Sony's PRS-505 ebook reader leaks out

Given the many opportunities Sony's had to demo new gear in the past month, you'd think we'd have seen this earlier, but it looks like the company's latest ebook reader, the PRS-505, will be making its grand debut on the website of Chicago's own Abt Electronics. The update to the original Sony Reader will come in either silver or blue, feature a slightly redesigned layout, twice the internal memory, and may potentially rock what seems like an updated display. No word on any other changes, but it looks like the price is the same at $299.

[Thanks, hamster]

[jberger @ Sep 10th 2007 9:16PM]

I believe this version uses a later version of the eInk display. It is said to produce better contrast and a "much whiter" screen surface in addition to a quicker refresh.

As an owner of the current ereader, all of these enhancements are welcome.

These are great little units for travel, takes up MUCH less space than a single paperback and it goes a long way on a single charge. The only thing I wish they would add is an LED reading lamp for low light. I don't think they can add a backlight to the eInk display.

[Anthony @ Sep 11th 2007 1:48AM]

No backlight is a frequent complaint, but I frankly don't get it. When did your paperback last light up?

I love my 500 & will likely not spring for a new version (I'm on my second as my 1st is lost in the parking lot of a Marriott - though if anyone found one last month in a Marriott in San Jose, please let me know...).

Truly these should be more popular than they are. However, w/ most gadgets being coveted by men & recent studies clearly showing more women are readers than men it's not likely we'll see a real revolution anytime soon.

[Jeremy @ Sep 11th 2007 9:40AM]

I told my girlfriend about these, because she does read so much, but she doesn't want it, because it gets rid of the printed page, and it wouldn't smell like a book.

This was while we were at borders, so I bent over and took a smell, and she did too... it DID smell like a book. Sony, you geniuses!

[thekid @ Sep 12th 2007 6:12PM]

@Anthony
A paper back is also about $8 vs $300. A small good book light I'll round up to $20 (nice slim one maybe functions as a bookmark too). I for one enjoy and expect ADVANCES in technology, so when sony designs a device specifically for that purpose, people are right to have some expectations. My cheap IIIxe palm pilot from almost 8 years ago has a backlight, doesn't lag when switching pages, previous pages don't ghost, and is much more durable.

I'm not neglecting the numerous ways it does things better, I'm saying it doesn't do enough better. I remember the first time I tried one of these out. I was shocked how terrible it ran. It's beyond me how someone who spent $300 on this could be happy with it. I'd rather spend that on an n800, deal with the smaller screen and enjoy the other features.

[L. Kraven @ Sep 10th 2007 9:24PM]

Unfortunately, while it does look interesting, no backlight kills it for me.

I do most of my reading in bed, and being able to read with the lights OFF is something I have cherished in my Nokia N800 and Clie NX80.

When a backlit or self-lit ebook reader becomes available, I will be first in line, even if the battery life much necessarily suffer.

[Temple @ Sep 10th 2007 11:08PM]

With the E-ink, I'm not sure how good backlight will be. The E-ink is almost identical to paper to read, for the previous E-reader Sony used to sell normal clip-on LED lights that worked great. Bought mine from Barnes & Noble for like $9, which is the same one that I use for paper books, works great.

IMO, the biggest issue is the price. Sony needs to sell these things for $149 or less to make it a viable platform. Its a good device, and lot of the old issues (like refresh times) seem to be addressed, but price clearly isn't (I guess the E-ink is still very expensive).

[hamster @ Sep 11th 2007 3:41AM]

It's not possible to have backlight on e-ink. It's opaque, as in not transparant. Just do as you would do on a normal book. buy a clipon light

[EatingPie @ Sep 11th 2007 1:12PM]

Also not possible to have a backlight on a real book!

What you need is a FRONT light -- seriously. I use an LED flashlight for night reading... just like I would for a paperback.

E-Ink is really very close to the printed page.

-Pie

[Lubos @ Oct 16th 2007 1:45PM]

Where do you get paperback books with built-in backlight?

[Pc_Madness @ Sep 10th 2007 9:28PM]

Yay for My Q1Ultra, makes for a great eBook reader + a heap of other things. :p

[Bogdan @ Sep 10th 2007 11:29PM]

...And costs thrice as much

[linuxamp @ Sep 11th 2007 12:00AM]

... and runs out of batteries before you finish the first chapter.

