Alex also boasts of the firm’s patented Duet Navigator dual screen technology which will allow its users to access multimedia web content and information, virtually providing the whole Web universe as a handy reference library.
The second screen in Alex is wholly self-contained Google Android device.
It will offer full browsing capabilities over Wi-Fi/3G, EVDO/CDMA and GSM mobile networks, actively inserting videos, images and notes, providing users easy option to customize the text, according to the Spring Designs.
"This is the start of a whole new experience of reading content on e-books, potentially igniting a whole new industry in multimedia e-book publishing for secondary authors to create supplementary content that is hyper linked to the text. We are bringing life to books with audio, video, and annotations," said Dr. Priscilla Lu, CEO of Spring Design. "This gives readers the ability to fully leverage the resources on the Web, and the tools available in search engines to augment the reading experience."
Alex’s Features
- 6-inch E-Ink EPD display for regular reading and3.5-inch color LCD display screen for browsing
- A removable SD card slot for more storage options
- A headphone jack, emphasizing on the multimedia nature of the device
- Dual screen set-up which will effectively increase battery management for the LCD screen—which uses more power than e-ink screens.
- Wi-Fi
The device also includes browser bookmarks and history and the easy and secure transfer of content from the touch LCD to the e-ink display for better and easier reading.
There’s no comment on pricing or the partnerships, but according to the Spring Design, it has been working with the major content providers over the last two years to share its vision and the capabilities of its dual screen device.
Spring Design added that it plans to release the Alex "for selected strategic partners by the end of the year".
Excitement brewing online
Online reader seem excited with this new device announcement. One such reader jabailo posts on PCworld, “2 screens seems a little weird...but I'm beginning to cotton to the idea of an e-Reader with 'droid”.
Another xxteemo on mashable.com wrote, “Wow, I must admit, most impressive indeed.”
A lot of rumors are doing the rounds in the market that Alex could be similar to the device Barnes & Noble is expected to unveil on Oct. 20, in New York City. Truth will be revealed only after B&N’s press conference.
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