Sony Reader gets a new design, Evernote, free Harry Potter for $129

[carld]

I didn't see this in the News or the Sony forums, so I hope it's not a repeat.

Sony's promised more intuitive touch with the Reader PRS-T2, smoother zooming and improved page turning, this time out. On the sharing side of things, Evernote functionality joins the fray here, letting users save their favorite passages to the service. Users can also post passages from books, along with corresponding covers and other identifying information to Facebook, if you're the sort who loves to share such literary info. On the store side of things, Sony's offering up browser-based account access now, so when users buy books on their desktop, they'll get pushed to the reader.

Link to story at Engadget

[faithbw]

I like the design. I'm still not going to upgrade from my PRS-350 because the upgrades aren't anything I need. Still, if I were in the market for a new e-reader, the Sony Reader, as usual, would be at top of my list. Sony really puts a lot of pride in the design of their products. I just hope they're more aggressive with marketing the PRS-T2. I have to admit the $129.00 price (even with the inclusion of the Harry Potter novel) will make it hard to compete with the Nook and Kindle.

[tomsem]

Apparently no audio in this model (not that I've ever used that feature on my PRS-T1).
Bet they still don't enable B&N DRM support, or ADE sync.

[Belfaborac]

Will a free Harry Potter novel actually make it any more attractive at this point? Are there actually people still left in the world who would want to read Harry Potter, but who haven't done so yet?

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by Belfaborac

Will a free Harry Potter novel actually make it any more attractive at this point? Are there actually people still left in the world who would want to read Harry Potter, but who haven't done so yet?

Good question. I'm sure there are still people who haven't read it that might want to, but I think a more attractive offer would be a $10 or $15 gift card to buy a book(s) you want. I know there were people interested in the Potter themed device they were supposed to be doing, not sure what ever became of that.

[Canuck_in_Japan]

Looks like a decent reader but it's not enough to get me to upgrade from my 650. Unless Kobo manages to put out something really amazing I'll probably be sticking with it for another couple of years. PRS+ firmware really turns it into a whole new device.

[sabredog]

Looks like Sony have moved away from shiny bezels. Love my T1, except for that.

[Belfaborac]

As soon as it gets hacked and can use a folder system, I'll probably get one. Certainly not to replace my PRS-950, but to provide redundancy now that my PRS-505 is on permanent loan. I get nervous real quick when there's no redundancy....

[Billi]

Originally Posted by Belfaborac

Will a free Harry Potter novel actually make it any more attractive at this point? Are there actually people still left in the world who would want to read Harry Potter, but who haven't done so yet?

There are new ten-year-olds every year, so maybe, when they will be gifted their first ereader it will make a difference for their grandparents if the reader has a Harry Potter novel on it or not.

[ghostyjack]

Well the Evernote integration has got me curious.

I wonder if it can be used for the notes I take in a book so I can sync it to my desktop for fixing my books.

[dura]

Disappointing I think; still 600x800, big bezel, no front light.

[Yapyap]

I really like the design - much more than the T1, which I've been tempted by often enough.

Although I'd still prefer side page turn buttons, and I was sort of hoping for the frontlighting - not a must have, but lately when I've been reading my Kindle outside in the evenings, I've found myself wishing for a bit more light after 9-9.30 in the evening when it's still warm but the sun is already low enough for the light to be less than comfortable. (I don't really like clip-on lights.)

[Soldim]

Looks good, I will probably try to get one, especially if my 505 battery gives up.

[aceflor]

It looks nice, but I like my physical buttons on my prs-t1 so no upgrade for me. As much as I enjoy touch models, I need buttons. Too many flying insects around here, they make a touch display a nightmare. Ideally I'd want a device with buttons on both side (a la kindle 4 or nook st), with a switchable touch option (so it can be non-touch when I am reading outside), wifi, running on an android based hackable firmware, with a front-lit display, and with whispersync to my kindle books.

This will never happen.....

[fjtorres]

CNET's David Carnoy has a preview:
http://reviews.cnet.com/e-book-reade...-35416657.html

Here are the highlights: Sony says the "glare-free" E-Ink Pearl V220 touch screen has been enhanced for long-term reading. There are new social features (Facebook and Evernote), a simplified home screen, and an updated default book layout intended to make it easier to organize and find books. Smoother zoom in and out, "paperlike" page turns, and improved continuous page turns are designed to improve the reading experience. There are two built-in English-language and four translation dictionaries. Battery life has been doubled from one month to two with wireless off, and the device's control buttons have been redesigned.

Finally, the matte black T2 model includes a free voucher for the e-book of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone," redeemable from the Pottermore shop online. (That's right, only the black model.)

In other good news, you no longer have to install any software on your computer to access the Reader Store; it's all done through a Web-based interface now that you can access from most browsers. Sony says any book purchased via Web browser will be "waiting in the user’s Reader library, ready to be read." Needless to say, Sony was just a bit behind Amazon and Barnes & Noble in this department (I say that doing my best Bob Uecker impression from "Major League").

As noted, the latest Reader now includes new Facebook and Evernote features. Sony says, "Consumers now have the ability to post a short passage from books purchased from Reader Store to Facebook directly from the device along with the book cover, author, and title." You also get access to content you saved using Evernote's Web Clipper feature, and pages saved with Evernote Clearly are optimized for the Reader’s e-ink display. And finally, favorite passages can also be annotated on the T2 and saved in Evernote for later viewing elsewhere.

Mr Carnoy is very polite in his summation:

In the meanwhile, I can't say the Sony Reader PRS-T2 has any killer new feature to get terribly excited about, but at least Sony's Reader is evolving and improving.

Note that it is six dictionaries in this report: 2 English and 4 translation.