14 DAY TRIAL // While the older players on the e-reader market are unveiling new generations of devices, other companies are getting ready to join the fray, and The Sharper Image hopes to make more than just one ripple with the Literati, a device with color display and pre-loaded ebooks and free extra content for download.
While current e-readers are being bought in large numbers, consumers are still looking forward to a time when they will be able to read their books in color.
The Sharper Image seeks to fulfill this dream, so it outfitted the Literati with a color display that measures 7 inches and has a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels.
Other features of the electronic include WiFi connectivity and Kobo's free reading apps for smartphones, PCs and tablets, among other things.
By means of the Kobo apps, “readers can seamlessly switch from device to device and never lose their place thanks to a persistent bookmark.
“The Literati’s greatest innovation is its out-of-the-box simplicity,” said Kirk McLean, co-founder of MerchSource, the company that designed and distributes the Literati under trademark license from The Sharper Image.
“We also involved our retailers early on in the design process. Their feedback informed not only the Literati’s design aesthetic, but also the consumers experience from the minute they turn it on.”
"The majority of eReaders available today are either too expensive with too many features, or the manufacturer has slashed key functionality and overall device quality to lower the price," Kirk McLean added.
"We designed the Literati from the inside out - starting with the bookstore - to give booklovers exactly what they wanted: a simple, dedicated device that lets them get right to the book."
The literati will be pre-loaded with 25 books, another 125 being available for free download, and will come in two color options, white and black. North American stores will receive it in October, priced at $159.