Nicholas is live at the Barnes & Noble Irex reader event and will report back what he’s seeing including, but not limited to, information on the e-reader. Watch this post for more details as they emerge.
11:42 – Ok folks, the Wi-Fi connection here at the New York Historical society is rubbish, so I’m literally “e-mailing” the guys my live reactions.
Better stuff a-comin’ later in the afternoon.
Today IREX, which is a Philips offshoot, is showing off its latest e-reader, the DR 800SG. It’s got an 8.1-inch screen (the Kindle 2′s is 6 inches), and is optimized to be used with a stylus. There’s a little bar on the left-hand side that you use to turn pages. Oh, and IREX partnered with Barnes and Noble, so all those e-books you buy from there work on the reader.
11:47 – Verizon Wireless provides the 3G wireless, which I’m not sure yet if you have to pay for extra. The Barnes and Noble dude is on stage now, and immediately opens with a joke: “Well I want one!” There’s very little laughter.
Let’s see, while he’s patting himself on the back, let’s look at some of the other specs. It comes with 2GB of storage, which should hold around 1,500 books. And, unlike certain other e-book readers, it supports PDF (and EPUB, and Newspaper Direct, and Fictionwise), which should be good news for those of you who browse alt.binaries.e-books.
11:50 – The Verizon Wireless man is now talking, Mr. Tony Lewis. He’s talking about how “open” Verizon Wireless has become. Mmmhmmm. VZW is, however, “thrilled” to partner with IREX. He seems more genuine than other suits I’ve seen over the years, so take that for what it’s worth.
VZW is all about finding new opportunities for folks to use the VZW network. “Thank you for the opportunity” with the partnership.
11:51 – Best Buy, which I’m still boycotting, will sell the IREX reader. Can you buy the Kindle in Best Buy? I don’t think so, but I could well be wrong. All that means is that, when you walk into a Best Buy this shopping season, you’ll have Best Buy staff explain to you how “cool” the device is.
11:59 – Oh, duh, the price. It comes out in October for $399 at “select” Best Buy stoes, whatever that means. VZW is totally free. The cost of the device covers the cost of VZW
network access. So just like the Kindle.
VZW just said nothing is off the table vis-a-vis releasing a subsidized model of the reader, or a different model altogether. So just like your VZW phone really costs $8 billion, but you get it on the cheap with a 2-year contract, that MAY OR MAY NOT happen in the future.
The Irex Press Release:
IREX TECHNOLOGIES TURNS THE PAGE ON EREADERS WITH NEW 8.1-INCH CONSUMER DEVICE
NEW YORK, Sept. 23, 2009 – IREX Technologies today wrote a new chapter in digital reading, combining technology that provides a traditional reading experience with an open approach to buying and transferring content. The company unveils the IREX DR800SG – a sleek, 8.1-inch, touch-screen eReader that offers multi-mode 3G wireless capabilities.
Complementing the modern design of the device, users can purchase books, newspapers or magazines from a wide variety of sources. In addition, IREX supports multiple formats including industry standard ePub format and multiple DRM solutions, rather than a single, “closed” proprietary format that locks content to a specific device.
The IREX device is supported by key partners Barnes & Noble, Inc., Best Buy, Qualcomm and Verizon Wireless, which together provide access to the content, retail presence and the most reliable wireless network in the country, setting the DR800SG apart in an increasingly competitive market.
“Consumers are ready for eReaders, but the device is only one piece of the equation. People want an enjoyable, easy reading experience with no-hassle access to content. IREX’s strategy – based on giving consumers choice – and the partnerships we have in place make it easier for them to purchase a device, access content and enjoy it wherever they are,” said Kevin Hamilton, North American CEO of IREX Technologies. “IREX has been a driving force behind the evolution of eReaders since its founders invented e-paper display technology based on E Ink Corporation’s electronic ink. With the DR800SG, we bring to market all that readers have been asking for: a stellar device that puts the reader in the driver seat with regard to where they buy content and what they do with it.”
