Hearst to debut large-screen Skiff e-reader

Posted by Leah McBride Mensching on January 5, 2010 at 5:04 PM

U.S. publishing company Hearst this week will dive into the e-reader game as it unveils its Skiff Reader at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Skiff is a big part of Hearst's efforts to draw back paying readers, and the publisher is expected to tout the e-reader's flexible display and large screen.

Although the actual device is not flexible, the display is, due to a "thin, bendable sheet of stainless steel foil rather than glass-based displays favoured by other e-readers," PC World reported today. The Skiff was designed by LG Display, and although it will not display colour, it does boast a resolution of 1200 by 1600 pixels.

Image: Folio

The device is also is designed to take wear and tear incurred through toting the device around, and the display, measuring 11.5 inches, is the largest on the e-reader market, PC Mag reported.

It is not expected that Hearst will also unveil the Skiff's price at the CES; however, the smaller-screened Nook and Kindle both cost US$259, while the Kindle DX, which has a 9.7-inch screen, sells for nearly $500, PC Mag pointed out.

Mobile service provider Sprint will sell the device in 1,000 stores in the United States, as well as on Sprint.com. It will also provide 3G connectivity, according to Folio.