The newest premium eBook reader, the Sony PRS-950

Get the lowest price on the Sony PRS-950 here!  And check out our review below!

The Sony PRS-950 is the company’s leading eBook reader as the second generation of the Sony Daily Edition. It has several more advanced features than its siblings the PRS-350 and PRS-650, the most important among them being wireless connectivity i.e. it offers both Wi-Fi and 3G connections. Its Wi-Fi connectivity enables you to browse the internet using the new web browser while its free 3G services allow you to browse Sony’s eBook store to get the news, new releases or any other eBook title wirelessly.

The Sony PRS-950 also features an improved glare-free 7” touchscreen with a new Pearl display that makes reading easier under any lighting conditions.  This is due to the latest incarnation of the Sony Reader Daily Edition having the extra protective coating layer on the screen removed to greatly decrease reflectivity issues.  Also, NeoNode’s zForce infrared technology has made its touchscreen very responsive, something previously unavailable with e-ink screen technology.  Lastly, for its size the Sony Daily Edition is very compact and light, weighing in at 9.5 ounces.

Let’s have a look on the specifications of the Sony Daily Edition PRS-950:

• 7” e-ink Pearl display touchscreen with 16 levels of gray scale and 1024X600 pixels.
• Built-in 2GB storage. Also gives you a SD card slot & Pro Duo card slot.
• Stores around 1200 e-books.
• Regular newspaper delivery.
• Built-in WiFi as well as 3G connectivity.
• WiFi works for web browsing.
• Supports the Adobe ePub and PDF, BBeB, TXT, RTF, JPEG, PNG, GIF, BMP, MP3, AAC formats.
• Features 2 English dictionaries with 10 translations.

And now some of the feature highlights of the Sony Reader Daily Edition PRS-950:

• Impressive Touchscreen – This is the latest feature of the Sony Daily Edition e-readers. Its high contrast and much darker blacks make it as easy to read as an actual book. Coupled with the infrared touch sense technology and reduced glare, this really makes the Sony eBook readers stand out. A stylus is also provided for using the touchscreen.
• Web Browser – The Sony PRS-950 makes its move into the “premium” category with the inclusion of a web browser (only accessable through WiFi, not 3G, same as the Kindle and Nook). Sites can be loaded in either web or mobile versions and the results show that regular sites are easily readable. You can even bookmark your favorite URLs with the help of an onscreen keyboard. Activating hyperlinks is also very easy with the touchscreen.
• Smart Text Handling – Adding memos, notes or scribbles is a breeze with an interface that straddles the line between an ereader and a 7″ tablet.  Bookmarks, built-in dictionary, manual controls for adjusting the contrasts, hyperlinks activation, creating, managing and deleting collections , etc. all give the Sony Daily Edition the feel of more than just an eBook reader.
• Exclusive Size – The Sony PRS-950 is the only available e-ink eBook reader with a 7-inch display, perfectly balanced between a portable pocket model like the PRS-350 and the unwieldy 9.7” Kindle DX or iPad.

Here’s our quick pros & cons list for the Sony PRS-950:

Pros

• Very compact given the large screen size
• Glare free touchscreen
• Wireless connections with WiFi & 3G connectivity
• Supports EPUB

Cons

• Minor limitations with the web browser
• Stylus is unnecessarily large

Verdict

The Sony Daily Edition PRS-950 is an advanced touchscreen eBook reader featuring wireless connectivity. Its metallic looks are very appealing and it’s light and easy to handle. Possessing a unique feature set, it’s a great, full-featured ereader for just about anyone.

Buy the Sony PRS-950 here!

Recently announced at the 2010 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, the 11.5-inch Skiff e-reader is thought to be the largest device in CES. Perfect for magazines and newspapers, this big display on the Skiff is almost two inches larger than our favorite Kindle DX. The next-generation flexible screen at an impressive 1,600 x 1,200 resolution eliminates the fragility of glass at the same time making the Skiff the first e-reader optimized for newspaper and magazine content. What makes this e-reader to be unique it is not only its size and  highest-resolution display. The Skiff e-reader is the first device to integrate the upcoming Skiff Service. As a digital content providing company, Skiff offers a wide selection of newspapers, magazines, books and blogs from different publishers available for delivery via the Web. The device is also designed  to work on a variety of platforms such as the Palm Pre and a Viliv MID.

