The war of e-readers has nearly come to an end. Amazon currently rules the market with their Kindle, and soon to be multiple Kindle devices. Barnes & Noble has their offering, and both B&N and Amazon offer 3G on their devices for wireless sync. Other companies have their own offerings, but most lack 3G and apps for smartphones, their own online stores for book purchases, and any other special features.

Sony is one of the few companies that has stuck with e-readers in light of the competing publishing giant and online superpower. Sony’s latest, the Reader Wi-Fi, arrived just after Amazon announced the Kindle Touch, a similar device with only a few physical buttons but an e-ink touchscreen. The Reader has exactly that, a touchscreen navigation system like the older Reader model, except this time with integrated Wi-Fi. But will it be worthwhile after Amazon’s Kindle Touch releases next month?

The Sony Reader Wi-Fi is a 6” e-reader that is just 3/8^th inches thick. It’s small and thin enough to fit in a pants pocket. The screen itself offers a resolution of 600×800 and has the same e-ink technology found in the last generation of Kindles. A glossy black bezel surrounds the dull white screen, which gives it a very classy look and feel. It includes 1.3GB of available space, which is more than enough room for several hundred long books, as well as room for a microSD card up to 32GB.

Besides the five physical buttons (left and right page turn, home, back and menu), the Reader has a power/standby button on the bottom of the device, beside a 3.5mm audio jack (for audio playback), the microUSB connecter, and a reset button. The back of the Reader has a black matte finish, which is easy to grip. At just 5.9 oz, the Reader is light enough to comfortably hold in one hand for quite a long time. However, the reality is that it’s a two-hand only device.

Because of the physical size of the Reader, turning pages (accomplished by a swipe gesture on the screen or by pressing the physical button) requires two hands unless you rest the Reader on something. That isn’t a problem – it more closely resembles the actual experience of reading a book – but I almost wish there were an area on both sides of the bezel to turn pages back and forth, like a touch-sensitive button. However, I’m equally sure it would cause its fair share of problems if so implemented.

The screen is clean and crisp, nothing I wouldn’t expect from the E Ink Pearl display that we’ve seen in the past on several eReaders. The overall form factor is the best I’ve ever seen on an eReader; it’s comfortable, easy to hold and store, and it looks great. The Sony Reader is the device I want sitting on my coffee table in the morning, in my living room or den table for a relaxing read, or at my workbench for a quick break. It’s sleek design is both inconspicuous and a pleasure to look at.

The screen itself is remarkably accurate for touch sensitivity, thanks to running a highly altered version of Android (see below) and the screen technology itself. Page flipping is easy, selecting specific words works properly nearly every time, and touching the screen is a pleasure. And because it isn’t a glossy display, fingerprints don’t stick. Smear your hand all over the E Ink display and it’ll still be just as easy to read.

It also runs a version of Android, which is interesting. Grizzled Android users will be able to tell pretty quickly, but otherwise it’s as barebones as Android gets. The notification drop-down is there, menus function the same, and it’s even the same browser. I was even able to benchmark the browser and compare it to other Android devices. See the performance below.

The interesting thing about the Reader is that it scored less than half, according to the Browsermark benchmark, of what the the iPhone 3GS and Samsung Galaxy Tab scored. That may seem slow by today’s standards (just look at the HTC Flyer), but pretty quick for an eReader. On the Sunspider test, the Reader was the slowest, but not by that far. The Reader was able to process Javascript pretty well, all thing’s considered. Which is great, of course, if you plan on using the web browser often.

I almost wish I could run more benchmarks, but it would require rooting the Reader, finding a way to get the Android Marketplace on the phone, and then installing several benchmark applications. Of course, it is an eReader, so there’s really no need to benchmark I, but I will say that it is surprisingly fast for a device made just to read books.

Using the browser I was able to enjoy read-only websites with relative ease. People who spend their time reading online will certainly enjoy doing so on the Reader, though it does take some getting used to. The display flashes in and out of new pages and long pages that require scrolling, which is about a second per screen load. Web pages themselves load pretty slowly, but then again it is an eReader.

The Reader also comes with a stylus. The Reader has no place to store the stylus, so it’s intended for home use. Writing on the Reader is very accurate, so much so that I wish there were a feature to use the Reader for PDF signatures. However, the drawing app is more of a fun timewaster than a good way to take notes or actually draw pictures. Like on the HTC Flyer, users can also take hand-written notes in books, but I haven’t found the feature to be particularly useful.

Sony offers several ways to get new books. The Reader store features over 2 million books, though is only available (in the tested format) for US and Canadian users. There is also access to Google’s public domain library, which is filled with probably the best literature. Finally, users gain access to their local libraries where they can check out books, assuming you have a library card. The latter two are both excellent features, and books are easy to get using nothing but the Reader itself. Users can opt to download ebooks to their computers and transfer them via USB to the Reader, but with a Wi-Fi connection, there really is no need. However, to access public libraries users will need to be a member and have a library card.

