Ground-breaking Technology, Seamless Service and a Broad Range of Available
Content Combine to Revolutionize Reading
LAS VEGAS, Jan. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- (CES Booth #14200) -- Destined to
transform the electronic reading experience, the lightweight Sony(R) Reader is
expected to bring a whole new meaning to "book smart."
Coupling an innovative electronic paper display with precise one-handed
navigation and a stylish, durable design, the Sony Reader will allow active
readers to carry as much as they want to read whether they are traveling on
the road or just around the corner.
Roughly the size of a paperback novel, but thinner than most (about .5
inches thin), the device can store hundreds of books in internal memory with
the addition of an optional Memory Stick(R) or Secure Digital (SD) flash
memory card.
The Reader can also store and display personal documents in Adobe PDF
format, favorite web content like blogs or news feeds, and JPEG photos. With a
seemingly limitless battery life equivalent to roughly 7,500 page turns, avid
readers can devour a dozen bestsellers plus War and Peace without ever having
to recharge.
"In recent years millions of people have become comfortable downloading
and enjoying digital media, including eBooks. But until now, there has not
been a good device on which to read," said Ron Hawkins, senior vice president
of Personal Reader Systems marketing at Sony Electronics. "Our research has
shown that people are looking for a device designed exclusively for immersive
reading. The Sony Reader with its electronic paper display, thin format and
extraordinary battery life fits the bill."
Paper-Like Display
Part of the magic behind the Reader's viewing experience is the high-
resolution electronic paper display technology, which delivers a realistic
print look that rivals traditional paper. The result is readable text and
graphics from a variety of viewing angles, even outdoors in bright sunlight.
Since there is no backlight, readers will not experience the fatigue
associated with long term reading on an LCD. And, as the technology renders
each page as a static image, there is no flicker or constant screen refresh to
add to eyestrain.
Users with impaired or limited eyesight will enjoy the Reader's fully
adjustable text size, which can be magnified or reduced on demand.
Connect to Thousands of Titles
Sony Connect(R) will support the launch of the Sony Reader by providing an
online store integrated into an easy-to-use desktop application called the
Connect Reader. The software will allow users to search and browse through
thousands of downloadable eBooks, manage purchased eBooks and easily transfer
them to the Sony Reader device. At the outset, the Connect Store will offer a
broad selection of fiction and non-fiction, bestsellers, well-known authors,
classics and more, with rich descriptive content in the form of author
biographies, expert book reviews and reader commentary.
Additionally, the Connect Store will offer online content sourced via RSS
(Really Simple Syndication).
"Reading books is a vital part of the overall reading experience, which
also increasingly consists of written content from online news sources, blogs
and other forms of web content," said Lee Ali Shirani, vice president of Sony
Connect. "Connect will allow users to take eBooks, news feeds and other
online media and enjoy that portably, thereby making the Reader the portable
device for all things text."
Major Support from Publishers
Booklovers will applaud the broad selection of eBooks already available
for purchase and download to the Reader device. Many of the world's leading
book publishers, including Random House, HarperCollins Publishers,
Penguin-Putnam, Simon & Schuster and Time Warner Book Group will support
Sony's e-reading initiative.
Many independent and specialty publishers will also have eBook titles
available for purchase and download to the Sony Reader. Manga comics and
graphic novels from innovative houses such as TOKYOPOP are rendered
beautifully on the device and will also be available for download.
The Sony Reader will be available in the U.S. this spring and can be
purchased at select retailers, online at SonyStyle.com or at SonyStyle(R)
stores (http://www.sonystyle.com/retail) in high-end fashion malls around the
country. More information about Sony Reader is available at
http://www.sony.com/reader.
SOURCE Sony Electronics Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.sony.com/reader
http://www.sonystyle.com/retail (SNE)
CONTACT:
Valerie Motis of Sony Electronics Inc.,
+1-858-942-8016, valerie.motis@am.sony.com; or Bennett Kleinberg
or Virginia Anagnos, both of Goodman Media International,
+1-212-576-2700
NOTE TO EDITORS: For additional information about the Sony
Reader, consumers can call (888) 315-SONY, or visit Sony's web
site at: http://www.sony.com/reader. For complete specifications
and digital images, members of the news media are invited to
visit Sony Electronics' news and information web site at
http://www.sony.com/news.
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