Asus Provides Peek Of Its Atomic Bomb eBook Reader

Get ready for the newsstand in your hand

Asus, the Taiwanese manufacturer that pioneered the netbook concept, has given InGear exclusive details of its DR-570 reader, to be released by the end of the year. Asus says it has developed a 6in, high-brightness, OLED colour screen that should run for a whopping 122 hours on one battery charge — and that’s not just when displaying text but under real-world conditions, such as running Flash video over its built-in wi-fi or 3G. If that claim stands up, it would make this game-changing device nearly as energy-efficient as today’s monochrome readers.

OK, now this is exactly what I meant about Asus upping the ante.

If that is true — including the bit about running Flash — this would be very, very interesting.

Why?

The Vook web versions of their digital books are powered by Flash and cannot be seen on a Flash-less iSlate (something I hope they will be able to fix by ditching Flash and going all-JavaScript and HTML5).

There are many other magazine sites that are powered by Flash too.

Also, since this is color and will allegedly run Flash, it puts yet another nail into the coffin of the eCrap Axis of E: eInk, ePub, eBook — in favor of digital books.

And that Elle magazine? Currently the digital edition uses Zinio Reader. Which is also available as an iPhone app.

So, has Asus signed a deal with Zinio for content?

— via Twitter from mobileread

Previously here:

CES, The Death Of eInk, And The Asus Factor
Enough eInk/ePaper/eCrap eBook Devices!
Barnes & Noble’s Incompatible Non-Universal ePub
Multi eInk eBook Device Fondle Report
IDPF Screws Up ePub eBook Covers For Everyone!
How Book Publishing Will Lose: eBooks Vs. Smart Digital Books
ePub For Seniors
Apple Will Break Open The Digital Book Floodgates
eBook Trademarks: Asus, Warner Brothers, And ViewSonic
The eBook Bubble: Save Your Money!
Moriah Jovan’s Asus eReading Flirtation
Why Digital Books Will Win
Smart Digital Books Vs. The ePub FAIL Model
How The Axis Of E Is Killing Publishing
Asus Atomic Bomb eBook Reader?
The Axis Of E Book Holocaust
Why eInk, ePub, And eBooks Will Fail
Dumb eBooks Must Die, Smart eBooks Must Live

CES, The Death Of eInk, And The Asus Factor

If you want to see what the eBook announcements were at CES, visit this one page. They’ve done great work compiling that list, even if they forgot Cool-er (which is understandable!).

Everything there that uses eInk you can ignore. They’re already d-e-d.

Some notes on the non-eInk devices after the break.

2010 In Review

Everyone has already told you what 2009 was like.

And some think they’re telling you what 2010 will be.

I will instead tell you what 2010 was.

Sony’s Howard Stringer’s Ongoing Delusions

News Corp. to Sell Subscriptions on Sony Reader

Oh my god. Howard Stringer, blithely leading Sony to its destruction, actually said this:

We feel we’re riding to the rescue of news.

I sit here stunned, wondering what words my fingers will conjure up as my brain tries to parse the absolute imbecility and naivete of that statement.

eBook Trademarks: Asus, Warner Brothers, And ViewSonic

Asus has three marks: Eee @Vibe, @Vibe, and Asus Arena. Applications for all three contain the same information, so I will print only one of them. These are the three logos:

Word Mark
EEE@VIBE

Goods and Services
IC 009. US 021 023 026 036 038. G & S: Computer software for computer system and application development, deployment and management; computer joysticks; internet equipment; computer hardware; integrated circuit boards; computer interface boards; electronic books (e-books); digital music downloadable from the internet; downloadable video recordings from the internet; downloadable electronic books from the internet; downloadable graphics from the internet; downloadable electronic games from the internet; liquid crystal display (LCD) televisions; digital video discs (DVDs) for use in video and data storage; electronic chip cards; prepaid purchase cards for allowing users to transfer financial value on-line via computer networks

