Hot: Sony plans Reader successor for this year

Alexander Turcic · 01-09-2007, 06:06 AM

Lo and behold, what's the big story of the day? A guy from the Associated Press talked to Sony CEO Stringer during the CES2007, and he came up with some juicy bits of news regarding the Reader.

Firstly, Sony is sticking firmly to their plans to create a market for e-books. According to Stringer, U.S. sales of the Sony Reader is better than expected. And what's more: Sales of downloadable e-books are exceeding the sales of music on Sony's online Connect Store. Who would have known!

And secondly, Sony is planning to release a new Reader model this year, adding wireless capabilities, most likely to compete against Amazon's rumored upcoming Kindle device.

Excited? I can barely contain myself.

HarryT · 01-09-2007, 06:31 AM

Hmmm. A Reader with WiFi isn't something I'm going to wet myself over

. This "content sharing" thing (like Microsoft's "Zune" player) seems like little more than a "fad" to me, and I don't personally have a problem with plugging a cable in to the Reader to upload content to it.

I could be wrong, though. Let's wait and see. Personally, though, I'd rather see a new model with a touch screen, decent search facilities, annotation, etc, than WiFi.

Excellent news, though, that sales are going so well. Let's hope the anticipated launch in the UK in the summer is equally successful.

TadW · 01-09-2007, 06:38 AM

I am not very keen on wireless either (wireless = high power consumption). But a new Reader may include other improvements... who knows, perhaps with a newer E Ink screen, or a better keyboard layout?

ultim8fury · 01-09-2007, 06:40 AM

I'm very pleased to hear that the books sales are doing so well, it's encouraging to see that kind of response. Personally speaking I've bought more books for my reader in 3 months than I've bought songs from iTunes in 3 years so I can believe the claim.

Wireless integration isn't a huge deal for me either but I suppose it all comes down to what they want to do with it. It'd be nice to be able to "lend" an ebook wirelessly give the recipient the ability to read that book once before it's removed from their device. In much the same way as you'd lend a paperback.

HarryT · 01-09-2007, 06:43 AM

Oh yes, don't get me wrong - I welcome the news of a new model! Although WiFi is not a big deal for me personally, I'm sure that it will have other improvements too.

Madam Broshkina · 01-09-2007, 07:08 AM

It seems like bad business sense for Sony to announce a new reader. This cannot help sales of the PRS-500. Why would anyone buy the PRS-500 knowing that a new and improved product is on the way. Right now I am very satisfied with my reader. There would have to be significant improvements for this new reader to make me interested in buying it. Of course if Sony would offer a discounted price for those of us who already have purchased the PRS-500 I might consider getting the new model.

CommanderROR · 01-09-2007, 07:42 AM

Well...it looks like the eink/ebook business is getting off to a good start this year!!!

I don't really care about wireless either, and I don't really need a touchscreen (I use the WACOM of my Iliad perhaps once every two months...) but it could be a useful feature for things like dictionary lookup and web-browsing...but those things are secondary features and not among my priorities...

Now I only hope Sony finally brings the Reader to Europe and gets a lo more books online...and cheaper too...

emkay · 01-09-2007, 08:35 AM

Exchange content wirelessly with your desktop computer quickly and without messing with cables. Download RSS feeds from the internet. Get your daily news automatically over wifi. Subscribe to serialised books on the web, and download chapters automatically? Dickens would have been up for it!
Wireless connectivity is essential to the long term success of ebooks IMHO.

Fitzwaryn · 01-09-2007, 09:10 AM

How about a simple directory structure that allows folders/sibdirectories. THAT would be a major improvement!

And while we're at it a simple USB interface that would simply allow book files to be moved to and from the Reader as with the Cybook which simply appears as a drive to a PC?

I see feature creep coming. Do nothing to improve the basic functionality but add enough bells and whistles that the device becomes a nightmare to use until we reach the point where the cell phone industry has gotten where someone is selling a great new device that does nothing but.... make phone calls.

I want a device that allows me to move files easily onto and off of the device. find them on the device and then allows me to READ them.

Next thing will be a docking station that provides a keyboard and mouse and monitor. lol

HarryT · 01-09-2007, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fitzwaryn

How about a simple directory structure that allows folders/sibdirectories. THAT would be a major improvement!

