Sony PRS-T3 leaks in various Internet stores / coming on Sep 19?

[Mivo]

Originally Posted by AlexBell

Be prepared for big gaps in the text if the book has long paragraphs, to find that footnote links do not work, and that nearly all the fonts available show bolded text rather than italic when all the other readers show italicised text.

Hmm, I'm not seeing the big gaps or the font issue on the Glo (using kepubs generated by Calibre+plugin, and a modified Minion Pro font).

[Prestidigitweeze]

I'm not sure why people expected that a Reader designated as 3 in the T series would feature substantial upgrades from the T-1 and T-2.

If Sony decides to make an e-ink e-reader with a front-lit screen and better resolution, I suspect that said e-reader will have a different product series designation. The flagship model name might even reference the new features by letter if not concept.

Also: Sony seems to like to release products in sets of three. They also seem to avoid the number 4 in their model numbers (PRS-350, 650, 950), which is why I'm amazed they've marketed a PS4.

[doubleshuffle]

Originally Posted by AlexBell

Be prepared for big gaps in the text if the book has long paragraphs, to find that footnote links do not work, and that nearly all the fonts available show bolded text rather than italic when all the other readers show italicised text.

While the long paragraph bug still annoyingly persists, the bold/italic one actually has been fixed in the latest firmware (2.8.1)

[alvina]

I hope we'll get some small firmware improvements with the T3. I'd like an easier navigation through chapers, for example. I want to know how many pages are left untill a chaper is finished. And I'd like to add favourites to my home screen. I don't need to see the books I've recently added. I'd like to add my favourite books there.

[HarryT]

This does leave Sony as the only major player in the game without a front-lit reader, and I know that, speaking personally, for me a front-light is a game-changer, and I wouldn't buy another reader without it (or something equivalent). I think that Sony have made a major error here, if these specifications are indeed correct.

[Teknikal]

I think Sony has pretty much lost now in the ereader market I think they have another couple of years at best, the one thing I really liked about the T1 was the light taking standard triple AAA's I can stick a rechargeable in there and get a few weeks from it, if the new one is going to use watch batteries or similar it's just not viable to me.

Nail in the coffin for me was when I seen Argos (only store in the UK I knew that sold the Sony's) had removed them and is now selling the Kobo aura instead, I've noticed lots of stores have now removed the Sony Vita as well, I think their really struggling and it's pretty much all due to their own decisions in both cases.

[Prestidigitweeze]

Originally Posted by HarryT

This does leave Sony as the only major player in the game without a front-lit reader, and I know that, speaking personally, for me a front-light is a game-changer, and I wouldn't buy another reader without it (and something equivalent). I think that Sony have made a major error here, if these specifications are indeed correct.

I think the T-3 was a virtually predetermined product and that, if Sony continues to produce them, the next three Readers will have newer features. Let's hope that front lighting, better resolution and a much faster processor are among those features.

[Billi]

Originally Posted by Prestidigitweeze

Also: Sony seems to like to release products in sets of three. They also seem to avoid the number 4 in their model numbers (PRS-350, 650, 950), which is why I'm amazed they've marketed a PS4.

OT: Back in the old Minidisc days they also had the sets of three as players with basic, advanced and professional features but they didn't omit the 4 intentionally, as far as I remember.

[Mivo]

Originally Posted by Teknikal

I've noticed lots of stores have now removed the Sony Vita as well, I think their really struggling and it's pretty much all due to their own decisions in both cases.

I think the Vita might be fine once the PS4 is released. Looking at its library of games, that is also the only reason to ever get one (to stream PS4 games). But who knows. I didn't get one either because besides Persona it has not a single other game I would want to play, and I don't do home consoles (just handhelds), so the PS4 aspect isn't relevant to me.

But anyway, slightly off-topic. . I have always liked Sony as a progressive, innovative company, but as you said, some of their decisions are peculiar. UMDs were one, and not including a frontlight (an optional one) and leaving the market to others is another call that I feel is reckless. (All assuming that what we believe is actually the case.)

