Sharp e-Reader May Include 3-D
Sharp has decided to play the better-than-iPad card for one of its upcoming devices, but it's supposedly just an e-book reader instead of a full tablet.
Sharp plans to launch its e-reader in Japan first and then release it in the U.S. by the end of the year. Sharp president Mikio Katayama said that its goal is "to rival the iPad."
But the details don't add up. If it's just an e-reader, then how will it rival the iPad, and why does it have a full LCD screen like the iPad? It seems like Sharp's e-reader will be more like a fully fledged tablet.
One more detail indicates the Sharp e-reader will be more than that: 3-D. Katayama says there is great enthusiasm for 3-D in the market right now, and says the company's e-reader will likely get 3-D functionality. But who wants a book in 3-D?
It makes sense for Sharp to include 3-D technology in its tablet/e-reader. Then it could function as a media device, just like other tablets. Plus, Sharp is already working on a 3-D smartphone and 3-D TVs , so the technology is there.