What did surprise me about the design is just how delicate the reader can be. Look at the image above. I took a quick 4-day vacation, packed with two books, my iPad, the Reader and clothes. I didn’t end up reading all that much, but the Reader still managed to take a beating while sandwiched between two books. It worked and continues to function properly, but the glossy sides are now much uglier from negligible scratches.

Battery life is rated at over a month with minimal Wi-Fi usage, or 14,000 page turns. I couldn’t test the battery life to that extent, but I will say that while running my benchmarks (see above) the battery life quickly drained from 75% to about 20%. My benchmarking protocol is pretty extensive, so the power drain isn’t surprising. With heavy Wi-Fi usage from both BrowserMark and Sunspider, plus the processing requirement, it’s actually a surprise that the Reader didn’t completely lose power sooner. If you use Wi-Fi and use the Reader even somewhat infrequently, expect to recharge it once a week.

I’m overall impressed with Sony’s latest Reader Wi-Fi. It’s the kind of ebook reader that we all kind of expect. It’s fast, smooth, very capable and very light; the epitome of Sony’s Reader line. The only real downside is the $150 pricetag, which is $50 more than the Kindle Touch Wi-Fi, and the same price as the 3G model (or $10 more and $40 less than the ad-free models). However, it’s clear to me that Sony isn’t after the read-your-book-on-all-devices consumer. Instead, they’re interested in the simple, this is my ereader consumer that likes to use one device for reading. And in that case –  at least for now – the Sony Reader Wi-Fi is king.

Editor’s Rating:

4 out of 5 stars

Great

Bottom Line: Readers who just want a one-device eReader are going to love the Sony Reader Wi-Fi. It’s very light, attractive, easy to use, comes with plenty of useful internal and internet functions, and even fits in the pocket. However, it dings easily and doesn’t sync to other devices, so if you are always on the go and want an eReader that works wherever you are, look Amazon’s or B&N’s way. Or if you love playing around with the internal software, then the Reader Wi-Fi and heavily modified Android OS is going to be a lot of fun.

You can buy the Sony Reader WiFi from Amazon for $149 or from one of the retailers found below.

Pros:

• Light, solid build, comfortable to hold one-handed
• Excellent screen for reading and touch-functions
• Internet and book-finding and sharing functions are superb

Cons:

• Glossy sides damage very easily
• Expensive compared to even 3G models and future competition

Amazon launched Kindle for Mac today.  That means Kindle owners and Kindle wannabes can view and buy Amazon’s e-books right on their computer sans Kindle.  If you’re so inclined, to not read all your books on  your Kindle, you’ll be glad to know that you can synchronize your last page read, annotations between devices with Whispersync, create bookmarks and view the annotations you created on your Kindle.  And it’s FREE!

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Mwave has it for $169.99 – $30 instant savings + $0 S&H = $139.99 shipped!

That’s a strange thought to wake up to, isn’t it?  Well, it turns out they’ve got reason.  Read on:

Words like “clunky”, “slow”, and “a real pain” have come up, as students trying out the Kindle DX in classes are discovering that the ereader may not be the replacement for overpriced textbooks they’d hoped for.

One student found it awkward to hold down the “alt” key every time he wanted to type in numbers.  Since the Kindles have no page numbers, but rather, “location numbers”, students requiring source documentation find themselves typing out huge location numbers rather than simple two or three digit page numbers.  Plus, anyone working out of a regular book will be utterly lost by the Kindle’s location numbering system and be unable to crosscheck the reference without a Kindle of their own.

More suggestions emerged, citing that the Kindle needed page numbers, but also asking for improvements to note taking and highlighting.

So, okay–maybe the Kindle isn’t an academic’s dream gadget just yet.  But there’s every possibility that it will become so in the future.

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So there’s been an announcement that Best Buy means to sell the iRex book reader to compete with Amazon’s Kindle, among numerous others.  It’ll cost a whopping four hundred bucks, but come with an eight inch touchscreen (8.1, actually), connect to Verizon Wireless networks, but while Verizon itself is open to connecting other e-readers through its networks, it’s not willing to sell the iRex in its own stores, at least for the time being.

This is probably the best move Verizon can make, even if it isn’t exactly good news for Best Buy.  However, even Best Buy can get away with a little piggyback advertising with “Verizon’s network”, and of course, the first mover advantage will be a big help for the iRex.

Keep your eyes front, folks–this could be a real donnybrook, with plenty of new players moving for the Kindle market.

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It’s not every day that you hear that Sony is in the business of making any of their gear affordable, but today, the company officially introduced two new e-readers that are priced very competitively.

First up we’ve got the Reader Pocket Edition (PRS-300), and like its name implies it’s built to slip into your pocket, sort of.  It rocks a 5-inch (800 x 600 resolution) e-ink screen and is available in navy blue, rose or a silver finish.  It can store up to 350 standard eBooks and keep the pages turning for up to 2 weeks on a single charge.  It will retail for a ground breaking – Sony’s words, not mine – $199.

