Sharp debuts Galapagos e-book readers, opening e-bookstore this winter

Getting into the e-book reader market a tad later is Sharp with a pair of e-book readers dubbed "Galapagos," along with another e-bookstore to visit this winter.

The Galapagos series consists of the 5.5-inch mobile version as well as a 10.8-inch variant for the home. Each device sports a trackball in the bottom center and an HD LCD, with resolutions of 1,024 × 600 and 1,366 × 800 respectively.

Along with some 802.11b/g Wi-Fi connectivity, both tablets offer an automatic and scheduled delivery service of the most recent additions of certain magazines and newspapers, a web browser, and a "pre-installed social network service application." (Facebook? Good Reads?) Users will also be able to read certain PC data like documents and maps when converted into XMDF files.

And if you just don't know where to look for a digital copy of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Sharp will be opening its own e-bookstore in December with approximately 30,000 newspapers, magazines, and book titles up for grabs. Pricing and an exact launch timeline for any of these items have not been announced yet, but so far these products are designed specifically for Japan.