The Skiff e-reader is connected via Sprint’s 3G network and has a Wi-Fi option. You can also load your content via USB port. Newspapers, magazines and e-books- all are available for Skiff users. While reading a content users can annotate, make notes and share the content with others.  The interface of the Skiff is set to be easy used and turn pages with the swipe of a finger. The touchscreen display allows also to swip vertically changing the text sizes. The e-reader features three buttons and clickwheel along the right side of the frame.  Weighing in just over one pound the Skiff e-reader is lightweight and easy to hold.

The Skiff comes equipped with 4GB of internal memory with  support of a SDHC memory card. The battery is efficient; it  can be charged once a week if the device is used on average.Other features included in the package are  built-in speaker and 3.5 mm standard audio jack. Unfortunately there is no information about  pricing and  release date yet.

Pocket produced the first mass-market, pocket-sized paperback books in America in early 1939 and revolutionized the publishing industry. Pocket is still known for publishing books on management skills, self-development, customer care, and all aspects of business and management. There are over 100 different titles of e-books to choose from the Pocket list which are ideal for continuing professional development.

The newest in the PocketBook line the PocketBook 360 is a 5 inch e-book reader with a terrific ergonomic design featuring the newest processor and Vizplex display for faster page turns and more enjoyable reading. Also known as 360 Degree Feedback, it is one of the most powerful experiences a person can have in the workplace, according to Tony Peacock the author of the 360 Degree Feedback Pocketbook.

The PocketBook 360 model uses a 5’’ third generation Vizplex electronic display with G-sensor, allowing automatic orientation of pages in portrait or landscape mode. Smaller than the 6-inch standard for most eReaders it has nonetheless a resolution of 600×800 and is capable of displaying up to 8 shades of gray. Controls placed on the side of the unit combined with a position sensor allow for holding and control in either hand or in landscape mode.

The 360 Degree PB is running on a Samsung S3C2440 AL-40 processor with 400MHz, and Linux operating system. The battery is powered by Li-Polymer (1000 mAh) which lasts without being recharged up to 8000 page turnings. The eReader is equipped with 4MB of RAM expandable to 32GB. The PocketBook 360 comes with 512MB internal memory which can be supported a microSD slot up to 2 GB. For connectivity the PocketBook 360 has no Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or cellular 3G connectivity– you’re stuck with the USB cord.

Communication possibilities include the availability of Mini-USB port, there is a slot for microSD, microSDHC memory card. When connected to PC this particular device is recognized as a USB-device, which allows easy transfers of electronic books to the device. The PocketBook 360 can read FB2, TXT, PDF, RTF, HTML, PRC, CHM, DJVU, DOC, EPUB and TCR formats and supports JPG, BMP, PNG and TIF image formats. The languages on the book are German, English, Belorussian, Ukrainian, Russian, and Hebrew. The main page is available a list of the last 2 open books, a larger list can cause short-term pressing the power button.

Of the additional functions of PocketBook the 360 Degree features a set of mini-games, the possibility of reading a computer preloaded with RSS feeds, calendar and notes. Five games are included in the package: Sudoku, Chess, Solitair and Ship Battle. The PocketBook 360 offers also users to download English-Russian dictionary along with other dictionaries from the developer’s site.

The PB e-book measures 6.6 inch x 5.5 inch x 0.39 inch and weights just 150 grams. The design of the case and layout of the controls the PB360 was produced exclusively for the PocketBook Company and comes in color black or ivory color.  This stylish 360 Degree can be a great choice for e-book readers and also for PB fans.

The PocketBook 360 can be found at:

• Dulin’s Books for $239 USD
• PocketBook for $259 USD

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If you haven’t heard of Astak, they are based out of San Jose, CA and manufacture cameras, DVRs…and now lucky for us…ebook readers!

