Sony gets a web based ebook store!

graycyn · 06-05-2012, 07:08 PM

http://blog.sony.com/reader-store-gi...ytime-anywhere

They just announced it on Facebook.

Sounds like the Android app is getting an update as well. Which is probably a good thing, I thought about downloading it, but the reviews as of last week looked pretty bad, so I didn't bother. I'll have to go check again next time I'm in app downloading mode.

It may be rather late to compete with Amazon and B&N and Kobo. Still, as they say, better late than never!

Bookworm_Girl · 06-05-2012, 07:39 PM

That is fantastic news! They always had their catalog on the web. I never understood why they wouldn't just implement a shopping cart. Hooray!

I've been waiting for a better Android app for awhile. Now, if only they would release an iOS app too. It's time to get over whatever residual anger they have with Apple from last year's rejection.

FizzyWater · 06-05-2012, 07:51 PM

It's about flippin' time.

Pomtroll · 06-05-2012, 08:40 PM

Maybe they are listening....FINALLY !!!

Bookworm_Girl · 06-06-2012, 04:12 PM

The bookstore also has a mobile version which looks nice and was easy to browse & make a purchase on my iPhone.

carpetmojo · 06-06-2012, 06:19 PM

It's not brilliant though - in fact it's rather boring, at limited, at least the UK/Europe one is.

But I thought y'all had it for years in the US...... ?

Bookworm_Girl · 06-06-2012, 06:29 PM

We had a bookstore that was only accessible through the Sony Reader software on your computer and within the last year or so Android smartphone and tablet apps were added. The big news is that you can now purchase books in a web browser and download them to your computer without needing to use the Sony computer software. You could just use ADE if that was your preference. Similar to what you can do with Kobo or WH Smith or Waterstones in the case of the UK. That's a big improvement and a step forward that should have been done ages ago.

Mikou · 06-06-2012, 07:29 PM

It is about time! I disliked the software because on my system it was slow and a little buggy. Plus, it was annoying to have to use the software when I cut my ebook buying teeth on web-based stores like Fictionwise and BooksOnBoard. I'm more likely to shop at Sony now.

luvduchovny · 06-08-2012, 02:42 PM

The android app is a great improvement. In the past it would never let me look at my purchases at the sony reader store on my phone. Now it does, and lets me download and read on almost any device and it will bookmark where I left off if I decide to read it on my tablet. (I imagine if I had my T1's wireless turned on it would do it there as well). Yes, I know Kindle app did this first, but so what?

carpetmojo · 06-08-2012, 04:01 PM

But - and I base this purely on my experience of viewing the Euro store - is it any better, or beneficially different, than the competition ?

Bookworm_Girl · 06-08-2012, 06:46 PM

The organization of the US & Canadian websites are better than the UK store. It is easier to browse categories and find new book recommendations. I don't think there is anything that really makes it better than the competition except you can add multiple items to the shopping cart which is a common complaint about some other stores like Kobo.

carpetmojo · 06-09-2012, 02:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bookworm_Girl

The organization of the US & Canadian websites are better than the UK store. It is easier to browse categories and find new book recommendations. I don't think there is anything that really makes it better than the competition except you can add multiple items to the shopping cart which is a common complaint about some other stores like Kobo.

Isn't that somehow typically Sony ?
You apparently have a facility that functions perfectly well, is efficient and does the job, and instead of using that as a template for expanding it in another geographical area, you go to all the effort of starting from scratch and doing it differently ............ and do it worse.

laughingdragons · 06-11-2012, 03:02 PM

It's about freakin' time!

I was just having a hard time trying to buy some books from their software. I couldn't buy at all for the past week.

I just tried the site out and had no problems.

ScalyFreak · 06-11-2012, 09:04 PM

As an extra bonus, this means that Sony readers will finally be fully Linux compatible! Web store + Calibre, and off we go.

owly · 06-12-2012, 04:37 AM

Now if they fixed the registration problems for NON-US accounts that would be nice..

06-05-2012, 07:08 PM	#1
graycyn Wizard Posts: 1,496 Karma: 11250344 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: NE Oregon Device: Kobo Sage, Forma, Kindle Oasis 2, Sony PRS-T2	Sony gets a web based ebook store! http://blog.sony.com/reader-store-gi...ytime-anywhere They just announced it on Facebook. Sounds like the Android app is getting an update as well. Which is probably a good thing, I thought about downloading it, but the reviews as of last week looked pretty bad, so I didn't bother. I'll have to go check again next time I'm in app downloading mode. It may be rather late to compete with Amazon and B&N and Kobo. Still, as they say, better late than never!

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06-05-2012, 07:39 PM	#2
Bookworm_Girl E-reader Enthusiast Posts: 4,871 Karma: 36507503 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Southwest, USA Device: Kindle Oasis 3; Kobo Aura One; iPad Mini 5	That is fantastic news! They always had their catalog on the web. I never understood why they wouldn't just implement a shopping cart. Hooray! I've been waiting for a better Android app for awhile. Now, if only they would release an iOS app too. It's time to get over whatever residual anger they have with Apple from last year's rejection.

