Onyx has begun a renewed push into the Russian e-reader market with their line of Android driven devices that allow anyone to install their own apps. The Chinese company has just unveiled a new e-reader, the Cleopatra 2.
The Cleopatra 2 features a 6.8 e-ink Carta capacitive touchscreen display with a resolution of 1440 by 1080 with 300 PPI. It has a front-lit display, to allow you to read in the dark, which Onyx is billing as “Moonlight” technology.
Underneath the hood is a Freescale 1 GHz processor and 1 GB of RAM. There is 8 GB of internal memory and the option to expand it further via the SD Card up to 32 GB. One of the most compelling features is Bluetoooth, which will allow you to connect up a keyboard or speakers to listen to audiobooks.
This model is running Android 4.0, which is fairly outdated but should function fine to install your favorite applications. There is no mention about an app store, but Onyx has been rather notorious for running an unauthorized version of the Google Play Store in markets that have a storied track record for engaging in piracy.
The Cleopatra 2 comes with a free case that borrows inspiration from Egyptian culture. It is considered a smartcase, in the respects that it will automatically put your device to sleep and wake it up again. This unit is on sale now for 14,990 rubles, which is the equivalent of $230 US.
Michael Kozlowski is the editor-in-chief at Good e-Reader and has written about audiobooks and e-readers for the past fifteen years. Newspapers and websites such as the CBC, CNET, Engadget, Huffington Post and the New York Times have picked up his articles. He Lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