[Pc_Madness @ Sep 11th 2007 4:17AM]

And does thrice as many things. ;)

And I've read large amounts on the standard battery, thank you very much. Extended will be awesome. :p

[fischju @ Sep 10th 2007 9:29PM]

DS Lite+DsLibris=Cheap ebook
http://forum.gbadev.org/viewtopic.php?t=14068

[wwwhitney @ Sep 11th 2007 11:28AM]

I just started using my DS Lite as an eBook reader using a flash cart I bought for it last Summer. I've got to say, it's a much more enjoyable experience than I had anticipated. I'm almost through my first book and while I do miss the ability to quickly turn back to a previous chapter, overall it's been very enjoyable. The back light means I don't have to keep my wife up with a reading lamp and I use it as MP3 player too, so it's one less thing I'll have to carry on a trip. And of course, being able to store multiple books in a device that's smaller than one paperback is a big plus.

The Sony reader looks awesome, but like many have said, until it's down to a reasonable price (for me, that would be sub $100), I'm not interested.

[sto110 @ Sep 10th 2007 9:35PM]

I really want one of these but 300 is just too much money. The no backlit is actually why i want it.

[new @ Sep 10th 2007 9:36PM]

working link

http://www.abtelectronics.com/product/25155.html

[hamster @ Sep 11th 2007 3:41AM]

That is the PRS500, it's the current model. Not the new one.

[Paul @ Sep 10th 2007 9:39PM]

Lol, an ebook reader is a waste. You can just buy a PDA with text support, and you'll get more bang for your buck.

[GenericWhiteGuy @ Sep 10th 2007 9:52PM]

Lol, not everyone has exactly the same needs as you.

For traveling this thing is great. It lasts through six hour+ flights without having to worry about the battery. I can charge it before the trip and it will still be going strong when I get back two weeks later.

I still use my winmo phone for reading as well, but this device is very easy on the eyes and works great for what it is.

[Kaku @ Sep 10th 2007 10:09PM]

Dunno much PDAs with 6" screens?

[paul34 @ Sep 10th 2007 9:52PM]

I guess most of the people replying in this really haven't gotten the whole point of developing e-ink displays...

The point is that its not very easy on the eyes to read for a long time, especially a book, on a LCD or other type of backlit screen.

The best way is still traditional paper. This type of reader approximates that as close as we can get right now.

People act as if their PSPs/DSlites/PDAs can do the same thing. If that's true, have you ever stopped to think why companies continue to develop e-ink technology while LCDs can easily display colors and refresh very quickly?

Think before you speak, folks.

[AlyceAnn Jula Aber @ Sep 11th 2007 9:34AM]

No tell me, please bring your point out, this is just confusing.

[Mr. Picklesworth @ Sep 11th 2007 2:18PM]

I quite look forward to having Linux and ncurses running on one of these screens :)

It may be less pretty in terms of flashiness, but the battery life and readability is amazing.

[Charbax @ Sep 10th 2007 9:55PM]

E-Ink is awesome. I'd like it better with a touch-sensitive screen like the iRex Illiad, with added WiFi to connect to Google Books and to read RSS feeds and it should be compact enough to fit in the pocket.

[ark_v2 @ Sep 10th 2007 10:08PM]

No backlight and a not so sexy design...what's going on sony?

[Saffy @ Sep 10th 2007 10:14PM]

It could just be the photo, but the contrast on that screen doesn't look a whole lot better than on Sony's last reader. But if those buttons on the side are any indication, moving around several pages at a time should be a lot easier. Still, with the questionable success of their last reader, I'm a little surprised they have a new one on the horizon so soon.

[hamster @ Sep 11th 2007 3:41AM]

They're pretty much forced to, as the current screen they're using is not produced anymore

[ebob9 @ Sep 10th 2007 10:14PM]

Does this eInk display still flash the whole screen black to clear a page, like Sony's last reader? I actually really like the reader, but that 'Black Flash' annoyed the hell out of me. I hope it's not inherent to the technology.

[Chris @ Sep 10th 2007 11:34PM]

There will be a flash, but if they are using the new visplex screens it should refresh much faster. I quickly stopped noticing the refresh. You get trained to hit the next page button before you've finished reading the last line and by the time your eyes have moved back up to the top, the screen is refreshed. It isn't as annoying as that stupid 3d effect in paper books of the page coming towards you, turning and then moving away.

Here's a demo video (in french) of the new screen technology-- about 6 minutes in:

http://billaut.typepad.com/jm/2007/07/connaissez-vo-6.html

[MacBookOwner @ Sep 10th 2007 10:23PM]

The current Sony eBook Reader displays a page beautifully..but turning a page is just craptacular-the refresh totally ruins the experience, especially trying to read more than 4-5 page turns in a sitting.

The other issue is PDF formatting-Sony needs to release a utility that can batch convert existing PDFs to the rather non-standard layout that the eBook requires...right now most PDFs are formatted to 8.5x11...but the current eBook reader display is optimized for a much smaller page (since its not 8.5x11).

