Hands-on: OpenMoko WikiReader is simple, appealing

OpenMoko’s WikiReader is a unique gadget with a single function. The simple handheld device stores the text of over 3 million Wikipedia entries, enabling convenient offline access to the popular Internet encyclopedia. We have conducted some hands-on testing with the new product and found it to be surprisingly compelling despite its limitations.

OpenMoko, a FIC spin-off that was originally founded with the ambitious goal of building a completely open source smartphone handset, began developing the WikiReader this year after significant financial and technical challenges forced the company to discontinue phone development. The WikiReader was announced to the public last month and is available for purchase for $99 from the company’s website.