This could be Kindle's main competitor

Dec 27, 2007 20:06 GMT  ·  By

If you were thinking of getting one of the fancy Amazon's wireless reading devices, you'd better think again.

Apparently, Philippe Starck's remarks (" Kindle is almost modern", "its interface just wasn't well done") haven't affected its popularity that much. Amazon announced Kindle as being temporarily sold out.

Do not despair! Ramin Sedighi, an Iranian engineer, has just invented a small device that turns silent books into speaking ones. The new hybrid is a weird gadget that pronounces, translates and explains texts and words the moment the electronic stylus touches its screen. The system contains an USB port, an audio input, the electronic pen, 512 MB of memory storage and an SD card slot. It gets powered up by battery and measures just about the sizes of a 13 inch laptop.

"The device can provide a very effective method for teaching foreign languages to children between 4- 16 and will be available in early 2008," ISNA.ir (Iranian Students News Agency), informs.

But what makes e-Book readers so popular, after all? Well, Kindle, for example, is based on a revolutionary electronic-paper display to provide a sharp, high resolution screen that looks and reads like real paper. Not to mention it needs no computer, no cables and no syncing at all. This means you can use the item whether you're in the back of a taxi, at the airport or in bed.

But, how about this Iranian e-book reader prototype with its extra talking feature? There is a little info on this matter, but if this prototype ever sees the light, it will surely going to be one of the hottest gadgets for 2008.

So, are you ready for the first talking e-Book reader?

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