Book Expo America
Tour through the aisles
by Rick Smith (June 14, 2001)
Ebook technology was hot at Book Expo America. Many software companies were concentrating on how to secure e-books, but only a handful of handful of companies were showing hardware technology to enable portable electronic books. Examples were Franklin's eBookMan, Palm III with peanutpress software and the AONE Pro.
The AONE Pro - is a new e-book concept from Korea. I was shown a prototype, but from what I saw it appears to combine the features that people want in an e-book (larger screen and audio capability). The screen size is wider than most e-books amnd is the model that is closest to a paperback novel in size.
A soon-to-be launched product from Princo. This is a standalone CD-copier that quickly duplicates CDs. Princo doesn't have many details details yet and they may be sell the unit either with drives or as a case only. I did notice that it copied CDs very quickly since there was little system overhead. Simply put a blank CD into the CD-R drive, place the CD to be copied in the CD reader, close both drive doors and the system starts copying - no special buttons to push or software to load.
And if you want, you can also connect this copier to your PC so it can perform double duty.
Rear of the Princo unit showing the external connectors.
Closeup of the front of the Princo CD copier.
Palm III being used as an e-book reader using the peanutpress software. (Peanutpress has been acquired by Palm and is now part of Palm).
A most unique METAL tie that you can actually play when you get bored -- the Zydeco tie! (In case you are wondering -- it is a clip on, since untying it would be quite difficult. ;-) Could it make a unique Father's day gift? Absolutely.
Copyright
© 2001 Rick Smith All rights reserved.
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