IREX teams with industry leaders
The IREX device includes the Barnes & Noble eBookstore from Barnes & Noble, the world’s largest bookseller, giving users access to more than 750,000 titles, including new releases and bestsellers at $9.99. Barnes & Noble expects its eBookstore (www.bn.com/ebooks) will increase to well over one million titles within the next year, inclusive of every available eBook and eBook originals from book publishers.“The Barnes & Noble eBook strategy is very much aligned with IREX’s approach to the market,” said William J. Lynch, president of BN.com. “IREX’s open platform, powered by Barnes & Noble’s comprehensive eBookstore, is an appealing proposition for people who love to read. Barnes & Noble is the world’s largest bookseller, so we understand how to create a great shopping experience for people looking for simple and convenient access to their favorite subjects, authors and material.”
3G wireless connectivity for the IREX device is powered by Verizon Wireless’ network – the nation’s largest and most reliable wireless network. With wireless connectivity, customers can purchase and quickly download an eBook from an airport gate, couch or coffee shop – without being tethered to a PC.
“Verizon Wireless invests heavily in its network to provide consumers with the best wireless experience possible, regardless of whether they’ve purchased a device directly from us or are using one of the devices certified through our open development program,” said Tony Lewis, vice president of open development for Verizon Wireless. “Our 3G network enables IREX devices to quickly access content in more places, giving IREX customers a distinct advantage over customers with other eReader devices.”
The IREX device also leverages the Gobi™ multi-mode 3G embedded module which contains Qualcomm’s mobile broadband technology for connectivity to 3G networks around the world. The IREX DR800SG is the first eReader to leverage Qualcomm’s technology to support global connectivity enabling the device to be activated in any market. The IREX DR800SG will launch in Europe the first half of 2010. Additionally, users will have the ability to download content to the device while traveling abroad next year.
“Wireless connectivity has the potential to enhance many aspects of everyday life, and the IREX DR800SG is an example of the type of flexibility and enhanced user experience that can be delivered through 3G,” said Barry Matsumori, vice president of product management for Qualcomm CDMA Technologies. “Qualcomm’s Gobi technology will bring a new level of freedom to consumers using the DR800SG worldwide.”
Best Buy will carry the DR800SG at select stores beginning later this fall. Giving users access to the device through a retailer recognized for providing hands-on interaction with technology will drive increased awareness and understanding of eReaders, as potential buyers can see, touch and even test the product – a must do for consumers buying an eReader device.
Key product specifications
· Big screen, compact design – some competitive devices offer a similarly-sized device but with a much smaller display area. IREX’s 8.1-inch screen is ideal for books, magazines and newspapers with detailed graphics.
· Purpose-built device – the DR800SG uses the latest electronic paper display technology to deliver an experience that is closer to reading ordinary paper than possible with a netbook or tablet device. It also has longer battery life and is lightweight.
· Easy navigation – the device turns pages faster than competing products, and navigation is easy with an interactive touch screen and straightforward buttons. Users can search their library or add a bookmark with a tap of a stylus or skim an eBook with a touch of a thumb.
· Customized reading – users can enlarge or reduce text size and margin widths or select portrait or landscape mode to suit their preferences.“The availability of new devices that empower consumers with the freedom to purchase content from a variety of sources will be a major driver to the success of the digital publishing market,” says Allen Weiner, research vice president, Gartner. “Sleek devices with consumer-friendly features – including the capability to purchase content on the go – that support open eBook standards will introduce the eBook experience to an entirely new generation of readers. Publishers, who have been on the sidelines waiting for market maturity, will now be inspired to become eReader evangelists.”
Pricing and availability
The IREX DR800SG with a leather cover will be available in October at select Best Buy locations. The device has an MSRP of $399.99. Wireless access to download content is included in the cost of the DR800SG and no contract is required.
Interesting.
is the stylus necessary? what if I lose it? Can I touch the screen with say – my finger? Or maybe a 16 penny nail? Ugh I am so critical.
iRex uses WACOM tablet.
Pros:
- It’s not touch-sensitive, so you can rest your hand on the tablet when writing = natural writing position.
- I own the former iRex models iLiad and 1000S. Excellent display with no glare whereas touch-models have inferior quality(contrast.
Cons:
- Expensive.
- You need a pen, finger won’t work. You can use a standard WACOM pen though, not an iRex specific one.
Wow! Very nice.
oh duh – would help if I read the whole article first before lashing out. LOL
Where is my coffee!
Good device, but it needs a more catchy name.
