Sharp’s Upcoming E-Reader Set to ‘Rival the iPad’

Mikio Katayama, Sharp’s president, is a man not in the business of making weak-assed claims, touting Sharp’s upcoming e-reader as a rival for the iPad. Considering the iPad is much more than an e-reader (okay, not that much more), such a claim would seem ludicrous. But Katayama’s bold as hell. Katayama likes things extra-spicy. Likes shaking things up.

But while we puzzle over Katayama’s confidence, the Sharp e-reader is still turning out to be a pretty interesting device. Out later this year, the device will employ a colour display and utilize the new XMDF file format for e-books, which allows video and music alongside the text. Personally, I prefer e-ink, but then again, I’m not a big reader. What do I know.

The biggest rumour going around, however (and most head-scratching for an e-reader) is that this thing might support the same glasses-free 3D tech Sharp is also providing Nintendo with for its 3DS. It would stand to reason that Sharp would want to keep pimping this tech, but… for an e-reader? Wait a second, let’s pull back, here.

So we’ve got: a colour LCD screen, video, music, and 3D.

On a device aimed at people who want to read a book.

That’s supposed to rival the iPad.

Katayama, you are an intense man.