New Sony Readers leaked

The PRS-300 has a 5-inch screen, while the larger PRS-700 is a 6-inch model.

(Credit: Sony)

A couple of days ago I posted an item on how I'd heard whispers of a new Sony digital reader potentially hitting the market in August. Well, now some images and details of two new Sony Readers, the PRS-300 and PRS-600, have made their way into the blogosphere, thanks to a poster in the Sony Insider boards who simply wrote: "I just found service manuals for 2 unannounced Sony Reader model-the PRS-300 & PRS-600."

The links to the "freshly minted" PDF files have been taken down but Sony Insider preserved the information before it disappeared. (You can find the full PDFs here). According to the documents, the PRS-300 has a 5-inch display with 440MB of internal storage and no expandable memory card slots, while PRS-600 has a 6-inch touch-screen display, audio capabilities, 440MB of internal memory, and an expansion slot for MS and SD memory cards. Both models will come in red, black, and silver.

There's no mention of Wi-Fi or built-in lighting in either manual, but it's still possible Sony could offer a wireless option. If I had to take a guess on pricing, I'd say the PRS-300 will go for $199, while the PRS-600 will go for $299. No word on when these will be officially announced, but next month is a good bet.

Comments? Via Engadget via Sony Insider

[aafuss]

These manuals for the unnanounced Reader models would usually be available via Sony's own Reference Library site which is for use by Sony's Authorized Service Network and invited users only.

So for the time being, Sony's service manuals seem to be unavailable via docs.sony.com/release/smd/ links.

I believe these "docs.sony.com/release/smd/" links are also used by Sony's Reference Library.

It's also likely the Sony's legal department will request Scribd.com to remove the manuals as well.

[jaroslaw_k]

Judging by the disassembly/assembly instructions and test mode menus/procedures, the only way of adding WiFi would be via SD/MemoryStick cards in PRS-600. The disturbing news is that screen testing procedure goes through 4 shades: white, light gray, dark gray, black; does it mean that we are back to 4-level e-ink display? I really prefer 8-level display of PRS-505...

[jacksons98]

Thanks for the article.
My wife was really wanting one of these, I think I'll wait for the new ones to come out. She will really be excited about the "red" one.

[evolx24]

Sony really broke the bank with that massive 440MB of internal memory. Must i now go out and buy a memory card?..

[psyclopps]

Seeing as how their books are between 500k and 2MB in size I think the 440MB should do just dandy.

[play7]

One big problem with Sony products..They cost alot to fix.........I have a sony high end device i having sent back and i have to pay 5600 yen or 60.00 dollar just to have the box and shipping to them. Sony is one of those companies like Apple tha rather have you burden the cost of fixing tghen having a happy future product buyer.

[ospideyo]

I think E-readers are a waste of money. You can't trade, share or borrow purchased books and the readers themselves are quite expensive. Do you know how many books you can get off of Amazon or Barnes & Noble for $200 bucks and you can trade them, lend them out, resell them or just give them away. I personally view E-readers as a huge waste of money. Just my 2 cents!

[make_or_break]

Ever consider that some people NEVER give away or sell their books?

More importantly, ever consider that perhaps some people see the energy and raw material needed for those hardcopy books that you covet are a huge and unnecessary waste of resources?

Ever think that you might get 2 cents back in change over the value of those thoughts of yours?

Jus' sayin'...

[Rod Roddy]

I have had experiences with both the second generation Kindle and Sony e-reader 505, and from what I read of these new models they don't bring anything new or innovative to the table. Sony has been struggling with a few of their consumer electronics as of late. PS3 is on shaky ground, the X-Series Walkman is an iPod touch clone, and the e-book offerings are falling far behind Kindle. But it's still too early to tell, let's hope Sony has an ace up their sleeve...they need one badly.

