iRiver Story HD Reader (Google eReader)

iRiver Story HD Digital Ebook Reader - $139.99 on Amazon

Just when it was starting to look like the ebook reader market was going to settle down into a straight Kindle vs Nook fight, along came the iRiver Story HD reader.

Unlike many of the newer ebook readers, it doesn't feature touch screen controls. However, that might be because it has the first XGA e-ink technology display available on the market. Resolution is 1024 x 768 - compared to the 800 x 600 of both the Kindle and the Nook. That equates to 63% more pixels, which will make books with illustrations and graphics more enjoyable.

The other technical point to note about the Story HD is the fact that it has a slot for an SD memory card. You can expand the memory up to 32GB - enough for about 28,000 books.

However, the big deal with the Story HD is the fact that it's the first ebook reader to be fully integrated with the Google eBookstore. Users will be able to choose from Google's vast collection of books and then download direct from Google via Wi-Fi.

When you look at the success of both the Kindle and the Nook, it definitely seems to be the case that people have a strong preference to buy their ebook readers from companies which have a strong association with books and reading. The partnership between iRiver and Google might just provide that link for many prospective buyers. There's certainly no shortage of books to choose from on the Google eBookstore.

iRiver Story HD Technical Specification

•  6″ XGA e-ink technology display (1024 x 768 resolution).
• Display has 16 grayscales and can be adjusted for 8 different font sizes.
• QWERTY keypad.
• 2GB internal memory – enough for 1,500 books.
• Slot for SD card which allows a further 32GB memory to be added – enough for 16,000 books.
• Fast page turns thanks to ARM ® Cortex™ processor technology.
• Long battery life – 14,000 page turns, approximately 6 weeks.
• Portable and lightweight, 7.3 ounces in weight.
• Dimensions 7.7″ x 5.01″ x 0.37″.
• Fully integrated with Google eBooks.
• Collins dictionary included.

Check out the iRiver Story HD Digital Ebook Reader - $139.99 on Amazon