Yes like Plastic Logic Reader…
You know, one of these bundled with a wireless contract would be a pretty good way to push them, working with a phone company seems a good move to me.
I think this looks the ebook reader for me, after getting to play with one. Only thing I really want to know is weight and image quality now
So it sits right between the Kindle 2 and the DX; $100 more expensive than the Kindle but with 2″ bigger screen, $100 less than the DX, but with a 2″ smaller screen. I like the overall size though – looks about the same as a standard Kindle 2. Native PDF support is good, though at only 8″ it’s not likely to actually look all that great – the reason the DX is better for that is that is closer to the size of an actual textbook page, and it has the same width (when held sideways) as a standard 8.5″ x 11″ page, so diagrams etc are uncompressed.
Could be interesting. I’m not sure it’s worth the price to upgrade from the Kindle, but for people looking for a bigger screen without that much added bulk, it looks like a fine addition to the ever-growing market of ebook readers.
Note to Jeff: you need to add epub support or the competition will eat you alive.
If this is anything like the irex readers available in the UK then one big difference from the Kindle is that it has a touch-screen and you can actually take notes on the thing (hence the need for a stylus). This could be a killer app and is probably the main reason for the price difference with the Kindle.
Good point – the touchscreen might be pretty handy, though I’d have to see it in action since I actually think the keyboard on the Kindle is good for notes since I can actually read what I write, unlike my handwriting…
+1 on the freehand notes. School? Check. Business? Check.
I am unhappy owner of Irex DR 1000. This is the worst combination of software + hardware you can imagine, battery life is horrible (less than 6-8 hours), you have to reboot device a lot, because it crashes a lot, sometimes it does not boot at all and you have to repeat this procedure several times. Just the piece of garbage.
This stuff is interesting, but my thesis is that whereas Kindle and iRex seem to be predicated on the construct of the book as less than the current experience (i.e., mostly text), the industry is headed for a full-blown re-boot that takes advantage of interactivity, touch/tilt, social engagement, movies, pictures, animation and sound, a topic that I expound upon in:
Rebooting the Book (One Apple iPad Tablet at a Time)
http://bit.ly/zOoEu
Check it out, if interested.
Mark
She should shut her mouth already and just get on In life…
The Verizon access isn’t actually “just like the Kindle” because the Kindle has 24/7 free access to the entire NET (slow as it might be on non-mobile-optimized sites). It has email and web access.
The iRex will give you a direct link to Barnes & Noble and to the Newspapers Direct, which is limited but all that some peple will want.
In-Stat’s survey showed that most today want email and Net connectivity in an e-reader and the Kindle’s so far the only one that has and will have it. (Some won’t want those features.)
The screen of the iRex is an odd size – makes a non-pocketable device but one too small for easy PDF reading (the almost 2-inch larger Kindle DX is already not quite large enough…
I did more feature comparisons last night at http://bit.ly/irexstone
Interesting times! Am looking fwd to Apple’s, the Asus one, and the new Microsoft tablet also.
– Andrys
Complete and utter bollocks. $400 for a B&W screen and a device thta does ONE Fucking thing. Oh I’m sure BB employees will tell how cool that is.
Or, you can buy a netbook with W 7 and surf in color read your email write a novel and read ebooks using PDF, Mobipocket, or even MS reader for less than $300 like I do
No word about, and no pictures indicating, a built-in browser?
Brian, they mention only a ‘direct link’ to the B&N store and to Newspapers-Direct.
Unlimited to those two places, is what I’ve read.
Very much like the Sony Daily Edition will have a direct link to the Sony Store.
And Plastic Logic is planning the same kind of access. No web browsing. No email.
As the iRex CEO said today, ““We’ve tried to create as neutral as possible device – without any whistles and bells and what have you.”
They make a virtue out of that — as when Plastic Logic said they will have no web browser or email because they want their business users to have “no interruptions.”
Good news about the iRex! The $489 price tag for the Kindle DX needs to come down a bit since a laptop can be a good substitute for readuing e-books. Would you believe that eBay has the Kindle DX pricing from $488 up to an unbelieveable $999.95!! Amazon needs a worthy competitor in the e-Reader product line. I hope that the DR800SG is it.
What happened to the $399.00? Best Buy has it for $449.00. Who gets the extra $50? I know who gets the shaft!