Technology company Plastic Logic will release new details of its e-reader device during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas in January, the company recently confirmed.
Plastic Logic's QUE is being designed more for business professionals -- an interesting change of pace since most of the newly announced e-readers are designed for the consumer industry. The device is just 0.85 cm thick, with Wi-Fi capability, and a screen bigger than most comparable e-readers available on the market, according to the company.
"In addition to connecting its users with their business and professional newspapers, books and periodicals, QUE supports the document formats business users need (including PDF, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel documents) and features powerful tools for interacting with and managing the content," Plastic Logic said in a statement.
B&N is a current provider for Plastic Logic, but their exact working relationship remains unknown.
Spring Design also introduced an e-reader, a new Google Android-powered "Alex" e-reader device. It has dual screens, but other details haven't been made available.
The overall number of companies looking to enter the e-reader market is expanding quickly, with an even bigger interest level expected in the future. The Amazon Kindle e-reader leads the industry, with Sony trying to play catch up. Barnes & Noble, Interead, IREX Technologies, and other companies also are interested in cashing in.
Apple may release its' very fabled tablet computer in the future, which might be used as a glorified e-reader by some, but the device has never been officially confirmed by the company.
The e-reader market is expected to explode, as the price of the technology lowers in the coming months. E-books still remain expensive, often times more expensive than paper backs, but the price may drop if e-reader manufacturers are able to strike deals with book publishers.
