Sony to announce new reader

[Penforhire]

I agree. After owning the PW, a built-in front light will continue to be one of my must-haves in any new E-ink e-reader. It has proven too convenient and light weight compared to my past book lights and cover-lights, while also not losing too much battery life.

[tomsem]

Originally Posted by John F

Since I purchased my Kobo Glo, I've stopped using a cover. Doesn't seem that delicate to me.

Same with Paperwhite. Seems more scratch resistant. A cover might protect against other forms of trauma, but I have not felt a need for same.

[robko]

Originally Posted by jersysman

If they claim to have a study showing that a frontlit screen is not a determinant, then they need to fire the firm that conducted that survey!

I suspect this was a survey of those in the market for a new reader (and maybe done a bit ago). There are a lot of people (including myself) that ended up with a lit reader by default (that was the way it came) not really having an interest in it. I would have answered the survey the way they found. Now having a front-lit reader I would never go back, but I'm not in the market for a new reader so I might not be captured in the survey. Likewise if they strictly surveyed current Sony owners/users who hadn't tried a front-lit screen they might not realize they really did want it.
There is no doubt that they need to either update their survey, or delve into it further.

[fjtorres]

One thing to remember: front lighting isn't just for reading in dim light. The KPW is actualy designed to run with the light on everywhere except in direct sunlight. The frontlight increases the contrast and renders the background about as white as real paper.
So if Sony thinks that front lighting is only for reading in bed and thus not a sales driver, they are missing a(nother) big opportunity.

[jersysman]

^^This

[aceflor]

I can't translate the whole article right now, am a bit in a rush, but will try to do it until tonight.

In a nutshell, what she says in there is :
- they had a front-lit screen (they are very specifically speaking about this technology in the article Jon, or I would not have brought it in) with the 700 and it did not sell well
- their latest studies (done after the introduction of the newest generation of front-lit screens on the market) shows the consumer does not see it as a determinant criteria in the purchase decision (where I personally cannot agree with the study)
- they much rather have a dedicated lighted cover and concentrate on other functions for their e-reader, and on integration between all devices range, specifically talking about tablets.

[FizzyWater]

Their front-lit 700 was vastly different from the current batch of front-lit readers.

I went to check out the 700 when it came out and the readability was decreased by the extra layer they placed over the lighting element.

I had a Sony 500, 505, 600 (didn't like this one), and 650. The front light on the Nook Glow prompted me to switch companies for the first time since I started buying a dedicated reader. (Oops, forgot, I did have an eBookwise way back when).

[Josieb1]

I would love to go back to a Sony ereader but it has to have a front lit screen, my Kindle PW is the only reader I use now and I have 4 ereaders. I would never buy a non lit reader again.

[soulfuldog]

Maybe there still is a market for a non-lighted reader, for new entrants or those that just don't see the need for a light? But the fact that just about everyone who has a lighted reader says they wouldn't go back suggests that it's only going to be a diminishing market.

So if what that person from Sony France says does reflect Sony's thinking, they are going to fall even further behind in the e-reader market. Unless they surprise us all by coming out with a flexible e-reader or something!

[HarryT]

Can someone please provide some hard evidence that Sony is indeed on the verge of announcing a new reader, as this thread title claims?

[Frankr]

A front-lit screen is now something I will never do without.

[Ripplinger]

There really is no hard evidence yet. But since Sony has been releasing a new model every year since 2006, the majority of us don't believe they are getting out of the ereader business as is speculated every year, especially since they just opened up a reader store in the UK. We're just hoping that the 2013 model will have be a front lit reader.

[aceflor]

This thread found its way to Nate's blog http://www.the-digital-reader.com/20...comment-137280.

Thanks for the credit btw Nate....

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Ripplinger

There really is no hard evidence yet. But since Sony has been releasing a new model every year since 2006, the majority of us don't believe they are getting out of the ereader business as is speculated every year, especially since they just opened up a reader store in the UK. We're just hoping that the 2013 model will have be a front lit reader.

That's my point: we don't know, and hence this thread title - a definitive statement that Sony are about to announce a new reader - is misleading.

[Rizla]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Can someone actually do a proper translation? Seems they used the wrong words that translate into reading light when that is clearly incorrect.

The terms seem pretty obvious. autoéclairage de l'écran and intégration d'un système d'éclairage must mean an integrated light, and she doesn't mean one that comes with a cover because that comes up separately.

Either she's lying, ill-informed or Sony e-reader strategy is idiotic. I find it hard to believe that even crazy Sony could drop the ball on this. It's worth bearing in mind that Sony refused to confirm that the T1 runs on Android until after it was released, despite repeated questions. They are extremely cagey.

We shall see...