New Sony Reader buyable today with improved screen, and .epub still looks on the way
The new Sony Reader, the PRS-505, is buyable today for $300 with the expected—a brighter, faster screen using E Ink’s Vizplex.
Manga fans and others should appreciate the eight gray-scale levels, double the earlier four.
On top of that, Sony still seems committed to the new .epub standard even if it isn’t immediately readable via the new machine. Firmware in older models might not be upgradeable for it.
Sony and the eBabel Tower
Like the current PRS-500, the new Sony will handle the company’s BBeB format, nonencrypted PDF, TXT, RTF and JPG. Let’s just hope that Sony and other IDPF members can puzzle out a way to make DRM systems interoperable, so that .epub can truly end the Tower of eBabel of warring e-book formats.
Meanwhile, the new Sony’s expected .epub will be catnip for nonencryted books. .Epub books needn’t come with DRM, and scores of free classics are already available in that format from Feedbooks.
Pick your color
To be sold in silver or dark blue, the 505 is thinner and lighter has better ergonomics—for example, navigation buttons in a better location, on the right side. It stores twice as many e-books without a memory card needed, 160 rather than 80, and has USB mass storage capability, making it easier to get files in and out (especially for Mac and linux users, not just PC types). Via optional memory cards, the new Sony will offer a whopping 10G of storage.
An auto-sync feature will fire up when you plug the new Reader in for transfer of books from your machine machine. It will save time and make the Reader more iPodlike and easier to use. Alas, current Sony owners will not be able to benefit from the auto-sync folder option.
See news release and specs via MobileRead, as well as Google News, for more details. So, gang, what do you think?
On sale today
The reader, which you can buy today from the Web-based Sony Style store, will reportedly show up by Friday at hundreds of Borders stores here in the States. This is a Good Thing for e-books, although users may also want to keep in mind other new options such as the new iRex machine and the forthcoming E Ink Cybook, the Amazon Kindle, and the Jinke machines.
What’s more, Sony plans to upgrade the reader with Adobe Digital Editions software, which presumably will be able to read .epub, the official IDPF format, even if you’re still stuck with proprietary DRM. Also available via Digital Editions, I suspect, will be the ability to read DRM-infested PDF books. The Adobe software will greatly increase the supply of Reader-fit e-titles. No, I don’t know when Adobe will finish up DE for the Sony.
Laudably, too, Sony just might be opening the way for Mobipocket and other Adobe rivals to offer their software on the Reader if they want to. Hadrien, a savvy cofounder of Feedbooks, tells us that Mobi likes to be the only DRM-capable software on the hardware where it appears. If that’s the case, don’t expect miracles. I hope publishers will join consumers in grumbling about these Stupid Contract Tricks, which help prop up The Tower of eBabel, harming content providers, too, not just ordinary readers.
No word search, groan!
The bad news on the Sony front is that, amid all the hype, there’s no mention of word-based search capability—a failing that most other E Ink machines share, and about which users continue to gripe. From K-12 to the world of corporate documents, word-search is much-desired feature.
Even for recreational reading—say, keeping track of the characters in Russian novels—word search can help.
I also have not seen mention of dictionary capability, which the $350 Cybook will have (even if you may have to buy your own dictionary file).
F Word-related details
Hey, we call ‘em as we see ‘em. From the contrast problems of the current Reader to its lack of ability to read DRMed PDF, the standards-minded TeleBlog has prominently noted the current Sony Reader’s cons, just as it would those of other products.
Sony PR flacks apparently have a clueless Bush-and-Putin-style PR policy, punishing the uppity (no news release apparently received here, and no interview offered, despite the tens of thousands of people reading the TeleBlog each month and despite our explicit request to be On the List). But via our friends at MobileRead, who asked excellent questions and are the source of the photo, here’s the format-related news tucked away amid other details:
“Now some things we discussed looking toward the future. Naturally these things can change, and can be altered by outside factors that can’t be foreseen, but it’s good to get their present frame of mind on these matters. The Sony Rep was quite clear that Sony is committed to assuring ongoing access to books purchased at the ConnStore, even with the announcement of ePub support on the Reader. No statement can yet be made on the announced Borders/Sony e-bookstore however.
“They specifically stated that Sony is committed to have Adobe Digital Editions support on the 505 model — when Adobe gets around to completing the software, of course. Sony and Adobe are working together to make this happen. When there is Digital Editions support, there is potential for an astronomical increase in available content, and the Reader is likely to be the first device to work with Digital Editions.
“We specifically asked about Mobipocket support, and by extension, other secure reading format support. Sony’s response was very interesting: they said they weren’t interested in locking potential users out of their Readers, that while they are open to entertaining the notion of other reading applications on the PRS line, but that those who control those other applications may not be so open to the idea.
