Even though the e-reader market has not been very varied so far, it seems that 2010 may see more companies providing Amazon's Kindle with competition, besides just Sony and Barnes and Noble. A more recent entry on this market segment is Skiff, a company that has been working on a prototype for a product with both a larger viewing area and a thinner form factor.

The Skiff e-reader measures 9 inches (228.6 mm) by 11 inches (279.4 mm) by 0.268 inches (6.8 mm) and weighs 498 grams. The actual display size is of 11.5 inches (diagonally) and the display itself has a resolution of 1200x1600 pixels. The device operates on 4GB of internal memory (3+ GB available for content) and even has an external SDHC 2.0 standard compliant SD-card slot. Furthermore, the device is capable of a long-range wireless connectivity via 3G and also short-range Wi-Fi connectivity. The e-reader even has a USB port for sideloading content.

"The forthcoming launch of the Skiff Reader is an exciting development for consumers who are looking for more and more choice in the arena of embedded devices," Dan Dooley, president wholesale solutions, Sprint, said. "We have witnessed a strong demand for e-readers in recent years and now Sprint is showing its commitment to Skiff by making this new device available on the 3G network and for sale in Sprint retail stores."

The display technology used in the product's creation makes use of a rugged, metal-foil e-paper display and a flexible, stainless-steel substrate for silicon thin-film-transistors (TFT). As such, the product is shatter-proof and crack-proof, having a high degree of flexibility even while boasting full touchscreen capabilities. The touch input may be achieved either with the fingertip or with a stylus.

The product uses a magnesium housing and a rechargeable, high-capacity Lithium Ion battery. As such, the actual battery life supposedly extends to about a week, even in case of continuous page turns and periodic, wireless use. In tandem, however, the actual recharging time is also quite lengthy, reaching even two or three hours.

"The Skiff Reader's big screen will showcase print media in compelling new ways," Gilbert Fuchsberg, president of Skiff, LLC, added. "This is consistent with Skiff's focus on delivering enhanced reading experiences that engage consumers, publishers and advertisers."

The Skiff e-reader will be optimized for magazine and newspaper content and will be previewed at the Consumer Electronics Show. Pricing and availability details have not been disclosed as of yet, but full information, including a photo gallery and a 360-degree view of the device, may be found on Skiff's website.