Sony

Laptop has posted a review of the Sony Reader Daily edition. This is a 7" touch E Ink reader with free 3G (AT&T) costs $399. And they're not too happy...

The good things:

• Simple and clear interface
• Fast page turns

The bad things:

• Sluggish, sometimes it takes a few seconds between screen taps and a response. Sometimes there was simply no response to taps or swipes at all
• Display is a bit 'dull', because of the touch layer
• It's slow compared to the Kindle or the Nook
• More expensive than the competition
• no ePub support

Freescale announced today a new processor called i.MX508 targeted for e-readers. The processor is based on an ARM A8 core and includes an E Ink controller. Freescale says that the chip is fast (800Mhz), efficient and cheap (less than $10 in large volumes). In fact they say that this chip can enable $150 e-readers.

The new chip is faster than Freescale's previous e-reader chips (used in the Amazon Kindle and Sony's Readers, for example) which can result in faster page refresh and can enable new features. As the chip includes an E Ink controller, USB and NAND memory it can help reduce the price of the final product.

Interestingly, the chip includes a special e-reader power mode, in which it can turn-off when users are reading a page to save power, and only operate at full-speed when users want to turn a page or perform an operation. 

The i.MX508 is expected to sample in 3Q 2010, and freescale (together with E Ink) are offering a dev-platform (called SABRE) which costs $1995 and is available now.

There's an interesting interview with Sony's Fujio Noguchi, who supervises Sony's e-book business as a deputy president of the Digital Reading Business Division of Sony Electronics Inc. Here are the highlights:

• The new Reader is selling very good, in fact it's the best seller in SonyStyle (Sony's US online store).
• The Reader Touch Edition is the best seller amongst their readers (it costs $299).
• Sony knows that books can be read in many platform. That's why they focus on readability. They focus on electronic paper, and will not include color until the quality of the display is good enough. In fact they do not have any plans for a color e-reader because they are waiting for a color E Ink like display.

Liquavista is showing their color e-paper display at CES. They say they expect product announcements in 2010/2011. Here's a nice video showing how it compares to an E Ink display in a Sony e-reader:

Via E-Ink-Info.com

Sony's Reader Daily Edition is now shipping - the initial batch of pre-orders is shipping today. If you haven't pre-ordered, you'll have to wait till January 15th to get your reader. The Daily Edition has got a 7" E Ink display and free 3G wireless (AT&T). It costs 399$.

Via Engadget

Sony is continuing to add content partners for their upcoming Reader daily edition. Sony has signed up 16 new publishers, including The Dallas Morning News, The New York Times, The Baltimore Sun, and The Denver Post.

Via PCMagazine

The New York Post has signed an exclusive deal with Sony for digital reading devices. It means that the content on these magazines will only be offered to Sony e-reader users. Sony has also signed deals with the Wall Street Journal and MarketWatch - these won't be exclusive to Sony, but will offer 'special editions' that will only be available on Sony's readers.

Via Engadget