Archive for the ‘ereader covers’ tag
A new waterproof cover for the Kindle Touch & Kindle Keyboard no comments
Just in time for summer, UK company Proporta has a new waterproof cover for the Kindle 4, Kindle Touch and Kindle Keyboard. These have only been out for a little more than a month, so there are few user reviews yet, although there are BeachBuoy covers for a variety of other gadgets
Proporta’s waterproof covers feature a sealable plastic pouch/bag design with neck strap similar in appearance to that of TrendyDigital’s cases. But while TrendyDigital’s WaterGuard case is water resistant only and not meant for immersion, Proporta’s BeachBuoy covers are rated waterproof to a depth of 15-16 feet.
The BeachBuoy Waterproof case for the Kindle Touch is $27.56 with free shipping from the UK (also available in the UK for £15.96). A model is also available for the Kindle Keyboard and the Kobo Touch at the same price.
Proporta also has several bundles
Since there are no reviews of the BeachBuoy for the Kindle Touch ereader yet I’ve taken the plunge and ordered one. I’ll update this post when I get it.
Proporta also makes a number of regular cases
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Free ebooks for Kindle and other ereaders – 3/25/2012 no comments
A few fresh catches from the ever-growing and ever-changing sea of free ebooks. Be aware that many will be free for only a brief period of time before flashing back to paid — so do look before you click.
Widow’s Row by Lala Corriere (5 stars/14 reviews) Suspense.
Dead Politician Society: A Clare Vengel Undercover Novel by Robin Spano. This mystery is currently free at Barnes & Noble. This is one of those relatively rare cases in which the book is not available in digital format at Amazon.
Such A Wonderful Girl by Brewster Bainbridge (5 stars/1 reviews) Mystery; Hard-boiled.
Death By A HoneyBee (A Josiah Reynolds Mystery) by Abigail Keam (5 stars/5 reviews) Mystery.
Covert Reich by A.K. Alexander (4 stars/9 reviews) Thriller.
Dementia (Book 1: Dementia) by Craig Thomas (5 stars/9 reviews) Thriller.
The Beautiful Evil by Robbi Bryant (4 1/2 stars/23 reviews) Thriller; Modern adaptation of Pandora’s Box.
Fever Moon by Carolyn Haines (5 stars/8 reviews) Mystery set in Louisianna during WWII. Also free at Barnes & Noble.
Fool’s Journey by Mary Chase Comstock, Carol DuncanPerry and Andrea Paulus (4 1/2 stars/13 reviews) Suspense.
Sound of Blood by Lawrence De Maria (5 stars/16 reviews) Thriller.
Deadly Secrets (The Indian Creek Texas Mysteries – Book One) by Jude Pittman (4 1/2 stars/5 reviews) Mystery; Texas.
Toward Night’s End by M.H. Sargent (5 stars/7 reviews) Mystery set during WWII; Japanese internment.
Justice in June (Mary Magruder Katz) by Barbara Levenson (4 1/2 stars/13 reviews) Mystery; Women sleuths.
Swan Song (Julie O’Hara Mystery Series) by Lee Hanson (5 stars/6 reviews) Mystery; Women sleuths.
Off the Grid (A Gerrit O’Rourke Novel) by Mark Young (4 1/2 stars/18 reviews) Thriller; International intrigue.
Dying To Get Here: A Story of Coming to America by Matt Lawrence, Rusty Fischer and Thomas Van Hare (5 stars/13 reviews) Adventure; Cuban refugees.
Star Wars: Lost Tribe of the Sith #8: Secrets by John Jackson Miller (4 1/2 stars/5 reviews) Science fiction. Also free at Barnes & Noble.
The Meridians by Michaelbrent Collings (4 stars/14 reviews) Science fiction.
Vortex of Deception (Vortex Trilogy) by S. D. Taylor (4 1/2 stars/2 reviews) Science fiction.
SHU’KAN (The Incursion Series) by Martin Durst (4 stars/1 reviews) Science fiction; Alien invasion.
Sami by H.S. St.Ours (5 stars/2 reviews) Science fiction; Post-apocalyptic.
Atlantis – Return of the Nation by Steven Cook (5 stars/1 reviews) Science fiction.
Prison Nation by Jenni Merritt (4 1/2 stars/13 reviews) Science fiction; Dystopian.
The Missing Link by Bryan Pedas and Brandon Meyers (5 stars/15 reviews) Science fiction.
Altered Visions by Pam Bainbridge-Cowan and Lisa Cromwell (4 stars/1 reviews) Speculative fiction; Short story collection.
Squid Pulp Blues by Jordan Krall (4 1/2 stars/24 reviews) Horror; Bizarro-Noir; 3 novellas.
Near Death by Richard C Hale (5 stars/20 reviews) Horror.
Mad Moral by Kevin (5 stars/9 reviews) Horror.
