Otaku Gadgets

Finally, some of the other major countries of the world will get to taste their own iPad action sitting at home. Apple has declared May 28th to be the date when the iPad becomes available in the UK, France, Germany, Canada, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and Australia. That pretty much covers all of Apple’s top international locations business-wise. But there is more than just the iPad coming for them.

Continue reading “iPad Gets International Launch Date, iBook Store In Tow” »

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Borders has announced that they are getting their own e-book reader soon and it will be made by the Canadian company called Kobo. It will be a much cheaper reader than the main competition — namely the Barnes & Noble Nook, the Amazon Kindle and the Apple iPad. In the U.S. it will cost $149.99 and Borders has already started taking pre-orders. Availability as of now is June 17.

Continue reading “Borders Gets An e-Reader For Their Books” »

The iPad is here. Finally! And what is turning out to be most definitely iPad Day, I can’t help but think how this entire circus will pan out for that one withering industry that is hoping to suckle this young device to strengthen itself. Yes, I am talking about the print industry. That old withering industry that is pretty much as defunct as the brains of some of its top brass. And let’s not forget a whole new crop of industries that have come up around the printed word. This is the eReader industry, which is expected to die a gradual but sure death by quite a few pundits. How will the iPad affect both of these?

Continue reading “Of The iPad, The eReaders And The Print Industry” »

Even though everyone (including yours truly) is predicting the soon and sure demise of eBook readers now that the iPad and things like the iPad have come out, Interpark of Korea has decided that the time is right to launch it’s own eReader into the Korean Market. This is a 3G device that is no different from the numerous other eBook readers that have been released all over the world. It bears a striking resemblance to the Kindle, which is again nothing new for low budget eReaders but is has its differences alright. And the first difference is in the naming scheme. This one’s called Biscuit. I suppose they really are trying very hard to project the tea/coffee with book in hand image to the public. How artsy of them.

Continue reading “New 3G eReader From Interpark Is Called Biscuit, Got Milk?” »

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… and he still hates Google. That part has not change and will not change in a hurry. When it comes to one of the largest figures in the US media industry, Rupert Murdoch has probably been the most vocal about how he thinks Google is taking their expensive content and making it free for all to use. He of course wants to put it all behind a paywall and be done with it. But before we get into the old world business model versus new world business model debate (it is inevitable, I know), Mr. Murdoch has his say on the iPad. Video follows.

Continue reading “Rupert Murdoch Thinks The World Of The iPad And Loves The Tablet Revolution” »

It’s either that or Amazon is trying to divert our attention with an orchestrated hype generating move so that they can quietly work on their world domination plans in the background. Although not as exciting as an evil corporation bent on world domination, we will go with the Kindle supposition. So Amazon has been beefing up its arsenal in order to better compete with Apple’s threat. I can just imagine their emergency board meeting — “We have to do something. Let’s buy a touch company and get a good Manager with a great track record. Forget the cost, we are sinking here!”.

Continue reading “Amazon Buys Touch Company, Hires Ace Manager, Plans Uber Kindle? [eReaders] [Tablets]” »

Well, there we have it folks, MacMillan has just confirmed (through a paid ad no less) that they really have been having problems with Amazon regarding the pricing of eBooks. The ad appeared on Publishers Lunch and it explains that MacMillan would like to change the pricing of digital books based on the new “agency” model.

Continue reading “Macmillan-Amazon Price Battle Confirmed As Real, Steve Smiles Contently” »

Amazon has been on the crosshairs of multiple companies ever since the Kindle became such a hit. But such a hit I mean it is a popular niche device that will probably never see the kind of mass success that devices like the iPhone enjoy. Yes, you know where I am going with this — Amazon is scared of Apple. They are scared of Apple’s Tablet might mean for them — the large tree in a field of little e-reader shrubs.

Continue reading “Amazon: Kindle Now Has App Support, Take That Apple!” »

Like I have been saying for quite some time now, the age of the tablet is definitely upon us. There is no doubting the fact that every company that has ever made a portable computing device is thinking about making a tablet. In fact, companies with no experience at all in such things are stepping in. Not to mention all the startups with their own tiny ideas about what a tablet should be like. I say tiny because they lack the vision (and the funding) to do something really extraordinary. It takes visionaries to build entire markets out of nowhere.

One such visionary has definitely been Google. As an entity, it has really done a lot of things differently and has shown the world that an ethos built around simplicity and minimalism can really make a lot of business sense. But  when the search engine giant started to diversify into hardware, it really was something to take a look at. They are still getting there actually, as they are expected to release the first ever Google branded hardware tomorrow (the 5th) at the Android conference at Mountain View. Yes, I am talking about the Nexus One. But I am more excited about another piece of news that has not attracted as much attention as it probably should’ve.

Continue reading “Google Tablet V/s The Apple Tablet V/s The Rest” »

It is Monday again, which means blink-and-you-miss Sunday is over already. Back in the world of tech, things have been really busy. Just after a big week full of Apple products and (glowing) Apple financial reports, the rumors are back again. Plus, Samsung has quietly launched their second Android phone in Russia (of all places). This time I have some iPhone apps to talk about as well.

Get over to the other side and start catching up.

Continue reading “Catch Up Monday: More Apple (Tablet) Rumors, Cool New iPhone Apps, DSi Voice Chat [?], U2 Live On YouTube Tonight And More” »