Gizmodo
Sony's new Reader is fantastic and we want one immediately. The price point is going to be painfully high, with guesstimates in between $300 and $400, but it's everything the Librié—Sony's first-generation, Japan-only ePaper-based eBook reader (whew)—should have been.
Not only is the display amazing (and amazingly readable), but Sony promised us that there would be no restriction on moving over your own documents to the Reader—the DRM schmutz has been greatly decreased. Not only will the Reader support PDF files natively, but Sony's PC syncing software will automatically convert .doc files with most formatting intact. eBooks will be an optional purchase through Sony's Connect service.
But here's the hottest part: RSS support with images. The digital morning paper is finally about to happen.
(Please note, we think the Sony Reader is exciting as all get out, but we're mostly just excited about a decent consumer ePaper/eInk product in general. Other units are on the way soon from other manufacturers and we're hyped about those, as well.)
Enjoy another, larger picture of the unit displaying text after the jump.
Comments
I've got an HP TC-1100 that I use for reading all documents. It puts this to shame and I've had it for almost two years. It allows me to read PDF, HTML, DOC, whatever! Wireless is built in for browsing the news sites (morning paper style) while streaming Digitally Imported (http://di.fm) and talking on Skype at the same time.
I think you're missing the point Kam. I'm sure your tablet PC is great, but the advantages of a device like this are significantly better battery life, it's easier on the eyes, no start-up time, much lower weight, lower price, and so on. It's not desinged to compete with a PC, at least not at this point.
Ditto. They are two different things. It's like saying my USB memory key doesn't play AACs like your iPod.
Yay EBooks! Party like it's 1999!
sweet!!! finally, we are one step to the future i wish we lived in.. hehe.. :) as a commuter and LRT rider, this baby would rule! i now use my cellphone and opera mobile to read my gizmodo and se-nse each day.. however, i do not think i will want to spend over $200 for such a device.. but then again, we'll see.. its pretty geeky.. :P peace
i think these things like e paper are going to have a huge image on the world. Libraries, newspapers, even schools will be able to provide alot more, alot cheaper, and in alot less space. in time they'll be higher resolution, faster refresh rate, and of corse, color. though who the heck knows when it'll be up to the point where they can work as tvs.
They've got less DRM, but what DRM have they got?
I have two tablets but I'll get this too. You can read this outside in a hammock on a sunny day. There aren't many Tablets that can do that. The picture doesn't require power once the balls are flipped so it would be like it is always turned on. It looks like a printed page and you won't see that on a Tablet until Vista. Put me down for one.
Yo, Cory. I talked to the vice president in charge of this division about the DRM to be implemented on the Reader. He mentioned the branded variant—and I've totally forgotten it, of course (although I'm sure I could find out again if you have a particular itch to know)—but he assured me that the DRM was only in place for the purchased eBooks from Sony Connect and would not restrict copied files from the users. Of course, time will tell, but my excitement is predicated by the fact that he seemed to understand how badly Sony had fucked up with the Librié. Worst case Sony will encumber the user experience with their unnecessary cruft again and we'll be forced to purchase one of the other competing ePaper readers coming out around the same time as the Reader.
some sort of wireless syncing for the RSS feeds of course would be optimal. though with current wireless standards it would probably take a big hit in terms of battery life. maybe someday.
Imagine for a moment that instead of useless bloatware to handle RSS, they'll include support for all major newsreaders. You buy the device and, like, sync NetNewsWire to it! Of course it's never going to happen but still. If they restrict the DRM to stuff you buy through their online store, it'll be no worse than iTunes--I never use iTMS but iTunes is still pretty swell.
Quick! Someone get these integrated into PDAS!
I've been eyeing the Librié for quite a while now, and was even thinking about importing it from a Dynamism or similar. I am stoked to see that this reader will now be offered in the states. Compared to the Japanese version: I wish this one was white - and where is the QWERTY keyboard? I don't even know what the keyboard on the Japanese Librié was for, but I want one! Price is going to be $349.99 and available in Spring: Sony Portable Reader System (PRS-500) link.
I'm afraid. This device sounds very cool, but we're talking about Sony, people! Sony does NOT want us to have anything that might even remotely be used for piracy, so I'm not buying that DRM explanation until I see this device in the mass market. Any word on how long it will last on battery power? I hope at least 10-20 hours. And what of the backlight?
oops! Never mind on the battery power and backlight questions...I just found the older link: http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/ces/live-from-ces-the-sony-... That's what I get for reading from front page backwards.
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