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Android e-reader boasts dual netbook-like displays
2009-10-22 Article Rating:  / 0
Entourage Systems announced the third Android-powered, dual-display e-reader of the week. The Entourage Edge opens up like a book, with one inside panel devoted to a 9.7-inch E Ink display, and the right panel offering a 10.1-inch touchscreen that provides WiFi (or optional 3G) based web browsing and media playback.
The Entourage Edge could be the second or third Android-based e-reader to ship, depending on whether the company meets its expected February ship date, and whether the Spring Designs Alex ships in early 2010, as hoped. That leaves the Barnes & Noble Nook as the likely pioneer Android e-reader, as B&N expects to ship the device on Nov. 30.
 Entourage Edge (Click to enlarge)   Spring Design's Alex (left) and Barnes & Noble Nook (sizes not proportionate) The Entourage Edge, meanwhile, appears to be the most ambitious of the three. (At $490, it is also $230 more expensive than the Nook.) The 2.5-pound, 8.25 x 10.75 x 1.0-inch Edge opens up to reveal two large netbook-like displays that can be read like a book or folded flat like a tablet.  Entourage Edge in its various configurations (Click to enlarge) The Edge's grayscale display serves as both an e-reader and an interactive notebook, "with many built-in applications," says the company. The Wacom pen-enabled display is said to support PDF and EPUB text formats, and enables users to take notes or draw diagrams. Documents are saved to memory, and can also be backed up on Entourage Systems servers, says the company. The e-paper display faces a 10.1-inch LCD touchscreen on the right, which boasts 1024 x 600 resolution. The device lacks accelerometers, but buttons on the side can flip the displays vertically or horizontally. In addition to reading the Edge like a book, users can prop it up like a laptop or fold the screens back 360 degrees to view only one screen, says the company. The Edge ships with 4GB of internal memory, 3GB of which is available for users, offering storage of up to 3,000 books. The device also provides an SD card slot, as well as two USB ports for connecting to additional storage. Web access is provided via WiFi or an optional 3G radio. Bluetooth is also supported, along with support for Bluetooth keyboards, enabling users to type notes, emails, and IMs.  Entourage Edge closed, in red (also available in white, ice blue, and the default midnight blue) (Click to enlarge) Drag and drop between displays Like the Alex, the Edge offers considerable interactivity between the two displays. For example, users can highlight a word from the e-paper screen, drag it across to the touchscreen, and pop it into a search box on the web browser. In addition, users can simply highlight a phrase in an e-book to search for it online, or click on a PDF link or image link to open a color file on the opposite screen. It is unclear whether the Edge offers the Alex's ability to publish eBooks that can automatically bring up multimedia content on the color screen as you turn the pages. Unlike the Nook's Android driven UI, the Edge appears to offer a full Android install, and enables users to "customize the device with applications and tools," says the company. The device appears to have more of an educational focus that the other two Android e-readers, although all three claim to support a wide range of consumer, professional, and educational applications. For example, it offers a Library application that helps organize notes, eBooks, and multimedia, says the company. Applications include a web browser with Google search, plus email and instant messaging. There is also the aforementioned note-taking app, plus a calculator and games, and presumably, any Android 1.6+ ready apps that are designed to support higher resolutions. Entourage Systems has secured more than 200,000 trade books so far, and says it is working with publishers to offer text books. The company's web store will also have access to many major magazines, newspapers and periodicals, as well as free content, including one million free public domain books digitized by Google, says the company. The Edge is a top finalist for the Consumer Electronics Association's i-Stage event, honoring innovative upcoming products, says Entourage. Specifications listed for the Entourage Edge include:
Availability The Entourage Edge will be available in February 2010 for $490 (midnight blue color). Pre-orders are available now. More information may be found here. Related Stories:
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