Weekly Review of E-Reader News - July 18 to July 25, 2010

In the rapidly evolving world of technology, the market for e-readers and tablet PCs continues to expand. Here's a roundup of some exciting new devices set to hit the shelves this year.

Sharp is set to introduce two new e-readers this year, both featuring colour touch screens and the popular XMDF format, commonly used in Japan. The devices will also double as multimedia players, allowing users to watch videos and listen to audio content. Sharp has also announced plans for an e-book distribution service to accompany these devices.

Lenovo is gearing up to release a tablet PC named 'LePad' in China at the end of the year. This device will run on Android, joining the ranks of other Android-powered tablets.

Toshiba is set to release a tablet named 'SmartPad' in October. The device could come with either Windows 7 or Android as the operating system, offering users a choice based on their preferences. Toshiba aims to fill a gap in the market with a price point of around $500, making it a more affordable alternative to the costly Libretto W100.

HP has undergone a series of changes in their tablet lineup. The Chinese version of the HP Slate will be released before the original one. HP has rebranded the HP Hurricane as the "PalmPad", and there are rumours of an upcoming tablet PC from HP based on the WebOS mobile operating system, fueled by a recently filed trademark for the name 'Palmpad'. The new PalmPad update is the Palm WebOS 2.0 Update.

Verizon is set to release two e-readers in September, named 'Entourage'. These devices could fall into the 7 and 10 inch screen size category.

Amazon has reported significant success with the Kindle 2 E-Reader, with sales tripling since they lowered the entry level price. The Kindle continues to be the number one selling electronic device on all of their websites.

In addition, Amazon has closed a deal to exclusively publish works by renowned authors such as William Burroughs, Salman Rushdie, Oliver Sacks, and Philip Roth.

Barnes & Noble has joined the fray with an Android app for smartphones and tablet PCs.

In Japan, the market for e-books is heating up, with companies like Sony, KDDI Corp, and Google vying for a piece of the action. Kobo E-Readers are now being sold with new firmware, which includes ePub fixes and a more intuitive LCD light.

The Good E-Reader is set to release a Mystery Book Preview for August, featuring new releases from Charlaine Harris and Debbie Macomber.

As the race for dominance in the e-reader and tablet market continues, it's an exciting time for consumers, with a wealth of new devices and content on the horizon.