After letting Kindle dominate the e-book reader market for two years, Sony has fired a huge salvo in return – at least in the US.
The new Sony Reader Daily Edition adds wireless 3G, increase the size of the touchscreen to seven inches and supports a feature called Library Finder that will let users borrow e-books from their local libraries, at no cost.
The Reader Daily Edition will cost $400 and is expected to be in US stores in December. A spokesman for Sony said today that it intends to launch the device in the UK "when the market is right", but it has not yet planned a release date.
Reception for the new device in the US was very positive. "Sony has given the market what everyone was waiting for in terms of a wireless device," says Sarah Rotman Epps, a Forrester analyst who has been covering e-readers. "Not only that, they have gone one step further, and shown their latest product is no copycat of the Kindle."
Since Amazon introduced the Kindle to the US market in 2007, e-readers have become a surprisingly hot consumer product category. Though Sony was the first to launch an e-reader, the company has lagged behind its biggest rival. One key missing feature was wireless connectivity: until now, Sony Reader users who wanted to purchase or download books had to connect their e-reader to a PC using the USB connection. By contrast, the Kindle has always offered free over-the-air wireless book downloads. Amazon also aggressively pursued publishers, enabling the company to offer a wide selection of popular books for download.
Now Sony is fighting back on both the features and the content fronts.
The Reader Daily Edition offers portrait and landscape orientation. In portrait mode, about 30-35 lines of text are visible, offering an experience similar to that of a printed paperback book, says the company. The device has enough internal memory to hold more than 1,000 standard e-books, says Sony, and it has expansion slots for memory cards.
The Reader Daily Edition is the third new e-book reader in the company's line-up. The other two, which will be available for pre-order in the UK later today, will be a five-inch-screen device called the Sony Reader Pocket and a six-inch touchscreen model, the Sony Reader Touch. UK pricing is yet to be confirmed, but in the US they cost $200 (£120) and $300 (£180) respectively.
Aside from technical specifications, Sony Reader's second big weakness compared to the Kindle has been access to content. Amazon's position as a leading online retailer of books helped the company offer a wide selection of e-books to Kindle buyers that were competitively priced and easy to download.
To match that, Sony has partnered with OverDrive, a distributor of e-books to libraries, to offer its customers easy access to the local library's collection of e-books. Sony Reader customers can use the company's Library Finder software and check out e-books with a valid library card. Users will have to download the books to a PC first and then transfer them to the Reader. The e-books will expire at the end of the 21-day lending period.
Sony has also said it will adopt the open EPub format in a move that allows consumers to purchase or download books from the Sony store and read them on any EPub-compatible device. In contrast, Amazon uses a proprietary file format that only allows users to read books they've bought using the Kindle, or Amazon-sanctioned Kindle software.
"From the beginning, we have said that an open format means more choice for consumers," says Steve Haber, president of Sony's Digital Reading Business Division. "Now, readers can shop around for what interests them rather than be locked into one store."
Still, it won't be easy to beat Amazon, says Epps.
"Sony is number two in the market and though they are in a strong position to close the gap with Amazon over the holiday season, I expect Amazon to still be the market leader in early 2010," she says.
"Amazon has built a very strong relationship with e-book buying consumers that were the first wave of adopters of electronic readers," says Epps.
"Consumers are now split between the small pocket-sized devices with five-inch or six-inch screens and the larger screen eight-inch to ten-inch screen readers," says Epps. "But it is not over yet. The market is still evolving."
Download ebooks on http://www.frenchtheory.com/ - See that post with different algorithms in metabole - See the journal French Metablog with today different posts -PHONEREADER Library - - Jean-Philippe Pastor
Friday 28 August 2009
Thursday 27 August 2009
E-book with 3G Wireless
Sony Unveils Daily Edition E-Book With 3G Wireless
by Carol Mangis
Sony on Tuesday unveiled the newest version of its eBook Reader, the Daily Edition, which will have built-in free wireless capability via AT&T's 3G mobile broadband network.
The new Reader, introduced during an event at the main branch of the New York Public Library, will hit SonyStyle stores and sonystyle.com in December and will retail for $399.
The Daily Edition will feature a seven-inch touchscreen, and a high contrast ratio with 16 levels of grayscale; you can read in either portrait or landscape orientation. It will have enough onboard memory to hold over 1,000 standard ebooks and is also expandable via Memory Stick/Duo and SD card slots.
Sony also had a number of its newly available Pocket and Touch Readers available to try out. Those readers, priced at $199 and $299, respectively, are available now for purchase. Each of the Sony Readers employs the E Ink Vizplex electronic paper display.
Steven Haber, president of Sony's digital reader business division, emphasized the importance of access, content, and affordability for ebook readers. He mentioned that Sony is moving from a proprietary ebook format to ePub's format, which will streamline the publishing process immensely.
