Archive for Good E-Reader Videos
Corning Releases Day of Glass 2 – Where Screen Display Technology Might Go
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Corning, the company behind the famous Gorilla Glass screen technology found in many phones and tablets, has been living and breathing the avant garde. The brilliant minds at the company have been releasing concept technology for many years, trying to get companies to bite. They released a new video today that expanded upon their original day of glass video that saw seminal success.
The video shows how their glass technology can be employed in the home, school, business, and medical fields. Words simply cannot do this video justice and you have to watch it to fully appreciate the company’s vision to durable and highly interactive display surfaces.
3M Library Systems Brings Library E-reader to Digital Book World
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Tom Mercer of 3M Library Systems Cloud-Based Library was on hand at Digital Book World and gave GoodEReader a detailed look at the innovative device intended for library lending. While the device officially launched at the ALA conference last summer, it is still only available in beta markets but has already gotten some positive feedback.
Mercer explained the logic behind the no-frills e-reader, stating that the lack of features like no wi-fi capability actually adds to the usefulness of the device when considering its intended purpose. 3M developed a device that was initially thought to be based on an early txtr model e-reader, but it is its own proprietary machine intended to limit the capabilities of the e-reader in order to prevent theft and black marketing, as well as to make it entirely user friendly for the wide variety of computer knowledge and know-how of a broad audience of library patrons.
One key point Mercer made in the interview was that the device is designed to be wiped completely clean between users. This step will prevent the exposure of library patrons to reading materials from previous users. For an adult patron population that is merely a respectful convenience, but when allowing juvenile library patrons to check-out the device for home use it is important that no mature content from a previous user be accessed.
Kobo Explains Global Expansion, Looking Forward with Rakuten
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Kobo executive Michael Tamblyn was at Digital Book World speaking about the importance of ebook pricing to authors and publishers, as well as participating in a panel discussion on global adoption. He took a few moments to speak with GoodEReader about some issues facing the company as a whole.
The following video interview gives Tamblyn an opportunity to focus on some major issues, such as the recent expansion into the Netherlands and the deal with Rakuten. He touched on the possibility of Kobo reaching out to further Asian markets, as well as paid great attention to the viability of their self-publishing platform becoming a major distributor, especially in some untapped markets like Africa and South Asia.
How to load Android Apps on your Amazon Kindle Fire
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The Amazon Kindle Fire has been one of the companies greatest success stories and you have the ability to watch videos, play games, read books and much more. If you live in the USA the going is good and you can tap into Amazon’s extensive APP Market to get extra programs. If you live outside of that country there is noway to currently get new programs for your device. Recently we started our own online App Store that allows users in ANY country to download and install android apps to your Kindle Fire.
In order you need to access your settings menu, this is found on the tap right corner. After you enter that menu you will be greeted by an extensive list of facets you can change on your Fire. The one you want to be concerned about is the option called “Device.” You then want to turn 3RD party APPS ON and then you can install apps from web-based stores. Next fire up your Kindles Silk Browser to http://goodereader.com/apps/ and you can click download on any game, reading app, or otherwise directly to your e-reader. You will normally see a notification message at the very top of the screen. You can swipe downwards on it and it will give you a download progress bar. When it has finished saving to your Fire you then want to click on it and then install. Once this is all done you can open the app and get going!
We like to make things for people with new e-readers as easy as possible and if you live in the USA you can get apps and e-reading programs not available in the official Amazon Market. If you live outside, our Good e-Reader Android App Store will be your most viable solution.
How to load Android Apps on your Kobo Vox
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The Kobo Vox e-reader is the companies first Android tablet and with that operating systems comes a ton of flexibility. You can install your own alternative reading apps like Kindle, Nook, and Sony to read books via other companies. You can also install your own 3rd party applications like FBReader, Aldiko, and Moon+ Reader. With these programs you have the ability to load in your own books that you downloaded from the internet. The default Kobo Android Market via Getjar is sparsely populated and you will be hard-pressed to find quality apps through it.
We recently started our own web-based Google Android Market for e-Readers and this gives you a great alternative to the default one that comes on the Kobo. You now have the freedom to install many additional reading apps, games, kids apps, productivity and essential apps. Our video below documents the exact steps you need to take in order to prepare your e-reader to install 3rd party apps and then do it via our website.
Amazon Kindle Fire VS. Kyobo Mirasol e-Reader
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Welcome to another exclusive Good e-Reader Video Comparison! Today we evaluate the core differentiations between the Amazon Kindle Fire and the Kyobo Mirasol e-Readers.
The Kindle Fire and Kyobo Mirasol are both Android driven tablets that are billed as e-readers. There are many similarities between the two devices and many differences. This video battles these two devices head to head in a battery of tests. We show you how the book experience functions, videos, internet, Youtube, PDFS, Magazines and much more!
