Just got an image of a mock-up for a new e-Reader from Irex that's due out this holiday season. Not much info on this thing but it's larger than the Kindle 2 and just-announced Sony Readers.
Here's the little we know:
- 8.1-inch display
- 3G wireless connectivity (no carrier announced)
- Touch screen with stylus navigation
- Fall 2009 release
Until now Irex, one of the early e-reader pioneers (you remember the iLiad, right?), has mainly offered more business-oriented readers that are rather pricey and sold primarily to European customers. However, this model is a consumer model that will be sold in the U.S., as well as other countries (here in the States, I suspect it will cost less than $400 and possibly less than $350). Allegedly, the unit will have a tie-in with one of the large online e-book sellers, though Irex wouldn't say which one.
At this point, it's unclear what the optimal display size will be for e-readers but some people do want screens larger than 6 inches. However, a lot of people think the Kindle DX, which sports a 9.7-inch screen, is too large. So 8.1 inches may be the happy medium.
Sony, too, is also rumored to have a larger form factor wireless Reader in the works. We hope to hear about the Sony device in the next few weeks.
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