Introducing the Sony PSP Go: Seems Sony realized that the UMD format was effectively dead; the latest planned incarnation of the Sony PSP only accepts media through Memory Stick Micro cards and wireless downloads (via the PlayStation Network). Bad news for current UMD and normal-sized Memory Stick users.

All Images Courtesy SCEA

Yet the focus on digital delivery means that Sony was reportedly thoughtful enough to equip the PSP Go with 16GB of onboard memory. The new slide-down form factor may be something new for longtime PSP users. That’s because controlling the portable console requires the hands to be closer together—and below the Go’s 3.8″ screen. Compare that to the thumbs-on-the-side configuration that has defined every PSP model until now. Read more

So people are saying that the iPhone Kindle app, which more or less provides the same ebook reading functionality on Apple’s smartphone, will kill the Kindle. Makes sense actually. After all, why spend $360 on a gadget that can only do one thing, when you can spend roughly the same for a smartphone that multi-tasks? This argument appeals especially to die-hard fans of the Apple “experience”.

Courtesy of Amazon

At the same time however, I can tell you that reading text on a backlit display strains the eyes. The e-ink of Amazon’s Kindle, on the other hand, is easy on the optics. That’s still why a lot of us still prefer reading printed words on dead trees, even if literally all books ever written are available through the web browser; no tiring light shines from them.

Future Kindles will definitely display color, free from the limits of grays. And you can bet that development will make Amazon’s reader more attractive; who wouldn’t artificially generated color pages that are easy to read? Amazon has the luxury of concentrating on ebook research, unlike supposed future competitors like Apple who are taking a more broad research towards R&D. What do you think?

So yes, Amazon launched yesterday a 9.7″ version of the Kindle, named the Kindle DX. I think:

Geeks would want to hear about the specs - The Kindle DX features a 9.7″ display, with a resolution of 1200 x 824 pixels, and an estimated 4.5GB (3,500 books) of internal storage. The DX is the first Kindle with an accelerometer; pages will rotate between landscape and portrait automatically depending on the device is held.

Kindle 2 vs. Kindle DX

Newspapers must be praying that the Kindle DX is a success - The Boston Globe, The New York Times, and The Washington Post must be thinking: Oh wow! A potential way to revive our dropping revenues! Could turn out to be a wise move actually. At least less trees die!

If Amazon is serious about pushing the Kindle DX as an educational device… - Then they should cut the price a bit. $489 for a gadget that can display only 16 shades of gray!? Speaking of which…

The textbook-on-a-Kindle pilot program is a good move - 50 lucky(?) students at an American university will receive 50 units to use as textbooks. Their academic performance will be compared to other students using traditional books. If this little exercise goes in favor of Amazon, they will have a strong case study to sell the Kindle DX to more clients! Specifically the educational ones.

Amazon could’ve chosen a better name. I don’t know if DX stands for anything, but any time I think of those two letters, Triple H and Shawn Michaels come to mind. How educational indeed!

That’s all I’ve got on the Kindle DX. What about you?

One benefit of e-ink is the fact that shining a light on it is enough to make low-light reading possible. That’s a reality exploited by the Periscope Lighted Folio for Kindle 2, which is basically a folio (well, duh!) with space for a notepad, pens, a swiveling twin LED light, and of course, a Kindle 2. That’s all for $50.

The Periscope Lighted Folio also has space for 3 “AA” batteries, which—as claimed by maker Periscope—can power the LED light for 40 hours or more. Periscope also made sure to highlight its Folio’s magnetic lock feature, which allows the user to keep the folio folded onto itself, compacting the whole she-bang “to faciliate one-handed use”. Surely you can spend $50 more, after you’ve spent $360 on the Kindle 2 itself!

You can visit periscopelight.com for more info on where to buy.

(Image courtesy of Periscope)

I bet a common objection to the Kindle 2 (or any e-book reader for that matter) is the classy feel. Something about a well-bound book seems more traditional, weighty, and significant. Maybe that’s why these leather Kindle 2 covers (available from Amazon of course) could make up for the reader’s plastic-based existence. From vendors like Cole Haan, M-edge, and Amazon itself, here’s a sample listing:

• Amazon Kindle 2 Leather Cover
• Cole Haan Hand-Stained Smooth Leather Cover for Kindle 2,Dark Brown
• M-edge Executive Jacket for Kindle 2 (Genuine Leather–Smooth Mocha Brown)
• Cole Haan Hand-Stained Pebble Grain Leather Cover for Kindle 2,Saddle Tan (pictured)
• 
  M-edge Executive Jacket for Kindle 2 (Genuine Leather–Pebble Saddle Brown)

A desperate move to shift out of a so-called dying medium? Or a savvy move taken after the innovators have hit the beachhead and suffered losses? Full story at cnn.com.

Interested in the Palm Pre? Precentral’s listed of all known features, what they consider lacking, and the great unknown. Some highlights of what’s known:

• EVDO Rev A (US) GSM 3G (Europe)
• WiFi b/g (OMG! Palm’s creating a tradition of built-in WiFi!)
• 8GB internal flash memory, usable projected at 7.4GB
• 3.1″ 320 x 480 display
• 3.5mm headset port (Yay!)
• microUSB port
• 3 megapixel camera with flash
• Copy & Paste, Tethering via Bluetooth (Ha to the phone-which-shall-not-be-named!)

And that doesn’t even include Palm’s promised information management revolutions. Check out the entire list here.
C’mon Palm, this old Handspring Visor Deluxe user (and sometime I-wish-I-had-a-Treo dreamer) is rooting for you!

(Image from CNET)

Looks like the Kindle 2’s ability to read out spoken text is causing concern for the copyright holders of—what else?—books:

Some publishers and agents expressed concern over a new, experimental feature that reads text aloud with a computer-generated voice.

“They don’t have the right to read a book out loud,” said Paul Aiken, executive director of the Authors Guild. “That’s an audio right, which is derivative under copyright law.”

The reply of Amazon available to those who continue. Read more

According to an email received from Amazon, the latest version of the eBook reader is now available for pre-order at amazon.com (duh). Turns out the launch day sale won’t be a reality, since the price is still a hefty $360. Unless Amazon wants to screw anyone who pre-orders of course.

So what justifies the price for Bezo’s boys? Continue reading to see the marketing peeps’ point-by-point breakdown. Read more

Now that the rumored price is out of the way—as well as the rumor that the February 24, 2009 release will kickoff with a launch sale, continue reading to see an entire gallery of apparently intentionally-leaked marketing pics. Read more