[KISS @ Sep 10th 2007 10:33PM]

Can't Sony learn anything from Apple? I count 15 single purpose buttons and 2 multi-purpose ones - all in an effort to replace 100+ pieces of trimmed paper with some glue on one edge. Keep It Simple Sony!! Apple could do this with one button (even without a touch screen). Eink is great, now make the interface to it great - otherwise stick to what has worked for more than 500 years.

[ken @ Sep 10th 2007 10:51PM]

I see your point. I really do. But even Apple won't be able to make this work with a single button. You know why? Because the screen update and expression isn't enough to create a very pleasant and quick GUI. That means you'd rather not mess with any on screen menus, as much as possible. The side buttons are kinda ugly at first from an industrial design perspective, but I am sure they come in handy once you actually use this device.

[linkman2004 @ Sep 11th 2007 12:19AM]

How would you flip pages with only one button?

[Martin Bogomolni @ Sep 10th 2007 10:34PM]

Current link :

http://www.abtelectronics.com/search/search.php?keywords=prs505&x=0&y=0

[Wormbolt @ Sep 10th 2007 10:37PM]

Is it possible to print the "pages" and stick them together in a way that one could just flip through them to read?

[Mark @ Sep 10th 2007 10:37PM]

how much DRM is going to be on this?

[Temple @ Sep 10th 2007 11:02PM]

If its like Sony's previous e-book reader, almost none. txt, word, jpg, pdf files play fine.

[bogdatov @ Sep 10th 2007 10:41PM]

Well ... I had PRS-500 and I sold it and went back to old good REB 1100. 3 things: no backlit, turning page SLOW flushes whole thing - crap, and no touch screen. I can live without last two, but if no backlit - I do not need Sony Reader. I understand that eInk-based display cannot have backlit, fine. But they could make some light on device itself ... like LED lights around screen or something.

[hamster @ Sep 11th 2007 3:41AM]

Buy a booklight.... since deadtree's book is an old technology, there are plenty of choices of accesoires.
I recommend the verilux.

And really... dead tree books also has a "flashing" page refresh when you turn the page...

[Timothy Dixon @ Sep 11th 2007 12:00AM]

I used a sony clie t415 and currently a clie th55 for all my ebook reading. I considered the prs-500 but decided to hold off until they worked some of the bugs out. Specifically, I have heard that the controls on the 500 sucked and that the PDF capabilities were limited. If these issues are addressed in the new model... I can easily see myself spending $300 on this. My personal killer application would be to be able to saw the bindings off my text books, run them through an ADF, and have the resulting PDF be readable on this Sony Reader.

[bakachin @ Sep 10th 2007 11:16PM]

Either they made the device bigger or the screen smaller.. And the resolution STILL isn't good enough to read a letter sized PDF document. Good job sony..

[bakachin @ Sep 10th 2007 11:50PM]

actually, scratch that, it's the same size except thinner.. woopteedoo..

[Tired_ @ Sep 11th 2007 12:10AM]

So..uh...now that the link is dead, feel like giving us an update where you tell us the specs? The memory, at least...how much did the old one have?

[huh @ Sep 11th 2007 12:18AM]

> If that's true, have you ever stopped to think why companies continue to develop e-ink technology while LCDs can easily display colors and refresh very quickly?

Battery life?

[Temple @ Sep 11th 2007 2:08AM]

E-ink looks exactly like paper. Its exactly like reading a paper book.

LCD is like looking at a computer screen (DS, PSP, etc.), If you read books for hours on end, you can understand why you would rather have a screen like paper rather then a computer monitor.

[huh @ Sep 11th 2007 7:09AM]

Oh, I know. I was just responding to the OP's tone.

[m.edgar @ Sep 11th 2007 12:35AM]

I just don't get it. A lot of these eink devices come with all kinds of crap attached (mp3 player? Why!?), but they can't include a simple nightlight?

Also, the one format I'd LOVE to have on these (or failing that on my Palm t3) is .chm. A nice sliding interface to hide the chapters....why can't they program that?

And whilst I'm at it, what about a nice little means of removing the white borders of pdf's? The bezel functions nicely as a border...let the screen display all the text...a border is just cruft.

[Russ @ Sep 11th 2007 1:00AM]

it is possible to "decompile" a chm file to HTML/images in Windows. from the command prompt type: "hh -decompile folder chm". folder is the name of the destination folder where you want the decompiled files to be copied, and chm is the name of the compiled help file you want to decompile.

an 'uber-geek' solution - but it does work..

[m.edgar @ Sep 11th 2007 1:17AM]

Yeah, I know about that...but for large .chm files, that solution sucks. The whole point behind .chm is to provide a platform for reading helpfiles; a bunch of html files doesn't work when reading the MatLAB or 3dsmax manual for "fun". Notwithstanding the usefullness of a single file on a mobile system.