Acer to launch online app store, release e-book reader by mid 2010

While they might not be everyone's favorite company right now, Acer is pushing forward with some new projects, namely an online app store and an e-book reader, both set to launch this year.

Following in the footsteps of Amazon and Apple's online shops, the Acer store will have "hundreds" of apps to choose from, Bloomberg reports. Set to be unveiled "around the middle of the year," (I wish they could be more specific), most of the applications will be free or low-cost.

While set prices or developers aren't being revealed right now, some of the options will include software that supports the Google Android platform plus Windows and Windows Mobile.

As for the e-book reader, we should know details about a 6-inch monochrome device by the end of June, and it looks like it will be released in Europe first. Perhaps that is to gain some ground and a following before it goes head-to-head against the Kindle and the Nook stateside.