Hybrid Devices

Hybrid devices offer a variety of features and work with the greatest number of formats, including many of those processed by other readers and players, as well as video, animation, wireless Internet capability, etc. See also the e-Book Readers & DAISY Players page.

iPad

The iPad is a new kind of netbook considered as a hybrid device, with a 9.7" touch-screen (including on-screen keyboard) for use with the Internet, audio, video, email, documents, etc. Reader features include font and background adjustment, screenreader with voiceover app, mono audio option, screen magnification, and closed captioning. An iTunes account, as well as installation of iTunes software, is required. Supported formats: ".jpg, .tiff, .gif; .doc and .docx; .htm and .html; .pdf; .ppt and .pptx; .txt, .rtf; .xls and .xlsx" (from the web site). Go to the iPad web site for more information.

Kindle 3

A stand-alone wireless reader with a 6" screen, the Kindle 3 has a variety of reader features, some of the most popular being TTS (when permitted by rights holder), font size, contrast, words per line, and screen orientation adjustment, and stores up to 3,500 e-books. Supported formats: "Kindle (AZW), TXT, PDF, Audible (Audible Enhanced [AA, AAX]), MP3, unprotected MOBI, PRC" and can also be made to support "HTML, DOC, JPEG, GIF, PNG, [and] BMP through conversion" (from the web site). Go to the Kindle 3 web site for more information.

Kindle DX

A stand-alone wireless reader with a 9.7" screen, the Kindle DX version includes 3G network capability, and has almost the same features as the Kindle 3 (TTS [when permitted by rights holder], font size, contrast, words per line, and screen orientation adjustment, and stores up to 3,500 e-books). Supported formats: "Kindle (AZW), PDF, TXT, Audible (formats 4, Audible Enhanced [AAX]), MP3, unprotected MOBI, PRC" and can also be made to support "HTML, DOC, RTF, JPEG, GIF, PNG, [and] BMP through conversion" (from the web site).Go to the Kindle DX web site for more information.

Kobo Wireless eReader

The Kobo Wireless eReader has built-in wi-fi, a weight of less than 8 oz., a 6" screen, 4-direction touchpad, and 1GB memory (can be extended to 4GB with SD card). Comes in four colors (black, white, silver, and lavender) and has a 'quilted' design on the back for a different feel when holding the device. Reading features include a choice of fonts and 5 font sizes; sort by title, author, date last read, etc.; bookmarking; and standard navigation features (page by page, chapter by chapter, book by book). Supported formats are not specified, but are listed as "e-books, PDFs, newspapers, and magazines." Go to the Kobo.com web site for more information.

Kobo Touch eReader

The Kobo Touch eReader from Borders has the same features as the first-generation Kobo (see above) as well as the following: infrared touch screen, blue outer color option, social-networking style share features, availability of magazine and newspaper subscriptions. Go to the Kobo Touch web site page for more information.

nook

nook is a stand-alone wireless reader measuring 7.7" x 4.9" with either Wi-Fi or 3G network capability that includes 6 font sizes, expandable memory, grayscale image upload option, note-taking, text highlighting, MP3 audio, margin touch-screen. Supported formats: "ePUB (including non- or Adobe DRM), PDB, PDF, JPG, GIF, PNG, BMP, MP3" (from the web site). Go to the nook web site for more information.

nook color

nook color is a stand-alone wireless reader measuring 8.1" x 5.0" with a 7" touch-screen and Wi-Fi capability. Features include 6 font sizes, font style options, background color options, line and margin spacing options, expandable memory, full color images, video, and games; screenreader, MP3 audio. Supported formats: "ePUB (including non- or Adobe DRM), PDF, XLS, DOC, PPT, PPS, TXT, DOCM, XLSM, PPTM, PPSX, PPSM, DOCX, XLX, PPTX, JPG, GIF, PNG, BMP, AAC, MP3, MP4" (from the web site). Go to the nook color web site for more information.

nook Tablet

The nook Tablet, formerly the Cruz Tablet, is now owned by Barnes & Noble and has wifi, weighs 14.1 oz., has a 7" screen (portrait or landscape orientation), and measures 8.1" x 5.0" x .48". Features include 8 font sizes, touchscreen navigation, and 13GB content memory capacity. Supported formats: audio (MP3, MP4, AAC, AMR, WAV, OGG), video (MP4, Flash, MKV), images (jpg, gif, png, bmp), and ePUB, TXT, DOCX, PPT, XLS. Go to the Barnes & Noble web site for more information.

Sony Reader Touch Edition PRS-350

Sony’s 2010 reader has touch-screen navigation combined with an e-ink paper-like screen with greyscale color/image display and a 5" display. Memory capacity of 2 GB allows storage of up to 1,200 books. Features include highlighting, note-taking, two dictionaries, and five translator dictionaries. The device itself is available in two colors. No wireless capability and comes without an AC adaptor (transfer files via USB port). Portrait or landscape screen orientation. Supported formats: ePUB, PDF, BBeB, text, RTF, JPG, PNG, GIF, BMP. Go to the Sony web site for more information.