Up until now it seemed that e-reader enthusiasts have had to make a very important decision. If they want the sunshine-friendly display with unbelievable battery life, they’d go e-ink. If they want bright colors and a vibrant display, they’d go LCD. Well, Hanvon is prepared to give them the best of both worlds.

Also listed as Hanwang in some circles, Hanvon is a Chinese company and it’s getting ready to introduce the first e-reader with a color e-ink display. Since it’s not nearly as well known a name in the Western market as Amazon or Apple, it may not have the same kind of impact. Even so, this is still a very notable announcement.

By going with a color e-ink display, Hanvon could indeed be finding that perfect middle ground for e-book readers. You get color and you get the sunshine-ready screen. The battery life is set up to last for a few weeks at a time too.

I remember seeing some of the Hanvon products at Computex in June. They’re largely targeting the Chinese market, but will other companies adopt the same tech for their own products? Barnes & Noble already moved away from e-ink to an IPS display for the new Nook Color; will they move back to e-ink if it does color?

The post Hanvon e-book reader will be first with color e-ink technology appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

This latest video shows a Windows 7 tablet and Apple iPad going head to head in a series of every day tasks. The hardware used for the Windows 7 contender is the Hanvon Windows 7 slate, one of many Windows 7 tablets that will be released before the year is out.

One thing that stands out is the obvious LCD size difference, it seems to cramp up the keyboard and cut off websites. I’m also still up in the air about the ghosting key effect when you are typing. And doesn’t that thing automatically disappear when you are done typing? Perhaps these are user configurable settings, and if not, they better be. Windows 7 web browsing and scrolling shows a staggered, jittery look; while the iPad is much more smooth and fluid. Don’t forget, in Windows 7 you will have an actual choice of browsers, so the native app will not be forced upon you. You also get USB ports and an SD card slot, oh, and a camera too. But you don’t need all those extra distractions, do you?

Windows 7 Slate Vs. Apple iPad [All Things Digital]
Watch a Windows 7 Slate Take On the iPad [Gizmodo]

The post Video: Hanvon Windows 7 tablet takes on the iPad appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

Hanvon chairman Yingjian Liu Photo: Michael Kwan

Chinese company Hanvon, makers of the Touchpad B10 tablet, are also known as Hanwang.  Chairman Yingjian Liu during a keynote speech at Computex 2010,  discussed the increasing popularity and evolution of the e-book reader. He proclaimed the strengths of the e-ink format and how his company was leading the way in his home country of China.  Then, his declarations got very bold. He called the e-book reader the “fourth screen,” referring to TV, PC, and cell phone as the other three screens. He observed that some people say the mobile phone will replace the e-reader, but he responded by saying that the e-ink book reader will replace cell phones instead.

It’s possible that something was lost in translation (he was speaking in Chinese and I was listening to the English interpreter), but I don’t think this Hanvon prediction will hold.  Everyone brings a phone with them everywhere, but I don’t foresee people carrying around their Kindles in the same way… and it’s not like people are going to use an iPad-like device to make quick phone calls in lieu of using an iPhone, right?

e-Reader e-ink displays are the "4th screen" Photo: Michael Kwan

The post Hanvon Chairman: e-Readers to replace cell phones appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

In addition to yet another e-book reader and a Wacom-esque graphics tablet, Hanvon had its Touchpad to show off. On paper, this thing sounds like it might have the iPad beat. Processing comes from a 1.3GHz Intel Celeron ULV, storage is a 250GB SATA hard drive, with a 10.1-inch display offering capacitive touch.

I wasn’t able to get the thing to turn on by the time I got around to looking at it (maybe the battery was dead), but the spec sheet said that the Hanvon TouchPad B10 ran Windows 7 Home Premium (32-bit). Personally, I don’t think Windows is really appropriate for the iPad-competing market. Something like Android is a much better fit.  Regarding hands-on impressions, the Hanvon tablet felt thicker and heavier than the iPad, but the aesthetics were awfully reminiscent of Steve Jobs’ favorite new toy.

Hanvon Touchpad B10 Photo: Michael Kwan

Hanvon Touchpad B10 Photo: Michael Kwan

The post Hanvon Touchpad B10 Windows 7 tablet vonts to be an iPad appeared first on Mobile Magazine.