Crave

I'm very impressed by the Nook, Barnes & Noble's new e-book reader. It's clear B&N has studied Sony's Reader and Amazon's Kindle very carefully.

The Nook has almost all of the major features of both product lines, plus a few more, with few competitive disadvantages. B&N has also followed Amazon's lead on support services. The Nook has a very good online e-book store as well as applications to support e-book reading on Macs, Windows machines, and smartphones.

(Credit: Barnes & Noble)

The Nook doesn't ship until the end of November, but here's what I found most significant from the announcement and the pages at nook.com:

Industrial design
I think the Nook is attractive and well-designed. It looks better than the Kindle 2, but not as good as Sony's Reader Touch Edition, which offers a larger screen in a smaller form factor. Also, Sony's forthcoming Reader Daily Edition is only slightly larger than the Nook, but offers a much larger screen.

Secondary color display
This feature surprised me. It seems expensive and insufficiently functional for what must be a significant added cost. The low resolution of this display (480 x 144, according to a CNET blog post) means it won't be useful for much beyond the basic user-interface features B&N has already described: book covers, menus, and a keyboard for note-taking. (Although I should note for the record that while B&N says "Its full-color touchscreen encourages you to bookmark, add notes, and highlight passages," I haven't found a photo on the company Web site depicting the virtual keyboard shown in some of the pre-release images. Perhaps that's one of the features still under development.)

By comparison, the secondary color screen built into the Alex e-book reader from Spring Design, shown in another recent CNET story, is large enough to be useful. Unfortunately, it's also large enough to be very much in the way, leading to an awkward device. Spring Design and B&N need to make up their minds-- are they making e-book readers or something else?

After watching Amazon make huge headway in the e-book self-publishing game with its Digital Text Platform, Sony is finally making a real push into this area with a new Publisher Portal and partnerships with self-publishing companies Smashwords and Author Solutions.

While Sony stressed that the portal was for large and small publishers alike, it is clear that the company is targeting the announcement at independent publishers.

"New authors can select a self-publishing path and get their work published and for sale on Sony's eBook Store in as little as 10 days," Sony representatives said. "As Sony completes the conversion of its eBook store to the industry-standard EPUB format, Smashwords and Authors Solution will expand the offer to all existing Author Solutions and Smashwords authors to get their titles up on the Sony site."

Author Solutions, one of the larger self-publishing companies, with several brands under its umbrella offers a full suite of self-publishing "services," most of which are fee-based. Meanwhile, start-up Smashwords is focused exclusively on e-book creation and sales, and it is free to use (you simply upload a Word file, make some tweaks to your formatting based on a style guide, and presto, you have an e-book).

According to Sony, Author Solutions and Smashwords will offer authors the option to publish content in the EPUB format, "the International Digital Publishing Forum's XML-based standard format for reflowable digital books and publications." Amazon, on the other hand, uses its proprietary e-book format.

This is obviously good news for self-publishers. When it comes to e-book stores, Sony may not have the traffic that Amazon does, but it certainly offers a large customer base of avid readers interested in e-books.

(Credit: Sony)

When it comes to e-book readers, the jury is still out on what screen size is ideal. Until recently, consumers were pretty much limited to choosing between 6-inch models from Sony, Amazon, and a few lesser-known manufacturers. But now new e-readers are cropping up in both larger and smaller sizes, and Sony's 5-inch Reader Pocket Edition (PRS-300) is making a bid to capture a chunk of the nascent e-reader market.

As the entry-level model in Sony's 2009 e-book lineup, the comparatively diminutive PRS-300 has neither the touch screen that's found on the $300 PRS-600 Reader Touch Edition nor the built-in 3G cellular wireless connection of the $400 Reader Daily Edition and its archrival, the $300 Amazon Kindle.

This model also lacks expansion slots for more memory, annotation, and note-taking capabilities; a built-in dictionary; and the MP3 audio of its step-up siblings. But while the PRS-300 Reader Pocket Edition sticks to the basics, it has the most attractive price tag to date for a mainstream e-reader: $200. And unlike the Kindle, its use of the Epub file format opens the door to a variety of free content, including public domain Google Books downloads and titles that can be electronically checked out from many local libraries.

Read the full review of the Sony Reader Pocket Edition PRS-300.

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.

The $299 PRS-600 has an improved touch screen.

(Credit: Sony)

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's officially announced the two new models: the Reader Pocket Edition ($199) and Reader Touch Edition ($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 $9.99 instead of $11.99.

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
• $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
• $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

New Sony Readers slide show

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 answer 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 and two ounces lighter.

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.

Comments?

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

Will Sony soon have a PRS-505 replacement?

