Sony Reader Daily Edition shipping now
It's taken a while, but Sony's Reader Daily Edition ebook device has finally begun shipping. Announced back in August, the Daily Edition has a 7-inch E Ink touchscreen and packs integrated 3G using AT&T's network for mobile ebook downloads. According to what Sony have told us, pre-orders placed as of December 20th will be shipping out within the next 24-48 hours, hopefully in time for holiday gift-giving.
Like Barnes & Noble and Amazon, Sony are offering ebook titles through their own wireless store, in this case the simply named Reader Store. Sony have also partnered with various libraries to offer Reader Daily Edition users access to loaned library titles, which can be checked out for 29 days before automatically deleting themselves.
The Sony Reader Daily Edition is available now, priced at $399.99. That includes on-device 3G access with no monthly subscription, 1.6GB of onboard storage and not one but two memory card slots. It supports EPUB, ACS4, PDF, DOC and other formats, together with AAC and MP3 audio files, and the touchscreen can be used for navigation as well as making handwritten annotations.
Press Release:
SONY'S READER DAILY EDITION NOW SHIPPINGSAN DIEGO – December 21, 2009 – Delivering on its goal of getting the newest edition of its Reader family into customers' hands for the holidays, Sony today announced the Reader Daily Edition™ is now shipping. Pre-orders placed on SonyStyle.com through December 20 should begin arriving to customers within the next 48 hours.
The Reader Daily Edition has garnered intense interest since its unveiling earlier this year, with pre-orders exceeding expectations. The device gives consumers wireless access to Sony's Reader™ Store from most of the U.S., via AT&T's 3G mobile broadband network. Book lovers can browse, purchase and download books as well as select newspapers on the go. There are no monthly fees or transaction charges for the basic wireless connectivity and users still have the option to side load personal documents or content from other compatible sites via USB.
The Reader Daily Edition is optimized for newspapers and offers periodical content in an elegant, easy-to-read format. The Reader Daily Edition's responsive, menu-driven, seven-inch touch screen lets readers quickly and intuitively navigate newspapers, turn pages, highlight text and take notes with the swipe of a finger or by using the included stylus pen.
The following newspapers are currently available for wireless delivery to the Reader: The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Los Angeles Times and Chicago Tribune. Sony has agreements in place with a host of additional magazine and newspaper publishers, including exclusive offerings from The Wall Street Journal and New York Post, that will be available soon.
Key Facts
· The new Reader Daily Edition is now shipping and pre-orders placed on SonyStyle.com through December 20 should begin arriving to customers' homes before Christmas.
· The Reader Daily Edition provides wireless access to Sony's Reader Store from most of the U.S.
· Wireless access is provided by AT&T's 3G mobile broadband network.
· The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Los Angeles Times and Chicago Tribune are currently available on the Reader Daily Edition.
· Sony has agreements in place with a host of additional magazine and newspaper publishers that will be available soon
· The Reader Daily Edition's seven-inch wide, full touch screen display provides intuitive navigation and comfortable layout of content, including newspapers and magazines, in portrait or landscape orientation.
For more details on the Reader Daily Edition please visit sonystyle.com; Sony's online destination for book lovers – wordsmoveme.com; or the Sony Electronics Community, which includes a corporate blog, video, photos, polls and profiles.
Quotes:
Steve Haber, president of Sony Electronics' Digital Reading Business Division: "We're thrilled to fulfill initial orders of the Sony Reader Daily Edition for the holidays given the high demand. We now have the most comprehensive family of devices on the market, the greatest access to free and affordable eBooks through the Reader Store and our affiliated ecosystem, and now round out our Reader offering with a wireless device that lets consumers purchase and download daily content on the go."
Links:
Shop at SonyStyle: www.sonystyle.com
Sony Reader site: www.sony.com/reader
Sony News site: www.sony.com/news
Words Move Me site: www.wordsmoveme.com
Sony Reader Store: readerstore.sony.com.