Sharp debuts Android-based ereaders, ebookstore

Electronics giant Sharp Corporation unveiled Galapagos, a cloud-based media service incorporating two new Android-powered ereader devices as well as an accompanying ebookstore effort, in an effort to keep pace with rivals Apple and Sony. By year's end Sharp will roll out both a mobile Galapagos ereader tablet boasting a 5.5-inch LCD screen designed to evoke a paperback book and a home model featuring a 10.8-inch high-resolution HD LCD optimized for magazines formatted across a two-page spread. The ebookstore will offer a subscription-based delivery mechanism for periodicals as well as free trial versions of recommended ebook content; users can categorize and organize downloads across multiple categories, including "unread/recommended," "most recently read," "favorite" and "scheduled delivery."

According to Sharp, about 30,000 books, magazines and newspapers will be available when Galapagos launches, with additional content already in the pipeline. The company adds it will also expand the functionality of compatible devices, presumably leveraging the Android OS to integrate new multimedia and applications. While Galapagos will initially target only the Japanese market, Mashable notes Sharp is in talks with Verizon Wireless about a potential U.S. launch.

For more on Galapagos:
- read this release

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