“We also asked if we might see some of these firmware changes and things like .epub support on the original PRS-500 model, and the response was that they are still considering it (hardware differences seem to play some part here as to feasibility of various bits), but they aren’t ready to announce anything, and they cautioned us that some of it may not happen at all. It’s to be expected that most of the development resources, especially for new features, will be devoted to newer devices, not older models.”
Nice going, MobileRead! We hope you keep up the questions and join us in pestering Mobi—not just Sony—to be less control-oriented. What a crazy industry, e-books. Imagine a p-book world where printers exercised so much influence at the expense of actual publishers. Of course, Mobi is actually owned by Amazon, the giant e-tailer, making DRM-related licensing gotchas all the more offensive. Needless to say, I’m also curious if Adobe and the other biggies insist on exclusivity. Hadrien told us: “Usually when you want to support Mobipocket or any other DRM file format, you have to sign a contract saying that you’ll only support one DRM format.” Or “any other”? “Usually”? Any volunteers willing to contact vendors if I provide phone numbers? Let’s do a survey and put the results on the TeleBlog’s home page. E-mail me. You don’t have to write to help us; you can also research.
///////////
For the benefit of our loyal RSS readers—the TeleBlog offers full feeds—I’ll repro the news release in full rather than simply link.
SAN DIEGO, Oct. 2 /PRNewswire/ — In its version of a literary sequel, Sony Electronics is taking the cover off a new edition of its ground-breaking Reader Digital Book this month.
The new Reader (model PRS-505) features a svelte body design and is available in two colors — silver and dark blue. Re-styled controls more closely mimic paper page turns and allow for quick, intuitive navigation.
A next-generation electronic paper display delivers faster response and a higher contrast ratio for easy reading even in bright sunshine. Eight levels of gray scale provide for crisp and clear text, images, and graphics.
“For people on the go, this device is compelling because it allows them to carry a wide variety of reading materials whether they are on a cross-country flight, in a doctor’s office waiting room, or at a beach resort,” said Steve Haber, senior vice president of Sony’s Digital Imaging and Audio Division. “The Reader can handle a stack of books and other documents that people would rather not carry, yet offers a ‘book-like’ reading experience unavailable with other electronic devices.”
With the capacity to store up to 160 typical eBooks, the Reader can act as a mobile library. Expansion slots for Memory Stick Duo(TM) media or SD memory cards make the device’s library potential practically limitless.
More advanced users will appreciate the new USB-based mass storage capability that allows them to use the device as a portable drive for the direct transfer of documents, images and other files to the Reader. A new auto sync feature also lets users set up folders with books and documents that can be automatically synchronized when the device is connected to a PC.
A Growing Online Store
Since Sony’s launch of the CONNECT(TM) eBooks Store last year, the number of downloadable eBooks offered has expanded to more than 20,000 titles with new ones added weekly.
Grove/Atlantic, Harcourt Trade, Kensington, Pearson Education, The Perseus Books Group, Regnery Publishing, Taylor & Francis and W.W. Norton have joined the ranks of publishers such as Hachette Book Group USA, Harlequin, HarperCollins Publishers, Holtzbrinck Publishers, Hyperion, McGraw Hill, Penguin Group, Random House and Simon & Schuster in their commitment to electronic publishing.
Recent newcomers to the store include Reader’s Digest, the first magazine to produce content for the Reader and Dorling Kindersley with titles coming soon. The site also boasts a number of Rough Guide travel titles.
The New International Version Bible by Zondervan(R) (a unit of HarperCollins Publishers) quickly rose to the top of the eBook store’s bestseller list after it was added to the collection last month. And blockbuster authors such as Dean Koontz and Mitch Albom recently debuted electronic versions of their work to an enthusiastic response.
For a limited time, when a Reader is registered on Sony’s CONNECT eBooks Store, customers will receive a credit good for the purchase of 100 available CONNECT Classics titles, including the works of William Shakespeare, Jane Austen, H.G. Wells and more.
“Since launching almost a year ago, we’ve confirmed that Reader owners are avid book readers and great customers of our growing selection of book titles,” said Lee Shirani, vice president for eBooks at Sony CONNECT. “Publishers are responding by making more electronic titles available, and, increasingly by making them available at the same time as print versions are released.
“As a result, at any given time, we carry a majority of what’s on the New York Times Bestsellers list and our weekly top downloads closely track with the most popular print titles.”
The CONNECT store offers a broad selection of fiction and non-fiction, bestsellers, well-known authors, classics and more, with rich descriptive content in the form of author biographies, expert book reviews and reader commentary.
