The Steemdle is an eBook Reader with similar functionality and hardware specs as other devices in the market such as the Kindle Paperwhite or the Nook GlowLight.
The main difference - which makes this device unique - is that, whereas with the Paperwhite, the Nook and all other famous eBook Readers, you have to buy your books in their respective stores, with the Steemdle, you get paid for reading them.
The Steemdle is based on Steem, an open source blockchain - distributed - database that supports community building and social interaction with cryptocurrency rewards (to read more about the platform, refer to this Paper or to this FAQ).
Using the same mechanism as websites such as steemit.com, the Steemdle rewards users who actively help quantifying the quality of the books. This active readers, also called "curators", are key to filter and classify the always growing library.
The book author will be proportionally rewarded depending on the number - and weight - of the votes. The more popular a book becomes, the more he gets paid.
It is also possible to write books which are just compilations of exiting articles
Reading a compilation will be like reading a book, where every chapter is a post in the steem blockchain - which can also be written/voted by different users if required.
In this case, the reader can up-vote and write comments at the end of every chapter. Consecuently the rewarded amount of SD appearing below the thumbnail picture of the book's cover while browsing the library, is actually the sum of the rewards of all linked chapters.
Let's have a deeper look at the interface.
After powering-on the device for the first time and having configured its internet connection, you are asked to enter a valid Steem account or to register for a new one.
You are then forwarded to the default home screen: the Steemdle Library, a list of the most voted books of all time listed in order of importance. The most up-voted books become the top positions in the list.
It is also possible to browse a list depending on the existing categories. In this index, only books containing the tag "steemdle_book" will be listed:
It is only a matter of clicking on your favorite book and the first page will appear.
When reaching the end of the book you will be kindly asked to vote for it:
Notice that it is not possible to "fast forward" a book to quickly reach the last page. You have actually to "turn" every single page until you get into the last one to be able to up-vote.
After - and only after - reading the whole book it is also possible to write a review.
Reviews - as with comments in steemit - can also be up-voted by other users, and are of course equally rewarded.
