Sony's PRS-T3, more leaked specs, to debut at IFA on September 4

[Iskariot]

Originally Posted by samy2

Kobo isn't really open. Many features just for Kepub. And yes there are plugins etc but that's not kobos work...

And than:
Forced firmware updates, forced registration and more. For Sure not very open and free

I am curious what Kepub features are you referring to, because I have read up on the topic and discovered that most of that stuff doesn't really apply anymore, like page numbering, control of text appearance, problems with annotations etc.
I can't really compare because I do not have kepub books myself, but I seem to be able to use all control features on my reader with normal DRM-less epubs as well.

Forced registration...
Well yes, that could be an objection, but I was not forced to prove my identity in any way. So I am free still. And it does not force a closed eco system upon me. I side load all my epubs and I never buy books with DRM. So no problem there either.

Forced firmware updates...
I do not use WiFi. I do not have it. Only when I deliberately use the Kobo desktop software my firmware might get updated. I do not have problems with that, although I feel that I should be asked first and have the option to refuse an update.

Originally Posted by samy2

Forced firmware updates, forced registration and more. For Sure not very open and free

There are different ways to look at 'open and free". Anything regarding nickel, the actual reader software, is not open and free. Anything regarding the FLOSS layer is open and free. Unlike many vendors who incorporate FLOSS, Kobo makes this layer easy to access and modify for people who have a knowledge of Unix systems. I can't speak on the openness and freeness of the actual hardware, however much of that hardware is exposed to developers the Linux kernel and Linux sources.

As for forced updates, they're really only forced if you go online or buy through the Kobo store on your computer. Turn off Wi-Fi and use Calibre, and you'll never see them. Registration is also easy to bypass, albeit you need to follow specific directions or have some technical know-how.

[Alexander Turcic]

Photos!

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=221532

[Sil_liS]

Originally Posted by Iskariot

-For example the slightly bigger screen of the Aura HD. Sony once made a 7" PRS-950. No more.

Bigger screen means bigger device and more weight. While some don't have a problem with the extra weight, and want the bigger screen it is possible that most people don't.

Originally Posted by Sil_liS

Bigger screen means bigger device and more weight. While some don't have a problem with the extra weight, and want the bigger screen it is possible that most people don't.

That was just an example. If you look at Kobo's eInk based product line, you'll find the following sizes: 5", 6", 6.7". The 6" models also offer the option of unlit and lit displays, as well as IR and capacitive touch displays.

Amazon also offers several models, to serve different customer needs (and the modesl that they do offer serve very different markets from Kobo).

Here's the thing though: Sony's reader is very similar to the base models offered by Amazon and Kobo, while being offered at a much higher price. Maybe they should think about dropping the price and adding some diversity to their prouduct line if they do want to sell ereaders into the future.

[speakingtohe]

I haven't given up on Sony although I may one day.
I don't think I want a T3 but I haven't seen one yet.
Still the Sony 505, 600, and x50 were pretty close to perfection IMO at the various times they were introduced.

I have a T! which was a gift. I would not have probably bought that one either. I like it okay but it is slightly less reliable than the x50 line.

Sony has not done that well with innovations after the touch screen. The lighted ones were ugly I hear, and the change to Linux leaves much to be desired for me. I think that they switched to Linux to allow wifi, but I don't know for sure. I like the changeable fonts, and while not perfect they are far less quirky than some other readers.

I don't much care about a built in light, but I understand those that do. I have a lighted reader, the Aura HD but I seldom use the Aura, and the light bthers my eyes and appears blue.

The T1 is much faster in ways that are important to me, although the screen is greyer. I don't notice it though except if I am looking at them side by side. The slidebars don't hop around, the sorting works, the pages never turn backwards instead of forwards, although occasionally they skip a page on the newer models. I think that is due to the switch to Linux, but again I don't know. I haven't heard of this problem with kindles so I could be wrong. Not even sure if kindles are Linux based.

So I am hoping that Sony keeps making ereaders. I would like a flush screen and a smaller bezel, and possibly a light if it wasn't so glary and blue. And while I am happy with the displays on any of the current models and the x50 Sonys, I would not say no to a better one.

So I still take heart in the fact that they are still making ereaders. Perhaps the next model will be a crowd pleaser, but as others have said give me 650 reliability with a better display and I'll pay a premium price for it. Anything else is gravy.

Helen



.

[samy2]

Hello Helen.

Who switched from which system to LInux?
To the display: I had the PRS 650, PRS T1 and PRS T2.
The PRS T2 had the best display of all. Its allmost white, and that without light. The other lighting reader i have seen, got such a screen just with light turned on, and then the fonts does get more grey than black.

And all in all, i prefer the PRS T2 (and T1) to the 650er. Its much more weight, and the PRS Ts are to me, not really less reliable. So while i compared T1 and 650, i sold my 650.

My T2 got damaged, so i have send it to the seller and got my money back. So i'm looking to get an T3 as an second reader. Or it be the first reader, and the T1 the second reader. I got found of the idea to have an second and backup reader.

Originally Posted by samy2

Who switched from which system to LInux?

I think that was a reference to Sony switching to Android, which likely left Sony rewriting all of their ereader software. (According to the MR wiki though, several of the ereaders mentioned were already running Linux.)

