Sony Reader Daily Edition - SCOOP!

[Daithi]

Is this Sony's device that is supposed to compete against Amazon's Kindle DX?

I've only owned a Kindle, so I don't feel comfortable criticizing Sony's products, but I can't help thinking that Sony supporters were hoping for something better.

Maybe they'll announce a Sony 900 or something pretty soon.

[Be Szpilman]

Originally Posted by Lilly

I think it's huge making library books available for free from different states. That in itself blows the PRS-505 out of the water!

Wait, is it confirmed the earlier models like the 505 won't climb aboard that bandwagon ? (not that it makes any difference for me non-US citizen)

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by Labib Rahman

Let's not turn this into a 505 owner satisfaction declaration thread. So now that we have all the details out, and have been through a lot of pics. What are the biggest pro/cons you guys see in the new model?

Um... unless you can use the 3G to do stuff other than buy ebooks from Sony... I don't really see that as a big selling point. At least the Kindle gives you the basic browsers and the ability to d/l ebooks from places like MobileRead and FeedBooks using it.

Other than that I don't see why I would pay $100 more for this than the 600... well, it is a bit bigger (taller screen so more lines per page) and comes with a cover.'

I was so hoping for a 9inch device with awesome PDF support.

BOb

[Lemurion]

Originally Posted by Lilly

I think it's huge making library books available for free from different states. That in itself blows the PRS-505 out of the water!

I think the library announcement is the biggest thing to come out of this. I'm just waiting for the Ebook Library version 3.0 to come out for download. I really want to see what that adds to my 505.

[ashwincr]

Originally Posted by Lemurion

I think the library announcement is the biggest thing to come out of this. I'm just waiting for the Ebook Library version 3.0 to come out for download. I really want to see what that adds to my 505.

I think so too. When is the new library version expected ?

[Be Szpilman]

Originally Posted by Daithi

Is this Sony's device that is supposed to compete against Amazon's Kindle DX?

I've only owned a Kindle, so I don't feel comfortable criticizing Sony's products, but I can't help thinking that Sony supporters were hoping for something better.

Maybe they'll announce a Sony 900 or something pretty soon.

Originally Posted by pilotbob

Um... unless you can use the 3G to do stuff other than buy ebooks from Sony... I don't really see that as a big selling point. At least the Kindle gives you the basic browsers and the ability to d/l ebooks from places like MobileRead and FeedBooks using it.

Other than that I don't see why I would pay $100 more for this than the 600... well, it is a bit bigger (taller screen so more lines per page) and comes with a cover.'

I was so hoping for a 9inch device with awesome PDF support.

BOb

Exactly my feelings, BOb, awesome PDF support would have been the DX's biggest threat.

Still I think Sony is trying to take another path in all this, and it may yet prove to be a good decision in ways we can't foresee. They can create the demand for new ways of ereading.. Or else I shall think of Sony's execs as big fat fails.

[Labib Rahman]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

Um... unless you can use the 3G to do stuff other than buy ebooks from Sony... I don't really see that as a big selling point. At least the Kindle gives you the basic browsers and the ability to d/l ebooks from places like MobileRead and FeedBooks using it.

Other than that I don't see why I would pay $100 more for this than the 600... well, it is a bit bigger (taller screen so more lines per page) and comes with a cover.'

I was so hoping for a 9inch device with awesome PDF support.

BOb

So was I. My biggest gripe with the 505 is that despite it being such an awesome device, PDF support is very bad. It looks like things haven't gotten much better either.

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by wallcraft

If the Daily and Touch screens are the same width, the Daily might have a 600x1024 screen (vs the standard 6" 600x800), both at 167 ppi. I wonder if it is made by PVI, which has not advertised this size screen so far as I know.

Originally Posted by Godzil

I never heard of 7 inch eInk display.. Maybe it come from LG (who have an eInk license)

i think the screen is a special order just for sony, from pvi.

Originally Posted by ashwincr

I think so too. When is the new library version expected ?

i agree. that was a brilliant move on sony's part. very smart of them to be so agressively opening their devices to outside (and free) content.

[Zero9]

Originally Posted by Andybaby

as a 700 User. I have never picked up and been unable to read due to contrast or glare, though those issues are there, they don't affect readability.

I was actually waiting for Andybaby to come in and comfort me with his reassurance that the touchscreens are still quite usable. Thanks for not letting me down!

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by bzpilman

Wait, is it confirmed the earlier models like the 505 won't climb aboard that bandwagon ? (not that it makes any difference for me non-US citizen)

No... from this quote from the engadge article, which may be from Sony's press release:

Today also marks the launch of Sony's Library Finder application. Sony, working with OverDrive (www.overdrive.com), the leading global digital distributor of eBooks and to libraries, will now offer visitors to the eBook Store by Sony easy access to their local library's collection of eBooks.

1. This will be built into the Sony eBook Library software/store, not any single device.

2. You will only have access to your local library and if you have a library card.

So, you will [should] be able to use this features with the 300, 500 (once they tell us the upgrade path), 505, 600, 700, Reader Daily Edition.. (what is the model number? Any one know?)

BOb

[alecE]

Originally Posted by Lilly

I don't think the library addition will be offer outside of the US. US libraries are tax payer funded.

UK libraries are also funded from local and national taxes. As far as I know UK libraries are rather behind the USA in terms of offering ebooks for loan.

Originally Posted by Ervserver

I would think publishers hate this...the ability to check out ebooks for free They don't make any money. If the ebook wave really catches on many more people will stop buying books, or at least not as many

Don't know about USA practice, but here in UK we have PLR - Public Lending Right. Each year, selected libraries record the loans they make. This information is used to calculate payments to authors. Doesn't significantly help the publishers though. The argument here has always been that public libraries' purchases stimulate the publishing market and that the people who borrow from libraries would probably not buy books themselves.

[sircastor]

It's not really clear if Sony's going to support this with the 505...
This is from engadget:

We're a little more geeked about the library finder service, which enables you to check out ebooks and other digital content from your local public library on any of the Readers -- for free. The New York Public Library is the flashy public launch partner, but there are "thousands more" looped in

So the 300,600 and DE: definitely, the 505? I hope so. After seeing the comparison video yesterday, I think I'm going to go with a 505 rather than a 600 (which I'm kind of sad about... I was really looking forward to that)

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by alecE

UK libraries are also funded from local and national taxes. As far as I know UK libraries are rather behind the USA in terms of offering ebooks for loan.

sadly, this is the case in france as well, although the libraries do seem to be moving towards more online access (they'vre recently redone their online catalogue system to integrate new features like wishlists and online reservations). i hope they'll add more ebooks soon.

[switchman2210]

Originally Posted by Abecedary

EDIT: Some quick back of the envelope calculations with Photoshop show that the diagonal on the Daily's screen is about 7.7". That's assuming that the side-by-side shots are fairly accurate representations.

Which makes since as they state it is a Visiplex, which are available in 5, 6, 8 and 9.7 inches. This is the spec of the 8 inch screen.

Mechanical / Dimensional - 8" Display
Pixel Count: 1024 x 768
Active Area: 162.6 x 121.9 mm
203.2 mm (8") diagonal
Display Thickness:1.2 mm
DPI: 160

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by lev

we might be jumping the gun here. it says in the PR "A high contrast ratio with 16 levels of grayscale ensures that text and images are crisp and easy to read. "

wouldn't that make the contrast better then 700 & 600?
btw, 600 is 8 levels of grayscale right?

The number of grey scales has no affect on the contrast. Contrast is basically how "white" the white is, and how "black" the black is. The number of shades of grey in between the two doesn't affect it.