Inside the Lab: Spring Design Alex Dual Display Android-based e-book

[gaganmazed]

Cooooool device !!! Hei, does it have accelerometer to detect the rotation? can you use the device in landscape mode? Please let me know :)

[technokitty16]

@gaganmazed Sorry, no accelerometer. It really wouldn't enhance either screen experience enough to make it worthwhile.

[gaganmazed]

@technokitty16 Hmm I will probably use this device to read some comic books as well. And I am afraid portrait mode may be too small to fit them. So there is no option to use in landscape mode, like by manually changing some settings?

[technokitty16]

@gaganmazed That's a great application. Alex can accommodate many different formats of books, manuals, etc. I bet they could do something great for comic books as well. And hey, it's open! Developers...hello? Something fun to work on.

[gaganmazed]

@technokitty16 Hmm I will probably use this device to read some comic books as well. And I am afraid portrait mode may be too small to fit them. So there is no option to use in landscape mode, like by manually changing some settings?

[jar155]

Well, my wife has a Kindle and I was going to get one as well, but this certainly complicates things as the features on this device look much better.

[timadvancedtech]

can this use 3g, or gsm for free, allowing you access wherever? Is the internet access limited to the borders bookstore?

[technokitty16]

Hi Tim,

Right now it's WiFi - anywhere.

3G is coming.

[Lawtsy15]

I am so getting one of these!

[edwinqiu]

can this connect to wifi anywhere reply on my page plz

[technokitty16]

Yes. If you can get onto a WiFi connection you can access all kinds of online books and publications.

[ermancy]

device is amazing. is bottom device full featured phone(calling,sms..) or just for internet browsing ? and what about camera ? scanning some document would be nice.

[technokitty16]

The LCD screen allows for full Web browsing. No camera, sorry. You can do email, Twitter, Facebook...Alex is Android-based so expect lots of cool applications.

[saxcodger]

Thanks for making this video.

Alex looks to be the most functional of the current crop of e-readers. But I wonder if the lack of a book store behind it will turn off potential buyers who want the huge selection of books from Amazon or B&N?

[technokitty16]

Please see our announcement with Borders. More great partners to come.

[ramzak2k]

looks amazing, especially the internet connectivity

[Tierdaen]

Looks like it has a lot of potential. Only thing that might bother me is that the e-ink screen seems to switch out whenever the LCD is used. Is it possible to keep the e-ink display up while using the LCD for other functions (e.g. dictionary lookup or chapter/page scrolling or image viewing)? To make effective use of both screens, they should be usable simultaneously, shouldn't they?

[technokitty16]

Absolutely one of the best features of the Alex is the use of BOTH EPD and LCD screens simultaneously. Or, if you want to prolong battery life, switch off the LCD when you don't need it.

[BigDogues]

Ah, cell phone video.

Lovely...

[apallohadas]

Gotta say, for such an innovative device, to highlight it with a horrible video doesn't do it justice.

[jellotime91]

horrible camera much?

[zonemad96]

looks pretty cool