Iriver Story HD, Google EBooks Reader, Debuts Exclusively At Target

The iriver Story HD, the first ereader device featuring integration with Google eBooks, will be available in the United States exclusively at Target on July 17.

The Story HD features a 7.3-ounce bodyweight, a six-inch high-definition (768x1024 pixels) E-ink display, a QWERTY keyboard and a $139.99 price tag. Customers can pick them up at Target's website, or at retail locations nationwide.

The new reader lets customers download content via WiFi from Google's cloud-based library of over 3 million free works. Thousands more eBooks are also available for purchase on Google's platform.

According to a post on the Google Blog by Google Books Product Manager Pratip Banerji, customers can also access Google eBooks on over 80 compatible devices. However, the Story HD skips the step of having to download titles to a PC and sync up the reader to access the books.

"We built the Google eBooks platform to be open to all publishers, retailers and manufacturers," wrote Banerji. "Manufacturers like iriver can use Google Books APIs and services to connect their devices to the full Google eBooks catalog for out-of-the-box access to a complete ebookstore. You can also store your personal ebooks library in the cloud--picking up where you left off in any ebook you're reading as you move from laptop to smartphone to e-reader to tablet."

USA Today outlines some of the challenges the Story HD faces, including "stiff competition from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Sony, the most established players in the dedicated reader market," as well as the device's lack of a touch screen and its relatively high price tag (when compared to devices like the $114 Kindle).

Take a look at the new gadget (below) and see why Gizmodo calls it a "classier but blinged out Kindle."

LOOK: [via Google Blog]

Comments

[talos72]

04:55 PM on 07/12/2011

So now we have to carry this reader, a nook and a kindle to have your complete digital library.

[MaxPowerXP]

10:31 PM on 07/12/2011

Not if you have five minutes and a copy of Calibre.

[Arnold Gill]

02:44 AM on 07/13/2011

Calibre is a nice idea, but as slow as a slug. I tried it over a year ago, and have not seen any improvement up till today.

[SickHippie]

04:44 PM on 07/12/2011

"...the device's lack of a touch screen and its relatively high price tag (when compared to devices like the $114 Kindle)."

Um, most dedicated eReaders don't have touch screen, and the cheapest non-ad version of the Kindle is $139 - 99 cents cheaper than this.

Why the subtle attempt to villainize Google?

[biglog]

03:28 PM on 07/12/2011

Poor design.

[ProCynic]

01:09 PM on 07/12/2011

I don't want to invite Google into my life anymore than it already is. Now they want to know what I read.

[wolfmason]

11:25 AM on 07/12/2011

Looks a tad bit like it was designed in 1982.

[SickHippie]

04:45 PM on 07/12/2011

So do all the other eReaders out there. What's your point?

[wolfmason]

10:20 PM on 07/12/2011

Well, specifically, I'm referring to a child's toy my sister had -- a calculator with buttons that looking like gold, silver, rubies, etc.

Perhaps the pics don't do it justice, but it looks kind of, um..."Blinged-Out".

[nowpolitics]

09:51 AM on 07/12/2011

Make it a touchscreen and offer it at $99 and you will have a competitive edge.

[SickHippie]

04:45 PM on 07/12/2011

...and a product that loses money.

[jabreal00]

08:26 AM on 07/12/2011

Google needs to stick to what it does best. It's trying to be like Microsoft and get its tentacles in everything. Once that happens the brand gets diluted and quality control goes downhill.

[Mitchman57]

08:00 AM on 07/12/2011

Where's its app store?

[wolfmason]

11:24 AM on 07/12/2011

That's like asking where the iPad's soft-serve dispenser is.

(eReader)

[Gunfighter]

07:52 AM on 07/12/2011

Interesting

[Zilo]

07:28 AM on 07/12/2011

If it wasn't at Target, I *might* consider it.

[TicTucTo]

07:05 AM on 07/12/2011

Eh... Not trading in my Kindle for this.

[Toni-Rudolf Vlaic]

04:54 AM on 07/12/2011

Is anybody going to buy it? When I look at the Kindle and the iPad I hardly believe somebody is buying anything else

[BraveYusuf]

04:35 AM on 07/12/2011

I still haven't came across anything that's better then my Sony e-reader.

[Erewhon7]

03:29 AM on 07/12/2011

Yawn

[Krek]

03:26 AM on 07/12/2011

iriver have made some great tech. Have a six-year old H340 mp3 player that still works. This doesn't look good at all though.