Gadgetell | Tech News, Reviews, and Interesting Things

The Sony Reader seems to have found a nice way to get an edge over the Amazon Kindle, while they may both be good devices its hard to really think that they are really hitting the mainstream market. However it seems that Sony may soon be changing that fact with the introduction of the Sony Reader into Target stores. As of now the Sony Reader PRS-505 is available at Target at both retail locations and online. The Reader is retailing for $299.99 and for a limited time will come with a coupon for a copy of “The Other Queen” by Philippa Gregory.

MORE »

It was only a few weeks back that Sony announced they were opening up the Reader, however for those that currently own one of the original PRS-500 models there is a pretty big drawback.

The update will not be offered for the PRS-500, and users would have to upgrade to a newer PRS-505 in order to receive the EPUB format support. Of course Sony is attempting to make up for it, but at the same time they are really just enticing you to buy a new Reader.

They are offering a $100 credit for your current PRS-500, which means that you will have to pick up a new PRS-505 for $299, and then ship your old Reader into Sony to receive your credit.

Long story short, if you are a PRS-500 owner you can get a new PRS-505 Reader for $199.

I guess depending on how much the EPUB format will offer you personally, this deal may or may not be worth it. Of course, if you were considering an upgrade anyway, it may not be a bad time, a quick check on some used PRS-500 Readers shows me that $100 is not all that bad of a deal, a little lower than what I found on eBay, but it would at least take away the hassle of listing it and selling it.

Read [SonyStyle] Via [jkOnTheRun]

• Amazon’s deal of the day: PS3, NBA 09 and Blu-ray remote for $400
• Google’s Lively ain’t lookin’ so lively now
• Playstation Store Update for the week of November 20-26, 2008

Sony has just announced that they are opening up their Sony Reader to be compatible with other booksellers. An update, that is expected to be available today will allow Sony Reader owners to purchase books in the protected EPUB format from any retailer and not just the Sony e-book store.

The EPUB format is supported by publishers which include Simon & Schuster, Penguin Group, HarperMedia, Hachette Book Group, HarperMedia and Harlequin Enterprises Ltd.

This will, at least from Sony’s perspective make the Reader a little more attractive as compared to some others currently on the market, namely the Kindle which has more than 140,000 books available. Sony’s online e-book store has just about 45,000 available.

Of course, I have to point out that while this does make the Reader a much more attractive purchase, it is still lacking the instant access to purchase a book directly from the device like the Kindle.

In addition, Sony also announced that the PRS-505 is now available for pre-order in the UK, of course it will not begin shipping until September, but its still nice to see them get the availability, especially its been available here in the US for quite a while now.

Read [Yahoo! News]

• Amazon’s deal of the day: PS3, NBA 09 and Blu-ray remote for $400
• Google’s Lively ain’t lookin’ so lively now
• Playstation Store Update for the week of November 20-26, 2008