Mirasol Ereader With Color e-Paper Teams With Korea’s Kyobo

Qualcomm has come out strong with the new e-paper technology in their Mirasol Ereader.

The display offers color, video capability and, best of all, a battery life of up to 3 full weeks, which monochrome ereaders should already be accustomed to. With a 5.7-inch (1024 x 768) display, the Mirasol ereader uses front-light LED technology that both makes ereader useable in darkness, and at the same time makes it easier to use in direct sunlight. It is far superior to backlit devices when reading at the beach, for example. The refresh rate is another improvement in this model, and shouldn’t leave anyone frustrated.

Kyobo is Korea’s largest bookseller, and started the Mirasol-based Kyobo ereaders off at around $300 retail.

The Kyobo eReader delivers three weeks of battery life by assuming use of 30 min of use each day, WiFi Off, standby power the rest of the time. In addition, 25% front light brightness is used.

This doesn’t mean that the screen is darker at all. The new display technology works by reflecting ambient light, and in darker environments uses an integrated reading light. By taking advantage of existing light, and supplementing as necessary, the battery demands for light are greatly reduced.

Mirasol is hitting the Korean and Chinese markets first, but it shouldn’t be too long before we see these products Stateside.

Kobo Refurbished Ereaders Sold Out at $49

Kobo Refurbished EreaderKobo offered a limited supply of refurbished Wifi ereaders for $49, and promptly sold out. Just in case, though, there is a link where you can sign up to be notified when they get more (which is likely).

According to the website:

What is a Refurbished eReader? Its an eReader that Kobo has returned to its original specification and tested to ensure it looks and operates just like a brand new eReader.

So, be the first to know the next time they try this, and get yourself a bargain ereader.

Ereaders Awards

Posted originally on: June 15, 2011

Ereaders AwardsThe biggest, the lightest, the fastest, the cheapest… which ereaders have earned these honors?

Luckily enough, we can find out for you here. While there are many reasons to choose one ereader or another, and most of those reasons depend on the uses you intend for it, and your lifestyle, these uniquely performing champion ereaders will give you food for thought…

 

Which Ereader has the largest screen?

We start with a huge tie here for third place. Many leading models come in at 9.7 inches. While not exactly John Holmes territory, it’s a size that most of us have been trained to be comfortable with thanks to the paperback publishing industry. The Kindle DX, the iPads, Entourage Edge, PocketBook Pro, and Boox M90 all have equally matching girth.

Thanks goodness for the iRex Digital Reader 1000, with its bold 10.2 inch e-ink screen. Notion Ink’s Adam model also has a 10.1 inch model for an inconspicuous second place.

 

Which Ereader has the smallest screen?

Surprise, surprise… it’s not Japanese. For convenience over eyesight, the Libra Air Ebook Reader by Aluratewk and the PocketBook 360 Plus both come in at a myopic 5 inches.

 

Which Ereader is the heaviest?

The Entourage eDGe comes in again at a beastly 1400 grams (48 oz.). This is perfect for the ereading guy who doesn’t want to come across as too bookish.  The runner up prize, at 725 grams, goes to Notion Ink’s Adam.

 

Which Ereader is the lightest?

Now we’re talking! On a long haul flight, everything seems to aquire more gravity, and that featherweight shoulderbag starts to cut into your neck mercilessly. So, which ereader will give us the most relief from this pain? I’ll give you three. Tied for the lead are the PocketBook 360 Plus and the Cybook Opus, both at a delicate 150 grams (5.3 oz.). For a bigger name, the Sony Reader Pocket Edition PRS-350 comes a close second ar 155 grams. I knew the Japanese would get in here somehow!

 

Which Ereader is the fastest?

The BeBook Neo claims the title of the fastes ereader in the west… or east. Now, this isn’t confirmed by the infallible authorities at Wikipedia as the rest of this article is, but Bebook claims speeds 2.5 times faster than their competitors. Speed readers, you may have met your match.

 

Which Ereader has the longest battery life?

Now them thar’ is fightin’ words! The two leading citizens in the ereader world, Barnes & Noble armed with their Nook reader, and Amazon armed with the Kindle, have gone head to head over this. B&N flat out say they are the fastest, and they announce that on their PR literature with a battery life of 2 months. Meanhwile, Amazon retorts that you can leave the wifi on 24/7 on your Kindle for 10 days before the battery conks out. They add that you can be more conservative, and read for one hour per day for a full month. Of course, you may have notIced that one month is considerably less than the Nook’s 2 months. Well, to answer that, Amazon says  Barnes and Noble is being too clever by half in the way they determine battery life.

Things have deteriorated since then, with “liar, liar, pants on fire” being heard recently. Aside from recommending you avoid sharing an elevator with Amazon and B&N, we’ll just take the Nook claims at face value and give the prize to them. But we’re willing to change our minds if Amazon threatens us.