The new WikiReader is a $99 portable device from the Openmoko group that stuffs every Wikipedia article into a pocket-friendly traveling companion. While those of us entrenched in technology day in and day out may scoff at the idea of having Wikipedia at the ready (we all have smartphones, remember?), this is something that might be able to make some waves with baby boomers and/or the technically petrified.
I’ll have a hands-on/review this week [UPDATE: see below] but the basic gist is that the unit uses two AAA batteries, a low-power CPU and monochrome touchscreen, and standard microSD cards to house all the articles. It’s not a connected device, either. Everything’s completely offline.
Video: Quick Look at the WikiReader
Updated microSD cards can be sent out via snail mail every few months for a yearly fee of $29 or the entire multi-gigabyte file (specially compressed for the WikiReader) can be downloaded and installed manually for the more technically-inclined.
Photos aren’t shown on the device, unfortunately, but the easy-to-use interface, months-long battery life, and straightforward updating process ought to entice certain consumers interested in all the information that Wikipedia provides without the hassle of full-fledged computers or complicated mobile devices.
The WikiReader will be available shortly on Amazon.com or directly from theWikiReader.com — the official company site.
AA batteries – yay! No planned obsolescence (hear that Apple?) Doesn’t display pictures – boo! I guess that means it won’t display mathematical equations either – double boo.
DON’T PANIC
That is exactly what I thought.
I don’t understand who this would aimed at. I thought the idea of wikipedia is to have updated information all the time. If they have to wait several months for an update this seems to defeat the purpose. If someone can operate this why not just use your computer?
I kinda like it. I can imagine this being a great gift for older people and the like. Being able to give someone a dedicated portable encyclopedia is actually kinda nice. And older folk would probably be keen on the idea since they would be afraid of more complicated gadgets.
1. Find out the date they do their data grab for the device
2. Vandalise articles
You, my friend, have a very great mind
TiniWiki (http://www.tiniwiki.com) has it working on both iPhone and Windows mobile and eBook Readers.
So, instead of paying $99, whey not just pay $7.99 for the content and app with free update for registered users.
They release updates more than twice a year and only sync the changes.
I heard they are releasing Android version soon too.
I am running a copy of it on my device (my friend works there) and it contains references, infoboxes and more. By the look of the WikiReader and other ones, they do not contain all the expanded Wiki Template information such as summaries, geo information and so on.
Two words: iPhone killer.
This is not for TechCrunch readers. This is for the mass of people in the world who don’t spend all day fiddling with technology.
The biggest and best encyclopedia in the world, for $99? It’s like the FLIP for video — dead simple, addressing a truly huge market. Genius.
Of course it will get better after V1, as volume drives down unit costs.
The biggest maybe. the best?
Big can of worms there.
It’s a nice idea. Just the device looks really cheap.
Seems a good idea that has not point, or the opposite.
It looks like a good thing, but the design is really “cheap”.
No-no for me. A connected device with a Kindle-like screen would be OK, but as it is now, it just doesn’t excite me.
with “random” button – amazing timekiller
i want one
iphone killer
really a good portable
This is a waste. What it needs is an over-the-air or wifi updater, or just access wikipedia over-the-air, like Kindle.
Multi-gigabyte file updates? Ever heard of rsync and similar protocols? Diffs? If I ever got this device, I’d want to at a minimum plug it into my computer, download the delta of the latest edits to all of wikipedia, and disconnect.
one question.. WHY?
For those with no/bad internet ? Travel ? Speed while mobile ? Battery life?
You can also get Wikipedia offline for your particular PDA. See http://www.wikipock.com/index.php
Isn’t this kind of what Webaroo was trying to do?
Great Idea! can you imagine if all the less fortunate kids of the world had this? I wonder how much memory is needed to capture a snapshot of all the worlds knowledge (as text)
There could be something here.
Remember back in the day when you put your bad as* kid on punishment and sent him to his room – he had nothing to do but to go read a book or look at the wall. Today, when ever a kid gets on punishment and the parents take away the tv, cell phone and computer – the kid always comes back with the classic, “I need the computer to research stuff for my school paper…” Damn well that kid is looking at nothing but Facebook and http://www.lockerblogger.com.
Well, finally, the parents have the power back – give that snotty little misbehaved kid this Wikireader thing and go tell him to write the paper.
http://www.lockerblogger.com/lockers/pwells
What’s the point? Get an iPhone with Wikipanion or the official Wikipedia app on it…
Cost. $99 for this thing or $2,000+ for JesusPhone + contract.
Progress be damned!
Offline usage of wikipedia is a great idea… I have installed wikipock on my blackberry a couple of months ago and find myself (and my kids) using it quite a lot. Would I buy a dedicated device for an app I can have on my phone? Not quite sure…
This could have potential if I can load up my own data (thinking technical reference documents here). Not sure if that is possible since it says the data is using “special compression” but I can think of a couple really good uses for it in an IT shop. As long as the search rocks that is.
I’m thinking dump wikipedia and add the best from Project Gutenberg to make a nice little ghetto Kindle. =)
I suspect this thing is very hackable and will be properly tampered with. An image of that 4G card would tell a lot.
I’ve heard about Wikipock that does the exact same thing on mobile. I’ve read it works well, I would rather go for Wikipock since I carry my mobile in my pocket everyday. I’m not sure if I would like to carry another device like WikiReader with me…
http://www.wikipock.com
Petrifipedia?
If you are afraid of technology, you should read this blog:
http://digg.com/gadgets/Wikipedia_To_Go_Why_bother
If you are afraid of technology, you should read this blog:
http://theambitious.org/2009/10/13/wikipedia-to-go-why-bother/
I love my wikireader. I’m part of the early community of wikireader fanboys. Join me. Disclaimer: I don’t work at wikireader, but I bought one when the day it came out on amazon.com : )