The Winds of Khalakovo by Bradley P. Beaulieu (4 1/2 stars/26 reviews) Epic fantasy.
In the House of Five Dragons by Erica Lindquist (4 1/2 stars/11 reviews) Epic fantasy. Also free at Kobo.
Arawn’s Quest (Zen Chronicles) by Edward Larel (4 1/2 stars/3 reviews) Epic fantasy. Also free at Kobo.
Prophesy Denied (Seasons of Time) by M.L. Rigdon (5 stars/4 reviews) Epic fantasy.
Frey (The Frey Saga) by Melissa Wright (4 1/2 stars/12 reviews) Fantasy. Also free at Barnes & Noble.
Infernal Stock: Dixon Breaks Loose by Ronnie Schiller (5 stars/15 reviews) Fantasy.
Parkingdom: You Can Be Small And Still Make A Big Difference (Book One of the Parkingdom Series) by Glen Johnson (5 stars/2 reviews) Fantasy; Gnomes.
Lost, Then Found (Winged Dagger Chronicles) by David N. Lewis (5 stars/1 reviews) Fantasy; Christian fiction.
Zarkora – The Fyrelit Tragedy by Nicholas Lochel (5 stars/7 reviews) YA Fantasy.
Parmethia: Book 1 by Mark Cool (5 stars/12 reviews) YA Fantasy.
Waking the Dreamer (Transhuman) by Andy Kaiser (4 1/2 stars/2 reviews) YA Fantasy.
The Horde (People’s of The Arden) by Jason Henry and Heather Lomax (4 stars/3 reviews) Fantasy.
On Unfaithful Wings (An Icarus Fell Novel) by Bruce Blake (4 1/2 stars/12 reviews) Fantasy.
Dreams Fall Down Betrothed By Blood (Immortals of Orion Series Book One) by Tabitha Summers (4 1/2 stars/8 reviews) YA Paranormal romance.
Alone (The ‘Serenity’ Series) by Marissa Farrar (4 1/2 stars/19 reviews) Urban fantasy; Romance; Vampires. Also free at Barnes & Noble and Kobo.
Deep Waters (The Lemoso Legends) by Sophie Rhodes (4 1/2 stars/5 reviews) Paranormal romance; Mermaids.
Insight (A Young Adult Paranormal Romance) (The Insight Series) by Jamie Magee (4 1/2 stars/25 reviews) YA Fantasy. Also free at Barnes & Noble.
Golden Lies by Barbara Freethy (4 1/2 stars/23 reviews) Romantic suspense.
Blind Faith by Kimberley Reeves (4 1/2 stars/8 reviews) Romantic suspense.
Actions Speak Louder by Rosemarie Naramore (5 stars/1 reviews) Contemporary romance.
Always a Bridesmaid by Carol Grace (4 stars/9 reviews) Contemporary romance.
It’s Not A Wonderful Life by Una Natalia Owen (5 stars/4 reviews) Romantic comedy.
True Devotion by Dee Henderson (4 1/2 stars/64 reviews) Contemporary romance from a faith-based publisher. Also free at Barnes & Noble.
Blue Christmas (The Moody Blue Trilogy | Book One) by Diane Moody (5 stars/19 reviews) Contemporary romance; Religious fiction.
Beyond Betrayal by Christine Michels (4 1/2 stars/5 reviews) Historical romance; Western.
Say You Love Me by Patricia Hagan (4 stars/8 reviews) Historical romance; Western.
Into the Woods by Linda Jones (4 stars/9 reviews) Historical romance.
Warrior’s Pledge (The Pith Trilogy) by Kara Griffin (5 stars/1 reviews) Historical Highland romance.
He Called Me Son (The Blountmere Street Series) by Barbara Arnold (4 1/2 stars/15 reviews) Historical fiction set in New Zealand.
The Frozen Trail by Lisa Dayley (4 stars/22 reviews) Historical fiction; Western; Novella.
Copper Angels by Michael Jackson Moore (5 stars/1 reviews) Historical fiction.
Teaching Bobby by Mark Butler (5 stars/2 reviews) Contemporary fiction.
The Other Side of What by Shannon Yarbrough (4 stars/6 reviews) Contemporary fiction; Gay & Lesbian.
Forever Is Over by Calvin Wade (5 stars/9 reviews) Contemporary fiction; Family saga.
Everything Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Book: A portrait of an American icon (Everything Profiles) by Kathleen Tracy (4 stars/9 reviews) Biography. Also free at Barnes & Noble.
Death by China: Confronting the Dragon – A Global Call to Action by Peter W. Navarro and Greg Autry (4 stars/81 reviews) Nonfiction; International politics; Foreign affairs. Also free at Barnes & Noble.
My Checklist (A Free App for Kindle) by Amazon Digital Services (4 stars/11 reviews) Free Kindle app.
