US tech firm Spring Design has introduced the first Android-based dualscreen e-book device that allows for web surfing while reading e-books.
The Alex eReader, debuted at the Las Vegas CES, has an upper monochrome screen for displaying books while the bottom secondary screen can be used to access the internet and is a 3.5-inch colour LCD.
The Duet Navigator technology displays books, magazines and documents on the 6-inch EPD screen while users can browse the web at the same time, access email and use Google Android programs.
It also has a hyperlink publishing tool, Link Notes, which links e-book text to related video, audio, notes or web addresses.
Alex is an open-systems device that allows for downloading of any book or document that conforms to the Adobe ePUB/PDF/DRM standard or .txt or HTML.
It will go on sale on 22 February with a price tag of US$399 and with books available for direct download as well as access to e-book-friendly widgets from the Android Marketplace.
By Marie Boran
Photo: The Alex eReader