Hands on Video Review of the Kyobo Mirasol e-Reader
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Welcome to another Good e-Reader Exclusive Video Review! Today we take a long look at the latest generation Android e-Reader to use Mirasol’s color e-paper technology, the Kyobo.
This new e-reader has amazing resolution and is very pocket friendly with a 5.7 inch screen. In this video we show you the full experience of the device, putting it through the paces. We show you the complete internet experience and how things load and look. If you are a fan of ebooks we show you all of the built in functionality to support not only EPUB, but also PDF too. If you are into Newspapers, Magazines and Comcis, this performs rather well.
Unboxing the New Kyobo Mirasol Color e-Reader
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We are very excited to be bringing you another Good e-Reader Exclusive Video! Today we are unboxing the brand new Kyobo Mirasol Color e-Reader.
First of all, Mirasol has been refining this new technology for over two years and this is the first e-reader employing its new breed of color e-paper. It has a great resolution of 1024×768 pixels on a 5.7 inch capacitive touchscreen display. Underneath the hood is a 1 GHZ Snapdragon CPU processor which is amazing for an e-reader.
Good e-Reader CES Best of Show 2012
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CES is officially over and we had a great time in Las Vegas checking out the latest e-readers and tablets! This year there was not many pure e-ink readers being shown off but we did see a number that tickled our fancy. Two of the best we saw that made our Best of Show list was the Cybook Odyssey by Bookeen and Jetbook Color by Ectaco! This year it was tremendously evident that the tablet computer industry continues to grow and many companies refined existing products and released new ones. Motorola was showing off the Droid Xyboard and Samsung drew crowds with the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 LTE.
Obviously at CES more then just e-readers and tablets were in attendance and that is the core of our daily coverage of the industry, but being a tech geek at heart, we put together a comprehensive video that shows you ALL of our selections from various categories. Brands such as Samsung, LG, Green Book, and many more made the final cut! Check out the video below for our CES Wrap up and get a sense what we saw during the last week at the convention.
Sony Vaio Concept Tablet Shown off at CES
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The only new e-reader or tablet Sony brought to CES this year was a Vaio concept Slate that they were showing off beneath 3 inches of impregnable glass! This new device is a real indication on where the company wants to go with its design on its next generation of devices.
The one thing right off the bat I noticed was the lack of straight lines, the entire device was angler and had rounded corners. From a design point of view it looked amazing and really stands out in a world of tablets where most look the same. Details were sparse, as everything is subject to change, but there were some consistencies. First of all, their new tablet was running on the Google Android operating system and featured capacitive menu buttons on the back. These are your quintessential settings, menu, back, and home keys found on most tablet computers that have hit the market so far. The Sony logo on the front of the unit was actually glowing which I thought was a neat way for it to stand out.
Sony was showing two models of the same slate and the differences were in the accessories that are bundled with it. There was a flexible skin on the back that allowed it to sit on a silicone stand. They also had an accompanied Bluetooth keyboard, which is very innovative and was a full QWERTY. The second tablet was shown without the accessories and gives you an indication on the core hardware design.
The video below shows you the entire video that was playing on the tablet and shows off some of the features, like 1080P movies. Details are sparse and Sony staff were mandated to keep everything under a strict veil of secrecy. If only I had some diamond cutting tools with me, I could have got a more “hands on” report.
Pixel Qi Shifting their Business Strategy away from Consumer Electronics
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Pixel Qi is well known for developing a new breed of screens that deliver an unparalleled experience in direct sunlight and draw very low power. The company has seen their technology showcased in the early One Laptop per Child program in Africa, which initially drew industry wide attention to the company. In the last year their screens were featured in various ZTE Tablets in China and recently in the Notion Ink Adam. In the last six months 3M invested heavily in the future of Pixel Qi and has influenced the direction of the company away from consumer electronics to more specialized industries, such as the military
We have spoken with both the CFO and CEO over the years at various industry events and their decision to gravitate away from the fickle nature of e-readers and tablets was a wise decision. The company instead plans to focus their attention on specialized market segments that would benefit more from their technology and lead to more long-term contracts.
One of the first ways they will deploy their Pixel Qi technology is within the military and give soldiers a new way to receive mission data. If you look at your average paratrooper or ranger they are constantly receiving revised mission parameters and in harsh conditions like a dessert. Being in very bright environments or dark make no different with Pixel Qi, whose very essence is low-power no-glare technology which would make lives easier. Most military operations worldwide still employ maps and written communications, to receive updates to their mission requires many steps and circumstances change many times. The plan is for soldiers to have heavily versatile tablets that last for weeks and are wired into mission control to receive new updates on the fly. Another way their technology will be employed is with the hydro electric community where operators are frequently in high elevations in direct sunlight.
