Openmoko intros pocketable WikiReader device
updated 02:45 pm EDT, Tue October 13, 2009
WikiReader has more than 3m WikiPedia entries
Openmoko on Tuesday began shipping its WikiReader, a portable device that aims to bring Wikipedia offline. It contains over three million Wikipedia articles in English and doesn't connect to the Internet to get the information, instead storing the Wikipedia database on a microSD card and gets free, quarterly updates from the Wikipedia website. The device uses a monochrome touchscreen for navigation, which includes an on-screen keyboard and support for the site's well-known hotlinks.
Three hard buttons let readers check their article history, search for new material and pick a random article. Parental controls are built-in. Two AAA batteries power the device and are said to have a multi-month lifespan.
WikiReader is now available both through Openmoko and Amazon for $99. An annual subscription plan that includes preloaded, updated microSD cards costs $29.
