More bells and whistles for Sony readers

darknessangel · 08-20-2010, 05:35 AM

According to Endgadget the new readers from sony are just like the old ones but just more bells and whistles. Although they promise that the screens are better than the touch 600.

Quote:

If these legit-looking images are the real deal, you'll be getting a good bit more for your buck -- especially with the Reader Pocket Edition, which apparently finally managed to ditch the directional pad for a lovely E Ink touchscreen.

http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/19/s...er-on-a-charg/

GJMS

SkyDream · 08-20-2010, 07:16 AM

They really need to do better than rumors say to compete with the new upcoming devices.

vivaldirules · 08-20-2010, 07:50 AM

It looks like there'll still be no full justification. That's really annoying.

kartu · 08-20-2010, 07:57 AM

Quote:

...lovely E Ink touchscreen.

The "lovely" touchscreen is the reason I don't touch my 600, except when porting.

Sigh...

PS
Update:
Oh, they promise to have no layer over eink, interesting.
But if it's "wacom" then it only works with special stylus = can't flip pages with finger.

46jimbo · 08-20-2010, 09:57 AM

Quote:

especially with the Reader Pocket Edition, which apparently finally managed to ditch the directional pad for a lovely E Ink touchscreen.

With my PRS-300, I can commute to work by subway reading one-handed. If the new model is touchscreen only, is it possible to turn the page without using two hands?

perost · 08-20-2010, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 46jimbo

With my PRS-300, I can commute to work by subway reading one-handed. If the new model is touchscreen only, is it possible to turn the page without using two hands?

It's not touchscreen only, it has two buttons below the screen for next and previous page. It's looks just like a miniature PRS-600. So reading one-handed should be no problem.

JSWolf · 08-20-2010, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vivaldirules

It looks like there'll still be no full justification. That's really annoying.

I've seen ePub set to not be full justification. So that one photo doesn't have a lot to say one way or the other as to full justification or not. We will have to wait and see what comes from Sony. But yes, I do think they need to have an updated ADE on the new Readers.

yts06mgr · 08-20-2010, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kartu

The "lovely" touchscreen is the reason I don't touch my 600, except when porting.

Sigh...

PS
Update:
Oh, they promise to have no layer over eink, interesting.
But if it's "wacom" then it only works with special stylus = can't flip pages with finger.

I think you can use both finger and stylus. All previous Reader models have been supporting both.

JSWolf · 08-20-2010, 11:09 AM

No idea what sort of touch screen Sony will be using next. But if it gets rid of the touch layer, that will give them one up on non-touch units.

jswinden · 08-20-2010, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I've seen ePub set to not be full justification. So that one photo doesn't have a lot to say one way or the other as to full justification or not. We will have to wait and see what comes from Sony. But yes, I do think they need to have an updated ADE on the new Readers.

True, but considering this has been a really important issue with many owners, myself included, if they offer full justification you would think they would stress that fact.

I still believe there are way too many flags over that article and its blurry photos to take it seriously. I hope Sony does come out with new readers that can compete, but those photos could just be a hoax. Hoaxes were the norm back in the PDA days when people loved to photoshop an image of their dream PDA and then attempt to pass it off as a new model. Until Sony officially makes an announcement or we see sharp photos of new models, or better still sharp video, I'm not going to get excited. At this point it is still very much a rumor.

Graham · 08-20-2010, 12:55 PM

Assuming the images aren't fake, it looks as though both units are becoming touchscreen only - I can't see any obvious buttons placed for page turns - so the comment above about one-handed use may become relevant.

But... the lack of obvious buttons is yet another reason why these look fake.

Graham

perost · 08-20-2010, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graham

Assuming the images aren't fake, it looks as though both units are becoming touchscreen only - I can't see any obvious buttons placed for page turns - so the comment above about one-handed use may become relevant.

But... the lack of obvious buttons is yet another reason why these look fake.

Graham

They seem to have the same next, previous, home, zoom and option button as PRS-600 and PRS-900 have now, located below the screen. If you look at a picture of PRS-600 it will be quite obvious.

jashsu · 08-20-2010, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kartu

Update:
Oh, they promise to have no layer over eink, interesting.
But if it's "wacom" then it only works with special stylus = can't flip pages with finger.

There's just about zero possibility it is wacom, given that active digitizers drain power like crazy and they are expensive to implement. I vaguely recall reading some E-ink product sheets about how the new Pearl panels have optional integrated touch (both resistive and capacitive variants). That might be what this is based on.

No idea why so many people are crying for full justification. Justified text is ugly.

Graham · 08-20-2010, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by perost

They seem to have the same next, previous, home, zoom and option button as PRS-600 and PRS-900 have now, located below the screen. If you look at a picture of PRS-600 it will be quite obvious.

Yes, I mentioned those in another thread - if they are buttons - but again, placed in a weird position for one-handed use.

Graham

grooks · 08-20-2010, 04:24 PM

I use my 600 one-handed quite often and turn pages via the physical buttons.

How comfortable it would be to hold and turn pages is specific to each user.

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08-20-2010, 07:16 AM	#2
SkyDream Wizard Posts: 1,377 Karma: 9400 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Europe Device: PRS-650, iPod touch 4G, iPad 3	They really need to do better than rumors say to compete with the new upcoming devices.

08-20-2010, 07:50 AM	#3
vivaldirules When's Doughnut Day? Posts: 10,059 Karma: 13675475 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Houston, TX, US Device: Sony PRS-505, iPad	It looks like there'll still be no full justification. That's really annoying.

08-20-2010, 11:09 AM	#9
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,897 Karma: 128597114 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	No idea what sort of touch screen Sony will be using next. But if it gets rid of the touch layer, that will give them one up on non-touch units.

08-20-2010, 12:55 PM	#11
Graham Wizard Posts: 2,743 Karma: 32912427 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: North Yorkshire, UK Device: Kobo H20, Pixel 2, Samsung Chromebook Plus	Assuming the images aren't fake, it looks as though both units are becoming touchscreen only - I can't see any obvious buttons placed for page turns - so the comment above about one-handed use may become relevant. But... the lack of obvious buttons is yet another reason why these look fake. Graham

08-20-2010, 04:24 PM	#15
grooks Wizard Posts: 1,326 Karma: 30250 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Fort Myers, FL Device: Pocketbook Era, Kobo Forma	I use my 600 one-handed quite often and turn pages via the physical buttons. How comfortable it would be to hold and turn pages is specific to each user.