IC 035. US 100 101 102. G & S: Administration of a discount program for enabling participants to obtain discounts on goods and services through use of a discount membership card; on-line advertising on a computer network; presentation of goods on communication media for retail purposes; provision of business information; commercial information agencies; vending in the field of souvenirs; purchasing goods and services for other businesses; price comparison and evaluation services; providing on-line auction services; marketing services, namely, consumer marketing research; opinion polling; providing and rental of advertising space on the internet; providing on-line shopping services in the field of computer hardware, computer operating programs and peripheral devices; retail store services featuring computer hardware, software and peripherals; retail store services featuring telecommunication apparatus; compilation of computerized databases; management of computerized files; data search in computer files; management of computerized databases; compilation and systemization of information into computer databases

IC 038. US 100 101 104. G & S: Television broadcasting; radio broadcasting; telecommunication services of value-added computer networks; providing telecommunications connections to a global computer information network; providing on-line information transmission services; electronic transmission of mail and messages; electronic mail services; rental of electronic mailboxes; Providing on-line electronic bulletin boards for transmission of messages among users in the field of general interest; computer-aided transmission of messages and images; providing access to databases; providing telecommunication channels for teleshopping services; providing internet chat rooms; rental of access time to global computer networks; providing telecommunications connections to a global computer network; providing user access to a global computer network; providing telecommunications connections to the internet; transmission of chat rooms data via a global computer network or the internet; rental of telecommunication equipment

IC 041. US 100 101 107. G & S: On-line publication of electronic books and magazines; electronic publishing and editing services; providing on-line electronic publications (not downloadable); providing downloadable graphics via the internet; instruction services; educational services, namely, providing training through the Internet, in the fields of information technology, and business management skills; arranging and conducting of seminars, symposiums and workshops; education information; entertainment information; providing downloadable video programs via the internet; providing downloadable music via the internet; providing downloadable ring tones, graphics and music via a global computer network and wireless devices; providing computer network equipment to allow customers to access to the internet; providing on-line game services via a computer network; organizing and holding competitions in the field of entertainment; production of radio programs in the field of entertainment

Standard Characters Claimed

Mark Drawing Code
(4) STANDARD CHARACTER MARK

Serial Number
77757096

Filing Date
June 11, 2009

Current Filing Basis
1B;44D

Original Filing Basis
1B;44D

Owner
(APPLICANT) ASUSTEK COMPUTER INCORPORATION CORPORATION TAIWAN 4F, No. 150, Li-Te Rd., Peitou Taipei TAIWAN

Attorney of Record
Steven M. Rabin

Priority Date
May 26, 2009

Description of Mark
The mark consists of Eee@Vibe in stylized font.

Type of Mark
TRADEMARK. SERVICE MARK

Register
PRINCIPAL

Live/Dead Indicator
LIVE

===================================

Related, Asus also has this trademark:

Word Mark
EEE PHONE

Goods and Services
IC 009. US 021 023 026 036 038. G & S: Computer hardware; electronic pens for computer touch screens; memory cards for computer hardware; cellular phones; cell phone covers; cell phone cradles; Internet phones; reconfigurable processors for use in network equipment in the field of wideband communications; telecommunications transmitters; hands free kits for phones; receivers for satellites; car navigation computers; battery chargers for cellular phones, batteries and battery chargers

Mark Drawing Code
(5) WORDS, LETTERS, AND/OR NUMBERS IN STYLIZED FORM

Serial Number
77638797

Filing Date
December 23, 2008

Current Filing Basis
44E

Original Filing Basis
1B;44D

Published for Opposition
October 20, 2009

Owner
(APPLICANT) ASUSTEK COMPUTER INCORPORATION CORPORATION TAIWAN 4F, No. 150, Li-Te Rd., Peitou Taipei TAIWAN

Attorney of Record
Steven M. Rabin

Priority Date
November 17, 2008

Disclaimer
NO CLAIM IS MADE TO THE EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO USE “PHONE” APART FROM THE MARK AS SHOWN

Description of Mark
Color is not claimed as a feature of the mark.