The Astak 6″ EZ Reader is the North American name for the Jinke Hanlin V3 (a Chinese company).

My favorite feature of the EZ Reader is the fact that it has native support for an enormous list of file formats:  PDF, TXT, RTF, EPUB, LIT, PPT, WOLF, DOC, CHM, FB2, PRC/MOBI, HTML, DJVU, MP3, TIFF, JPG, GIF, BMP, PNG, RAR, and ZIP.

Box Contents

The 6″ EZ Reader comes in a well-designed box that is covered with all the jazz you’d expect from a portable ebook reader.

Inside, you find an instruction manual, an AC adapter with USB input, a USB cable, earphones, and of course the device itself in a nice leather case.

Already I’m happy to see that Astak hasn’t decided to use any proprietary cables or adapters (cough…Apple…cough) and has made everything as simple as possible.

Charging

As soon as I unpacked the EZ Reader I plugged it into a wall socket.   There’s a small indicator light on the top left that indicates how charged the battery is (either yellow or green).  It turned to green (full charge) quite quickly (less than an hour), but I’m guessing that the battery was pre-charged when it was manufactured so it likely had some life in it already.

Design

As you can see from the picture above, the EZ Reader has a black frame with buttons along the bottom and side.  The USB port is in the bottom and there’s an SD card expansion slot on the top.  Without even reading the user manual I could easily figure out what all the buttons did.   Astak really did a good job making the unit simple and easy-to-use!

The screen uses eInk technology so that means it’s easy on the eyes and can be viewed in direct sunlight, unlike many other electrical devices.

At 7 ounces and (7.2″ x 4.7″ x .4″), the EZ Reader is of average size and weight for it’s class of 6″ devices.   The battery can reportedly handle 8,000 page turns on a single charge, which is also pretty average.  However, the battery is removable / replaceable, which is great!

There’s 512 MB onboard storage, which the average reader should find adequate, but if you want more you can plug a 4GB SD card into the expansion slot.  Very handy!

The leather case that it comes with is well built and there’s magnets to help the ebook reader snap into place. Clever!

My only complaint about the design is that the body of the EZ Reader looks and feels a bit “cheap”.  It’s not as polished and “flashy” as the Amazon Kindle.  But it seems durable enough – I imagine it could withstand being repeatedly dropped or generally just treated poorly.

Navigation

The buttons of the EZ Reader are well thought out.  The menu system uses a folder system to organize ebooks, and the numbered buttons at the bottom of the unit are used to navigate through the folders and select files.   To turn pages, there’s two buttons on the side, but if you’d prefer two of the bottom numbered buttons can also function as page turners.

The “zoom” functionality is quite powerful and has 4 or 5 different settings.  Unfortunately images don’t zoom but that’s not entirely important for the purposes of a portable ebook reader.

The time between page turns leaves a bit to be desired (approx 3 seconds).  Hopefully Astak improves the hardware for the next model.

Computer Interface

Hooking up the EZ Reader to a computer is simple!  It’s just a matter of plugging in a USB cable.  No extra  software or drivers necessary (at least not with Windows XP).  A new removable drive gets automatically mapped in “My Computer”, and then all you need to do is copy your ebook files into it.

I tried a PDF ebook because those are the most common.   It copied quickly and looked great on the screen of the EZ Reader.   As I said before, I’m a huge fan of devices that use standard cables, formats, and interfaces, all of which the EZ Reader excels at.

Conclusion

The Astak EZ Reader is priced fairly competitively ($235), is easy-to-use and navigate, and can handle nearly every ebook file format known to man.  It’s not the prettiest, fastest, lightest, or most feature-packed portable ebook reader, but for the price it’s hard to beat!

If you want the flexibility of being able to read any type of ebook you find online, give the EZ Reader serious consideration.

Plus, did I mention that you can get it at Buy.com?   How convenient!

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The BeBook was released in late 2007.  Since then it has been rebranded and sold as different names in countries around the world – lBook, DigiBook Reader, Apollo-Hanlin, Walkbook, Papyre, HanLin eBook, Astak EZ Reader, and Eco Reader.

