Boox to Launch Linux-Based Picco E-Reader in November

    Boox is preparing to launch the small Picco e-reader, which it briefly demonstrated in July, in November. The company has released new details about the device’s specifications. However, its price remains unknown. The Picco will come with a 3.97-inch e-paper display and run software that differs from that of Boox’s other devices.    The model’s 3.97-inch e-paper display supports touch controls. The body also has physical buttons for turning pages. Users will be able to choose which command is performed when they press these buttons briefly or hold them down. Unlike the Xteink X4 series, the Picco will not have magnets on the back for attaching it to a smartphone.    The device has no internal storage. Books will therefore be stored only on a microSD card. Files can be loaded onto the card in advance or transferred directly to the Picco using a USB-C cable. Reading materials can also be sent over Wi-Fi through a compatible mobile app.    Instead of the Android operating system used by Boox’s other e-readers, the Picco will run a simplified Linux-based operating system. The system will include separate apps for a timer, a to-do list, and reading statistics. The software is not expected to be opened to users. As a result, options for modifying the device may not be as extensive as they are on Xteink models. Its battery life and whether it will include Bluetooth connectivity and an audiobook player will be announced in November.