyx e-Music Score is less a real device than a placeholder for a similar device from one of Onyx's partners. At the very least there was no sign of the e-Music Score at the Hong Kong Electronics Fair last week, but several sightings of the Padmu.

This is a large-screen ereader from an Italian company, Outering. It is based on the older Onyx Boox Max Carta model (not the newer Max 2), comes with either one or two 13.3" E-ink screens, and costs $883 or $1754 USD.

That is considerably more expensive than the Max Carta Max 2, which costs $550 on Amazon, but on the upside the Padmu ships with custom software designed for displaying sheet music. There's also a PadMu Controller app for Android which you can use to control the device remotely and open and close files.

I really don't see a reason to spend the extra $300 for the single screen Padmu rather than get the Max Carta; you can get nearly the same functionality out of the Max Carta by pairing it with one of the following BT foot pedals and using the Max carta to display PDFs:

• AirTurn DUO
• AirTurn PED PRO
• iRig BlueTurn

And if you can afford the double screen unit then I think I just found my long lost cousin.

You just finished reading The Padmu Sheet Music Reader Features a Pair of 13.3″ Screens (videos) which was published on The Digital Reader.

Kobo gives readers a nearly infinite number of different ways to tweak their reading experience so it's perfect. We can change the margins to either leave a pleasant amount of whitespace or to save as much screen real estate as possible, we can adjust line heights to the optimum setting for our reading comfort, and we can even install the font of our choosing.

Just about the only option Kobo does not give readers is a night reading mode. This is the name given to when you display white text on a black background so that when you read in the dark, it feels like there's less light shining in your face (this could be readers tricking themselves, but that is how it feels).

Fortunately, there is a way to enable night mode on Kobo ereaders, including the Aura H2O and the Aura One, but there is a catch: You have to change a system setting for your ereader to make it switch to white text on a black screen. There's no easy way to toggle it on and off, which means you have to be willing to use night mode all the time.

If you want to do that, you'll need a USB cable, your Kobo ereader, and a PC.

How to Invert the Background and Font Color on Kobo eReaders

1. The first thing you need to do is connect your ereader to your PC with the USB cable, and then open the file manager on your computer.
2. Find the ".kobo" folder, open it, and then open the "kobo" folder found inside it.
3. Select the "Kobo eReader.conf" file, right-click it, and choose the option to edit the file. (Notepad on Windows is a good option, although I usually use an app called Textpad).
4. After you have the file open, you will need to scroll down and add a couple lines of text to the end of the file. Make sure it is written exactly like this on two lines:
   [FeatureSettings]
   InvertScreen=true
5. Once you have added the lines of text, save the file, eject your Kobo ereader, and reboot the ereader (hold down the power button until it turns off, and then press it again to restart it).

After your ereader boots, you should be able to see that the night mode setting has taken effect. If you don't see it, reboot the ereader, and then repeat the above steps.

You just finished reading How to Get Night Mode (White Text & Black Background) on Kobo eReaders which was published on The Digital Reader.

The Iranian ebook retailer Fidibo has joined the small but not-too-exclusive club of ereader licensees (Kobo, B&N, Tolino, and ArtaTech are also members).

Fidibo launched a new ereader this week, the Fidibook  Hannah F1, a device that quite obviously was designed and built by Chinese company Boeye, or Boyue.

The  Hannah F1 features a Carta E-ink screen, and runs Android on a dual-core 1GHz CPU with 512MB RAM. It ships with 8GB internal storage, a microSD card slot (up to 64GB cards supported), Wifi, and comes with page turn buttons on either side of the screen. Its 6" screen sports a resolution of 1024 x 758, and it has both a capacitive touchscreen and a frontlight.

The Hannah F1 is supported by an ebookstore that currently has 100,000 titles in Persian, Arabic, English, French, Spanish, Italian, German, Dutch, and Portuguese.

It will be sold online and in stores with a retail price of about $130 USD. This puts the Hannah F1 in the same price range as the Kindle Paperwhite, only with a lower resolution screen and a much smaller ebookstore.