It’s No Secret: Revealing Divine Truths Every Woman Should Know by Rachel Olsen (4 1/2 stars/24 reviews) Religion. Also free at Barnes & Noble.
Yen Path: Taking Steps Towards What You Want in Life by Jenny Gallagher (4 1/2 stars/10 reviews) Self-help.
Super Scone Recipes – How to Bake Scones Like A Pro! by Judith Stone (5 stars/4 reviews) Recipes.
How To Make Devonshire Tea With Scones, Strawberry Jam and Clotted Cream (Authentic English Recipes) by Geoff Wells (5 stars/4 reviews) Recipes.
Duct Tape Bags by Instructables Authors (4 stars/10 reviews) Crafts.
I Am Brave: At School (Simple Stories For Building Strong Character Traits In Your Children) by Jeremy Rice (5 stars/6 reviews) Children’s books.
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Today only at the Kindle Store a selection of 77 cookbooks
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DecalGirland Skinit
both have iPad 3 skins and both have 20% off discount coupons:
- DecalGirl discount code – NEWSTUFF20 – good this weekend only.
- Skinit coupon code – SKINSAVE20 – I don’t see an expiration date on this one. Skinit is also currently offering free shipping on orders over $30.
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Best Buy has several ereader related deals that are good until March 31:
- Buy the Kindle Touch 3G with Special Offers for $149.99 and get a $20 gift card.
- The Kobo Touch eReader with Offers is $79.99 (regularly $99.99).
- The Verso New York Times ereader cover (View from Riverhouse – fits various ereaders and 7-inch tablets, including the Kindle Fire) is on sale for $29.99 with free shipping – marked down from $39.99.
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Lightwedge Verso ereader cover (Cities) review no comments
Lightwedge, which is best known for its line of book and ereader lights, recently launched two new series of ereader covers under the Verso label. The New York Times covers feature photos from the newspapers archives and the Artist Series currently features four designs by four different artists. Each of the Artist Series covers are available in two colors. I picked up one of the Artist Series covers, Cities by Sharyn Sowell, in brown (this design is also available in a dark red).
Leather or synthetic? This is one bit of info about these covers that you will be hard-pressed to glean from the product information pages unless you are clued in by the conspicuous absence of any bold declarations of “Genuine Leather” construction. Yes, we have no leather here. These ereader covers are made of synthetic materials.
I have to say that, at least in the case of my brown Cities cover, this is one of the more leather-like synthetic materials I’ve seen. I’m sure some people will be fooled. Personally, I don’t really mind if the material is synthetic, as long as it looks and feels good. I am very happy with the appearance of the Cities cover. The Verso cover also passes the touchy-feely test. To me it feels like an old leather-bound book. If you miss the feel of dead-tree books you will probably like this cover.
As I say, I am okay with synthetics. But that does not mean I’m going to be happy if my ereader cover smells like a gasoline station. In fact, my Verso cover had only a very faint chemical smell when I first opened the package, but that soon dissipated. By the next day I could detect nothing. So the cover passes this test as well for me.
Construction seems very good. I could find no flaws in the stitching or elsewhere. The microfiber lining seems of good quality — I have not seen any shedding, which can be an issue with the lining used in some of the cheaper ereader covers. Stiffeners are sewn into the front and back to help protect the ereader’s screen. The front flap folds back flat so your ereader is comfortable to hold in one hand while wearing the cover.
The Cities cover weighs about 6 ounces. With the Cities cover on my Kindle 3 weighs in at 14 ounces. Usually when I’m reading in bed (where I typically want to hold and operate the ereader in one hand and where extra weight is most noticeable) I take off the cover and use my ereader au natural. When I carry my ereader around however, even if I’m just going to read on the patio, I feel more comfortable using the cover. I’ve managed to break one ereader screen — once is enough for that experience.
At Amazon these covers are understandably marketed as Kindle 3 covers. In fact, Lightwedge designed these covers to be nondenominational. They should fit just about any ereader that is 6.7 – 7.7 inches tall and 4.5 – 4.9 inches wide. Lightwedge specifically mentions that these covers will work with the Kindle 3, Kobo, Nook (1st generation), Sony Daily and Sony Touch ereaders. So how well does this one-size-fits-all approach work? The photo below shows the cover with four different ereaders.
On the top from the left we have the Kindle 3 and the Kobo Touch Edition; on the bottom is the Sony Touch and the iriver Story HD.
As you can see, the lower elastic bands slightly cover the edges of a couple of keys on the Kindle 3’s keyboard, but can be slid down to rest below the keys. I don’t think this is a problem.
The iriver Story HD also has a chiclet keyboard, but the straps didn’t cause any problems for me here either. The colors of this cover match those of the Story HD well. The power switch of the iriver ereader is on the back, but I was able to lift the ereader up enough to access it without removing the elastic bands — a bit of a hassle, but I can live with it. The power switch of the Kobo Touch is also partly covered by one of the bands, but it can still be operated.
