SONY BRINGS DIGITAL READING EXPERIENCE TO LIFE WITH THE GLOBAL LAUNCH OF ITS
STYLISH NEW LINE OF READERS
New Pocket and Touch Editions Feature Sony's Unique Touch Screens with Anti-Glare Technology for the Optimal Digital Book Reading Experience
TORONTO, Sept. 1 /CNW/ - Continuing to provide book lovers with the most natural, immersive digital reading experience, Sony today announced the global launch of its beautifully-designed new line of Reader™ digital books including the new Reader Pocket Edition™ and Reader Touch Edition™. The new line of Readers feature a host of new design and technology enhancements that make them the perfect device for any reader's lifestyle.
The new Reader models bring a fresh level of flare to e-reading with colourful, elegant aluminum designs and all new, highly responsive touch screens. In addition to the new devices, Sony announced development of a set of applications for iPhone and the Android Marketplace to extend the Reader experience across multiple portable devices.
"The success of our previous line of Readers illustrates book lovers' demand for feature choices and full touch screens on their digital reading devices," said Tim Algate, Product Manager- Reader Digital Books at Sony of Canada Ltd. "Today, we're answering their call by providing an entire line of stylish, full touch screen devices with a variety of features and price points."
What's New
The new generation of Reader™ digital books by Sony builds on the popularity of last year's line. For 2010 Sony has restyled all of the devices, reduced their size and weight, and made new, innovative touch screens available across the line.
- Touch Screen for Everyone
- Improved E Ink Displays
- A Reader Pocket Edition that Will Wow You
- A New Reader Touch Edition: More of Everything Readers Love
- Additional New Features Across the Entire Line
- More Content on More Devices
- Based on the popularity of the full touch screen on its previous Touch Edition Readers, Sony equipped the entire line of new Readers with improved, optical touch screen technology designed specifically for digital reading*. The new, first-to-market technology enhances ease of use and increases reading clarity, creating an immersive reading experience for consumers. Book lovers can now escape into their favourite books with the lightest swipe of a finger or stylus pen.
- All three devices utilize E Ink® Pearl electronic paper displays, which delivers a paper-like display that is readable in direct sunlight. The screens offer a high contrast ratio with 16 levels of greyscale, ensuring that text and images are crisp and easy to read.
- The new Reader Pocket Edition is the thinnest, lightest e-reader on the market, sports a five-inch, full touch screen and a smart, lightweight design that's easy to slip into a purse or jacket pocket for convenient, on-the-go reading. It is available in chic colours, including silver and pink. It has 2 GB of onboard memory, which lets you carry up to 1,200 of your favorite books, and retails for $199.99.
- The new Reader Touch Edition features a six-inch full touch screen and an intuitive design with 2 GB of onboard memory. In addition, it offers dual expansion slots for up to 32GB of additional memory, and the ability to play MP3 and AAC audio files. It's available in black, silver or red for $249.99.
- New features allow for easier reading of PDF or personal documents. Intuitive content zoom, adjustable contrast and brightness control, as well as automatic multiple page creation will make documents designed for a standard sheet of paper easier to read on a smaller screen. Also, personalized standby screen options will allow users to use their favourite photos as a screen saver and the collections functionality will allow them to group their favorite reads.
- In addition, the new Reader line is more global than ever, offering users the ability to look up words and phrases with the built in New Oxford American and Oxford Dictionary of English eDictionaries, as well as 10 translation dictionaries in languages such as French, German, Spanish, Italian and Dutch. Wordsmiths across the globe can now create "word logs" to track the words they've looked up in both chronological and book order, while quickly switching between dictionaries.
- In addition to announcing a new generation of Readers, Sony has also made several changes and improvements to Reader™ Store. More than 1 million titles are available in Canada. The store's Library Finder application continues to provide easy access to local public libraries to borrow eBooks for free. To make choosing a book easier, the New York Times Bestsellers list will be featured alongside the Reader Store's bestsellers. Sony remains committed to providing an extensive offering of periodical content for single issue purchase or subscription within the newsstand area of the store.
