Sony's Daily Edition may be taking a front row seat in everyone's hearts and minds right now, but let's not forget just three weeks prior the company revamped its other two, decidedly network connectivity-free e-book reader models. MobileTechReview got its hands on the PRS-600 "Touch Edition," which scores points for an easy-to-use dictionary and enhanced note-taking abilities that are purported to sync to the desktop, at least eventually. Turns out the screen isn't as sharp as the PRS-505 and there's a bit of glare, but there's certainly more contrast with the new device. Last we heard both readers were due for check out by the end of this month, although as of this writing only Pocket Edition seems to be available on Sony Style -- and if you're already enjoying a Sony reader, you'll be happy to know that 3.0 desktop software is now making the rounds for PC and Mac. Video after the break.
Because it's e-ink, the refresh rates are way too slow for effective sketching with the stylus. It's an interesting innovation, but I don't think it works as well as an lcd tablet.
The software 3.0 seems to be an improvement once I got it working, but turns out the ebook library support is US only, which has annoyed me. But I still love my 505, and think that it will still be one of the better ebook readers out there, at least until the DE is released. Touch support for notes would be brilliant but the screen looks much better without.
Software 3.0 for Mac is badly messed up: it just doesn't work at all for many people, including me. Why don't you check it out and write about it? Sony can't release a major version that simply doesn't work!
I thought one of the key benefits of E ink was that it had the readability of paper? While the touchscreen is nice, the glare it creates isn't very paper-like.
glossy paper like magazines and some text books can be hard to read with strong overhead lighting too. but anything with a plastic face, like these or normal lcd screens, would have glare i'd suspect.
also, from the video, i didn't really see any huge difference in glare among the Touch, 505, and the kindle.
actually, you can (could) buy the Touch Edition (prs-600). Both the Pocket and Touch became available at the same time. I bought one, and it is currently on its way to my house. Why it is now "preorder" again, i don't know. Perhaps they sold out already?
The PRS-600 Touch Edition is still available, if you go on the Sony website it will either say Pre-Order (for the colors they are out of... which in this case is black and silver) or Add to Cart if they have it (in this case red seems to be the one not flying off their shelves).
Come on!!! Charge from a standard usb cable!!!!!! drawing is a little too slow, it would annoy me. Needs wifi and bluetooth with browser little too small, maybe just edge to edge or smaller bezel multi-touch would be nice.
waiting for the apple tablet, if the apple tablet was color e-ink it would be perfect.... except I doubt it will charge from a standard usb either, I may never be happy.... LOL
It is meant to read e-books, for notebook use you use a notebook don't you? Or perhaps a smartphone. Not everything should be fused, although I can see some network connectivity might be handy I don't think e-paper is great for webbrowsing really, it's slow and B&W and will not do video.
Has anyone gotten the eBook Library 3.0 to run on Windows 7 x64? The library will not launch for me, process just hangs.... I also tried setting the exe to run in compatibility mode and got the same result.
Wow that new reader looks fast, much faster than the 505. One thing I wish Sony would do is to continue adding features to the 505; an onscreen keyboard to search from would be great.
I contacted Sony support to let them know that W7 RTM had issues with 3.0, which 2.5 didn't. They gave me the run around and said the following:
Pre-release or Beta-version software is the first version of software released by a manufacturer for the purpose of evaluation or real-world testing. The process of making a Beta version available to users is called a Beta release. Beta testing allows the software to undergo usability testing by users who provide feedback, so that any problems found can be reported to the developers and fixed. For these reasons, any questions, comments, problems, or support requests regarding pre-release or Beta version software needs to be directed directly to the software manufacturer. Sony cannot address support questions or comments about pre-release or Beta version software.
Apparently Sony doesn't know what RTM means.......
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posted Aug 27th 2009 3:33AM
Erster!
hah, that wasn't too bad :)
Dummkopfs are amazing, what can ya say...
They certainly keep internet alive with content ;)
Typo in the ebook: "GEORGE WAR IRGENDWO IM DUNKLEN", DUNKEN is not a german word ;)
Ah type, too.
... IM DUNKLEN"
dunklen is 'the dark'
For your convenience:
http://translate.google.com/translate_t?prev=hp&hl=en&js=y&text=im+dunklen&file=&sl=de&tl=en&history_state0=#
I know, i'm german :D
well then.. why say it was wrong?
Proof: http://wiki.stephen-king.de/index.php/Qual
Look out for "1. Satz" placed under the pic.
Ist doch both OK? And it's a translation so there's no original correct german version.
Because it's e-ink, the refresh rates are way too slow for effective sketching with the stylus. It's an interesting innovation, but I don't think it works as well as an lcd tablet.