And while we're at it a simple USB interface that would simply allow book files to be moved to and from the Reader as with the Cybook which simply appears as a drive to a PC?

I see feature creep coming. Do nothing to improve the basic functionality but add enough bells and whistles that the device becomes a nightmare to use until we reach the point where the cell phone industry has gotten where someone is selling a great new device that does nothing but.... make phone calls.

I want a device that allows me to move files easily onto and off of the device. find them on the device and then allows me to READ them.

Yes - 100% agreed with your views. Don't try to make the Reader into a mobile web browser, or a 2nd rate tablet PC; concentrate on the basic functionality of reading books and make it do that very, very well.

The most successful devices are, to my mind, those which do a single job exceedingly well - that's why the iPod has been so successful. Devices which attempt to do a dozen different jobs and do none of them terribly well are no use to anyone.

TadW · 01-09-2007, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fitzwaryn

How about a simple directory structure that allows folders/sibdirectories. THAT would be a major improvement!

And while we're at it a simple USB interface that would simply allow book files to be moved to and from the Reader as with the Cybook which simply appears as a drive to a PC?

I SERIOUSLY hope that they will include both features in the current edition of the Reader. It should be all possible with a software upgrade.

Laurens · 01-09-2007, 09:50 AM

I just hope they improve the ergonomics.

yvanleterrible · 01-09-2007, 10:01 AM

One positive point I could see from a wireless feature would be in a combination with software that would allow one to peruse through a computer or server's content, to import books or music. And maybe mail.

Fugubot · 01-09-2007, 10:20 AM

If this is a thread about the NEXT generation of Sony's reader, why are people requesting new features for the current edition? Assuming that Sony has finite resources, it is more likely that it will save new features for the new machine rather than work on improving the old model.

If we want the new features, we can shell out the cash for the next gen machines when they are available. Unless Sony indicates to the contrary, current users should only expect incremental changes to the current firmware.

scotty1024 · 01-09-2007, 10:32 AM

Hopefully we're missing the bigger picture: how do you step into Starbucks to grab a refreshment and the latest news via T-Mobile's Hotspot without a keyboard to login with?

01-09-2007, 06:06 AM	#1
Alexander Turcic Fully Converged Posts: 18,171 Karma: 14021202 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Switzerland Device: Too many to count here.	Hot: Sony plans Reader successor for this year Lo and behold, what's the big story of the day? A guy from the Associated Press talked to Sony CEO Stringer during the CES2007, and he came up with some juicy bits of news regarding the Reader. Firstly, Sony is sticking firmly to their plans to create a market for e-books. According to Stringer, U.S. sales of the Sony Reader is better than expected. And what's more: Sales of downloadable e-books are exceeding the sales of music on Sony's online Connect Store. Who would have known! And secondly, Sony is planning to release a new Reader model this year, adding wireless capabilities, most likely to compete against Amazon's rumored upcoming Kindle device. Excited? I can barely contain myself.

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01-09-2007, 06:31 AM	#2
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Hmmm. A Reader with WiFi isn't something I'm going to wet myself over . This "content sharing" thing (like Microsoft's "Zune" player) seems like little more than a "fad" to me, and I don't personally have a problem with plugging a cable in to the Reader to upload content to it. I could be wrong, though. Let's wait and see. Personally, though, I'd rather see a new model with a touch screen, decent search facilities, annotation, etc, than WiFi. Excellent news, though, that sales are going so well. Let's hope the anticipated launch in the UK in the summer is equally successful.

01-09-2007, 06:38 AM	#3
TadW Uebermensch Posts: 2,583 Karma: 1094606 Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Italy Device: Kindle	I am not very keen on wireless either (wireless = high power consumption). But a new Reader may include other improvements... who knows, perhaps with a newer E Ink screen, or a better keyboard layout?

01-09-2007, 06:40 AM	#4
ultim8fury Addict Posts: 219 Karma: 368 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: UK Device: PRS500, Looking at 700	I'm very pleased to hear that the books sales are doing so well, it's encouraging to see that kind of response. Personally speaking I've bought more books for my reader in 3 months than I've bought songs from iTunes in 3 years so I can believe the claim. Wireless integration isn't a huge deal for me either but I suppose it all comes down to what they want to do with it. It'd be nice to be able to "lend" an ebook wirelessly give the recipient the ability to read that book once before it's removed from their device. In much the same way as you'd lend a paperback.

