Project Gutenberg News

With the introduction of the Stanza eBook reading application the Apple iPhone and iPod Touch have become major platforms on which to read eBooks. Since Stanza was released there have been several other eBook readers released for the iPod Touch allowing eBooks in many different file formats (including the ePub eBook standard) to be downloaded from any one of the many sources that have both free (public domain) and commercial eBook titles.

The goal of my own personal project is to provide Project Gutenberg eBooks formatted in the ePub eBook standard and make freely available from ePubBooks.com. Because of this I knew I would need to test how my conversions look on an iPhone or iPod Touch, therefore I decided to purchase an iPod Touch.

I’m not a fanatic of Apple so as you can imagine, I wasn’t really expecting much from the iPod Touch other to test my ePub formatted books and listening to music.

I won’t go into too many details in this review about the different Apple apps available on the iPhone/Touch (there are already plenty of other reviews like that) as I want to keep this focused on the eBook aspects, specifically targeting Project Gutenberg fans.

During the review I will only be focussing on the iPod Touch but it must be noted that the Touch is exactly the same as the iPhone, just without the cellular phone abilities or persistent internet access. So anything that can be done with the iPod Touch should also be available on the iPhone.
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I had been reading some very interesting things about the BeBook eBook Reader, so when it arrived in the mail, I was not disappointed. On the surface this reader from Endless Ideas BV is pretty much the same as any other. However, once you start to get a little more involved you soon realise that this is a pretty cool device with some great features that make it stand out from the rest.

As with most E-Ink readers the BeBook also uses the newer Vizplex screen technology, which gives a much brighter and faster screen. To help in displaying your books it comes bundled with its own font which gives a very solid text.

There are the normal three sizes of fonts available, although this device implements them in a slightly different way to others. At the maximum zoom setting the display switches to landscape view – this actually makes sense. If you really need the maximum font size then viewing in landscape mode will actually give a more satisfying reading experience, very clever – and particularly useful for those technical PDF documents.

One of the most common issues people have when buying a dedicated reader is regarding eBook formats and whether they will still be able to read their purchases if they change devices in the future. Well, to help relieve these concerns Endless Ideas BV have not only enabled the BeBook to view MobiPocket [DRM protected] eBooks, but also PDF, Microsoft LIT, CHM, ePub, HTML and a plethora of other formats. Giving you more choice in where you buy your books from.

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ECTACO are probably better know for their electronic hand held translators, but now they gone and released their very own reader; the jetBook eBook Reader.

The jetBook does not use an E-Ink screen, however, this does give it an advantage over all the other eBook readers that are currently out there; a crisp and very white screen! One of the issues people have with the current E-Ink (and VixPlex) standard is that the page contrast is not high enough – usually with E-Ink screens you have a light gray background displaying dark gray text, making low light reading a challenge.

Well, if you think this will be an issue then perhaps you would be better suited to a jetBook. These use a reflective monochrome LCD screen so that the background is nice and white, allowing the text to be read much easier.

[The jetBook has] an easy to scan high-resolution 5-inch display and a viewing angle close to 180°, it is fully customizable. Even readers who have difficulty seeing print books will benefit from its adjustable text size and font face. And weighing in at only 7.5 ounces, this handy device fits perfectly into the palm of your hand.

They go on to say that this “revolutionary display reflects light without the need for backlighting”, which according to reviews gives a similar reading experience to an E-Ink screen.

For me however, the most impressive feature of the jetBook is its ability to search and cross-reference the text using bookmarks making it a great choice for dictionaries – I’m not sure if this means you can do a word lookup from within a book. I’ll try to find out and post an update.

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The Amazon Kindle is not only the latest E-Ink book reader to hit the market it also one with the highest profiles. A couple of the biggest differences of the Kindle over other readers such as the Sony Reader (PRS-505) and the Cybook Gen3, are that the Kindle has wireless connectivity and a mini-keyboard.

This wireless connectivity allows the user to access books without the need of a PC, certainly a big plus for the more non-tech of consumers. Using the same 3G network as advanced cell phones, the Kindle delivers content using the Amazon Whispernet wireless delivery system. Unlike WiFi, you’ll never need to locate a hotspot. There are no confusing service plans, yearly contracts, or monthly wireless bills—Amazon take care of the hassles so you can just read.

