pril 2000) and the PDAs of Hewlett-Packard, Sony,
Handspring, Toshiba and Casio. People also began reading on the
first smartphones launched by Nokia or Sony Ericsson. Some
companies launched dedicated reading devices like the Rocket
eBook, the SoftBook Reader, the Gemstar eBook and the Cybook,
all models that didn't last long. Better reading devices
emerged then, like the Cybook (new version) in 2004, the Sony
Reader in 2006 and the Kindle in 2007. LCD screens were
replaced by screens using the E Ink technology. The next step
should be an ultra-thin flexible display called electronic
paper (epaper), launched in 2001 by E Ink, Plastic Logic and
others.

= First reading devices

How about a book-sized electronic reader that could store many
books at once? From 1998 onwards, some pioneer companies began
working on dedicated reading devices, and launched the Rocket
eBook (created by NuvoMedia), the EveryBook (created by
EveryBook), the SoftBook Reader (created by SoftBook Press),
and the Millennium eBook (created by Librius.com).

The Rocket eBook was launched by NuvoMedia, in Palo Alto,
California, as the first dedicated reading device. Founded in
1997, NuvoMedia wanted to become "the electronic book
distribution solution, by providing a networking infrastructure
for publishers, retailers and end users to publish, distribute,
purchase and read electronic content securely and efficiently
on the internet." Investors of NuvoMedia were Barnes & Noble
and Bertelsmann. The connection between the Rocket eBook and
the computer (PC or Macintosh) was made through the Rocket
eBook Cradle, which provided power through a wall transformer,
and connected to the computer with a serial cable.

EveryBook (EB) was "a living library in a single book". The
EveryBook's electronic storage could hold 100 textbooks or 500
novels. The EveryBook used a "hidden" modem to dial into the
EveryBook Store, for people to browse, purchase and receive
full text books, magazines and sheet music.

SoftBook Press created the SoftBook along with the SoftBook
Network, an internet-based content delivery service. With the
SoftBook, "people could easily, quickly and securely download a
wide selection of books and periodicals using its built-in
internet connection", with a machine that, "unlike a computer,
was ergonomically designed for the reading of long documents
and books." The investors of Softbook Press were Random House
and Simon & Schuster.

Li