(Credit: Sony)

In recent weeks there's been lots of news about new e-readers hitting the market. The Cool-er is out. Samsung's just released its first e-book reader in Korea. Plastic Logic is talking up its partnerships with Barnes & Noble and AT&T. And the Kindle 2 had a price drop to $299.

But what's up with Sony? True, its $400 PRS-700 hasn't been out that long, but surely the company has to put out a new e-reader sometime soon or risk losing that precious piece of market and mind share it currently enjoys in the e-reader space?

Well, we've barely heard a peep about a new Reader, but there's been a little activity over on the MobileRead forums. Back in June forum member forkyfork wrote he heard from a manager at Books-a-Million that Sony is coming out with a new e-reader in August. The manager "mentioned that it's going to have Wi-Fi, bigger screen, and more memory. When I asked him if it would have a touch screen, he said 'no.' When asked what the price point would be, he said 'most likely $300,' which might explain why they [Sony] are trying to clear out the PRS-505's now."

Now, it's hard to put much stock in a message board comment from a random reader, especially one who goes by forkyfork, but I've heard from a few sources outside Sony that they expect Sony to have something new fairly soon. So, why not August?

Hopefully, the new Reader, whenever it does arrive, will only be sightly larger and not blown up to the size of the Kindle DX.

When it released the PRS-700, Sony did talk about how it was looking at a wireless option, so it would seem likely that its next model would offer this feature. Also, while we like the touch-screen interface of the PRS-700, the screen did suffer from glare and contrast issues. We also assume a nontouch model would be cheaper to produce, which would help Sony keep the retail price of a new model under $300. At this point, it really needs to match the Kindle 2's price or better yet, go slightly cheaper.

Comments?

(Credit: Plastic Logic)

Last week, Plastic Logic hooked up with Barnes & Noble. Now it's got something going with AT&T to provide the 3G wireless connection for its upcoming e-reader, due out in early 2010.

Early Wednesday, the company announced the agreement, though details were scant. There was no mention of pricing, and it remains unclear whether you'll have to pay extra for AT&T's 3G service or whether it will be included with the device, like it is with Amazon's Kindle. (Amazon has a partnership with Sprint to supply the Kindle's wireless connection.) However, the announcement does note that AT&T offers worldwide coverage and that "AT&T devices work in more than 200 countries and regions."

Plastic Logic's upcoming e-reader has been in the works for a while. It uses E-ink technology, is about the size of an 8.5-by-11-inch pad of paper, is less than 0.25 inches thick, and weighs less than many print magazines (at least the ones that still attract advertising). It also has a touch-screen user interface and built-in Wi-Fi, which leads us to believe the 3G connection may require an extra fee.

Plastic Logic's only comment on pricing is that it will be announced "when the product begins shipping in early 2010."

It seems a little odd that the company is making these types of introductions so far in advance of the product's release, but the e-reader space is heating up and other competitors are lurking. By the time the Plastic Logic Reader arrives, Sony will most likely have released the next version of its Reader--(I wouldn't be shocked to see an announcement from Sony in the next few weeks)--and it, too, might offer a wireless option.

Comments?

Using a Sony Reader, a guest at Miami's Epic Hotel catches up on summer reading on the hotel's 16th floor pool deck.

(Credit: Epic Hotel )

Open the nightstand in some hotels these days and you'll find a Sony Reader alongside the bible. Expanding a hotel trend of offering access to high-tech amenities like iPods, a number of establishments are now adding complimentary e-book readers to their lists of perks.

OK, the gadgets won't literally be next to the bible. At Gansevoort establishments in Manhattan, Miami, and Turks & Caicos, guests can relax poolside with Sony Readers, doled out for free on a first-come, first-served basis. (New York's Gansevoort also lends out Nintendo Wiis.)

Kimpton's swank new Epic Hotel in Miami, meanwhile, has just launched Epic Page Turner, a whole program centered on reading. In addition to giving guests a complimentary copy of an old-fashioned paper book (remember those?), the hotel loans out Sony Readers. An online "Epic Virtual Nightstand" lets guests access book excerpts from an in-room desktop computer.

The Readers at Epic come preloaded with excerpts and at least one complimentary title, but if you want to read more, it'll cost you. About 200,000 additional requested titles are available at a cost of the book's price (generally $15 per title or less), plus a small download fee, which Epic will donate to the Early Learning Coalition of Miami-Dade/Monroe Counties.

It's nice to see hotels accommodating techie bibliophiles, though Sony Readers may have some stiff competition for guests' eyes. At the Epic, at least, the devices will be battling with flat-screen LCDs between 37 and 42 inches.

Meanwhile, New York's Algonquin Hotel, which is known as a gathering place for literary and artistic luminaries, has been offerings guests use of Amazon's Kindle since last year. Naturally, Kindle-using guests at the Algonquin can read titles from Algonquin Round Table authors like Edna Ferber and Robert Benchley.