06-05-2012, 07:51 PM	#3
FizzyWater You kids get off my lawn! Posts: 4,220 Karma: 73492664 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Columbus, Ohio Device: Oasis 2 and Libra H2O and half a dozen older models I can't let go of	It's about flippin' time.

06-05-2012, 08:40 PM	#4
Pomtroll Guru Posts: 822 Karma: 1341819 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Minnesota USA Device: Sony 350, Sony T1, Kindle Touch, Kindle PW1	Maybe they are listening....FINALLY !!!

06-06-2012, 04:12 PM	#5
Bookworm_Girl E-reader Enthusiast Posts: 4,871 Karma: 36507503 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Southwest, USA Device: Kindle Oasis 3; Kobo Aura One; iPad Mini 5	The bookstore also has a mobile version which looks nice and was easy to browse & make a purchase on my iPhone.

06-06-2012, 06:19 PM	#6
carpetmojo Wizard Posts: 3,117 Karma: 9269999 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: UK Device: Sony- T3, PRS650, 350, T1/2/3, Paperwhite, Fire 8.9,Samsung Tab S 10.5	It's not brilliant though - in fact it's rather boring, at limited, at least the UK/Europe one is. But I thought y'all had it for years in the US...... ?

06-06-2012, 06:29 PM	#7
Bookworm_Girl E-reader Enthusiast Posts: 4,871 Karma: 36507503 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Southwest, USA Device: Kindle Oasis 3; Kobo Aura One; iPad Mini 5	We had a bookstore that was only accessible through the Sony Reader software on your computer and within the last year or so Android smartphone and tablet apps were added. The big news is that you can now purchase books in a web browser and download them to your computer without needing to use the Sony computer software. You could just use ADE if that was your preference. Similar to what you can do with Kobo or WH Smith or Waterstones in the case of the UK. That's a big improvement and a step forward that should have been done ages ago.

06-06-2012, 07:29 PM	#8
Mikou Zealot Posts: 148 Karma: 5052779 Join Date: May 2007 Location: Long Island, NY Device: Kobo Libra, Amazon Fire 10, Kobo Clara, Kobo Aura One	It is about time! I disliked the software because on my system it was slow and a little buggy. Plus, it was annoying to have to use the software when I cut my ebook buying teeth on web-based stores like Fictionwise and BooksOnBoard. I'm more likely to shop at Sony now.

06-08-2012, 02:42 PM	#9
luvduchovny Zealot Posts: 145 Karma: 137186 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Sony Reader PRS-500, PRS-600, PRS-650, PRS-T1, PRS-T3	The android app is a great improvement. In the past it would never let me look at my purchases at the sony reader store on my phone. Now it does, and lets me download and read on almost any device and it will bookmark where I left off if I decide to read it on my tablet. (I imagine if I had my T1's wireless turned on it would do it there as well). Yes, I know Kindle app did this first, but so what?

06-08-2012, 04:01 PM	#10
carpetmojo Wizard Posts: 3,117 Karma: 9269999 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: UK Device: Sony- T3, PRS650, 350, T1/2/3, Paperwhite, Fire 8.9,Samsung Tab S 10.5	But - and I base this purely on my experience of viewing the Euro store - is it any better, or beneficially different, than the competition ?

06-08-2012, 06:46 PM	#11
Bookworm_Girl E-reader Enthusiast Posts: 4,871 Karma: 36507503 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Southwest, USA Device: Kindle Oasis 3; Kobo Aura One; iPad Mini 5	The organization of the US & Canadian websites are better than the UK store. It is easier to browse categories and find new book recommendations. I don't think there is anything that really makes it better than the competition except you can add multiple items to the shopping cart which is a common complaint about some other stores like Kobo.

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06-11-2012, 03:02 PM	#13
laughingdragons Groupie Posts: 189 Karma: 1125536 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: CA Device: Sony PRS-350 1 Pink 1 Silver Paperwhite Kindle	It's about freakin' time! I was just having a hard time trying to buy some books from their software. I couldn't buy at all for the past week. I just tried the site out and had no problems.

06-11-2012, 09:04 PM	#14
ScalyFreak Sith Wannabe Posts: 2,034 Karma: 8017430 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: I'm not sure... it's kind of dark. Device: Galaxy Note 4, Kobo Aura H2O, Kindle Fire HD, Aluratek Libre	As an extra bonus, this means that Sony readers will finally be fully Linux compatible! Web store + Calibre, and off we go.

06-12-2012, 04:37 AM	#15
owly Guru Posts: 729 Karma: 3822612 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Sweden Device: Paperwhite 2, Kobo Aura H2O	Now if they fixed the registration problems for NON-US accounts that would be nice..