Sony unveils new high-end Reader Daily Edition, expanded library partnership

The Sony Reader Daily Edition is coming in December.

(Credit: Sony)

Sony on Tuesday announced its first e-book reader with built-in wireless capability. The new Reader Daily Edition offers an integrated 3G wireless connection, allowing it to access Sony's online bookstore as well as yet-to-be-announced newspaper and magazine subscriptions. The unit--which boasts a 7-inch touch screen (displayable in portrait or landscape mode)--will sell for $399 when it debuts in December. Wireless service is provided by AT&T with no direct charge to the customer.

The Reader Daily Edition joins the already announced Touch Edition PRS-600 ($299) and Pocket Edition PRS-300 ($199), both of which should be available within the next couple of weeks. With the exception of the wireless connection and larger screen, the specs of the Reader Daily Edition are otherwise in line with that of the Touch Edition: it offers an E Ink Vizplex electronic paper screen with 16 shades of gray.

Sony used the launch event at the New York Public Library to highlight some notable new features of its e-book platform. Most notable is the expansion of support for library loans to the Sony Readers. If your local library supports electronic lending, members will be able to download the borrowed books and transfer them to the Reader for 21 days (after which the files expire). Sony is partnering with Overdrive.com to make it easier to search for available books at participating libraries.

Also of note is the launch of version 3.0 of Sony's eBook Library software, which now offers support for Macs (as well as Windows). The software is used to move purchased files (as well as other supported content, such as a PDF and Epub files) from the computer to the Reader. (While supported, the PC step won't be required for the Reader Daily Edition, which can access online content directly.)

Sony also highlighted its new "open" Epub format, which the company is moving to from its former proprietary BBeB format. While the Epub books at Sony's store will still be encoded with DRM, it will allow the Sony Reader to also work with files purchased from BooksOnBoard, NetGalley, Powells.com, and any other retailer that adopts the Adobe-backed standard. (Notably, that does not include Amazon (which has its own proprietary Kindle standard) nor Barnes & Noble (which is working on its own Epub flavor for its forthcoming Plastic Logic reader).

Sony Reader Daily Edition

The trio of Sony Reader products reinforces the fact that Sony is not ceding the market to Amazon. Indeed, the company is offering some nice alternatives: a wallet-friendly $200 price point on the entry-level unit and wider file compatibility. Even more enticing to many will be the wealth of free content not available on the Kindle: the Sony Readers can access the hundreds of thousands of public domain Google Books, plus the free library loaners. The library loans are compelling, to be sure, but Epub collections are not comprehensive. On the New York Public Library site, we found notable titles such as Twilight and Freakonomics, but not a lot of other top 10 selections.

The built-in wireless access of the Daily Edition, meanwhile, brings Sony onto a features parity with the Kindle. But even with the touch screen (which the Kindle doesn't have), the extra $100 versus the Kindle's current $299 pricetag might be a hard sell to recession-addled shoppers.

We'll have full hands-on reviews of the Pocket Edition and Touch Edition Readers as soon as they arrive at the office (should be in the next week or two). In the meantime: what do you think? Do these new products and features add up to a Kindle killer? Is $199 still too expensive for an e-book reader? Or are you still waiting for better screens and cheaper titles? Share your thoughts below.

[lalittp]

I was waiting for large screen reader from Sony. But I was expecting around 8-inch of screen, not sure if that 1-inch would make a big difference.

[Rod Roddy]

Holy carp!!! Why do these machines have to be sooooooo expensive??? I'll stick to tangible paper books.

[knowles2]

because they are cutting edge technology and eink screens have only been around for a few years.
A bit of majority in a couple of years these will be as cheap 100 pounds or cheaper.

[kszpirak]

Looks good. I was gonna purchase one of those, but they use to look a bit more bulky. I kind of like this one.

[Absolution2009]

No charge for Wireless 3G? That's AWESOME!

[jaguar717]

"no charge" --> $400 price tag

There's no free lunch. Like with everything else, "free" just means you shifted the costs around.

[was3funk]

I'm interested and don't have one yet. Trying to decide between the Kindle and Sony. Can't imagine I would spend more than $199 to own one.