But the company who created this portable ebook reader, HanLin, has been in the game since the year 2000, so they definitely aren’t a fly-by-night startup.

The BeBook is of average size and weight for an electronic reading device.  It use eInk technology for its screen display and has buttons on the bottom and side to navigate and control the display.

Specs

• Weight - 7 oz
• Thickness - 0.4″
• Size – 7.25″ x 4.75″
• Screen Size - 6″
• Battery Life - 9000 page turns
• Storage – 512 MB  internal + SD external slot
• Price - $280

The BeBook comes stock with a leather case, which is a welcome change from many other portable ebook readers that require you to pay extra for this accessory.  Upon turning on the BeBook, the first thing I decide to play with is the interface.  There’s a Menu button, “return” button, and 10 number keys.  In order to choose a menu item or select a book it’s as simple as pushing the corresonding button.  Not very difficult!

You can also move through pages by pressing the appropriate button on the left side of the device.

Where the BeBook really shines it with all the different file formats it can handle.  A heck of a lot more than most competitors, that’s for sure!   The list includes:  PDF, TXT, RTF, EPUB, LIT, PPT, WOLF, DOC, CHM, FB2, PRC/MOBI, HTML, DJVU, MP3, TIFF, JPG, GIF, BMP, PNG, RAR, ZIP.   Wow.

It has a decent battery life, and with the external SD slot it’s doubtful you’ll ever fill it up completely with books.

Summary

The BeBook is a pretty darn good device.  It’s simple to use, works exactly as advertised, and it’s obvious from its evolution that HanLin is willing to continue its improvement in future versions.  Also, it has excellent support for many different ebook formats.  It you want a decently priced ebook reader that doesn’t force you to use a proprietary format (like Sony and Amazon), you’d likely be satisfied with the BeBook.

If you’d like to read more or buy a BeBook, you can here.

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For those of you that find the the Sony Reader too clunky, or the Amazon Kindle DX too large and cumbersome, this may just be the ideal portable ebook reader for you.  Its very affordable price tag is bound to attract a lot of customers too.

The Interead Cool-er (yes, the name of the device is actually hyphenated) is small, light, and has the look and feel of an Apple iPod.  It even has a circular navigation button that’s similar to the one on an iPod.  I guess it’s always a safe bet to mimic a company that is well known for their trendy and eye-catching product design.

Specs

• Weight - 6.3 oz
• Thickness - 0.4″
• Size – 7″ x 5″
• Screen Size - 6″
• Battery Life - 8000 page turns
• Storage – 1 GB internal + SD external slot
• Price - $250

The E Ink Vizplex screen mimics a matte book page and many owners have said they can read for hours without feeling any eye strain.  A side button also lets you flick between portrait and landscape to suit your reading style or if the document your viewing requires a different layout.

With its 6″ screen size, this means you need to turn the page twice as often as you would with a typical paperback but most people find that easy to adapt to.

The Cool-er can hold around 300 books (that’s approximate based on the 1 GB internal storage).  While this is far less than the Amazon Kindle 2 and DX, do most people even read that many books in their lifetime?

You can use the Cool-er to play audiobooks or music in MP3 format off the SD card.  The eReader also lacks wireless connectivity which means all downloads have to be done via a USB connection.  You download books onto your computer before moving them to the Cool-er. There is no automatic syncing like with the iPod.

Here’s a funny quote…Neil Jones the founder of Interread said,  “Cool-er is designed – and priced – for people who love to read and share books.  ‘This is the first ereader that people won’t be embarrassed to be seen with in public.”  You know what, I can definitely see his point!  I have noticed people staring when I’ve pulled out my Kindle DX on the subway.

Books can be bought from Interead’s own online bookshop (coolerbooks.com), or from other sites that sell ebooks.

Summary

While the Cool-er isn’t the most feature-packed electronic reading device, that’s not its purpose.  It’s supposed to be an ebook reader for the masses.  And it does that well.  It’s quite affordable, well designed, and includes enough hardware and features for the average person.  Heck, it even comes in 8 cool colors!