Type of Mark
TRADEMARK

Register
PRINCIPAL

Live/Dead Indicator
LIVE

===================================

Warner Brothers turns up with a trademark that makes me wonder if there’s a Harry Potter connection: Pottermore.

Word Mark
POTTERMORE

Goods and Services
IC 041. US 100 101 107. G & S: Entertainment services, namely, providing a web site featuring film clips, photographs and other multimedia materials; providing on-line computer games; providing computer games that may be accessed by a telecommunications network; educational services, namely, providing information that may be accessed by a telecommunications network relating specifically to children’s books, educational programs including reading and literacy programs, programs for the teaching of reading and literacy, materials and programs for the facilitation of reading and learning for individuals with learning disabilities and language and literacy difficulties; providing on-line publications in the nature of e-books; electronic publishing services, namely, publication of text and graphic works of others

Standard Characters Claimed

Mark Drawing Code
(4) STANDARD CHARACTER MARK

Serial Number
77788427

Filing Date
July 23, 2009

Current Filing Basis
1B

Original Filing Basis
1B

Owner
(APPLICANT) Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. CORPORATION DELAWARE 4000 Warner Boulevard Burbank CALIFORNIA 91522

Attorney of Record
Janet A. Kobrin

Type of Mark
SERVICE MARK

Register
PRINCIPAL

Live/Dead Indicator
LIVE

What’s strange is there is no website for this and a WHOIS turned up this registration:

Registrant:

Christopher Little Literary Agency
10 Eel Brook Studios
125 Moore Park Rd
London
SW6 4PS
UK

Domain name: pottermore.com

Created on: 2009-06-25
Expires on: 2011-06-25

===================================

ViewSonic pops up with two trademarks that mention eBooks: ViewShow and MovieBook.

Word Mark
VIEWSHOW

Goods and Services
IC 009. US 021 023 026 036 038. G & S: Portable media players; MP4 media players; MP5 media players; DVD players; digital photo frames for displaying digital pictures, video clips and music; notebook computers; video telephones; computer peripheral devices; LCD televisions; LDC monitors; web cameras; mobile phones; global positioning systems (GPS); digital cameras; electronic books (E-books); and projectors

Standard Characters Claimed

Mark Drawing Code
(4) STANDARD CHARACTER MARK

Serial Number
77815187

Filing Date
August 28, 2009

Current Filing Basis
1B

Original Filing Basis
1B

Owner
(APPLICANT) Viewsonic Corporation CORPORATION CALIFORNIA 381 Brea Canyon Rd., Walnut CALIFORNIA 91789

Attorney of Record
Bruce H. Troxell

Type of Mark
TRADEMARK

Register
PRINCIPAL

Live/Dead Indicator
LIVE

===================================

Word Mark
MOVIEBOOK

Goods and Services
IC 009. US 021 023 026 036 038. G & S: PORTABLE MEDIA PLAYER; MP4 MEDIA PLAYERS; MP5 MEDIA PLAYERS; DVD PLAYERS; DIGITAL PHOTO FRAMES FOR DISPLAYING DIGITAL PICTURES, VIDEO CLIPS, AND MUSIC; NOTE BOOK COMPUTER; VIDEO TELEPHONES; COMPUTER PERIPHERAL DEVICES; LCD TELEVISIONS; LCD MONITORS; WEB CAMERAS; MOBILE PHONES; GPS (GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM); DIGITAL CAMERA; E-BOOK (ELECTRONIC BOOK)

