Weekly Recap of Digital Reading Devices - July 18 to July 25, 2010
In the rapidly evolving world of technology, several exciting developments are on the horizon.
Tablet Renaming and Release
HP has made a significant shift, renaming its Hurricane tablet to the PalmPad, fueling rumours about an upcoming tablet PC from HP based on the WebOS mobile operating system. Meanwhile, Lenovo is preparing to release a tablet PC named the Lenovo Legion Tab Y700 2025 in China towards the end of the year. This device will run on Android 15 with ZUI 16 as the user interface.
E-Reader Market Updates
Amazon has reported a surge in sales for its Kindle 2 E-Reader, with tripled figures since lowering the entry level price from $259.00 to $189.00. In response to this price slash, Barnes and Noble and Sony have also lowered prices on their e-readers.
Sharp is set to offer an e-book distribution service and two new e-reader devices later this year, featuring color touch screens and the ability to watch video and listen to audio content. Toshiba will also be releasing a tablet named SmartPad in October, priced in the $500 mark, filling the gap between unwieldy sets and the costly Libretto W100.
Verizon is planning to launch two e-readers in September, named Entourage. The Chinese version of the HP Slate is expected to be released before the original version. Notably, Verizon will also be releasing a 10.1 inch tablet device later in 2010.
Publishing and E-Book Sales
Amazon has exclusively published works by renowned authors such as William Burroughs, Salman Rushdie, Oliver Sacks, and Philip Roth. The company also reported that it sold three times the number of Kindle titles in the first half of 2010 than in the first six months of 2009. Moreover, the Kindle continues to be the number one selling electronic device on all of Amazon's Websites.
For every 100 hardcover titles sold by Amazon over the past three months, it has dispatched 180 Electronic Books. Barnes and Noble has also joined the digital bandwagon, releasing an Android app for smartphones and tablet PCs.
New Firmware for E-Readers
Kobo E-Readers are now being sold with new firmware, which includes ePub fixes for non-Kobo bought ebooks and a more intuitive LCD light.
Upcoming Tablet PCs
Lenovo is not the only company venturing into the tablet PC market. HP's PalmPad and Lenovo's LePad, both planned for release in China towards the end of the year, are set to join the competition.
Stay tuned for more updates as these exciting new devices make their way into the market.
