Upgraded Sony e-readers now feature touchscreens
New Sony E-Readers Unveiled: A Closer Look
Sony has recently announced its latest lineup of e-readers, bringing a fresh wave of competition to the market. The new models, which include the Daily Edition, Touch Edition, and the compact PRS-350 Pocket Edition, are designed to offer a superior reading experience.
The most notable feature of the new Sony e-readers is their sleek aluminum body, providing a premium finish and feel that sets them apart from competitors like Kindle and Nook. The new devices are available in colourful options such as hot pink, red, silver, and black, adding a touch of style to your reading routine.
Among the three models, the smallest one with an optical touchscreen is the PRS-350 Pocket Edition. This e-reader sports a 5-inch screen, 2GB of internal memory, and an SD card slot, making it perfect for those who value portability. The Pocket Edition starts at $179, without WiFi or 3G.
The Touch Edition, on the other hand, boasts a 6-inch display, 2GB onboard memory (expandable to 32GB), audio playback capabilities, Wi-Fi connectivity, and weighs 4 pounds. It retails at $229. Interestingly, the new e-readers use an optical touchscreen instead of a capacitive one, a decision that Sony believes enhances the overall reading experience.
As for the Daily Edition, it features Wi-Fi and 3G connectivity and a 7-inch display. It comes with 2 GB of onboard storage, expandable to 32 GB via an expansion slot, and is priced at $300, the same as its previous version.
Sony has switched to a 'Pearl' screen for better contrast and sharper display, but there's no mention of any changes in screen technology from the previous models. The new e-readers do not mention any changes in the storage capacity or price of the Touch Edition or the PRS-350 Pocket Edition either.
Steve Haber, president of Sony's digital reading business division, justified the unchanged price by saying, "We wanted to build quality and overall experience."
In the competitive e-reader market, Sony faces competition from companies like Kobo, Onyx, and InkBook. These companies offer devices equipped with high-resolution displays, blue light filters, Android interfaces (Onyx), expandable storage (InkBook), and various ergonomic options, positioning them as significant alternatives to Sony's e-readers.
Adding e-books to the Pocket Edition requires connecting it to a PC via an USB cable. The new e-readers from Sony come with the ability to play audio, but the Daily Edition does not specify whether it supports audio books or music.
Sony has also released three refurbished e-readers to compete with Kindle in the budget segment. With these new offerings, Sony is aiming to cater to a wider audience, offering a range of options for every reader.
