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Russian Author Releases Custom eBook Reader, Targets Fans and Readers Alike

Publishers akunin-book02-500x500and authors have long sold limited edition books to fans in order to raise revenue, and Russian author Boris Akunin has taken that idea in a new direction. A few weeks ago he launched the AkuninBook, a limited edition 6″ ebook reader that comes bundled with a selection of his works and other content.

Boris Akunin is a pen name for Grigory Shalvovich Chkhartishvili. According to Wikipedia he writes detective and historical fiction, but he’s also an essayist and literary translator.  On his blog he says that the AkuninBook contains both his works as well as several lists of titles he recommends, a bibliography of all his other works including links to where they can be bought in Russia, and samples of audiobooks as well as links to where those can be bought.

The AkuninBook is also configured to receive updates from the author, including his Facebook updates.

This ereader is running software that was customized beBook Applications, and underneath the custom work you will find a regular ereader from the Chinese company Onyx. The AkuninBook is actually a customized version of the Onyx Boox C63ML, one of the ebook readers Onyx sells in Russia. It has a 6″ HD E-ink screen, frontlight, touchscreen, and Wifi.

The C63ML runs Android 2.3 on a 1GHz CPU with 512MB RAM, 4GB storage, and a microSD card slot. It weighs in at a svelte 169 grams. In addition to a broad range of ebook formats, it also supports mp3 audio.

The AkuninBook costs the same as the regular C63ML, but readers get a lot more. As you can see in the gallery below, this ereader comes in a pretty cardboard box and includes a beautiful leather cover. And since this is regular ereader users can also read other ebooks on it.

You can buy the AkuninBook on Onyx Russia’s website. Retail is 6990 rubles, or about $126 USD.

If that’s too much you can also find an AkuninBook app in Google Play. (A similar app for iPad and iPhone is in the works.) The Android app features color illustrations and the same content found on the ebook reader.

The-eBook.org

AkuninBook website

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Comments


fjtorres February 28, 2014 um 9:43 am

This is something the book clubs should’ve done ages ago.
I can also see BAEN releasing a webscription-based ereader.


Rashkae February 28, 2014 um 5:25 pm

That is beautiful, I wish I could get one.


Jim Scarborough March 1, 2014 um 8:22 am

Boris Akunin is one of Russia’s bestselling authors and his Erast Fandorin historical mystery series is great. The Winter Queen is the first in the series. Most are available in English translation and I recommend them to anyone interested in the genre. Here’s the link to his author page on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Boris-Akunin/e/B001JOFLX2/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1393679875&sr=1-2-ent

Nate Hoffelder June 9, 2015 um 12:16 pm

Thanks!


Onyx Partners With Russian Author Darya Dontsova to Release a Customized eReader | Ink, Bits, & Pixels June 11, 2015 um 8:44 am

[…] fascinated with the Fanbook idea ever since I covered the first model in February 2014. That unit featured the works of the best-selling author Boris Akunin. It bundled both a selection of his books as well as software which would let the reader know […]


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