So far it hasn't been difficult to tell where eBook readers end and handheld tablets begin. For starters, eBook readers that boast a touch screen -- like the Nook -- only devote a small portion of the device to touch functionality. And secondly, the main display flips through static images.

The eBook readers of tomorrow, however, might look and act decidedly different. Sharp on Monday announced it has developed a new eBook format called "Next-Generation XMDF," which is an extension of the original XMDF (ever-eXtending Mobile Document Format) commercialized in 2001, which itself is based on XML.

Sharp says this next-gen version comes with a "more sophisticated user interface" and includes support for both audio and video. With that in mind, it's easy to see how this could one day blur the line between eBook readers and tablets, and to make sure XMDF gets some mileage, Sharp also said it plans to launch its own reader device later this year, though stopped short of providing any details.

Mega book chain Barnes and Noble this week announced NOOKstudy, a free online reading and study platform for college students. Described as the "ultimate study tool," NOOKstudy allows students to manage their eBooks, class materials, and notes in a single place.

"NOOKstudy is a big win for college students: it will not only lighten their backpacks, but also help them save money and study more efficiently," said Tracey Weber, EVP, Textbooks and Digital Eduction, Barnes & Noble.com. "NOOKstudy is a revolutionary approach to learning that offers students access to the reading and organizational tools they need, across all content sources and formats, enabling them to study smarter, not harder."

B&N said the NOOKstudy platform represents "extensive feedback" from students, professors, and administrators alike. With NOOKstudy, students are able to view multiple books and sources at the same time while also accessing complementary content, like toolsets, reference materials, and so forth.

NOOKstudy works on both PCs and Macs.

Good news, Android users, Amazon doesn't hate you after all. No longer the forgotten platform, Amazon on Monday announced the release of its Kindle for Android App, freely available in the Android Market.

"Our customers tell us they love the convenience of having their Kindle library with them everywhere and their reading synchronized across multiple devices," said Dorothy Nicholls, director, Amazon Kindle. "With Kindle for Android, customers can choose from a vast selection of over 620,000 books to read on their Android-powered phone, no matter where they are - on the bus, waiting for a cab, or in between meetings. Kindle for Android and the rest of the free Kindle apps are the perfect companions for readers who don't have their Kindle with them or don't yet own a Kindle."

It's essentially the same app that's available on other platforms, meaning you can read the first chapter of books for free, access your library of previously purchased Kindle books stored on Amazon's servers, customize the background color, font color, and font size, read in portrait or landscape mode, and adjust the screen brightness from within the app. You're also able to sync last page reads from other Kindle-enabled devices, including the Kindle and Kindle DX, iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, PC, Mac, and BlackBerry.

Product Page

If you're in the market for an ebook reader, you picked a good time to go shopping. Both Barnes and Noble's Nook and Amazon's Kindle recently received significant price reductions, and it had nothing to do with either company feeling particularly generous. Instead, iSuppli says the price cuts represent a change in business strategy brought on by increased competitive pressure from Apple's iPad.

"With these cuts, ebook readers from Barnes and Noble as well as Amazon now are priced at about the break-even level with their bill of materials (BOM) and manufacturing costs, according to iSuppli's Teardown Analysis Service," said William Kidd, director and principal analyst, financial services for iSuppli. "With zero profits on their hardware, both these companies now hope to make their money in this market through the sale of ebooks. This is the same 'razor/razor blade' business model successfully employed in the video game console business, where the hardware is sold at a loss and profits are made on sales of content."

Barnes and Noble kicked things off on Monday when it slashed the price of its Nook by $60 and introduced an even cheaper Wi-Fi only model, and then hours later, Amazon followed suit with a $60 price cut of its own for the Kindle.

What this means in the grand scheme of things remains to be seen. According to iSuppli analyst Jordan Selburn, ebook reader sales are likely to spike in the short term, as they now cost less than half of an entry-level iPad. But looking longer term, Selburn sees ebook readers becoming more of a niche product.

More here.