[qing1706]

Hi, everyone! I?m Rebecca. I wanna share an excellent electronic product. It is the E-book Reader from Hanwang Technology ( www.hanvon.com ).
I like reading very much. In the past, I was stuck carrying all of my books, magazines and newspapers around with me in my bag. Wherever I went, on vacation, on a train or just a doctor?s appointment, I always had a heavy load to carry in my bag. But sometimes, for example, in the morning, the compartment is very crowded, it is almost impossible to hold a book to read. And I like traveling, I wane reading in the train or plane, but my baggage is almost too heavy to carry. I can?t put books inside any more.
Now with Hanvon E-book, they also call this smart as WISEreader, it solves all the problems. The screen is 5 inches, real pocket size, and it is ultra light?Around 180g, I can hold it and reading in the crowded compartment with ease. Every time I take the e-book, I feel how much lighter my bag is. I have no overweight in my carry -on baggage on plane flights, and I never have to leave behind books because of the weight or space they take!!!
The Hanvon e-book, itself, is a well-made little machine that is easy to use, Paper like display by E-ink technology, no damage to my eyes. It is good to me because of my short-sighted.
It can clearly read even under direct sunlight, so I can read outside like on the beach or wherever. I can read as long as I like because it is power saving: 8000+ page flips each power recharge. I can put as many books in it as I want, because it has large capacity with 4 GB SD card, and can support up to 32 GB. Just like a little library. Now I have 160 books in my Hanvon e-book reader, and I will input other books which I like.

The most special is, it has the function of handwriting. I have compared it to Sony and Kindle and other E-book readers, I found only Hanvon can support handwriting function. It is convenience for my input. I can write whatever I want, I?m fully satisfied.
Above all?here are some of my first impressions of the Hanvon e-book readers:
Attach some specifications of two series:

WISE reader N516
1. Ultra light: Under 170g
2. Real pocket size
3. Paper like display by E-ink technology, no damage to your eyes
4. Power saving: 8000+ page flips each power recharge
5. Large capacity with 2GB SD card, can support up to8GB
6. Clear reading under direct sunlight
7. Most popular formats support


WISE reader N518
1. Handwriting
2.Ultra light?Around 180g
3. Real pocket size
4. Paper like display by E-ink technology, no damage to your eyes
5. Power saving: 8000+ page flips each power recharge
6. Large capacity with 4 GB SD card, can support up to 32 GB
7. Clear reading under direct sunlight
8. Most popular formats supported

Dear friends, you can just try it! You will feel great like me!

I don"t like this one.I have a Ebook Reader better than Samsung.It is the Hanvon Ebook from China.
The Hanvon e-book, itself, is a well-made little machine that is easy to use, Paper like display by E-ink technology, no damage to my eyes. It is good to me because of my short-sighted.
It can clearly read even under direct sunlight, so I can read outside like on the beach or wherever. I can read as long as I like because it is power saving: 8000+ page flips each power recharge. I can put as many books in it as I want, because it has large capacity with 4 GB SD card, and can support up to 32 GB. Just like a little library. Now I have 160 books in my Hanvon e-book reader, and I will input other books which I like.

The most special is, it has the function of handwriting. I have compared it to Sony and Kindle and other E-book readers, I found only Hanvon can support handwriting function. It is convenience for my input. I can write whatever I want, I?m fully satisfied.

[lixingchen]

I find it funny how in the age of information people are still trying to control the flow of information.
Like the library expiring the PDF. The Library is trying to retrofit its antiquated way of doing things with a new way that is completey uncompatible. In a hundred years, they will be reading about teh revolution of information that we are undergoing right now.

The reason libraries had a time limit on the checking out of books in days passed was because they only had one copy and you had to share.

Now, a copy is easily made and it makes no sense to expire it. Why cause a person to return and get it updated? Isn't that senseless?

Old habits die hard.

The model that will override all others is the one that is meant to exactly what you'd expect... load a text file or a PDF or Word Doc or whatever and allow you to do whatever you want with it. Anything less than that is an attemtp to cage a wild bird.