Alex eBook reader puts novel spin on web browsing

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By Stuart Turton

Posted on 21 Oct 2009 at 10:50

A forthcoming eBook reader is delivering a new way to browse web pages on such devices.

The design of the Alex eBook reader is similar to Barnes & Noble's recently announced nook, right down to the dual E Ink and LCD screens, and Android OS.

However, Spring Design claims it's an entirely different device, and it certainly includes a couple of features we've not seen demonstrated on the nook yet.

The most interesting of these is the ability to browse web pages on the 3.5in LCD screen, and then display them on the E Ink screen.

This means that you can browse to a Wikipedia page, or a book on Project Gutenberg and then display it on the E Ink screen, conserving battery life.

It's not the very first eBook reader to deliver web pages - Amazon's Kindle has offered the feature since launch. However, it's the first to take the two-step approach.

The demonstration video also shows a user interacting with the Android OS, much as you would on an Android-based smartphone. Early videos of nook suggest it uses a customised Barnes & Noble front end.

Given that Alex features 3G and Wi-Fi, it's not beyond the bounds of possibility that apps specifically tailored for the eBook reader may soon start appearing.

The company claims it is in discussion with "major content partners" with the aim of releasing Alex next year.