This cover will also fit the original Nook ereader, but not the Nook Color or the Nook Touch, which is too squat and wide.
User reviews at Amazon for the Verso covers are mostly quite good. I did see a few Kindle 3 owners complain that the elastic bands on these covers did not hold their ereaders securely in place. To test this I put my own Kindle 3 in the cover and held it upside down and all around while shaking vigorously to see if I could get the ereader to even look like it wanted to fall out. Didn’t happen. Not even close. I don’t know what happened with these customers — perhaps they received defective covers or part of an early batch with different elastic bands? At any rate I have not yet seen any signs of this problem. If I do experience any issues as the cover ages I’ll update this post.
The Verso series of ereader covers is priced at $39.99 – $49.99. I really like mine — I think this was money well spent.
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A few more Kindle 3 covers and cases no comments
Since my last post on Kindle 3 covers and cases there 
have been a few new covers that have trickled in. I suspect that making ereader covers (or covers for any device that has a new model released periodically) can be a treacherous business. Imagine if your company had a warehouse full of Kindle 2 covers when the Kindle 3 was announced. Your inventory would probably suddenly have halved in value – and even at half price you would have a very difficult time selling it all.
Acase Kindle 3 covers
Acase makes several types of leather covers for the Kindle 3 and iPad.
The Acase Kindle 3 covers hold the ereader in place with corner straps or a leather frame depending on the model. Several colors are available.
Kindle 3 covers from Acase get good reviews and range in price from around $17 to under $30 for a model with a built-in LED light.
TrendyDigital Kindle 3 Covers
TrendyDigital makes several Kindle 3 covers.
Besides the plain brown and black varieties of the Folio Case, there is a version available that comes with a world map on the cover for $25.00. TrendyDigital’s Spring Collection features the same cover with colorful canvas exteriors featuring designs with butterflies, flowers and more. These are priced at $29.99.
Trendy Digital also makes the MaxGuard Plus case which utilizes a leather pocket to hold the ereader in place. This should help with shock protection in the case of a dropped Kindle. Magnetic fasteners are used to close the cover. This faux leather Kindle 3 cover also is available in versions to hold the ereader in either the left or right sides. Priced at $31.99.
The photos below show the Folio Case on the left, MaxGuard Plus in the center and one of the Spring Collection covers on the right.
Piel Frama Kindle 3 Leather Case
Piel Frama is a manufacturer of luxury leather cases for gadgets and is based in Spain. Piel Frama covers and cases are made by hand from the highest quality materials and with very strict quality control. 
Of course all of this does not come cheap – the Piel Frama Kindle 3 Premium Leather Case is priced at $89.00.
Piel Frama uses a leather frame to hold the ereader in place. For added protection a plastic stiffener is sewn inside the cover. There is a single compartment to hold papers and documents. Several colors are available, including red, blue, pink and green. There are also Piel Frama covers
A few more Low-Priced Leather Kindle 3 Covers
The SimpleCase for Kindle 3 is made of genuine leather. A double zipper is used for the closure and elastic corner straps are used to secure the ereader in place. Pockets for cards and documents are built in. Priced at $26.99.
The Bundle Monster Kindle 3 cover is also made of real leather. This cover uses elastic bands at the corners to hold the ereader and a magnetic clasp on a strap for closure. Document compartments are included. This cover is $21.99 and comes in six different color choices.
The Kindle 3 Leather Executive Folio Cover from Kiwi Cases is also made of real leather and is reasonably priced at $24.95. Features include elastic corner bands to hold the ereader in place; magnetic snap closure; slots for business cards, papers and ID. Available in either tan or black. This cover is also made for the Nook Color ereader.
The photos below show the above covers in order of mention — left to right.
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Waterproof Kindle 3 covers no comments
It does not look like we will have as many choices when it comes to waterproofing our Kindle 3 ereaders as we had with the Kindle 2. It appears that the Guardian Case, which protected Kindle 2 ereaders up to a depth of 3 feet, will not be available for the Kindle 3. I was told at the M-Edge booth at CES that the company has no plans to make the polycarbonate Guardian Case in a size to fit the latest generation Kindle.
KlearKase is another company that made a 
water-resistant polycarbonate case for the Kindle 2. Some time ago I received an email from the company stating that a Kindle 3 version of the case had been postponed. The email said that the soonest a KlearKase Kindle 3 case might arrive is at the end of the first quarter of 2011, but I rather doubt we will be seeing one. Hopefully I’m wrong about that.
Update 3/9/11: Another email from KlearKase today says that a new Kindle 3 version of its case is now in production and will be available in May.
Update 7/27/11: The KlearKase for the Kindle 3 is now available for $49.99.