Sony also announced its Library Finder app, developed in partnership with Overdrive.com. Users of Sony's eBook Store will be able to easily locate their local libraries online and download free ebook content using their library cards. When the lending period is up, the content simply expires.
One of those libraries will be the New York Public Library, which currently offers about 40,000 downloadable titles, with the goal of goal of digitizing over one million titles. That effort has been facilitated through the library's partnership with Google's book-scanning initiative.
"We believe it must be delivered free," said Dr. Paul LeClerc, president and CEO of the NYPL.
Also new is a Web site for book lovers called Words Move Me, a social networking site of sorts where readers will be able to connect and post favorite passages from literary works. Eventual Facebook and Twitter integration is promised.
For images from the event, and a video interview with Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, who will be participating in a panel on ebooks at the NYPL later today, head to Gearlog.
Download ebooks on http://www.frenchtheory.com/ - See that post with different algorithms in metabole - See the journal French Metablog with today different posts -PHONEREADER Library - - Jean-Philippe Pastor
by Carol Mangis
Sony on Tuesday unveiled the newest version of its eBook Reader, the Daily Edition, which will have built-in free wireless capability via AT&T's 3G mobile broadband network.
The new Reader, introduced during an event at the main branch of the New York Public Library, will hit SonyStyle stores and sonystyle.com in December and will retail for $399.
The Daily Edition will feature a seven-inch touchscreen, and a high contrast ratio with 16 levels of grayscale; you can read in either portrait or landscape orientation. It will have enough onboard memory to hold over 1,000 standard ebooks and is also expandable via Memory Stick/Duo and SD card slots.
Sony also had a number of its newly available Pocket and Touch Readers available to try out. Those readers, priced at $199 and $299, respectively, are available now for purchase. Each of the Sony Readers employs the E Ink Vizplex electronic paper display.
Steven Haber, president of Sony's digital reader business division, emphasized the importance of access, content, and affordability for ebook readers. He mentioned that Sony is moving from a proprietary ebook format to ePub's format, which will streamline the publishing process immensely.
Sony also announced its Library Finder app, developed in partnership with Overdrive.com. Users of Sony's eBook Store will be able to easily locate their local libraries online and download free ebook content using their library cards. When the lending period is up, the content simply expires.
One of those libraries will be the New York Public Library, which currently offers about 40,000 downloadable titles, with the goal of goal of digitizing over one million titles. That effort has been facilitated through the library's partnership with Google's book-scanning initiative.
"We believe it must be delivered free," said Dr. Paul LeClerc, president and CEO of the NYPL.
Also new is a Web site for book lovers called Words Move Me, a social networking site of sorts where readers will be able to connect and post favorite passages from literary works. Eventual Facebook and Twitter integration is promised.
For images from the event, and a video interview with Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, who will be participating in a panel on ebooks at the NYPL later today, head to Gearlog.
Download ebooks on http://www.frenchtheory.com/ - See that post with different algorithms in metabole - See the journal French Metablog with today different posts -PHONEREADER Library - - Jean-Philippe Pastor
Wednesday 26 August 2009
French language Ebook
ARCHAMBAULT Launches First French-language ebook Site in North America
MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - Aug. 26, 2009) - Archambault today launched Jelis.ca, its new French-language ebook site, the first engine of its kind in North America. Archambault announced its new digital strategy at a joint press conference with Sony Canada, which unveiled its new Pocket EditionTM and Touch EditionTM digital reader models.Archambault is pleased to join forces with digital pioneer Sony for the introduction of the Jelis.ca site and the new Sony Digital Book models.
The Jelis.ca download engine, combined with the new Sony Readers, will give Archambault's customers a new way to enjoy books. Puneet Jain, Director of Marketing, Sony Canada, said: "Sony is happy to partner with Archambault for the Quebec launch of the new Reader models. Working with Archambault, an established and respected retailer, we are making digital reading and ebooks more readily available to Canadians." That goal is a common cause for Archambault and Sony.Jelis.ca, a unique service"Archambault has always been focused on meeting its customers' needs," said Denis Pascal, Senior Vice President, Retail Group, with Archambault Group. "Jelis.ca, the first French-language ebook downloads site in North America, opens the door to digital reading for Quebecers." With more than 20,000 titles currently available for download, the new Jelis.ca service will offer Francophones a broad selection of books of all kinds: novels, Quebec literature, general literature, travel books, cookbooks.
