Sony has released a new version of its eBook Library software.  The eBook Liberary software allows computers to interface with the Sony eBook readers and to download materials from the Sony eBook Store and load them onto Sony eReaders.  The recently released version 3 of the eBook Library software works with both Mac and Windows OS computers.  This marks the first time that the Sony eReader has had full Mac OS compatibility (note that it requires Mac OS X 10.4.11 or later and is compatible with 10.5.6).

In the past Mac users had reason to shy away from acquiring the Sony eReader as it required a Windows OS computer to interface with the device and upload materials to it.  Unlike its Kindle counterpart from Amazon (aka Big Brother —see my previous post on Amazon manipulating content on Kindles), Sony has no wireless network to allow instant downloading of materials from its eBook Store (Amazon’s WhisperNet allows you to  download material purchased from Amazon Kindle Store directly to a Kindle, without a computer).

By the way, the new Windows Version works with 32 and 64 bit Vista and 32 bit XP systems.

One other piece of good news, the eLibrary now gives you access to the Google books public domain titles at no cost.

Image courtesy of Sony

Tags: Amazon, eBook Library, eBook Store, eReader, Kindle, Kindle Book Store, Sony

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Amazon had acquired the lead in the eReader wars, despite the fact that Sony’s eReader had better and more solid construction. Amazon’s lead in the war came primarily as a result of its ability to download information directly to the Kindle, without the need of interfacing with a computer. Well, it looks like there is a downside to that convenience. Not only can Amazon add to your Kindle, it can also take things off of it. Apparently Amazon giveth (selleth) and Amazon taketh away.

Ironically, this ability came to light when Amazon chose to delete copies of George Orwell’s 1984 and Animal Farm from the Kindles of individuals who had acquired those titles from Amazon. The explanation that Amazon came up with is that they acquired the books from a source that did not have the copyright. Apparently, Amazon felt that it had the right to remove the books from its customer’s Kindles because it was Amazon and nobody could stop it.

This brings up an interesting issue. If Amazon can put what you order on your Kindle, they can put what they want on it as well. Now it is clear that they can remove what they choose from your Kindle.

Perhaps Sony has the better idea after all.  Interestingly, Sony recently released new software and hardware. I will post about those items later. For now, I feel violated by Big Brother Amazon. I am considering whether to simply turn off the Kindle and use it solely with what I already have on it. At the very least, I will minimize my exposure to Amazon’s Big Brotherly ways (and maximize my battery life) by leaving the radio off when I am not trying to load a new book.

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(Picture courtesy of Amazon.com/blogkindle.com)

I enjoyed my Kindle, especially its stand-alone ability to purchase and download books from the Kindle Store without the need to sync to a computer as I had to do with the Sony eReader. I had some issues with the basic structure of the Kindle though, particularly the almost impossible job of holding it without triggering the page advance contact on the right side of the Kindle. For more detail about my reactions to the Kindle and the Sony 505 eReader, see my comments on those subjects in this Blog.

A couple months ago, Amazon released the Kindle 2. Like its predecessor, the Kindle 2 retained the ability to access the Kindle Store and acquire new reading material on the fly using Amazon’s free (to Kindle users) WhisperNet.

The Kindle 2, although still mostly plastic, has a more substantial feel to it than the original Kindle. This may, result from the fact that the back has a metal plate now; it may also be a result of the reduced size of the page-advance button, which (happily) makes it much easier to hold the Kindle 2 and read it without inadvertently advancing the page.

The Kindle 2 takes up only a third of an inch in your briefcase or purse. For that matter, you can easily fit its 1/3 of an inch into a coat pocket (if you have a large enough coat pocket). The Kindle 2 has exterior dimensions of 8″ x 5.3″ x .36″. The new Kindle only weighs 10.2 ounces., so it won’t slow you down much as you travel. The Kindle comes with 2GB of on-board RAM and no ability to upgrade to more RAM or to supplement with a media card. Approximately 1.4 GB of the on-board RAM remains available for book storage.

Amazon’s WhisperNet network works at 3G speeds and covers you in most major metropolitan areas n the continental United States. It allows you to download most book purchases in 60 seconds or less. The Kindle Store sells some 260,000 books for you to choose from and prices of most new releases and best sellers at $9.99.

The new Kindle boasts a 25% increase in battery life. I didn’t get quite that much over the original Kindle, but I definitely noticed an improvement of at least 15%. You can prolong battery life by turning off the wireless connection and turning it on to download magazine, paper or other subscriptions once a day.

The new Kindle turns and refreshes pages faster than its predecessor. Amazon claims a 20% speed increase. The display also shows some improvement.

The new Kindle has some short-comings. First, it does not allow the use of a replacement battery. Second, it does not accept media cards. You get 1.4GB of book/material storage and no more.  Hopefully, Amazon will reconsider the media card issue in its next iteration of the Kindle.  The ability to use media cards is one area in which the Sony eReader gets a big plus over the Kindle.

All-in-all, I like the improvements, but I am not wild about the $359 price tag, even if it does include free shipping.

Copyright 2009, Jeffrey Allen.  All rights reserved.

