Sep 27, 2010 04:00 PM EDT by Kevin Lee
Sharp has finally made good on their next generation eReader claims and revealed their 5.5 and 10-inch Android-powered Galapagos eReaders.
The two new devices both utilize color LCDs rather than the usual e-ink displays found in other eReaders. These Galapagos eReaders can also browse the web, view office files and the promised XMDF format, and connect friends via a reading-centric social networking app. Sharp will also bundle their Galapagos Station PC app for managing eBook content.
The 5.5-inch model is the Mobile Type and it has a 1024 x 600-pixel screen resolution, while the larger Home Type model sports a 1366 x 800-pixel 10-inch display. Both have touchscreens, but the smaller 5.5-inch version also has a navigation track ball for one-handed navigation and easy page turning. The Mobile Type will come in a choice of red or silver, and the Home Type will come in Black.According to Sharp, the name Galapagos alludes to the device aiding in the evolution of the eReader, as well as the companies own evolved eBook ecosystem. Sharp’s cloud-based media service, similar to Kindle’s Wispernet, will also be named Galapagos. In Japan, Sharp will offer a catalog of 30,000 magazines, newspapers, and eBooks ready for automatic delivery.
Sharp has not announced any prices for these devices and, for now, it plans to launch in Japan sometime in December. The chance for a stateside release remains unknown.
via Sharp
