Sony to announce new reader

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by MikeB1972

Kobo, at least, are still selling them, so I'd guess the answer is yes

I forgot all about the Kobo Mini. Yes, you're right of course. Ignore my question .

[rhadin]

I'd like to go back to my Sony readers. I loved (and my wife loved after she inherited it from me) my Sony 505. Unfortunately, I made the mistake of trying to replace the battery myself and destroyed the device. But my Sony 950 keeps on going and my wife has inherited that, as I moved to the Nook tablet. As much as I really like my Nook Tablet (what I like is shopping at B&N rather than the Sony ebookstore), as a dedicated reading device, my Sony 505 was and 950 is far superior.

But I'd be happy to go back to the Sony if the device was worthwhile and it was easy to directly load (sideload is fine) books bought from B&N without having to strip DRM. If Sony's tenure in the ebook business is contingent on selling enough hardware, then it needs to create a more open device. If its tenure is contingent on growing its ebook store in the United States, I think it will not last in the ebook business. If it's tenure is contingent on growing its ebookstores outside the U.S., it might last.

The biggest problem is that most buyers of readers buy a reader that is connected to the ebookstore at which they do or want to do their book buying. In that game, Sony really lags.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I forgot all about the Kobo Mini. Yes, you're right of course. Ignore my question .

Not so fast!
The Kobo is using Vizplex screens.
There is nobody using 5in Pearl screens so they may not be making any 5in Pearl film, just 6in.

[ProfCrash]

Amazon sold the DXG for quite some time but I have a feeling that those were old models that they were slowly clearing out. I don't know how many Kobo Mini's are being sold.

It is good for everyone if Sony stays in the game and their work on their bookstore sure makes it seems like they are trying. I doubt that what they put out is going to be all that exciting or a game changer. I suspect it will be competitivly priced and will most likely be ignored in the US market.

[booklover6]

As I have become addicted to the Kindle's "time-to-read" feature, I seriously doubt I will get the next Sony. I still read on my T1, and it's fine, but I find myself looking to see how much time is left.

[jersysman]

I will get one if it is frontlit and has the other little touches like the PW has. It would be good to have a great Kindle and and great Sony! I don't think I'm asking for too much.

[soulfuldog]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

Not so fast!
The Kobo is using Vizplex screens.
There is nobody using 5in Pearl screens so they may not be making any 5in Pearl film, just 6in.

But like the Sony x50 series, Vizplex isn't the old inferior type of screen of the older e-readers, it is a Pearl e-ink screen. Which is why the Kobo Mini specs also state "Kobo Mini is fully equipped with a no-glare Pearl E Ink touchscreen".

[Rizla]

Sony is well-positioned to produce a front-lit device that avoids the mistakes of the flawed Kindle PW screen and Kobo UI. This should be an easy goal for Sony.

[vxf]

I still wish SONY would resurrect the 9xx series. I loved the larger screen.
Frankly, for a while I used both a 950 (at home) and a 350 (on the road) and I loved the combo.
But I switched to Kindle for the front-lit screen and, now that I have not been dealing with SONY's Reader software for about a year, I can say, with absolute certainty and considerable relief, there is no way I am ever going back. Ever. They can make a weightless folding e-ink screen of adjustable dimension, in color, emitting a light glow at night and producing an angelic melody that lulls me to sleep at night - I will not buy it if it means dealing with their software.

[ProfCrash]

Originally Posted by vxf

I still wish SONY would resurrect the 9xx series. I loved the larger screen.
Frankly, for a while I used both a 950 (at home) and a 350 (on the road) and I loved the combo.
But I switched to Kindle for the front-lit screen and, now that I have not been dealing with SONY's Reader software for about a year, I can say, with absolute certainty and considerable relief, there is no way I am ever going back. Ever. They can make a weightless folding e-ink screen of adjustable dimension, in color, emitting a light glow at night and producing an angelic melody that lulls me to sleep at night - I will not buy it if it means dealing with their software.

So you didn't like the software?

[Bookworm_Girl]

Ha ha! I am familiar with vxf's past posts regarding the Sony software. The newest version of the Sony desktop software is frustrating and not as full-featured or speedy as their old version. It's syncing and note-taking capabilities are limited for advanced users like vxf compared to the old version.

The good news is that with the newer models you don't need the desktop software anymore. Sony now has a web-based bookstore for purchases on your computer. You can browse and download books from the reader browser even from other bookstores like Kobo. You can borrow books from your local library via an Overdrive app on the T1/T2. The T2 also has an Evernote app where you can upload your highlights and notes as well as download saved web pages. Sony also finally released an iOS app which is powered by Bluefire. Many of us switched to calibre for managing our libraries and collections since it integrates so well with the Sony readers. I've been able to do some sophisticated things like sorting books in my collections via published date order and adding genre and series labels to collection names.

By the way, vxf, Wall Street Journal downloads have worked consistently with the T1/T2. I think that was an issue you had in the past too. Although I recently cancelled my Sony subscription and switched to mobile access on my iPad.

[caleb72]

Originally Posted by booklover6

As I have become addicted to the Kindle's "time-to-read" feature, I seriously doubt I will get the next Sony.

I love that feature!!

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by l_macd

But like the Sony x50 series, Vizplex isn't the old inferior type of screen of the older e-readers, it is a Pearl e-ink screen. Which is why the Kobo Mini specs also state "Kobo Mini is fully equipped with a no-glare Pearl E Ink touchscreen".

Vizplex is the old inferior type of screen. Any eInk screen pre-Pearl is old and inferior. Pearl is the current type of screen. There is now HD Pearl used in some Readers.

[Ripplinger]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Vizplex is the old inferior type of screen. Any eInk screen pre-Pearl is old and inferior. Pearl is the current type of screen. There is now HD Pearl used in some Readers.

There's a LOT of older posts asking that same question over the last few years, this thread probably sums it up best.
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...hlight=vizplex

In short, Vizplex on the Sony readers including the entire x50 line is indeed the Pearl e-ink screen.

Here's another thread with specific links:
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...hlight=vizplex

[Nate the great]

Originally Posted by Frankr

Sony's new reader to be a front lit T3
http://goodereader.com/blog/electron...nnounced-soon/


I hope it allow folders

You do realize that that blog just makes stuff up on a regular basis, right? This unsubstantiated rumor is probably another one of their lies.