Tags: 3G. wireless, Amazon, eReader, Kindle, Kindle 2, Sony, Sony eReader, WhisperNet

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You can get an Amazon Kindle in any color you want……..as long as you want off-white. The Kindle is slightly larger and a little heavier than Sony’s Reader (7.5” x 5.3” x 0.7” and 10.3 ounces). Amazon sells the Kindle for $359. The Kindle runs off of a rechargeable battery or power from an electrical outlet. Amazon has set up a special ”Kindle“ store as part of its massive website structure (www.amazon.com/kindle will get you to the Kindle store. In the Kindle Store, you will find a variety of media to add to your Kindle library. Stargate: Continuum ipod Contemporary books will cost about $9.99 in electronic format, although you may find some for less. Just like in a bricks and mortar bookstore, you will find that less recent books will generally cost less. While at the Kindle Store, you can also subscribe to magazines, newspapers, and blogs or buy single issues of magazines and newspapers and have them added to your Kindle. You can and add your own documents and pictures to the Kindle as well. nutrabiotics calcium coral

You can connect the Kindle to a computer to add content, it requires no computer connection to purchase or receive books or periodical/blog subscription deliveries.

Amazon’s Whisper network allows you to access the Kindle store and purchase new materials and then download them directly to your Kindle, without using a computer. While Amazon has not set up a free Kindle library, you can find a number of Kindle compatible books available for download at little or no cost. Waking the Dead video If you want current best sellers, however, you will have to pay for them.

The Kindle’s built-in keyboard facilitates making notes. It also has a click-wheel for navigation and menu selections. You turn pages on the Kindle by pressing a panel on either the right or left side of the screen. The right side has a long panel button for the next page and a very short one for turning back to the previous page.

On your left hand side of the book, you will find a medium-sized panel for the next page and a longer panel for the previous page. Those page-turners represent one of the Kindle’s lesser features. Holding the Kindle without inadvertently turning pages takes some practice. The Kindle has a book cover style case to protect the device and its screen when you are not using it. Killer Nurse move

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The Lady Vanishes release The Kindle’s plastic case feels somewhat flimsy to me by comparison to the solidity of the Sony Reader. I prefer the navigational features of the Sony as well.

All things being otherwise equal, I would pick the Sony Reader over the Kindle. All things, however, are not equal. Amazon’s creation of the Whisper network and its ability to allow the Kindle to access and load new material as well as the breadth of the materials Amazon offers for the Kindle push it ahead of Sony’s Reader in my book.

Copyright 2008, Jeffrey Allen.  All rights reserved.

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The Sony Reader:

The new and improved Sony Reader Digital Book (model PRS-505) lists for $299.99 and makes an excellent travel companion. You will not likely find it discounted by Sony (but, if you have the original Sony Reader (PRS-500), you can trade it in on a new model for a $100 credit). I have recently seen small discounts on line; so you might want to look around a bit before buying one. The new version offers substantial improvements over the older version, including a revamped library management program. Sony has been giving a credit good for 100 free eBook Classics titles when you get a new Reader. You choose the 100 titles from Sony’s on line electronic bookstore. The choices consist of classics that have no current copyright issues, such as The Time ramtirth brahmi oil Machine transumbilical breast dallas augmentation

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and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. You can buy more recently published books at the Sony eBook Store. The Reader requires an account at the eBook Store to load free or purchased material, and you must connect through a Windows-based computer. Once you have downloaded the books to your computer, you sync your Reader to the computer and the library downloads to the Reader.

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Although you can access the store from a Mac, you can only window-shop from the Mac platform. Sony has made its eBook Store off-limits to the Mac OS for downloads. You will find Sony’s eBook store at http://ebookstore.sony.com. If you want to check out the list of available classics, go to http://ebookstore.sony.com/specials/sonyclassics/index.html.

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Once you use up your free book coupon, classics will cost you about $1.99. More recent publications reflect reduced price by comparison to hard copy books, but not as much as you might think.

Typical pricing for contemporary novels run s in the $10-$15 range. I saw some business books that cost over $20 in the eBook store.

You would think that the savings on printing, binding, shipping and paper would amount to a more substantial price reductions. I have had that issue with electronic publication for some time and in other forums as well.

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Sony’s Reader holds about 160 books in internal memory. It also accepts media cards, allowing for additional storage. The Sony Reader has two slots, one holds memory sticks and the other holds SD cards. You can add substantial memory by using both slots. With both slots filled and the internal memory, you could easily store several hundred books on the Reader. You can also store additional books on memory cards and swap the cards in and out to increase the effective volume of your library.

You can also put your own PDF materials on the cards as well as pictures and MP3 music. Note that the Reader only displays in shades of gray and black, so pictures will not show in color. The Sony Reader runs off electrical current from its built-in battery, a USB port, or an electrical power outlet. It weighs about 9 ounces without the protective soft-cover and is a shade smaller than 7” x 5” x 0.3”.

The Reader has a navigation pad that allows you to move around the screen and a series of buttons that you push to make your selection.

All in all, I found navigation quite easy. I also like the substantial feel of the case. The Reader also lets you adjust the size of the print to make it easier to read as you age. I found it easy to read text on the Reader, both in terms of size and contrast.

By the way, if you already have the PRS-505 Sony Reader, you will want to go to the Sony Reader website and download and install the firmware upgrade to Version 1.1. When I installed Version 1.1 of the Firmware, it improved performance noticeably.

Copyright 2008, Jeffrey Allen.  All rights reserved.

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