[samy2]

Originally Posted by BWinmill

I think that was a reference to Sony switching to Android, which likely left Sony rewriting all of their ereader software. (According to the MR wiki though, several of the ereaders mentioned were already running Linux.)

But he wrote the other way around:

The lighted ones were ugly I hear, and the change to Linux leaves much to be desired for me. I think that they switched to Linux to allow wifi, but I don't know for sure. I like the changeable fonts, and while not perfect they are far less quirky than some other readers.

Originally Posted by samy2

But he wrote the other way around:

I think the original message was that Sony changed from one OS to another OS, which resulted in a step backwards.

I'm just going to assume that they didn't know that the earlier devices were based upon Linux, because there wasn't much of a reason to know that they were based upon Linux. After all, Linux was behaving as an embedded OS in those earlier devices. I'm also going to assume that they interpreted Android as being Linux, because Android is based upon Linux. The bit about Linux providing the kernel and only a few open source projects providing the libraries isn't relevant to most people. The change between platforms is relevant to most people because the entire user interface had to be rewritten, and Sony may or may not have rewritten the support libraries.

[Sil_liS]

Originally Posted by BWinmill

That was just an example. If you look at Kobo's eInk based product line, you'll find the following sizes: 5", 6", 6.7". The 6" models also offer the option of unlit and lit displays, as well as IR and capacitive touch displays.

Amazon also offers several models, to serve different customer needs (and the modesl that they do offer serve very different markets from Kobo).

Here's the thing though: Sony's reader is very similar to the base models offered by Amazon and Kobo, while being offered at a much higher price. Maybe they should think about dropping the price and adding some diversity to their prouduct line if they do want to sell ereaders into the future.

Maybe it depends on the country? I'm looking at ereaders in the Netherlands now and the Sony T2 is cheaper than the Kobo Glo (to compare devices with same screen size).

[Josieb1]

Originally Posted by Sil_liS

Maybe it depends on the country? I'm looking at ereaders in the Netherlands now and the Sony T2 is cheaper than the Kobo Glo (to compare devices with same screen size).

The Kobo Glo is a front lit device, the T2 is a non lit device. To do the correct comparison spec and size wise you need to compare with the Kobo Touch

[speakingtohe]

Originally Posted by samy2

Hello Helen.

Who switched from which system to LInux?
To the display: I had the PRS 650, PRS T1 and PRS T2.
The PRS T2 had the best display of all. Its allmost white, and that without light. The other lighting reader i have seen, got such a screen just with light turned on, and then the fonts does get more grey than black.

And all in all, i prefer the PRS T2 (and T1) to the 650er. Its much more weight, and the PRS Ts are to me, not really less reliable. So while i compared T1 and 650, i sold my 650.

My T2 got damaged, so i have send it to the seller and got my money back. So i'm looking to get an T3 as an second reader. Or it be the first reader, and the T1 the second reader. I got found of the idea to have an second and backup reader.

I have no idea which system they switched from but I believe the T1 was the first Linux based Sony.

The error I most encounter on my T1 which may be gone from the T2 was the system needs to shut down the application when deleting books directly from the device. And the whirring arrows and the battery drainage (I think it is software related but could be wrong, and the double page turns when using buttons, never happened on my 350 or my 600.

I agree the T2 screen is a tad nicer, and I find most other things are fine. Much more stable than some, but not quite as stable as the 350 anyway. I assume the 650 is the same as the 350 software wise.

I did not buy a T2 because I was fine with a T1. I was fine with the 350 and the 600, but was given a T1 by my roommates for Christmas.

When I get back to civilization in October I will possibly buy a T3. (almost any excuse will do but unless the software is more stable, or the hardware is significantly better I will be taking it back and hoping for a future Sony product that I can justify.

It is not the price, but why get something if I don't personally don't think it is much better.

Helen

[speakingtohe]

Originally Posted by BWinmill

I think the original message was that Sony changed from one OS to another OS, which resulted in a step backwards.

I'm just going to assume that they didn't know that the earlier devices were based upon Linux, because there wasn't much of a reason to know that they were based upon Linux. After all, Linux was behaving as an embedded OS in those earlier devices. I'm also going to assume that they interpreted Android as being Linux, because Android is based upon Linux. The bit about Linux providing the kernel and only a few open source projects providing the libraries isn't relevant to most people. The change between platforms is relevant to most people because the entire user interface had to be rewritten, and Sony may or may not have rewritten the support libraries.

My reason as I already replied was based on the The application Reader has stopped unexpectedly error I frequently encounter. I read somewhere on MR I think that this is a Linux system error message and not knowing anything about Linux I assumed this was correct.

Obviously I was mistaken and it is an Android error. And no I again read that the operating system had been switched and leapt to the mistaken conclusion it was based on a Sony proprietor operating system previously.

My apologies for passing on misinformation, although I did say I didn't know for sure, and thanks for hopefully setting me straight.

I still think the switch was not a good thing, but that is only a strong opinion

Helen

[Sil_liS]

Originally Posted by Josieb1

The Kobo Glo is a front lit device, the T2 is a non lit device. To do the correct comparison spec and size wise you need to compare with the Kobo Touch

The Kobo Touch is from 2011, and you can compare it to the T1.

In 2012 Sony updated the processor and didn't add light, Kobo updated the processor and added light.