[tmgplc]

Check out the new ones from Astak. I just ordered one for $199. It looks better than the Sony or Kindle because it will accept almost any format of ebook you can come up with (20+ formats) natively. It seems to be a very well regarded brand in Europe and the ereaders are new to the US.

[noyindebbie]

I am in the exact spot, I keep going back and forth between the Sony and Kindle. After reading the reviews about Kindle 2, I am leaning more towards the Sony. I love the idea of the kindle and am absolutly sold on it, however after the negative reviews about the Kindle 2, I will hold out for the next version, and start out with the Sony reader. Most likely the pocket reader. Still at 2 bones, I better like it!! I keep waiting for a deal to come out, "purchase the sony reader and get 200 books free". Maybe closer to the holidays! Times are tough, they need to cut us a deal!

[toomath]

As a Kindle 2 owner, I'm excited to see this. The last thing I want is for Amazon to totally dominate this marketplace - I want multiple hardware vendors, and eventually, the ability for eReaders to buy from any bookstore. So the more the merrier as long as they're bringing something new and good to the table. And if Amazon doesn't keep me happy, in a couple of years I want other options. And lower prices, hopefully, as eInk and the rest of the technology improves.

[midnight_Dsob]

wow...bonus points for a comment that sounds level-headed and makes sense...a rarity on the interwebs

[Zoobie]

When is Sony going to make the new eBookstore 3.0 software available? I have an older reader (505) and I love it, but the current software is only windows compatible. I've heard the new software supports both Mac and Linux. My reader software is the only reason I still have a windows computer in my house since my device has to be tethered.

[jpfalcone]

The new Sony software appears to be available now. Windows and Mac download links are here:

http://ebookstore.sony.com/download/

[Thranx]

Do want.

I have a PRS-505 and I'm VERY happy with it. It's simply fantastic. One thing Sony has done well is allow multiple readers access to the same account. I can associate my reader with my account and when I buy this new one, both my readers will be able to access all of my content. What this means is that my wife and I can both read any of those books I've purchased. No, it's not the easy sharing of a real paper book... but it's something. :)

Only beef here is that they went with AT&T. Horrible data network. Hopefully it won't matter for these simple book files, but going with Verizon would have made for alot better options for data connectitivy from a speed standpoint.

[jpfalcone]

I think the lower bandwidth needs for books/newspapers/magazines means that an ebook reader won't tax AT&T's network like the multimedia iPhone. But if you already live in an area that doesn't have good AT&T coverage, that will obviously be a problem.

[svgtom]

Kindle users can also register multiple devices to the same account.

[RColapietro]

I also have a PRS-505 and I am quite satisfied with it, not only from a feature/functionality standpoint, but from a touch & feel standpoint. I will probably purchase the Daily Edition when it becomes available, primarily because of the wireless access. I looked at the Kindle and I can't come to grips with its looks; it is plain ugly. I too am dissapointed that Sony chose to go with AT&T for wireless access; but, if it's at no additional cost and I don't have to deal directly with AT&T, I'l adjust...

[koolkankat]

I also have the PRS-505 and it brought back the joy of reading for me. I am now looking forward to the new Daily Edition with the added features of larger size, touchscreen and 3G wireless. It will be nice to be able to shop for and purchase ebooks without having to connect to the PC. I wonder how much newspaper subscriptions will cost? I thought they were quite expensive for the Kindle.

[bobbkt]

I do a lot of reading and would like to try one of these, but not sure about the gray print. Is it different from the print used in paper books?

[knowles2]

having tried out a older model in a store a couple of weeks ago, I did not fine it that different from reading a book.
However I guest to truly notice if there was any major difference I would have to use it for a few weeks.

[RompStar_420]

Some books should never be READ on any freaking machine EVER!!! and yet there are many books where, it is a waste of paper and energy to print them, those should be on this device. I collect old books and you can't replace them with some piece of plastic, sure it has the same word and all, but the element of the book and it's smell, and everything is gone. Just to hold certain books in your hand and be able to flip through their pages, can get one aroused, no ? Or maybe I am just strange and I am not talking about Playboy here..

[QA_Tester]

@RompStar_420

if the book is not a collectible item as an object there is no point of printing it. And no just because it's old and you like the smell of dusty old book it doesn't make it a collectible. personally I suspect you are pack rat. If the book is a collectible and available as eBook get the eBbok to actually read.

