German company develops its own e-book reader.

E-book readers could not only alter the book, but also the way in which newspapers and magazines will be distributed. At the Cebit was a German company to a Linux reader to the Kindle, Sony and Co. will be competing.

 

Hanover - A Berlin-based company wants to newspapers, magazines and books on e-book market and has developed a special reader. "We want content in a new way to people," said technical director of txtr, Andreas Steinhauser, in an interview with the AP news agency at the CeBIT in Hanover.

AP
E-Ink on the rise: The technology allows for crisp fonts with minimal power consumption - ideal for readers like the txtr

Steinhauser has brought the prototype of a new reader, like in a week in Germany start the Sony Reader PRS-505 as "E-Ink (electronic ink) display technology designated uses. "We have waived all unnecessary frills," says Steinhauser for operation of the reader, the only opening a micro-USB port.

Unlike the Sony Reader, the txtr in the expected completion in the fall but also to connect to the Internet - via wireless LAN or via mobile phone with UMTS. About Nahfunk are also two txtr devices recognize and replace text.

Besides the device, there is also a platform in the network on which the user txtr texts freely available to upload and share. The e-book reader can connect with this platform and then refer content. Txtr.com is currently still in beta stage, and May will be ready to develop.

To start the device should be an online store, where publishers can offer their titles on one of them self-selected price. "We run with the doors," says Steinhauser. Also journals, magazines and newspapers could be there with their own subscription models for download from their spending on txtr reader available.

"Our goal is the combination of free texts with the commercial paper program," explains the technology leader (CTO) of txtr and shows how it builds on the prototype devices very quickly from one page to the next leaf. This happens just as the selection of texts with a "slider" to the left of the screen, with 6 inches (12.24 centimeters times 9.06) ebensogroß is like the Sony Reader. When the finger over the slider wipes, appears immediately to the next page. Also can quickly enlarge the font, and the txtr changes from landscape to portrait, by turns according to him - to have the device developers a motion sensor installed.

The focus of the txtr concept is, according to Stone House but not the individual device, but the overall concept. There is also a txtr program for the iPhone, and the support of other devices will follow. For a wide variety of functions and applications, the company, the system for developers is available. "We write because in every way 'open' thing," says Steinhauser. This fits well with Linux, the foundation for the txtr system.

So far only a prototype

What will the cost txtr when it is introduced in the fall? That depends entirely on the development of prices for components, which currently is very unsteady, said txtr-CTO. Moreover, txtr observe what others do - with tension is on the market has long anticipated the decision of when to Amazon in the U.S. successful Kindle reader in Europe will introduce. The Sony Reader will cost at its launch next week 299 Euro.

For the on-line connection in the mobile phone is txtr, according to Stone House in talks with operators. When you purchase the device, a SIM card with the same time. The settlement is subject to the requirements of the company but not on the mobile operators, but over txtr. The plan is the choice between a flat and a prepaid model.

Behind the txtr is the beginning of 2008 company founded in Wizpac. "We come from the embedded area," says Steinhauser - among the "embedded systems" refers to the integration of circuits in devices other than the computer. Soon to be Wizpac in txtr renamed. "We are not startups, we have already shown that what we can," said Steinhauser, who was previously with geodata specialists Gate 5 was, in 2006, was acquired by Nokia. With regard to the economic crisis, says the txtr Technology Officer: "The conditions are not ideal, but a good product at the end stands for itself"