01-09-2007, 06:43 AM	#5
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Oh yes, don't get me wrong - I welcome the news of a new model! Although WiFi is not a big deal for me personally, I'm sure that it will have other improvements too.

01-09-2007, 07:08 AM	#6
Madam Broshkina Manic Do Fuse Posts: 2,312 Karma: 3325462 Join Date: Oct 2006 Device: Sony 500, 505, 350, Kindle 3, DXG, nook, Irex DR800SG, iPad	It seems like bad business sense for Sony to announce a new reader. This cannot help sales of the PRS-500. Why would anyone buy the PRS-500 knowing that a new and improved product is on the way. Right now I am very satisfied with my reader. There would have to be significant improvements for this new reader to make me interested in buying it. Of course if Sony would offer a discounted price for those of us who already have purchased the PRS-500 I might consider getting the new model.

01-09-2007, 07:42 AM	#7
CommanderROR eink fanatic Posts: 2,022 Karma: 4924 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Germany Device: STAReBOOK, iRex Iliad, Sony 505, Kindle 2	Well...it looks like the eink/ebook business is getting off to a good start this year!!! I don't really care about wireless either, and I don't really need a touchscreen (I use the WACOM of my Iliad perhaps once every two months...) but it could be a useful feature for things like dictionary lookup and web-browsing...but those things are secondary features and not among my priorities... Now I only hope Sony finally brings the Reader to Europe and gets a lo more books online...and cheaper too...

01-09-2007, 08:35 AM	#8
emkay Zealot Posts: 103 Karma: 11 Join Date: Jul 2006	Exchange content wirelessly with your desktop computer quickly and without messing with cables. Download RSS feeds from the internet. Get your daily news automatically over wifi. Subscribe to serialised books on the web, and download chapters automatically? Dickens would have been up for it! Wireless connectivity is essential to the long term success of ebooks IMHO.

01-09-2007, 09:10 AM	#9
Fitzwaryn Connoisseur Posts: 54 Karma: 395 Join Date: Jul 2006	How about a simple directory structure that allows folders/sibdirectories. THAT would be a major improvement! And while we're at it a simple USB interface that would simply allow book files to be moved to and from the Reader as with the Cybook which simply appears as a drive to a PC? I see feature creep coming. Do nothing to improve the basic functionality but add enough bells and whistles that the device becomes a nightmare to use until we reach the point where the cell phone industry has gotten where someone is selling a great new device that does nothing but.... make phone calls. I want a device that allows me to move files easily onto and off of the device. find them on the device and then allows me to READ them. Next thing will be a docking station that provides a keyboard and mouse and monitor. lol

01-09-2007, 09:50 AM	#12
Laurens Jah Blessed Posts: 1,295 Karma: 1373 Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: The Netherlands Device: iPod Touch	I just hope they improve the ergonomics.

01-09-2007, 10:01 AM	#13
yvanleterrible Reborn Paper User Posts: 8,616 Karma: 15446734 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Que Nada Device: iPhone8, iPad Air	One positive point I could see from a wireless feature would be in a combination with software that would allow one to peruse through a computer or server's content, to import books or music. And maybe mail.

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01-09-2007, 10:20 AM	#14
Fugubot Connoisseur Posts: 64 Karma: 10558 Join Date: Nov 2006 Device: Sony Reader	If this is a thread about the NEXT generation of Sony's reader, why are people requesting new features for the current edition? Assuming that Sony has finite resources, it is more likely that it will save new features for the new machine rather than work on improving the old model. If we want the new features, we can shell out the cash for the next gen machines when they are available. Unless Sony indicates to the contrary, current users should only expect incremental changes to the current firmware.

01-09-2007, 10:32 AM	#15
scotty1024 Banned Posts: 1,300 Karma: 1479 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Peoples Republic of Washington Device: Reader / iPhone / Librie / Kindle	Hopefully we're missing the bigger picture: how do you step into Starbucks to grab a refreshment and the latest news via T-Mobile's Hotspot without a keyboard to login with?