Along with regular books this new service will allow you to have your newspaper subscriptions delivered via wireless each morning along with magazines. There is also an option for receiving your blog feeds.Becuase all this extra technology will hit the battery life, it may not be for everyone. Without a doubt, the keyboard will be a huge plus for many users.

Three years ago, we set out to design and build an entirely new class of device—a convenient, portable reading device with the ability to wirelessly download books, blogs, magazines, and newspapers. The result is Amazon Kindle.

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The Cybook Gen3 from Bookeen is an ultra-light reading device that uses the E ink® screen technology (VizPlex), giving a paper-like high contrast appearance that is readable even under direct sunlight. As with all E-Ink devices the battery gives a great number of page turns, though the Cybook is a little better than the Sony Reader Digital Book (PRS-505), reaching an impressive 8,000 page turns. The Cybook also reads many different file formats, including the MobiPocket format, and offers access to a wide range of digital documents. In the future the Cybook will also have a firmware upgrade to allow ePub (OPS) files to be read.

Great news is that unlike the Sony Reader, this is available to both North American and European consumers.

Here are the official specs:

• Size: 4.7″ x 7.4″ x 0.3″ / 118 x 188 x 8.5 mm
• Weight: 6.13 ounces / 174 g (battery included)
• Screen: 6″ E Ink® screen, 600×800 pixels, 166 dpi, B&W, 4 grayscale
• Sound: 2.5mm stereo headphone plug
• Controls: 11 buttons (No touchscreen)
• Battery: Rechargeable built-in Li-Polymer battery (1000 mAh) giving 8,000 page flips
• Processor: 200MHz
• ROM memory: 8 MB
• RAM memory: 16 MB
• Storage memory: 64 MB Data Flash
• Formats: HTML, Txt, PRC, PalmDoc, PDF, Secured MobipocketTM
• Connectivity: USB Client (v2.0), Mini USB B connector, SD Card slot

The Cybook eReading Device is now available in a Deluxe version, which comes with a USB Charger, cover, 2 GB SD memory card, Stereo earphones and an extra batter.

Where to buy the Bookeen Cybook Gen3 online

W.H.Smith UK – Cybook Gen3 available for £194.99
Pixmania.com – Cybook Gen3 available for £220

Where to buy the Bookeen Cybook Gen3 online in FRANCE

Pixmania.com/FR – Cybook Gen3 available for 279 EUR

Where to buy the Bookeen Cybook Gen3 online in GERMANY

Pixmania.com/DE – Cybook Gen3 available for 279 EUR

The Reader Digital Book (PRS-505) is the latest electronic book reader to be released by Sony. Now being released in a number of different countries (including U.S., Canada, U.K., Germany, France, Netherlands), eBooks are set to make a big impact on our everyday reading in the very near future.

The current model has some significant improvements over the old PRS-500 model, the most prominent is the update of the E-Ink screen to the VizPlex technology, which gives faster page refresh times and better contrast. There have also been improvements to the button layout and the way the internal library organizes your books.

After a recent firmware update the Sony Reader now supports ePub formatted books (the new eBook standard), Adobe Digital Editions and reflowable PDF. Strong reasons even for owners of the older PRS-500 to upgrade.

What are the most important improvements in the PRS-505?

1. The PRS-505 has a new screen that gives faster refresh times, is also a little brighter and now supports 8 shades of gray.
2. A much improved layout design:
   • Page turn buttons moved the right side of the Reader.
   • The Numerical buttons now match up to the screen numbers so when menus are displayed the appropriate button is to the right of the entry (going top to bottom).
   • The Menu key is now by itself and clearly marked.
   • The Jog stick has been replaced with a four way arrow button and a center Enter button.
3. Books have become easier to search as there are now tools that sort the books into alphabetical groupings for Titles or Authors.
4. Two memory card slots (in parallel) that can support up to 2GB (SD) and 8GB (Memory Stick Duo). Because there are two separate slots the total amount of external storage the PRS-505 can support is now up to 10GB!
5. USB functionality is much improved:
   • Support for the USB 2.0 standard, allowing for faster transfer of data.
   • The PRS-505 can be charged when the battery is fully empty using the USB port of almost any computer, even if there is no software loaded on it. The old PRS-500 needed to be plugged into a PC running pre-installed software before it could charge, and even then it would not charge if the internal Reader’s battery was dead.
6. The Connect Reader software has been replaced with “eBook Library v2.0″, although this looks and works much like the older software. The only noticeable difference with the new software is that the PRS-505 can use its new Auto-sync feature. Please note that the PRS-505 cannot work with the older Connect Reader software.