Next in line is the Reader Pocket’s big brother, the Reader Touch Edition (PRS-600).  And yes, you guessed correct. This version boasts a larger 6-inch (800 x 600 resolution) touchscreen that allows pages turns at the swipe of a finger.  There’s an Oxford American English Dictionary that can be called up just by tapping on a word as well as a stylus and built-in keyboard for taking notes.  And to make sure Sony doesn’t engineer themselves out of success, they’ve installed a Memory Stick slot as well as an SD card slot for expansion.  The Reader Touch Edition comes in red, black and silver and will retailer for $299.

Both eReaders will go on sale this August and will be available at Sonystyle.com as well as Best Buy, Costco and other major electronic retailers.  Unfortunately, neither one appears to have a wireless solution and both include 512mb of built-in storage.

Full release after the ‘leap’

SONY ANNOUNCES TWO NEW ADDITIONS TO THE READER FAMILY; DROPS eBOOK PRICING
Affordable Pricing for Devices and eBooks to Open Digital Reading to Mass Audience

SAN DIEGO, August 5, 2009 – Sony is today delivering on its promise of making digital readers and eBooks accessible and affordable for consumers with the introduction of two new Readers.  Part of a new Reader line, the Reader Pocket Edition™ puts a library in your hands for as little as $199. Both the Reader Pocket Edition and the Reader Touch Edition™ will be available at the end of August, at SonyStyle.com, SonyStyle stores and select retail partners. Also, new releases and New York Times bestseller titles in the eBook Store from Sony will now be available for $9.99.

“We firmly believe consumers should have choice in every aspect of their digital reading experience,” said Steve Haber, president of Sony’s Digital Reading Business Division. “Our goal is to expand the market and provide greater access to what consumers want to read when they want to read it — whether they buy, borrow or get it for free.”

The Reader Pocket Edition sports a five-inch electronic paper display packaged in a stylish chassis and is available in a variety of colors, including navy blue, rose and silver. The Reader Pocket Edition is easy to navigate with one hand, and fits into a purse or jacket pocket. The diminutive device can store about 350 standard eBooks and provides up to two weeks of reading enjoyment on a single battery charge. It will be available for the ground-breaking price of $199, making it the most affordable dedicated reading device on the market.

The Reader Touch Edition features a responsive, menu-driven six-inch touch screen panel that enables quick, intuitive navigation, page turning, highlighting and note taking with the swipe of a finger or by using the included stylus pen. Users can take handwritten notes with the stylus pen or type with the virtual keyboard. All notes can be exported and printed out for easy reference. The Reader Touch Edition includes an onboard Oxford American English Dictionary that allows you to look up a word by simply tapping on it. The Touch Edition also offers five adjustable font sizes, as well as expansion slots for both Memory Stick® PRO Duo™ and SD card, making your portable library virtually limitless. It comes in red, black or silver and will retail for about $299.

Both models feature Sony’s award-winning industrial design and an E Ink® Vizplex™ electronic paper display that mimics the look of ink on paper. They will ship with an attractive protective sleeve and USB cable. Sony’s eBook Library software 3.0, which now includes support for many Apple® Macintosh® computers as well as PCs, makes it easy to transfer and read any Adobe® PDF (with reflow capability), Microsoft® Word®, BBeB® files, or other text file formats on the Reader.

Through The eBook Store from Sony (ebookstore.sony.com), users can also access more than one million free public domain books from Google. These titles, which Google has digitized as part of its Google Books project, are available in EPUB format and are optimized for current models of the Sony Reader. From Sony’s eBook Store, Reader owners with a U.S. location can download and transfer any of these titles to their Reader, while new, U.S. located eBook Store users can access available titles after setting up an account and downloading Sony’s free eBook Library software.

Sony is also committed to working with local libraries throughout the country as they make the move to digital books.  Sony Readers are compatible with the industry-standard formats that libraries use for their digital collections, so consumers can easily download perennial favorites and new releases from their local libraries and enjoy them for free.

The Reader Pocket Edition and Reader Touch Edition, as well as available accessories such as AC adaptors, cases and covers with reading lights, will be available at the end of August at SonyStyle.com and SonyStyle stores. Book lovers interested in trying out a Reader in person will also be able to find them for sale at Best Buy, Borders, Costco, Staples, Target, Wal-Mart and other authorized retailers nationwide.S

Let’s face it, colleges and the publishers are making a killing selling books to college students.  Plus by the time you get done lugging around 50lbs of paper for 4 year you need back and neck surgery to correct your misaligned spine.  So what am I getting at?  Why hasn’t Amazon already gotten into this market and some how subsidized the cost of the kindle through a subscription based system?  Perhaps it’s those money sucking colleges – have they blocked blackballed Amazon?  Yes, the same ones that willingly provide your information to credit card companies as if you weren’t in enough debt from school loans.  No official details as of yet, but one analyst claims to have gotten the word from Amazon’s management team that they’re building a stripped down version of the Kindle e-book reader.

[Vnunet]