Amazon kindle

Freescale announced today a new processor called i.MX508 targeted for e-readers. The processor is based on an ARM A8 core and includes an E Ink controller. Freescale says that the chip is fast (800Mhz), efficient and cheap (less than $10 in large volumes). In fact they say that this chip can enable $150 e-readers.

The new chip is faster than Freescale's previous e-reader chips (used in the Amazon Kindle and Sony's Readers, for example) which can result in faster page refresh and can enable new features. As the chip includes an E Ink controller, USB and NAND memory it can help reduce the price of the final product.

Interestingly, the chip includes a special e-reader power mode, in which it can turn-off when users are reading a page to save power, and only operate at full-speed when users want to turn a page or perform an operation. 

The i.MX508 is expected to sample in 3Q 2010, and freescale (together with E Ink) are offering a dev-platform (called SABRE) which costs $1995 and is available now.

Via E-Reader-Info

Qualcomm is showing their new Mirasol displays, and they look good. It's a 5.7" XGA color screen, that is very power efficient, but faster (can play video), has color, and should be cheaper.

There are rumors that the new displays might be used in future Kindle devices. We'll have to wait and see. In any case, Qualcomm say that the displays will be ready by automn.

Via Engadget, who has a nice video of this display.

Amazon has finally announced international support for the Kindle. They now offer the Amazon US & International edition for 279$ (available October 19th). It can be used in over 100 countries (using AT&T's global roaming network). Each download overseas will cost 1.99$ (when you buy a new book or download one from your archived items). This is rather expensive - so this is more for Americans who want to use this abroad as well, although it can be shipped internationally from Amazon.

The Kindle US edition now costs 259$ (down from 299$), and will not allow for international roaming.

AUO says that its e-paper displays will be better, and much cheaper than available today, using its large-size production capabilities. In fact, they expect e-book readers prices to fall in half within two years - and they see a 100$ reader by 2011.

AUO also expects to supply both Sony and Amazon with ePaper displays.

Sony says that over one million public-domain books are now available for their e-readers (PRS-505 and PRS-700). Sony is using Google's Books project for these books, which are available in EPUB format.

Amazon has over 300,000 titles in their Kindle store, and Barnes & Nobles, which recently announced their own online bookstore, has over 700,000 titles, out of which more than 500,000 are public domain, also powered by the Google Books project.

Via ITVoir

The "New" Democratic Leadership Council in Washington has a new plan - the Government will buy an e-Reader (Kindle or other) for each of the 56M (!) K-12 schoolchildren in the US.

They say it will be cost effective because currently the government spends over 100$ in text books, and ebook reader will fall in price soon. (currently the Kindle DX, the only one that can read text-books, costs 489$...).

Via Gizmodo

Slashgear reports that Amazon are close to setting a release date in for the Kindle 2 in the UK - December 2009. They are in advanced negotiations with a carrier (for the UK whisperNet connection).

Amazon kindle DX

The UK version is said to include WiFi as well as 3G.