At the moment the only waterproof case for the Kindle 3 that I know of is the TrendyDigital WaterGuard Waterproof Case. This comes in several colors and costs $19.99 for a padded version with removable shoulder strap or $15.99 without the padding and with fixed strap. This does not provide the immersion protection of the M-Edge Guardian case, but for most users it will probably do.
There are also a few splash resistant cases available for the Kindle 3 
ereader. Octovo has its new Tirim splash-proof case, which is made of microfiber with a clear plastic window. Priced at $24.99.
The M-Edge Leisure Jacket is also splash proof and features a nylon exterior with a clear vinyl panel to read through. A high-density foam frame holds the ereader securely in place and provides shock protection. A zipper pocket is provided on the back of the case for papers or accessories. The Kindle can be turned face down in the Leisure Jacket when being transported for screen protection. This jacket is also compatible with the M-Edge e-Luminator booklight. Priced at $34.99 and available in six different colors.
Update: There is now another waterproof case to add to the list of choices: The BeachBuoy from Proporta is also a sealable plastic pouch like the TrendyDigital cover, except that it is rated waterproof to a depth of 15 feet. The BeachBuoy is available in different sizes for many different devices, including the Kindle Keyboard and the Kindle Touch. Priced at $27.56.
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If you do use your ereader (or other gadgets) around the wet stuff a lot, 
it might also be a good idea to have a Dry-All kit on hand. This product uses desiccating beads to remove the moisture from a device that has been dunked. The kit currently available is primarily marketed for cell phones, but the beads will work for any device. At CES I stopped by the company’s booth and was told that a larger kit designed especially for ereaders and tablets should be available by the end of February, 2011.
Update: The new Dry-All kit for tablets & ereaders is now available for $42.
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Noreve Kindle cover review 1 comment
Noreve Saint-Tropez is a French company that creates
luxury handcrafted leather cases for ereaders, mobile phones and other devices. Noreve has been kind enough to send me a sample of one of their Kindle covers to review.
Noreve uses four different types of leather for their various device cases:
- Perpetual Selection – matte finish full grain calf leather with a smooth and soft texture; comes in 12 colors.
- Ambition Selection – pebble grained leather, treated to resist weathering; three colors.
- Exceptional Selection – vintage leather look with a smooth and weathered finish; four colors.
- Illumination selection – varnished leather with a smooth and very glossy finish; three colors.
There is quite a lot there to choose from, what with the
different types of leather and their various color options. The cover I received is an Ambition Selection black cover for the Kindle 2. Noreve also makes covers for the Kindle 1, Kindle 3 and Kindle DX ereaders.
Additionally, Noreve makes covers for a number of other ereaders besides the Kindle family. The Sony PRS 300, 600 and 650; iRiver Story; iRex iLiad 2nd Edition; Hanvon WISEreader N526; Dell Streak; Cool-er; Bookeen Cybook Opus and Gen3; Barnes & Noble Nook (original); Bebook Neo, Mini, Hanlin V3 based Bebook and the Apple iPad are all supported. Noreve also makes cases for notebooks and a wide selection of mobile phones.
Rather than elastic straps or hinges, Noreve uses a metal rail system to hold the ereader securely in place in the cover. In the case of the Kindle 2 cover I received, this system works quite well. The Kindle was held very tightly while all ports and buttons are accessible. Combined with the rigid inserts in both the front and back covers I felt that the Kindle was well protected.
Inside the front cover are flaps to hold papers and slots to hold cards. At the bottom is a pocket with a clear window that would work for ID. The back cover is lined with soft leather decorated with the Noreve logo that has two little screens to cover the Kindle 2’s speakers. The closure uses a magnetic snap.
The fit of the cover was quite good on the Kindle 3 ereader. The front cover folds flatly and neatly back against the back cover when you want to hold it in one hand. The leather used by Noreve is very high quality and workmanship is very exact and precise.
The cover I received is rather quiet and low key. 
I don’t think that this is a cover that looks obviously expensive when seen in passing. It is only after handling it and examining the workmanship that one comes to appreciate the quality. Other people I showed the cover to seem to have had a similar impression. This is an ereader cover that will probably grow on you as you use it rather than wowing you with a big first impression.
This particular cover would probably therefore not be a good choice if you want a cover for your ereader that makes a bold fashion statement – perhaps one of Noreve’s varnished covers or one of the brighter color selections would be better for that. For myself, I find Noreve’s subtle and unpretentious design aesthetic to be refreshing. I like it. I need a case for my Sony PRS-650, for which I was thinking to buy Sony’s lighted cover. I’m now seriously thinking of getting one of Noreve’s Exceptional Selection covers in black.
Pricing for most of the ereader covers seems to be in
the $70 – $80 range. Noreve no longer has a distributer in the US, so you will probably need to purchase directly from the Noreve website. You can also find some of the Noreve covers and cases at Amazon UK.