[knowles2]

give it a couple of years and I sure they will be able to add the smell and probably even the texture of the pages. Will that make you happy.

[adamcarley]

I recently checked out a friend's Sony ereader, but it hurt my eyes. The Kindle doesn't do that. That is the key thing that Sony needs to sort out.

If there is additional free content, that is definitely interesting.

[jaroslaw_k]

Be more specific: there were three versions released so far - each with quite different 'look' of the screen.
I can agree that the original 501 version's screen was very gray/low contrast, but 505 version screen is very bright and better looking than the Kindle's. The 700 version was a mixed bag: the screen itself was the same as 505, but the illumination layer placed on top of it actually made it less pleasant to read.

I wouldn't mind paying an up front high cost for a good quality reader. What I would expect was to make it up on the cost savings of electronic books, versus paper versions. There would have to be a significant savings over these books so I felt like I was getting some type of deal. What a great way to go for school kids, forget getting a hernia carrying 4-5 huge books to class, have everything on one simple think light-weight ereader where you can electronic highlight and mark up notes on your school study materials and have the function of saving your summary. Whomever can provide this will rule the world!

[toomath]

the print is very similar to paper books, but people often expect electronic devices to have brighter screens. eInk screens at the moment are typically not backlit and have a soft, crisp look. The advantage is lots less eyestrain so you can typically read just as long as a paper book without tiring. I sometimes use the kindle app on my iPhone, and it would give me a headache if I read for more t han ten or fifteen minutes.

The downside is that it's sometimes necesssary to have a booklight. You can just use the usual clip on booklights for paper books, as the effect is the same (though I really wish the Kindle would have a better integration for an add-on light).

[Rants&Raves]

As a Sony Clie user (where Sony just dropped support for a product that I bought while it was in transit, so that I bought a hyped product and received a discontinued one), and a general observer of the quality of hardware-bound Sony software (it sucks), I can say without a doubt that I will not trust Sony with my money on this venture. Apple, Amazon, maybe. Sony: hell no.

[lhava]

I bought a Sony PRS505 exactly because I can download books for free from the library. I am very happy with that decision. These additional features will make it even more compelling vs. the Kindle.

[aziz700]

The price for an internet ready e reader should not be more than $200. Sony and others will make a killing on selling books etc. In fact they might be able to offer the reader at a very low cost to get customers to use it rather then paper books, etc.

The itouch is a good example of a product which offers a lot of capabilities including Wifi. A good e reader software will make this a competitor for Sony and Kindle.

Salman

[jv9274]

This is all nice, but bring on the Dual Screen Notebook. I want one so bad, when is someone going to produce one. http://bit.ly/K0kv9

[gd1294]

I must be an old young guy but its easier to fold a news paper under your arm. Also I don't know how safe these readers are on a beach etc type environment. You can always shake the sand out of a book. I not an avid reader but I do like the smell of libraries and book stores. I also wonder how green these machines are what type of glass and components are they made of. They are green in the fact that they replace books that are made from trees. Why don't we make more paper products out of Hemp? I often think the government really thinks we will try to smoke the products made of Hemp.

[QA_Tester]

@gd1294

Right now they are not very green because there is not enough of them and they many of them use proprietary formats and not enough people use them and not all of the publications are in digital format yet. And the way they are designed limits how many books you can read on one because not all of them have SD/USB ports. If those issues are addressed those things can be very green.

As for smoking hemp paper I am sure you smoked real thing otherwise you wouldn't make comment about it the way you did.

[cledbetter]

Unless something has changed, books for the Sony eReader were averaging $25 while books for the Kindle were averaging $9.99. That led me to being on the verge of buying a Kindle until the Kindle for iPhone and iPod Touch was introduced. So instead, I bought my voracious-reader-son an iPod Touch, which serves many other purposes along with being a reader. We can share access to the books on my account as I have an iPhone with the Kindle app. I love the idea of checking out library books on the Sony machine, but I live in a very rural area and doubt any library around here would have such a program available. But I will be checking around on that and may end up with an eReader after all!

[Kingpig]

The New York Public Library is offering membership to those outside the city. I believe it is $10/year. They have one of the largest e-book collections.