Teheran Times via TNPS

You just finished reading Fidibo Launches a Re-Branded Persian-Language Boeye eReader in Iran which was published on The Digital Reader.

During Audible's early years it would frequently offer discounts or bundles that combined an MP3 player and an Audible subscription.

Those bundle offers petered out over the years, although Amazon has offered a new one every once in a while. In their latest offer, you can get a free basic Kindle with the purchase of a 1-year Audible membership. The device in question is not as good as the Paperwhite, but it does have Bluetooth and supports audiobooks.

The way it works is that you visit the offer page on the Audible website, click the button to subscribe to Audible for one year at $130 ($20 off the regular annual price). After the order is processed,  you’ll get a credit of $80 you can apply toward a Kindle.

The offer is good until 4 May, and it is open to new customers only.

You just finished reading Audible is Giving Away a Kindle With New Annual Membership which was published on The Digital Reader.

Mother’s Day is next week here in the US, and Amazon is holding a sale in the hopes you will get a special someone an ereader, tablet, or smart speaker.

Both the Kindle and the Fire tablets are $10 to $20 off, and you can also find deals on the Fire TV stick.

Kindle

• Kindle (2017) - $59
• Kindle Paperwhite - $99

Fire tablet

• Fire 7 tablet - $39
• Fire HD 8 - $59
• Fire HD 10 - $119
• Fire 7 Kids Edition - $79
• Fire HD 8 Kids Edition - $99

Fire TV 

• Fire TV Stick (1080p) - $29
• Fire TV (4K) - $49
• Fire TV Stick + Echo Dot - $65

Alexa devices

• Echo Dot - $39
• Echo Dot 2-pack - $59
• Echo (2nd-gen) - $84
• Echo Tap - $99
• Echo Spot - $109
• Echo Show for $159

You just finished reading Fire Tablet, Kindle on Sale for Mother’s Day which was published on The Digital Reader.

Jezetek is a little-known mobile device subsidiary of a Hong Kong-based electronics firm. The company had previously focused on smartphones, but about two years ago they branched into dual-screen smartphones (like the Yotaphone) and then ereaders.

About four months back they started showing off ereaders. You won't find them on the Jezetek website, but Notebook Italia found them at trade shows in Asia.

The second video is short on detail, but the first one shows the Jezetek P78C, which has a 7.8" screen with a cap active touchscreen and a color-changing frontlight.

Later in the video we get to see the P10C with its 10.3" screen. The neat thing about  this model is it’s the first 10.3" ereader demoed with a frontlight, and the lighting actually looks nice and even on the large screen. The Remarkable, Sony DPT-CP1, and other current 10.3" models don't have frontlights, so that would make it unique.

Jezetek has a new 13.3" model too, the P133A.

All 3 models run Android 4.4.2 on a Freescale  CPU with 1GB RAM and 8GB internal storage. The P78C and P10C both have iMX6 CPUs, but the P133A has the new iMX7 CPU.

Jezetek 10.3", 13.3"

Jezetek 10.3", 6.8" ereaders

Jezetek

You just finished reading Hands On With Jezetek eReaders, Including 13.3″, 10.3″, and 7.8″ (video) which was published on The Digital Reader.

Does anyone else think that ereader designs have gotten, well, rather boring?

I was looking at the new Jezetek ereaders this morning when I couldn't help noticing how similar they looked to all other Kindle competitors out there. They were basic black rectangles with a screen and a few buttons, just like Onyx and Kobo's devices.

When the eReader scene was new, every device looked distinct, and many were styled to look good. Now, except for the Kindle Oasis, they don't.

In the early years each device maker went for a unique style in part due to the need to integrate buttons, and Kobo and Barnes & Noble even boasted about hiring designers. But now that everything is touch sensitive, even iPads have a sameness about them.

It's true that my Kobo Aura H2O2 feels different to hold when compared to my Paperwhite, but visually they're both black rectangles. Most visual differentiation between brands is in the back of the device.

What would you like to see in future ereaders to help them stand out from the crowd? Are features the only things that matter? What about software?

via MobileRead

You just finished reading It’s 2018: Why Are So Many eReader Designs So Boring? which was published on The Digital Reader.