Keep in mind though, if you’re looking for something to read larger media like newspapers and magazines, or if you simply must have the latest technology like a touchscreen or WiFi, perhaps the Cool-er isn’t for you.

If you’d like to read more or buy a Cool-er you can here.

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The Kindle 2 was released by Amazon on Feb 23, 2009 and has many improvements over the original Kindle.

These improvements include:

• Better battery life
• 20% faster page refresh speed
• Text-to-speech
• Thickness reduced from 0.8 to 0.36 inches
• Storage; can hold 1500 books compared to 200

Details:

The Kindle 2 would be suitable for you, if:

1. You commute to work on a train or bus and enjoy spending time reading
2. You travel a lot and are fed up with having to purchase printed books at the airport (not to mention how much space they take up)
3. You just plain read a lot of books!
4. You’re a student and want to save money on textbooks (who wouldn’t? )

Various opinions from Amazon users:

Ben C. Hobson - I love reading the newspaper every day, but reporters love to push the boundaries of our vocabularies, but the Kindle 2 dictionary is right there to keep us reading, and make sure we know exactly what we are reading so we don’t misinterpret anything. The improved dictionary lookup is amazing.

Gadget Queen – I have a tremendous volume of Kindle content (public domain and Amazon). I discovered that I could not directly transfer from my computer backup for Kindle 1 to the new K2 (why my backup is on the computer is addressed later in this review). All my content had to be reformatted by Amazon and re-downloaded from their site specifically for and to the Kindle 2 (I am NOT in a Whispernet area). Major pain. Major time-investment. Major inconvenience. Major turn-off.

Kacheek – Sleeker look and feel (it feels solid in your hands), sharper screen, no longer accidentally depressing the next page button by accident and having to find your place in the book again…you can read about these from various sources)
- Page loads are much faster. I can feel that the delay between pages is much less. Only issue is I need to recalibrate now–in general, I try to anticipate how much time it will take the next page to load, and when I’m two lines from the bottom, I would hit the next page button. Now I need to push the button later.
- Dictionary is improved. Now you can highlight a word and it automatically gives you a definition at the bottom of the screen.

I hope this review was helpful!  I personally like reading as many reviews as I can before purchasing a product, so I’d recommend you find out more by reading Kindle 2 reviews at Amazon.

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The Sony Reader PRS-505 was released by Sony on Oct 2, 2007.   It has been a big success since, primarily because there hasn’t been a whole lot of competition.

Specs

• Weight - 9 oz (250 g)
• Thickness - 0.3″
• Size – 6.9″ x 4.8″
• Screen Size - 6″
• Battery Life - 7500 page turns
• Storage – 256 MB internal + MMC/SD/SDHC/Memory Stick Pro Duo expansion slots
• Price - $250

The screen on the PRS-505 is very easy on the eyes. This is likely due to a 20% improvement in contrast from the last Reader (the 505).

Sony also made improvements to the controls, which have been rearranged to that the menu list is aligned with the buttons.  This definitely improves the usability of the PRS-505.

Direct page access is now possible simply by pushing a number button.  The numbers cycle around the three digits shown on the screen, so if you accidentally select the wrong button just keep pushing the page number.  Again, this a noticeable improvemnet over the previous general Reader.

Here’s a few more features that Sony added new to the PRS-505:

• USB mass storage – The internal memory can be accessed just like any mass storage device.
• Menu power off – You can now turn the device completely off simply by using the menus.
• Updated design – Comparing the 505 and 500 side by side, it’s obvious that the 505 looks like a newer, more attractive design.

Summary

The PRS-505 is a huge improvement over its older sibling.   The better contrast ratio, the improved button design, and the addition of USB are a few changes that make a large difference in user experience and enjoyment.  You’d be hard pressed to find a better portable ebook reader for the price.

Editor’s Note – [June 2009] The rating of the PRS-505 has been updated to reflect its comparison against current ebook readers.

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