Iriver, which makes personal media player, has launched the first e-reader integrated with the Google eBooks platform.
The Iriver Story HD e-reader, which retails for $139.99 (Rs 6,300), is slim and lightweight with a high-resolution e-ink screen and a QWERTY keyboard for easy searching. It includes over-the-air access to hundreds of thousands of Google eBooks, which users can purchase, and more than three million for free.
You can browse, buy and read Google eBooks on your Story HD e-reader through Wi-Fi, rather than going through the usual process of downloading and transferring them from a computer to the e-reader.
The e-reader is a WiFi only device based on Windows operating system with 2 GB internal memory, which is expandable up to 32GB. The e reader weighs 207 grams only and has a 6 inch (grayscale) screen, and an 1800 mAh battery, which is good for reading 14,000 pages at a time.
Google eBooks platform is open to all publishers, retailers and manufacturers. You can also store your personal eBooks library in the cloud — hence you can read it later either from the e-reader or on your laptop or smartphone.
Google eBooks, which was launched in December last year, can be accessed from any device with a browser. Android and iOS users can also read the eBooks of it using the Google Books mobile app, or through Chrome Web Store app.
The internet giant has promised more Google eBooks-integrated devices in the near future.
Though there is no indication of Iriver launching the e-reader in India, users can buy these products from various e-commerce sites and retailers across India.