The software 3.0 seems to be an improvement once I got it working, but turns out the ebook library support is US only, which has annoyed me. But I still love my 505, and think that it will still be one of the better ebook readers out there, at least until the DE is released. Touch support for notes would be brilliant but the screen looks much better without.
bah, how do I make it stop making me confirm every post?
Software 3.0 for Mac is badly messed up: it just doesn't work at all for many people, including me. Why don't you check it out and write about it? Sony can't release a major version that simply doesn't work!
Here's where we talk about the issue: http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=54639&page=1
So they can't release a version that doesn't work?
Whew, for a second there I thought you were upset about something.
...or it could be that Mac aint working as it should? :)
I think I like it
I thought one of the key benefits of E ink was that it had the readability of paper? While the touchscreen is nice, the glare it creates isn't very paper-like.
glossy paper like magazines and some text books can be hard to read with strong overhead lighting too. but anything with a plastic face, like these or normal lcd screens, would have glare i'd suspect.
also, from the video, i didn't really see any huge difference in glare among the Touch, 505, and the kindle.
Really? Look at around 8:30, there's a really noticeable reflection of the reviewer in the 600 while the 505 has almost no reflection or glare at all.
Dummkopf?
That just reminds me of
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vrb_InUqSbs
actually, you can (could) buy the Touch Edition (prs-600). Both the Pocket and Touch became available at the same time. I bought one, and it is currently on its way to my house. Why it is now "preorder" again, i don't know. Perhaps they sold out already?
@Quillaja,
The PRS-600 Touch Edition is still available, if you go on the Sony website it will either say Pre-Order (for the colors they are out of... which in this case is black and silver) or Add to Cart if they have it (in this case red seems to be the one not flying off their shelves).
@barb
ahh, i see. since they show black by default, i just saw the pre-order button. i'm glad i got a black one. =)
Come on!!! Charge from a standard usb cable!!!!!!
drawing is a little too slow, it would annoy me.
Needs wifi and bluetooth with browser
little too small, maybe just edge to edge or smaller bezel
multi-touch would be nice.
waiting for the apple tablet, if the apple tablet was color e-ink it would be perfect....
except I doubt it will charge from a standard usb either, I may never be happy.... LOL
you forgot GPS, a camera, VoiP, an appstore, FLAC and ogg vorbis support, Youtube Client, Tegra....
If the apple tablet has color e-ink, that refresh time you are worrying about will be monstrous.
It is meant to read e-books, for notebook use you use a notebook don't you? Or perhaps a smartphone.
Not everything should be fused, although I can see some network connectivity might be handy I don't think e-paper is great for webbrowsing really, it's slow and B&W and will not do video.
It has some good ideas but the layer of the screen seems to make a lot of reflections. Probably due to the touch screen feature.
better than amazon kindle??
http://dealbit.com/p/Electronics/493964/B000WPXQ2M/Sony-PRS-505-Portable-Digital-e-Reader
compare
http://dealbit.com/p/Electronics/493964/B00154JDAI/Kindle-Amazons-Wireless-Reading-Generation
The Palm IIIx finally has evolved!
Get on the point, Dummkopf!
Has anyone gotten the eBook Library 3.0 to run on Windows 7 x64? The library will not launch for me, process just hangs.... I also tried setting the exe to run in compatibility mode and got the same result.
Maybe w7 doesn't like their rootkit? (Since it's sony I assume their software comes with one)
Perhaps you should be glad.
It'll be nice if it acts like a usb printer and lets you print stuff onto the device instead of using an application.
just print to PDF?
or load your Word doc natively?
True most printers now support the direct print from USB thing, might be an idea to have that in ebook readers.
Wow that new reader looks fast, much faster than the 505. One thing I wish Sony would do is to continue adding features to the 505; an onscreen keyboard to search from would be great.
I give up I cant get 3.0 to run. Whats the deal Sony??? I guess I'll be sticking with Calibre!
I contacted Sony support to let them know that W7 RTM had issues with 3.0, which 2.5 didn't. They gave me the run around and said the following:
Pre-release or Beta-version software is the first version of software released by a manufacturer for the purpose of evaluation or real-world testing. The process of making a Beta version available to users is called a Beta release. Beta testing allows the software to undergo usability testing by users who provide feedback, so that any problems found can be reported to the developers and fixed. For these reasons, any questions, comments, problems, or support requests regarding pre-release or Beta version software needs to be directed directly to the software manufacturer. Sony cannot address support questions or comments about pre-release or Beta version software.
Apparently Sony doesn't know what RTM means.......
The Sony Reader is amazing. Just found out you can use Shortcovers eBooks on it as well.
Super easy process!
http://bit.ly/FsI77