Win this Noreve Kindle 2 cover!
Noreve is generously letting me have a drawing to give away the Kindle 2 cover used for this review. The rules are pretty simple: Leave a comment on this post by midnight PST Feb. 5, 2011, which will be the cutoff time for the contest. On Feb. 6 one winner will be randomly selected from the comments. One entry per person. I’m not going to set any geographical restrictions – but the winner will be responsible for any taxes and import fees. Please keep in mind that this is a Kindle 2 cover – it will not fit the latest generation Kindle 3 ereader.
You will be asked for an email address when you leave a comment; I will need this to contact the winner for a shipping address so please use a valid one. Your email will not be used for any other purpose. Please note that all comments have to go into moderation and therefore do not appear instantly, otherwise I’d be swamped by comment spam.
UPDATE: Well, Chris from California wins by default. If this was a Kindle 3 cover I’m sure there would have been much more interest. If it had been a Kindle 3 cover I would have promoted the drawing more with a sticky post on the homepage. Since the cover was for a Kindle 2, I thought it would be better if someone found it by searching for it and that is apparently what happened. So I hope you enjoy the cover Chris!
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LightWedge ereader lights and covers no comments
LightWedge has a couple of new ereader lights that 
are available now and several ereader covers to be released shortly, including a really nice lighted cover. I got a chance to spend a few minutes at the LightWedge booth at CES 2011 and check them out.
Verso Rechargeable Wrap Light for Kindle
The Verso Wrap Light comes with a set of interchangeable cuffs that you can use to fit it to any Kindle ereader model (1 – 3, DX) as well as the Sony Touch and Pocket Editions, Nook and Kobo ereaders. This light features a metal-clad gooseneck LED light that likes to be wrapped around the base when not in use. The battery is rechargeable over the included micro-USB cable and gets about 15 hours use per charge.
Verso Rechargeable Arc Light for Kindle
This model puts the LED on a light bar that comes on
automatically when the bar is raised. The Arc Light also is rechargeable with the included micro-USB cable and gets about 15 hours of use between charges. The set of interchangeable cuffs is included with this ereader light as well.
Both the Wrap Light and the Arc Light come in a choice of white or graphite. Both are priced at $39.99, which is higher than other ereader lights, but it is rechargeable. I was told that the Arc Light was the bestselling model of the two, but both looked quite good when I saw them. The advantage of having the gooseneck model will be that it is more adjustable, which may make it a better light for use with the larger screen of the Kindle DX.
LightWedge eReader Covers
LightWedge also has several new lines of ereader covers coming in the near future. 
All of the new covers will fit the Kindle 3, Nook Classic and the Kobo ereader. The first series to arrive (Feb. 2011) will be a series of covers adorned with reproductions of classic NY Times photos. These covers are expected to be priced at about $50. The cover shown has a photo of the Flatiron Building.
Also in the works is a series of leather ereader cases decorated with designs created by various artists. Not sure when these will become available but I can say that they seemed well made and the leather material used feels really nice in one’s hands.
I was also told that LightWedge is working on a possible set of Disney-themed ereader covers. That may or may not happen – and no idea when if it does.
Update: Some of the LightWedge Kindle 3 covers,
LightWedge is also working on a lighted ereader jacket that will fit Kindle 3, Nook Classic and Kobo ereaders. It features two metal-clad gooseneck LED lights that fold flat into the front cover when not in use. Like the ereader lights above, these are rechargeable with a micro-USB cable. The video below is of this lighted case at LightWedge’s booth at CES.
I was really impressed with the lighted cover – it seems well designed and elegant. I was told to expect a price of about $69 and availability around the end of the second quarter.
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Gift Ideas for Readers Who Do It Digitally 1 comment
It’s that time of year again already, and if you are looking for something for a person who likes to read you are blessed (or cursed) with a lot of choices this year.
First of all, if the giftee does not already have an ereader, that would be my first choice. The top models are the Kindle 3, the new Sony Readers and the Nook ereader from Barnes & Noble. I prefer the Kindle 3 because it has the most features for the money and the better ebook store, but the others each have their own high and low points as well.
If color is wanted, I would recommend the Nook Color or, if you want to spend more, the iPad. The nice things about the iPad are all of the apps available, and the ability to use reading apps and buy ebooks from all of the major sellers. The Cruz Reader from Velocity Micro is also worth looking at if you want to spend less.
If the person you are buying for already has an ereader, then a nice cover would no doubt be appreciated. For the Kindle ereaders there are some nice ones: Cole Haan
For the Sony ereaders, the Sony Lighted Cover is quite nice and provides a light as well. Barnes & Noble has a number of covers for both the Nook and Nook color ereaders, and there are a number of third party covers
Another gift that would be lower priced would be an ereader light. For the Kindle I recommend the Solis light or the Mighty Bright. The Mighty Bright will fit on other brands of ereaders as well. There is also a Solis light to fit the Nook ereader. M-Edge
Another lower priced gift would be a device skin. Skins let one personalize iPads, ereaders and other devices as well as protect from scratches.