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UPDATE: The Sony PRS-500 has now been discontinued – its replacement is a big improvement over this version. Check out my article on the Sony Reader Digital Book PRS-505

Possibly one of the most important advancements for eBook readers is the E-Ink® screen technology, and the Sony Reader is the first major commercial device to use it. This technology means reading is almost as natural as reading on paper.

The Reader is very simple to use and provides an excellent reading experience and with a battery life that lasts well over 7000 page turns you won’t be dashing back home to recharge.

Sony currently has well over 10,000 best-seller titles in their CONNECT eBook store, although they presently have very few technology books available (Internet, Programming, Graphics Design, etc.), the E-Ink® technology is constantly improving and once we have large color screens, we may start to see more of these type of book being made available.

Here’s the official Sony blurb;

The Portable Reader offers a new and convenient digital reading experience. It boasts an amazing screen with technology that rivals text on paper. Weighing less than 9 ounces2 and at only 1/2″ thin, it’s more compact than many paperbacks. Plus, it comes with a soft, black cover and software that seamlessly allows you to search and browse thousands of electronic book titles from the Connect? eBookstore and then easily transfer from your PC to your Sony Reader. With built-in memory and multi-format support, you can take many of your favorite titles and documents with you. So compact and convenient, you’ll want to take it everywhere. MP3 & Portable Electronics Portable Reader PRS-500

Sony’s current retail price is: $279.99.

Since buying my Reader in December (2006) my eBook reading experience has certainly improved. Although there are now several other devices on the market (which I haven’t tried yet), I would certainly have to recommend this.

Previously only available direct from China and Taiwan, the STAReBOOK can now be purchased from their first international online shop opened in New Zealand.

• High-resolution, high-contrast E-Ink™ screen (15.2cm (6″) diagonal)
• Light weight
• Quick start up
• Low Power – read up to 10,000 pages on a single charge
• Software to create your own ebooks – including pictures.
• SD card slot expandable up to 1GB
• Can play MP3s while you read

Dimensions: 18.8 x 11.8 x 0.8cm (7.4″ x 4.6″ x 0.31″)
Weight: 176grams (including battery)

Comes complete with earbuds, charger, USB data cable, 512Mb SD card and 64Mb of built-in memory.

The iLiad makes use of the amazing e-Ink screen technology but is more than just a reader. Unlike the Sony Reader the iLiad also allows you to write to the device using a stylus. It is more akin to a PDA than a pure reading device. This feature comes at price; reduced battery life (though still much better than a regular PDA) and higher cost.

Here is what the iRex website says about the iLiad;

What is the iRex iLiad?

The iLiad is a portable device that allows you to read digital content any where at any time.

Comfortable Reading (From Digital Print)

• The Electronic Paper Display technology reads just like normal paper and is perceived as such by the human eye.
• Easy navigation based upon reading behaviour.
• Scalable text. You can change the font size of your text to suit your own reading comfort. (Format and DRM dependant.)

Read…and Write

• Touch screen with stylus.
• Use the iLiad as your notepad.
• Write and comment in articles (format and DRM dependant.)

Mobility and Convenience

• The iLiad is a lightweight device for both indoor and outdoor use.
• Indoor reading: The device is designed for relaxed reading at home and productive reading in the office or workplace.
• Reading outdoors: You are now able to read digital text in full sunlight, just like paper.
• A mobile device: The lightweight iLiad is the size of an A5 document (folded letter sized document) (approximately), with a screen large enough to accommodate nearly all content, but small enough to take with you wherever you go.
• Very low power: You can read three hours a day for more than one week, from the iLiad without recharging the battery.

– irextechnologies.com