Jelis.ca also provides an excellent opportunity for Quebec publishers to position themselves in the digital landscape and offer their audiences a new reading experience at an advantageous price.Users of the Jelis.ca download engine and the Sony Readers will be able to take hundreds of French-language books with them wherever they go, without having to worry about their bulk or weight. The new technology promises to boost business for publishing houses, to make the works of Quebec authors more accessible, and to increase the amount of time Quebecers spend reading. Imagine being able to consult your entire library anytime, anywhere. Archambault is determined to be the first to offer Quebecers this world of new possibilities. Archambault's two literary spokespersons, Christine Michaud and Caroline Allard, agreed to be ambassadors for the new way of experiencing literature by downloading files to their Sony Readers at the press conference. During the next month, they will share their impressions of digital reading on Archambault's http://www.coteblogue.ca/ blog.In the digital age, Archambault is taking literature to new places in order to serve consumers who are excited about both reading and hi-tech.
And since Archambault cares about all of its customers, it is taking advantage of the service launch to support new learners as well. For every digital book sold in the next year, Archambault will donate a physical book to the Literacy Foundation, which will distribute the volumes to organizations involved in basic education. "We are very grateful to Archambault for this initiative, which will help promote literacy education," said Maryse Perreault, CEO of the Foundation.Archambault, the culture of entertainmentArchambault, a Quebecor Media company, is a leading provider of cultural entertainment products. Archambault is the largest retailer of CDs in Quebec and a major retailer of books, DVDs, newspapers, magazines, musical instruments, sheet music and gift ideas. For 10 years, Archambault's http://www.archambault.ca/ e-commerce site has been the largest French-language online store in North America. Archambault's http://www.coteblogue.ca/ site is a meeting place for people interested in all things cultural.Archambault operates 15 stores across Quebec. For more information on Archambault Group,
visit http://www.archambault.ca/.
Download ebooks on http://www.frenchtheory.com/ - See that post with different algorithms in metabole - See the journal French Metablog with today different posts -PHONEREADER Library - - Jean-Philippe Pastor
MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - Aug. 26, 2009) - Archambault today launched Jelis.ca, its new French-language ebook site, the first engine of its kind in North America. Archambault announced its new digital strategy at a joint press conference with Sony Canada, which unveiled its new Pocket EditionTM and Touch EditionTM digital reader models.Archambault is pleased to join forces with digital pioneer Sony for the introduction of the Jelis.ca site and the new Sony Digital Book models.
The Jelis.ca download engine, combined with the new Sony Readers, will give Archambault's customers a new way to enjoy books. Puneet Jain, Director of Marketing, Sony Canada, said: "Sony is happy to partner with Archambault for the Quebec launch of the new Reader models. Working with Archambault, an established and respected retailer, we are making digital reading and ebooks more readily available to Canadians." That goal is a common cause for Archambault and Sony.Jelis.ca, a unique service"Archambault has always been focused on meeting its customers' needs," said Denis Pascal, Senior Vice President, Retail Group, with Archambault Group. "Jelis.ca, the first French-language ebook downloads site in North America, opens the door to digital reading for Quebecers." With more than 20,000 titles currently available for download, the new Jelis.ca service will offer Francophones a broad selection of books of all kinds: novels, Quebec literature, general literature, travel books, cookbooks.
Jelis.ca also provides an excellent opportunity for Quebec publishers to position themselves in the digital landscape and offer their audiences a new reading experience at an advantageous price.Users of the Jelis.ca download engine and the Sony Readers will be able to take hundreds of French-language books with them wherever they go, without having to worry about their bulk or weight. The new technology promises to boost business for publishing houses, to make the works of Quebec authors more accessible, and to increase the amount of time Quebecers spend reading. Imagine being able to consult your entire library anytime, anywhere. Archambault is determined to be the first to offer Quebecers this world of new possibilities. Archambault's two literary spokespersons, Christine Michaud and Caroline Allard, agreed to be ambassadors for the new way of experiencing literature by downloading files to their Sony Readers at the press conference. During the next month, they will share their impressions of digital reading on Archambault's http://www.coteblogue.ca/ blog.In the digital age, Archambault is taking literature to new places in order to serve consumers who are excited about both reading and hi-tech.
And since Archambault cares about all of its customers, it is taking advantage of the service launch to support new learners as well. For every digital book sold in the next year, Archambault will donate a physical book to the Literacy Foundation, which will distribute the volumes to organizations involved in basic education. "We are very grateful to Archambault for this initiative, which will help promote literacy education," said Maryse Perreault, CEO of the Foundation.Archambault, the culture of entertainmentArchambault, a Quebecor Media company, is a leading provider of cultural entertainment products. Archambault is the largest retailer of CDs in Quebec and a major retailer of books, DVDs, newspapers, magazines, musical instruments, sheet music and gift ideas. For 10 years, Archambault's http://www.archambault.ca/ e-commerce site has been the largest French-language online store in North America. Archambault's http://www.coteblogue.ca/ site is a meeting place for people interested in all things cultural.Archambault operates 15 stores across Quebec. For more information on Archambault Group,
visit http://www.archambault.ca/.