Standard Characters Claimed

Mark Drawing Code
(4) STANDARD CHARACTER MARK

Serial Number
77795057

Filing Date
August 2, 2009

Current Filing Basis
1B

Original Filing Basis
1B

Owner
(APPLICANT) VIEWSONIC CORPORATION CORPORATION DELAWARE 381 BREA CANYON ROAD WALNUT CALIFORNIA 91789

Attorney of Record
MORTON J. ROSENBERG

Type of Mark
TRADEMARK

Register
PRINCIPAL

Live/Dead Indicator
LIVE

Moriah Jovan’s Asus eReading Flirtation

The handy-dandy all-purpose digital reader

Some time back ago, I said I wanted an Asus EeePC to read digital books because it was kind of an all-purpose device. As time went on, I decided maybe I’d rather have an iPhone or a BlackBerry, but then I found out about their mandatory data plans and I’m a cheap bitch, so no thanks. I wanted something reasonably portable that I could 1) read digital books on in any format I wanted; 2) listen to music; 3) keep my personal data on (now that I have this awesome personal information management standalone app); and 4) to basically be able to haul my brain around with me. I don’t like talking on the phone, so I would rather not have one at all, but must. I want to keep the phone separate from my other tasks.

She has a gallery of photos, displaying various reading programs.

And then there’s this: More on the Asus

Asus Atomic Bomb eBook Reader?

Two reports today confirming that Asus plans at least two models of an eBook reading device:

Tech news: For the smarter kind of bookworm

The budget version of the Asus ereader will be more in keeping with the Taiwanese company’s reputation for producing cut-price gadgets. Dubbed the Eee Reader, after Asus’s cheap-as-chips Eee PC netbook range, it is likely to take on the competition on price rather than features. The cheapest rival on the market is the Cool-er, which costs £189. Asus is thought to be aiming nearer the £100 mark.

There’s many things one can say about Asus, but none of them are what I’ve heard about the Cool-er. The Cool-er is fall-apart hardware from PVI that lives down to its bottom-feeder reputation. Asus EeePCs, on the other hand, have had generally stellar ratings all across the board.

ASUS planning dual screen Eee Reader: world’s cheapest e-book reader

According to president Jerry Shen, the Eee Reader will become the planet’s cheapest e-book reader, though a premium model could also be launched to satisfy those craving higher-end features — probably amenities like inbuilt 3G, a web browser and expandable storage.

Asus is also a company that dares to dream.

It pioneered netbooks, popularized them, churned out more of them in a shorter period of time than Sony did of PalmOS-based CLIEs, put MultiTouch in them, made them easily hackable, and created an entire new category of portable computing device.

They came out of nowhere and created an Apple-like earthquake in digital devices.

And now they are aiming at the eBook.

To say that the Amazon Kindle, Sony Reader, and all other eInk devices have just been sent to their doom is to state the obvious.

Here are a bunch of photos I’ve culled from the Net of a prototype eBook reader Asus recently displayed:

The Register Click = big

TechArena Click = big

The Register Click = big

Ferra Labs Click = big

As for a screen, really, there is only one choice for Asus: Pixel Qi, which states on its website:

Our first screens will be 10″ diagonal screens for netbooks and ebook readers that are sampling now and will ship in high volume in late 2009. These screens rival the best epaper displays on the market today but in addition have video refresh and fully saturated color. The epaper mode has 3 times the resolution of the fully saturated color mode allowing for a high resolution reading experience without sacrifice to super color fidelity for graphics. In addition these screens can be used in sunlight. Look for them in the market in the second half of 2009.

This is a photo comparing the Pixel Qi screen in ePaper mode to the eInk display of the Amazon Kindle in outdoor sunlight:

Click = big

It’s obvious the Pixel Qi screen is superior in terms of resolution and contrast.

Asus could crank that sucker out at massive scale and plummet the per-unit cost. It could also then move it into its netbook line, causing refresh upgrades there for people interested in better battery life and outdoor use.

It’d be all-win for Asus.

The one question remaining is: Adobe-DRM ePub compatibility?

Do we need to even ask that?

Asus is the company that brought Microsoft to its knees, causing it to slash the price of Windows XP.

They will do the same with Adobe and its license.

You think Adobe hasn’t seen what happened to Microsoft? You think Adobe doesn’t realize Asus = jillions of sales?

All of you companies that are planning on eInk eBook devices? Don’t bother. Stop now. Liquidate your companies. You’re dead.