The past 2 years, Spring Design has been quietly working in perfecting their ereader, grabbing a few ideas from smartphones along the way. The result – a mobile, dual screen Android reader with patented “touch and extend” capability called Spring Design Alex Reader.

The Spring Design Alex Reader may bear resemblances with the Barnes and Noble’s Nook, but it’s an entirely different – and may even be the more dynamic — device. (Based on the lawsuit filed by Spring Design, Barnes and Nobles infringed intellectual copyright laws instead of the other way around). The first e-reader to have full Internet browsing capacity and dual screen integration technology, the Alex sets new standards in web referencing. Throw in text-hyperlinking capability, fastest refresh rate, and video playback, and you have a device well-designed to become the most powerful ereader on the market.  

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Features – Hardware and Software

The Spring Design Alex Reader features two touch screen displays. The large 6-inch monochromatic EPD display comes with standard features of current e-ink readers, as its main use is for reading digital content.  Users can download Adobe digital content from Google Books or purchase ebooks, magazines, and newspapers from Border’s Kobo-based store and other Alex partner bookstores.

The secondary panel, located below the EPD panel, features a 3.5-inch full-color display with 320 x 240 –pixel LCD and can be used for browsing the web over WiFi or 3G. It runs Google’s Android 1.6 and a number of other capabilities including video playback and photo slideshow. The touch-sensitive panel also houses the virtual keyboard and a slide bar, which makes text entry, skipping to a page, or navigating the menu bar a lot easier. Page turn buttons are also found on the sides. 

Patented “touch and extend” capability (dubbed the Duet Navigator) enables users to view two panels simultaneously. Web Grab and text reflow capability allows users to capture and send selected content from online sites to the EPD screen for better viewing. With the Alex’s Link Notes technology, users can also hyperlink notes or multimedia.

To conserve battery life, users can simply turn off the LCD display when not using it. With wireless off, the device can stay on power for 2 weeks without recharging. Micro SD slot lets you insert an external storage device into your Alex. 

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The Bottom Line

The Spring Design Alex Reader is opening new possibilities with the way we access and cache content from sources, and so enhances and personalizes our reading experience. A well-rounded device with groundbreaking capabilities, it certainly is worth its $359 price.