Alex eReader customers will be able to order e-books from the Borders eBook store, Spring Design and Borders announced Jan. 7. And � by the way � Borders will launch a Borders eBook store.
The Alex eReader from Spring Design will feature access to the upcoming Borders eBook store, Spring Design and Borders announced Jan. 7 during the 2010 CES expo in Las Vegas.
The news followed Borders� announcement that it will indeed launch an eBook store on Borders.com, as well as offer Borders-branded mobile e-book applications.
"Our agreement with Spring Design represents another step in our digital strategy, which continues to focus on offering book lovers--including our more than 35 million Borders Rewards loyalty program members--high quality content on the device of their choosing," Ron Marshall, Borders� group chief executive officer, said in a statement. "We look forward to bringing a world class eBook experience to Alex users."
The 8.9-inches-long Alex eReader features a 6-inch (on the diagonal) monochrome E Ink display, as well as a 3.5-inch LCD touch screen. While the former is ideal for reading, and looks like a printed page, the latter is intended for Web surfing. Alex runs the Android operating system, offers Wi-Fi connectivity and weighs 11 ounces.
A Link Notes tool on the Alex can connect e-book text to related online videos, audio, notes or Websites.
The Barnes & Noble Nook also runs Android and features a double display. On Nov. 2, Spring Design announced it was suing Barnes & Noble, alleging that the retailer misappropriated the Alex�s design. On Dec. 1, however, United States District Judge James Ware denied Spring Design a preliminary injunction to halt sales of the Nook, writing in a court order, �The Court finds that at this time there is a genuine dispute over whether the [Nook] was derived from information disclosed by Plaintiff to Defendant or was the product of earlier independent development by Defendant."
Spring Design additionally announced on Jan. 5 that Alex customers will have access to more than 1 million Google Books, through Alex�s Web browser. Google approved of this, with Brandon Badger, Google product manager, adding that the Alex will help to �expand the number of ways people access e-books and search for information online.�
On Jan. 7, Samsung joined the growing-crowded e-reader market, with the introduction of the E6, a 6-inch e-reader, and the 1010, a 10-inch version. Both included Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g and Bluetooth connectivity, and allow users to make on-screen notes with a built-in electromagnetic resonance (EMR) stylus. They�ll retail for $399 and $699, respectively, arriving early in 2010.
The Spring Design Alex eReader will be available Feb. 22 and retail for $359 at http://www.springdesign.com.
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