DecalGirl and SkinIt
both provide skins in many designs to fit a variety of devices. DecalGirl has a promo code – Decal10 – that will give you a 10 percent discount.
This holiday season we also have the option of giving ebooks as gifts. You can gift any book from the Kindle Storewill also soon be offering this ability for those who don’t have Kindle ereaders.
Gifts for iPad Owners
The iPad has spawned a whole cottage industry of cover and accessory makers. There are iPad stands
If you want something really unique for an iPad there
is the Ostrich Leather IPad Case from Piel Frama. This case not only protects the iPad and looks good doing so, but can even fold into a stand for it.
Update: This cover is now available for the iPad 2. Also available in the UK.
Piel Frama
Gifts for Young Readers
As of yet there are only a few ereaders designed for very young children. One such is the V.Reader which costs about $50 and comes in either pink or blue. The V.Reader uses cartridges
The Nook Color ereader from Barnes & Noble, when combined with the new Nook Kids store, will also make a great ereader for children — albeit at a much higher price. The advantage would be that the Nook Color could be shared with adults and as young readers grow it can be used by them to read more advanced non-picture books as well.
The iPad has many children’s book apps and therefore makes a good ereader for children.
If your young reader has access to a Kindle ereader,
there are lots of children’s ebooks
ZooBorns!: Zoo Babies from Around the World is not available as an ebook, but it is a really cool paper book that would be good for any child who loves animals and it is very reasonably priced at $9.35.
And finally, for young readers and fans of Harry Potter, I couldn’t resist this:
The LEGO Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle!
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Velocity Cruz Reader Unboxing & First Impressions 68 comments
My new Velocity Cruz Reader came Friday night, so I’ve had about a day to work with it before writing this review.
The Cruz Reader looks very similar to the Pandigital Novel, and appears to be based on the same hardware. 
The similarity ends once you power the Cruz up though, as it quickly leaves the Novel in the dust.
In the box with the Cruz Reader comes an AC adaptor, USB cable, a heavy plastic stand, user guide and a rather unsubstantial slipcover. The battery of the Cruz came charged and ready for use — a nice touch.
The Cruz Reader seems a little heavy for its size — about 13 1/2 ounces. Velocity Micro has added a rubberized coating on the back, which feels better in your hands than the smooth metal would otherwise.
First up, get connected. The Cruz Reader did this easily, finding and connecting to my Wi-Fi network quickly. Unfortunately I had to reconnect in a few minutes. So far I’ve only had to reconnect this one time. When waking the Cruz takes a few seconds to reconnect, but it has managed to do so successfully by itself to this point.
On my patio, which is downstairs from my router and outdoors, I was still able to stay connected and download some books from Borders.
Next I headed over to Velocity Micro’s Cruz Market to see what apps they are offering. No, sadly the Cruz Reader does not access the Android Market. There are currently 14 apps available at the Cruz Market. These include shopping apps for Best Buy and Newegg, Wattpad and FBReader reading apps, Facebook and more.
There is an app for the AndAppStore that will give you access to more Android apps, but the selection is still rather sparse.
The Cruz Reader connects to the Borders ebook store (powered by Kobo) for purchasing ebooks. The Wattpad and FBReader ereading apps are also available and good for finding indie books and free titles. 
The Borders reading app, which is a rebranded Kobo app, has options for changing font sizes (there are five) and a night mode. Three different font styles are offered: Serif, sans serif and monospace. Page turning in the Borders app is accomplished by either a swipe or a tap on the edge of the screen, though taps seem to work better.
There is supposed to be an integrated dictionary, but all I have been able to find are trial versions of paid dictionary apps. Update: The “Dr Eye” app on the home screen is the dictionary — thanks to Josh from VM!
Web browsing works quite well. Of course panning and zooming around a web page is always easier with a multi-touch screen, but that would no doubt have made the Cruz Reader more expensive.
Entering information and logging in on websites has so far been painless. I was able to log into my Gmail and Hotmail accounts, but Yahoo would not let me sign in on the Cruz. Typical of Yahoo.
I was having trouble getting YouTube videos to play, but the Velocity Micro support site has a new YouTube app that needs to replace the one shipped on the first Cruz Readers. After I installed this YouTube is working fine.
Update: Velocity Micro has a new Support Hub that has all of the firmware updates and downloads for the Cruz reader and Cruz Tablet.
The Cruz Reader is faster and the touchscreen, which appears to be resistive, more responsive than other lower-priced Android tablets (such as the Novel) that we have seen to date. The viewing angle is also much better than I would have expected on a display priced at this level.
