After enduring a couple of rumors and leaks that took the lid off its latest e-readers a little earlier than it would have liked, Sony officially announced two new models: the Reader Pocket Edition (US$199) and Reader Touch Edition (US$299), both of which will hit stores at the end of the month.
The other big news is Sony is going to match Amazon's e-book pricing, making new releases and best seller titles US$9.99 instead of US$11.99.
Sony has also updated its eBook Library software to version 3.0, and it's integrated into the device itself (similar to Flip Video camcorders) and includes support for both Windows PCs and "many" Macs. Owners of the PRS-505 and PRS-700 should take heart that in the near future Sony will provide a firmware upgrade to both those models that adds the new eBook Library software to your devices and makes them Mac compatible.
Because Sony has dumped more than 1 million free public domain books into its eBook store, it's no longer offering its 100 free classics bundle with the new devices. It's also worth mentioning that unlike the Kindle, Readers are compatible with the formats that local libraries are using for their digital collections.
If you wondering whether the touch screen on this model is any better than the PRS-700's, the answering according to Sony reps I spoke with, is yes. Apparently, the PRS-700's built-in sidelight added an extra "light" layer or gap that made the screen less responsive, hurt the contrast ratio (made the screen dimmer), and created some glare issues. Sony has eliminated that layer and the overall touch experience has allegedly improved and the letters on the screen are darker. Also, as a result of eliminating the sidelighting, the PRS-600 is slightly slimmer than the PRS-700.
Sony says there will be no wireless option for these models; they are "tethered devices." But in speaking with reps, they did say that Sony was committed to bringing out a wireless device and while they didn't mention an exact time frame, it appeared to be soon, perhaps within weeks. So, if you're waiting for a wireless Reader, whatever form it takes (built-in Wi-Fi or cellular), you should probably hold out a bit longer.
As for specs, here's what you're looking at:
Reader Pocket Edition (PRS-300):
5-inch E-ink electronic paper display
Comes in blue, rose, and silver
Resolution: 800 x 600 pixels
Gray scale: 8-levels gray scale
440MB of usable internal memory stores about 350 standard eBooks
Three adjustable font sizes
Sealed-in battery provides up to two weeks of reading on a single battery charge
US$199 MSRP
Protective neoprene sleeve and USB cable included
Files supported: Adobe PDF (with reflow capability), Microsoft Word, BBeB, EPUB
Reader Touch Edition (PRS-600):
Touch-screen panel (navigate with your finger or the included stylus)
Comes in red, black, and silver
Resolution: 800 x 600 pixels
Gray Scale: 8-levels gray scale
Take handwritten notes with the stylus pen or type with the virtual keyboard
Notes can be exported and printed out
Onboard Oxford American English Dictionary allows you to look up a word by tapping on it (Amazon's Kindle has always had a built-in dictionary, but this is new to Sony Readers)
Five adjustable font sizes
440MB of usable internal memory stores about 350 standard eBooks
Sealed-in battery provides up to two weeks of reading on a single battery charge
Expansion slots for both Memory Stick PRO Duo and SD cards
US$299 MSRP
Protective case (similar to the PRS-700's) and USB cable included
Files supported: Adobe PDF (with reflow capability), Microsoft Word, BBeB, EPUB
The article was first published as a blog post on CNET News.
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