Benefits Remain the Same
The Reader’s high-resolution electronic paper display delivers a realistic print look that rivals traditional paper and uses minimal power. A single battery charge provides up to 7,500 pages of continuous reading. The option to magnify the text in three sizes offers a distinct advantage for sight-impaired readers. Switching the Reader to landscape mode offers yet another level of magnification as well as a wider page view.
In addition to electronic books, the Reader can also store and display personal and business documents in Adobe PDF format (best when formatted for the Reader’s display), RTF, text and JPEG images.
Pricing and Availability
The new Reader will retail for about $300 and come complete with a USB cable; eBook Library PC companion software; and a color-coordinated, protective soft cover. The Reader and optional accessories such as pink or black leather covers and an AC wall charger will be available this month direct through http://www.sonystyle.com/, at SonyStyle(R) stores nationwide, Borders stores and at authorized retailers across the country. More information about Sony Reader is available online at http://www.sony.com/reader.
Sony Electronics
CONTACT: Valerie Motis of Sony Electronics, +1-858-942-8016,
valerie.motis@am.sony.com; or Tania Scheer of Paine PR, +1-949-809-6782,
tscheer@painepr.com, for Sony Electronics
Web site: http://www.sony.com/news
http://www.sonystyle.com/
http://www.sony.com/reader
October 2nd, 2007 at 9:44 am
Ah, well, no backlight, no buy, even if I was willing to live(read) in a DRM’d world.
October 2nd, 2007 at 10:36 am
I already own two of the sony readers, one for my husband and one for me. I solved the backlight problem by buying a rechargeable booklight that hooks to the sony. When we travel the backlight can also be used for a nightlight. I guess Sony thinks if they have a backlight it would use more battery life. I can put both sony readers in my purse and don’t have to worry about caring heavy books with me.
October 2nd, 2007 at 12:31 pm
I could live without a backlight if the screen glare were not as bad.
October 2nd, 2007 at 1:33 pm
Still no international release? When will Europe have the chance to sample the new delights from Sony? I fear we will be told there is no market without ever being offered the chance to try it for ourselves!
October 2nd, 2007 at 6:17 pm
So the good news is that the initial product was successful enough to warrant a second iteration.
October 2nd, 2007 at 6:58 pm
Sony won’t launch any device in Europe as long as they can’t provide content in their Connect Store for Europe.
In Europe, contacting all of the publishers is somehow harder than in the US, and you need content in at least 3-4 languages for a limited release.
Sony can’t imagine themselves only selling the device: they want all of the extra money that you can make with content although many europeans could use their device strictly for public domain books.
If you want a device similar to the Sony PRS-505, you can buy a Cybook V3…
October 2nd, 2007 at 8:05 pm
Same rule for me: no backlight, no purchase. I don’t mind charging my unit more often for the comfort of reading in bed and not toting around another light I have to attach or sit somewhere to make up for it. My DT375 Tablet PC and eBookWise 1150 work just fine for reading until something better comes along.
October 3rd, 2007 at 10:16 pm
Sony’s website does not give the actual specs for the device. What looks at first glance like specs are really the minimum specs for the computer where you install the reader software.
Does anybody know the internal memory of the new reader? Saying it holds 160 ebooks is not very enlightening. Ebooks are typically less than 500kb in size so 160 books would be 80 MB or so. It’s probably a measly 64 MB since hardware makers always stretch their estimates.
This does not sound very exciting when you consider that you can get a portable audio player with 4 GB of solid state memory for less than a hundred bucks.
But it would be typical of Sony to go super cheap on the internal memory. They are hoping to sell everybody a few of their overpriced and non-standard memory sticks for $100 a GB or so.
Sony makes great innovative hardware but somehow they always put it together in a way that really puts the screws to the consumer.
December 25th, 2007 at 9:51 pm
Contrast is problematic. Sony, couldn’t you get that right if you expect us to buy books from you? I’m an avid reader and think the idea of ebooks should take off. If I was more geeky or wonky I could put up with the fish-fleshed gray scale contrast. Give me some of the esthetics of print.
December 26th, 2007 at 3:18 pm
>>>Sony, couldn’t you get that right if you expect us to buy books from you?
Earth to Dave: Sony does not manufacture the e-Ink screen.
December 28th, 2007 at 3:43 pm
I have the newer version of Sony’s Reader, and I recommend it highly. EXCEPT: Unless you read mostly “Best Sellers” or the classics (which are beyond copyright) good luck finding what you’re looking for in the Sony Company Store (Connect eBooks.)
I am a pastor in a mainline denomination, and there are barely any theological books from popular authors like Barbara Brown Taylor, Martin Marty, William Willimon, Tom Long– the “who’s who” of great preachers and teachers in the US, in other words. Very frustrating.