Download ebooks on http://www.frenchtheory.com/ - See that post with different algorithms in metabole - See the journal French Metablog with today different posts -PHONEREADER Library - - Jean-Philippe Pastor
Tuesday 25 August 2009
Ebook battle
The e-book battle heats up as e-readers take sides
by Don Reisinger
Another Amazon Kindle competitor has unveiled its plans for the future. And like Plastic Logic's e-reader, the device will feature Barnes & Noble's e-book store.
The Kindle has even more competitors.(Credit: Amazon)
When Irex Technologies unveils its consumer e-reader later this year, it will include Barnes & Noble's e-books, Irex said in a statement Monday.
Barnes & Noble's store currently features more than 750,000 titles, and it expects that library of available titles to increase to more than one million within the next year. The full library will be available for download on Irex's e-reader.
That news followed a report earlier this month that Irex's new e-reader will sport an 8.1-inch touch screen and 3G wireless connectivity. The device's touch screen will be controlled with a stylus instead of a user's fingers.
"With our comprehensive e-bookstore and feature-rich e-reader application, Barnes & Noble is delivering not just a product, but a promise: to provide people with access to the books they love--on any platform, in any place, and at any time," Barnes & Noble President William J. Lynch said in a statement.
Barnes & Noble's strategy focuses on maintaining its store and partnering with hardware makers. Aside from availability on the Irex e-reader, as well as the iPhone and iPod Touch through Apple's App Store, Barnes & Noble's store will also come bundled in Plastic Logic's upcoming e-reader.
Amazon offers its own e-reader software in Apple's App Store, allowing both iPhone and iPod Touch users to read its e-books on their handsets. And of course, Amazon's e-books can also be found on the company's market-leading Kindle.
The success of the Barnes & Noble e-book library will largely depend on whether or not the devices using its store will boast the same level of usability as the Kindle. If they do, it's possible that Barnes & Noble will be able to capture significant market share, thanks to its availability on so many e-readers. If they don't, Barnes & Noble's store might lose its stride. And all that fails to consider Sony's Reader--another contender that could emerge as a major player as the market matures.
Suddenly, the e-book market is becoming an exciting space to keep an eye on.
Check out Don's Facebook profile, Twitter stream, and FriendFeed.
Don Reisinger is a technology columnist who has written about everything from HDTVs to computers to Flowbee Haircut Systems. Don is a member of the CNET Blog Network, and posts at The Digital Home. He is not an employee of CNET.
by Don Reisinger
Another Amazon Kindle competitor has unveiled its plans for the future. And like Plastic Logic's e-reader, the device will feature Barnes & Noble's e-book store.
The Kindle has even more competitors.(Credit: Amazon)
When Irex Technologies unveils its consumer e-reader later this year, it will include Barnes & Noble's e-books, Irex said in a statement Monday.
Barnes & Noble's store currently features more than 750,000 titles, and it expects that library of available titles to increase to more than one million within the next year. The full library will be available for download on Irex's e-reader.
That news followed a report earlier this month that Irex's new e-reader will sport an 8.1-inch touch screen and 3G wireless connectivity. The device's touch screen will be controlled with a stylus instead of a user's fingers.
"With our comprehensive e-bookstore and feature-rich e-reader application, Barnes & Noble is delivering not just a product, but a promise: to provide people with access to the books they love--on any platform, in any place, and at any time," Barnes & Noble President William J. Lynch said in a statement.
Barnes & Noble's strategy focuses on maintaining its store and partnering with hardware makers. Aside from availability on the Irex e-reader, as well as the iPhone and iPod Touch through Apple's App Store, Barnes & Noble's store will also come bundled in Plastic Logic's upcoming e-reader.
Amazon offers its own e-reader software in Apple's App Store, allowing both iPhone and iPod Touch users to read its e-books on their handsets. And of course, Amazon's e-books can also be found on the company's market-leading Kindle.
The success of the Barnes & Noble e-book library will largely depend on whether or not the devices using its store will boast the same level of usability as the Kindle. If they do, it's possible that Barnes & Noble will be able to capture significant market share, thanks to its availability on so many e-readers. If they don't, Barnes & Noble's store might lose its stride. And all that fails to consider Sony's Reader--another contender that could emerge as a major player as the market matures.
Suddenly, the e-book market is becoming an exciting space to keep an eye on.
Check out Don's Facebook profile, Twitter stream, and FriendFeed.
Don Reisinger is a technology columnist who has written about everything from HDTVs to computers to Flowbee Haircut Systems. Don is a member of the CNET Blog Network, and posts at The Digital Home. He is not an employee of CNET.
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