[Teknikal]

Originally Posted by Mivo

I think the Vita might be fine once the PS4 is released. Looking at its library of games, that is also the only reason to ever get one (to stream PS4 games). But who knows. I didn't get one either because besides Persona it has not a single other game I would want to play, and I don't do home consoles (just handhelds), so the PS4 aspect isn't relevant to me.

But anyway, slightly off-topic. . I have always liked Sony as a progressive, innovative company, but as you said, some of their decisions are peculiar. UMDs were one, and not including a frontlight (an optional one) and leaving the market to others is another call that I feel is reckless. (All assuming that what we believe is actually the case.)

Don't get me wrong I like Sony and I have a Vita myself actually that's why I've been noticing it vanishing from different places, just yesterday I bought a pretty expensive Sony Bluetooth speaker a BTX-300B and it's my new favourite thing.

I just think they have made some really terrible decisions lately and I don't think the future looks bright for them in the reader market.

[AlexBell]

Originally Posted by doubleshuffle

While the long paragraph bug still annoyingly persists, the bold/italic one actually has been fixed in the latest firmware (2.8.1)

Thanks. The 2.8.1 firmware is not yet available in Australia.

[Cap.T]

Originally Posted by jersysman

Sigh.... guess I just will not have a new epub reader. Sony is the only brand that I would consider for epubs, but the reader must have a front light. In this case, it looks like Kobo might be the only viable epub reader left standing, unless the Nook recovers. I just am not at all interested in Kobo.

What about the PocketBook Touch Lux? Is that not available where you are from or is there another reason you wouldn't consider it? After getting the news that the the T3 will not have a frontlight I'm thinking about getting the Lux instead. It has frontlight, hardwarekeys, 1024×758 screen, mp3 support and the firmware seems to be more stable then that of my current reader Kobo Glo...

[Rizla]

Originally Posted by tomsem

All of the current front lit screens require a layer to distribute the light. But as with any layer, it is not completely transparent, adds at least one surface that can refract light, and this scatters both incoming and outgoing light to some extent. So the text clarity and contrast suffers. This degradation can be minimized, but not eliminated.

I've handled the lighted Kobos and the PW (with the light off and on) and I detected no loss of clarity. Indeed, the Aura screen is the clearest I have seen.

[Rizla]

Originally Posted by ghero

1. Unlike the prs-t1/prs-t2 light cover, I can't find any place to place AAA batteries.

Good point. How is this light powered? I think it is just about possible there is room for a AAA on the back which might explain the incline. Of course, there is lots of room for a watch-type battery. If this were the case, then Sony have finally lost their minds.

This might imply the light is CLIPPED onto the back, either detachable or non-detachable with the case. The other thing is, we don't know what the back of the light clip is, b/c that will tell wether this IS a lighted case or acutally a case with a light clip.

Yes, I think it's detachable. That's a good touch if it means the light comes with the standard case AND the case is competitively priced. Of course, the light will be a separate unit and easily lost and difficult to carry. Over all, not a good idea compared to an incorporated light.

SONY, WHY DONT YOU JUST SHOW US THE BACK OF THAT PRS-T3 LIGHT CASE?

I think you're reading too much into it there. It's just a detachable light as part of the standard case. Sony aren't hiding anything amazing in the back of the case beyond what you have surmised.

If Sony can incorporate a light into the case that 1) runs off the e-reader battery and 2) can be kept with the e-reader at all times (i.e. is not a detachable light) and 3) does not bulk out the case, then it's an interesting alternative to the current front-lit devices. The light itself will probably be superior to a front-light. However, I don't see how they could have done all this. I predict epic fail. Cyer Sony.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Rizla

Good point. How is this light powered? I think it is just about possible there is room for a AAA on the back which might explain the incline. Of course, there is lots of room for a watch-type battery. If this were the case, then Sony have finally lost their minds.

Unless they've followed Amazon's example and powered it from the reader itself.