Pocketables

Google partners with iriver to release e-book reader

Lately, it seems like Google has been trying to compete with everyone. Android competes with iOS, Google Music competes with Amazon Cloud Player and iTunes, and Google+ competes with Facebook. And according to a blog post from earlier today, Google is also going to go head to head with the Amazon Kindle.

The device they chose for this battle is the Story HD, an e-reader announced back at CES this year. Its manufacturer is iriver, a company many of you may remember from the days of PMPs.

The Story HD looks very similar to the Kindle, with a QWERTY keyboard, ARM Cortex processor, and a 6 in. 768 x 1024 e-ink display. It also includes WiFi for downloading books and a relatively short 3 weeks of battery life with WiFi off.

Interestingly, this device does not appear to be running Android. Instead, its connection with Google is that it uses the Google eBooks platform as its only source of content. Considering that the Google Books store is considerably smaller than the Amazon bookstore, the Story HD will have to have some compelling hardware to convince users to choose it over a Kindle. 

As the first e-ink device to support the Google Book store, it could be popular for the minority of users who predominantly use the Google Book store (of which I am one.) However, I am still not sure if that is enough to make this tablet successful, but it is still nice to have it out there. If you are interested, you can pick up the device at Target on July 17.

[Google Blog | Press Release]

iriver plans to stir up e-dictionary market with WiFi-equipped, HD-capable D1000

 

Android tablets seem to be a dime a dozen at CeBIT this year, but not forgetting the rest of the tech world outside Hanover, we bring you news on the interesting upcoming iriver D1000 e-dictionary. We have covered quite a few e-dictionary products here on Pocketables over the years, including a few from iriver such as the D26 and D5. The new D1000 continues the company's Dicple lineage but brings some exciting new features to the table including WiFi connectivity, simple web browsing, and 720p HD video playback, creating an interesting e-dictionary, MID, PMP hybrid device.

Review: iriver P7

When the iriver P7 was first announced at CES 2009, it was easily my favorite portable media player on display at the company's booth. I was intrigued by its magazine-like interface, pleased by its microSD card slot, and impressed by its wide array of codec support.

The P7 is now in stock and shipping from Warehouse123.com, who sell the 8GB and 16GB versions for $145 and $187, respectively. But now that the 4.3-inch touchscreen player is out of the showroom lights and in my hands, does it still fare as well? Read my full review below to find out.

Boutique-style booth: iriver at CES 2009

While most booths at CES this year were overstimulating with oversized displays, neon lights, and bright colors, iriver once again took a minimalist approach when designing its designated area in the Las Vegas Convention Center. Though the opaque walls set up along the perimeter boxed visitors inside the booth, the space inside felt roomy and almost like an upscale boutique. Check it out below.

Hands-on impressions of the iriver P7

Of the actual new products iriver unveiled at CES this year (as mentioned before, only 4 of the 12 devices on the NDA were truly new), my favorite was surprisingly the P7. Even though its feature set is somewhat ordinary by today's standards and its design isn't much different than the P10 from last year's show, I really liked the interface and was impressed by the 50-hour audio battery life and accessories.

CES 2009: iriver P7, P35, D50N, and WAVE-HOME

As in years past, iriver is unveiling a slew of new products at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Though some of the devices on display this year have been seen before, 4 of the 12 gadgets listed on the tech preview document sent out a month before CES (and under embargo until today) promise to be among the most talked about iriver products this year.

I'll get some live shots and hands-on time soon but here's all the official information known so far about the iriver P7, P35, D50N, and WAVE-HOME (previously called UNIT 2-S).

Review: iriver T5

The iriver T5 was quietly released alongside the T6 a few weeks ago and is the second USB stick-style digital audio player the company has put out since the summer. It sports a slightly different design than the T7 Volcano/Stix and has a stopwatch function, but did iriver really need another USB stick player (and one with a lower model number, no less)?

The answer is fairly obvious but with prices starting at under $40, it wouldn't hurt to at least glance at my full iriver T5 review below.

Review: iriver T6

A few weeks ago, iriver quietly added a new digital audio player to its catalog: the T6. It features a very basic set of features and doesn't support video playback, but a thin design, affordable price tag, and exceptional build quality make it worth a look.

Read my full review below and see what you think of the new iriver T6.

Recycled: iriver W7 becomes iriver wave phone

Need more proof that iriver's best designers and most creative minds abandoned ship to hop on board the mintpass vessel? Here it is: the iriver wave.

No, what you're experiencing is not déjà vu. You really have seen this 3.63-ounce device with its 3-inch 480 x 272 touchscreen, 4GB of internal memory, and miniSD card slot before. Although it now has 802.11b/g wi-fi and phone capabilities through Korean wireless carrier KT, the wave is just the reincarnation of the iriver W7 digital media player. Well, the reincarnated spirit in the same body, anyway.

Review: iriver SPINN

Out of all the new digital media players shown off by iriver at CES 2008, the SPINN was probably the one that consumers were most excited about. Whether it was the way its first video demo "killed without words" or simply that people were intrigued by its unique wheel control, many have been waiting to get their hands on the flash-based player for months.

Good news for the impatient: the wait came to an end a few weeks ago. The iriver SPINN is now shipping worldwide in 4GB and 8GB capacities from Warehouse123.com.

But do good things really come to those who wait?