By next month, integration with Goodreads will permit the inclusion of reader reviews from that site.
- With Reader™ Desktop Edition for Apple's Mac OS X and Microsoft® Windows® and Reader™ Mobile Edition for Apple iPhone and Google Android-based smartphones, users can now synchronize their reading among multiple devices. These free applications, available later this year, will offer an intuitive digital reading experience with an elegant interface and access to Sony's Reader Store for browsing and purchasing content. The desktop application also includes the ability to easily manage content directly on the Reader Pocket Edition and Reader Touch Edition models.
The Reader Pocket and Touch Editions, as well as available accessories such as AC adaptors, cases and covers with reading lights, are available now at SonyStyle.ca, SonyStyle stores, and selected retailers across Canada.
Sony of Canada Reader Revolution 2010 - Who is that Man in the Window?
Starting September 7th, Sony of Canada is hosting an extended "read-in" with speed reader and two-time Guinness World Record™ holder for memory Dave Farrow, who will serve as a designated reader in the newly renovated Sony Centre for the Performing Arts in downtown Toronto. Dave will be reading digital books on the new Reader Touch Edition™ and setting new speed reading records for 17 days. Mr. Farrow will be living in the Sony Centre vestibule beside the box office from September 7 - 24th. For each book he reads during this time, Sony will donate two Reader™ Pocket Edition models to public libraries across Canada through the Sony Canada Charitable Foundation.
Farrow, a speed reader and a two-time Guinness World Record™ holder for memory is one of the foremost experts in the field of memorization. On September 7th at 11:00am, Mr. Farrow will be attempting a world record for the fastest reading of one of Shakespeare's works to kick off the 17 day event.
Beginning September 7th, consumers are invited to view Farrow's progress and additional world record attempts online at http://apps.Facebook.com/ReaderBySony. They can also visit the newly renovated Sony Centre for the Performing Arts in person at One Front Street East in Toronto at the south-east corner of Yonge and Front Streets, where Dave Farrow will be reading and living from September 7 through 24th. Consumers who visit the Sony Centre can receive an in-person demonstration of the new Reader Pocket and Touch Editions, "relief-read" for Dave Farrow, enter to win great prizes, and enjoy free frozen yogurt bars from 10:30-1pm daily.
About Sony of Canada Ltd.
Established in 1955, Sony of Canada Ltd. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Corporation, of Tokyo, Japan, a world leader in High Definition. Sony provides end-to-end solutions through products that include the market-leading Blu-ray Disc™ players, BRAVIA® televisions, Cyber-shot® digital cameras, Handycam® Camcorders, VAIO® computers, broadcast cameras, IPELA security cameras and video conferencing and many more products that deliver the true entertainment experience.
Sony is one of the most comprehensive entertainment companies in the world with a portfolio that includes electronics, music, movies, games and online businesses.
With headquarters in Toronto, sales offices in Vancouver and Montreal and distribution centres in Coquitlam, British Columbia, and Whitby, Ontario, approximately 1,000 employees support a network of more than 500 authorized dealers and 62 Sony Style retail locations across Canada.
Sony Canada is devoted to the betterment of children, the environment, and the community. Through the Sony Canada Charitable Foundation (SCCF), Sony Canada aims to maximize its support of charitable and philanthropic organizations, including Make-A-Wish® Canada, the United Way of Canada and Earth Day Canada.
*Optical touch screen technology customized for Sony and licensed from Neonode Inc.
For further information:
Tony Smith
VP- Marketing Communications
Sony of Canada Ltd.
Tel: (416) 495-3707
[email protected]
Elaine Nichols
Corporate Communications Coordinator
Sony of Canada Ltd.
(416) 495-3229
[email protected]
Share this article