3M’s investment in Pixel Qi is allowing the company to deal with multiple fabs in Taiwan where the company is based and diversify their portfolio. Obviously when you receive a huge investment from a mega-corporation whose reach is all-encompassing you will receive a ton of connections within very specialized niches. 3M is found everywhere from cars, phones, hospitals, and tape. This will turn the company around and we were told in the near future their technology will be everywhere, but in products we will never see. Obviously Pixel Qi is not stepping totally away from the end user experience and they are currently dealing with a number of existing clients in future product launches. Check out our whole interview where CFO John Ryan talks to us in detail about the new direction of the company and demonstrating two new screens they brought with them to CES 2012.
Video Review of the Motorola Droid Xyboard 8.2 inch
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Motorola was showing off their Xyboard 8.2 inch and 10.1 inch at CES this year and both were released in late December. You can think of these tablets as the second version of the Xoom and really are far more relevant hardware wise then the Xoom ever was. The big news to come out during the last week was that the company will be shipping WIFI only models in the next few days and the 8.2 inch we reviewed was a Verizon exclusive.
The Droid Xyboard features a 8.2 inch screen with a resolution of 1280×800 and has capacitive multitouch. It packs 1 GB of RAM and keeps things trucking along rather quickly with the dual core 1.2 GHZ processor. Internal memory is dependent on what model you choose and influences the cost with either 16 or 32 GB. There is a front facing 1.3 MP camera for video chatting and a rear facing 5 MP for taking pictures.
Software wise this tablet is running Google Android 3.2 and the company told us at CES that they will serve up a treatment of Ice Cream Sandwich, but like most vendors had zero clue on when it would happen. Obviously with higher end tablets you get full access to the Google Android Market to get your fix of applications. The unit is bundled with a number of cool television apps such as Televation which will give you a great way to watch Cable TV on your tablet. I noticed this tablet was quick and snappy and of course internet speed was quick with the Verizon 4G network. Why all of these new tablets at CES were Verizon exclusives was beyond me, check out our full hands on video of the tablet in action.
Hands on with the Toshiba Excite X10 at CES 2012 – A Thin but Expensive Tablet
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Toshiba only had a single new tablet yet unveiled that they allowed people at CES to “ohhh” and “ahh” over this year! It is with good reason, this tablet is billed as the worlds thinnest. How does it rank hardware and experience wise to make it a viable purchase?
The Toshiba Excite is the worlds thinnest 10.1 inch tablet that is only .3 inches thick! It is very light too for a large screen display, which makes it easy to hold for long durations of time. Hardware wise it features a resolution of 1280×800 and should take all of the thrashing you are dispense on it with the Gorilla Glass used for the screen. Underneath the hood lurks a Texas Instruments OMAP 4430 processor giving you 1.2 GHZ of speed. A fair amount of cool features are found internally which are sure to impress you with a built in accelerometer, gyroscope and GPS. There is enough space for all of your media, music and books with a 16 and 32 GB editions to choose from and can be further expanded via the MicroSD. On the side of the Excite is physical volume buttons, power, Micro HDMI, Micro USB, mic, 3.5mm headphone jack.
If you are into video conferencing via Skype or one of those people who take pictures of their friends with their tablet instead of a real tablet or an SLR you might dig this unit. It features a front facing 2 MP camera and on the back a 5 MP one with LED flash. This will be handy for people who want to use Skype and are disappointed with many tablets on the market with feeble front facing ones.
On the software side of things what can you expect? Firstly it is not bundled with Ice Cream Sandwich and instead is shipped with the latest version of Google Honeycomb. A Toshiba rep told us that within the next month they will dispense a new version of the Google OS and everything underneath the hood is fully compliant for the imminent upgrade. One of the huge deciding factors when buying an Android tablet is the ability to connect to the official Android Market. This model gives you full access and comes Adobe Flash ready, to enjoy a rich internet experience. It comes with the Google Book Reader and a number of apps and games out of the box, but nothing you won’t find on the market. It seems Toshiba is giving you a stock Android experience with no frills or gimmicks like Motoblur or TouchWIZ.
In the end, this tablet is thin and light, which are the two main factors going for it. Really, it is only dual core and many competitors like Asus (Transformer Prime and Acer (Iconia A510) are now giving Quad Core tablets a go, many tech geeks will go with the added processor power. I can see this selling, but not selling well. The Toshiba Excite X10 is quite daunting with the price, costing $530 if you’re getting the 16Gb model and $600 if you opt for the 32GB version. They are due to be released within the next two months and available at most major electronic retailers. Check out the official Press Pictures and Tech Specs HERE.