As is the case with LCD displays, the Cruz Reader is useless in the sun, but I could read on it in the shade outdoors, though the experience was not ideal. The screen is quite glossy, so there are reflections under bright lights. The display also gets covered in smudges, but these can be easily wiped off with a microfiber cloth.
It is not unheard of for lower priced devices to lag when changing screen orientation, and the Cruz does suffer occasionally from this problem, although it is not too bad and does not always happen.
I think the most disappointing thing 
for me about the Cruz Reader is the fact that there is no access to the Android Market. This would allow the installation of the Kindle and Barnes & Noble apps for Android and significantly broaden the content selection.
Battery life is supposed to be up to 10 hours (shorter when viewing videos). I had to charge after about 4-5 hours use, but the battery may not have been completely charged out of the box. The 10 hour estimate may not have taken leaving the Wi-Fi on into consideration either. In any case, this battery is still new, and sometimes that can result in some fluctuations in the time between charges.
My Take on the Cruz Reader
The Cruz Reader seems to fall somewhere between being an ereader and a tablet. It does not have all of the features of a full-blown tablet and yet has more multifunctionality than a dedicated ereader.
If you want an LCD-based ereader then I have no problem recommending the Cruz Reader — at least based on the amount of time I have spent with it. The Cruz is no iPad or Galaxy Tab, but seems a solid product for the price and is more functional than the other lower-priced Android LCD ereaders we have been seeing, such as the Pandigital Novel or Augen The Book. At $199 it is also more expensive, though the price will no doubt be discounted.
I have noted before that I much prefer reading on e-ink vs LCD because I do get eyestrain from reading on an LCD for any length of time. If you read for longer periods e-ink will be easier on your eyes. If you read for shorter periods LCD may be suitable for you. Both types of displays have their pros and cons. Obviously the color screen will be better for reading things like comics and magazines.
If you are primarily looking for an ereader to read normal ebooks with little graphical content, then I would recommend an e-ink device rather than an LCD ebook reader. The Kindle 3, Sony Pocket PRS-350 (new model) and the Barnes & Noble NOOK are all less expensive and are better suited for long-form reading of text. With the Kindle 3 you will have access to a much larger selection of contemporary ebooks as well.
Currently Newegg,Amazon and Borders
have the Cruz Reader in stock for $199.99.
Cruz Reader Covers
You might want to get a more substantial cover to protect the Cruz Reader — the slipcover that comes in the box doesn’t provide a lot of protection. There are several choices at the moment. These cases will also fit the Pandigital Novel ereader.
First there is the Ex Point Universal Leather Case. This one is black pebble grained leather with a zipper closure and felt lining for $35.00.
Body Glove also makes a universal style case that will fit. The E-Reader Travel Hard Shell Case costs $29.99. This one has a pull out stand and pockets for accessories.
The BookArmor High Impact Travel Case for the Pandigital Novel will work as well. The Cruz Reader and the Novel are almost exactly the same size. The BookArmor case has a zipper closure and costs $32.95.
The picture below shows the above three covers in order of mention, left to right.
There is also the Velocity Leather Portfolio, which is the official cover from Velocity Micro priced at $49.99.
If you want something more colorful, check out the Cruz reader covers from CaseCrown
DecalGirlnow has device skins for the Cruz Reader. I would recommend the matte finish; it costs a little more but looks and feels nicer. You can get a 10 percent discount at DecalGirl with promo code DECAL10.
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M-Edge Executive Jacket for Irex DR800SG eReader no comments
I usually choose device covers in black, but for my Irex DR800SG ereader I
went with the brown (M-Edge terms it Smooth Mocha if you want to get technical) as it is the first color available. It turned out to be a good choice as the brown leather with gray plush interior compliments the pale gray bezel and bronze posterior of the DR800.
This is quite a good case, especially considering it only costs $20 plus $5 shipping. The Executive Jacket has stiffening panels in both the front and back flaps to add protection. The edges of the cover overlap the ereader’s edges by a quarter inch so that there is good cushioning should you drop (please don’t try this at home – we’re professional tech breakers here!) your ereader and it lands on a corner.
The DR800 has a couple of pin holes on the top and bottom left corners that the official Irex cover uses for its hinge system. M-Edge has instead opted to use elastic corner bands on the top and leather bands on the bottom corners. This feels quite secure, but for my own peace of mind I also stuck a wee bit of Velcro on my ereader’s backside.
The Executive Case also provides a handy holder for the stylus. M-Edge has also
provided a few (unnecessary to me) pockets in the front flap for business cards and papers or whatever.
One minor complaint is that the leather strap on the bottom left covers the power switch, and you will need to pull it out of the way for access, but I can live with this. The USB port is unblocked.
The Executive Jacket is also compatible with the M-Edge e-Luminator2 Booklight.
