Tech news roundup for August 27,  2009. Yesterday was a slow news day, hence no news roundup for August 26, 2009. Today was also rather slow, to be honest.

  • Google Now Offers Over a Million Free Ebooks in EPUB Format #
  • Microsoft cuts Xbox price by 25 percent #
  • Asustek to launch e-book reader under Eee family #
  • Confirmed: $29 Snow Leopard Installs Whether or Not You’ve Got Leopard #

Google Now Offers Over a Million Free Ebooks in EPUB Format

Google currently offers 1 million books in EPUB format through it’s Google Books portal. Many of these books are in the public domain, so many of them are pretty old. But old books can still be good. Source at Mashable.

Microsoft cuts Xbox price by 25 percent

Microsoft has intensified the price war with Sony by lowering the price of its XBOX360 by approximately 25%. The Elite model will be 100$ US cheaper, with its 299$ US price point. The Arcade remains the same at 249$ US. The middle model, called the Pro, will be discontinued. This leaves the consumer with a simplified choice, says Microsoft. As of now, Microsoft is the only console manufacturer with positive sales. Source at Reuters.

Asustek to launch e-book reader under Eee family

eBook-readers seem to be in vogue lately. Word goes round that Asus, maker of the EeePC, will also be manufacturing an eBook-reader to compete with Amazon and Sony. Source at DigiTimes.

Confirmed: $29 Snow Leopard Installs Whether or Not You’ve Got Leopard

Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard will cost Leopard-users $30, and Tiger users $169, because they are supposed to purchase the Box Set. This includes the new OS, iLife ‘09 and iWork ‘09. It has been confirmed that OS X 10.6 will also install whether or not you’re actually using 10.5. It turns out the so called upgrade disc doesn’t check for prior versions. If you’re still on Tiger, you can skip Leopard all together and save a lot of money, but you’ll be violating Apple’s EULA. Source at Lifehacker.