Sony Reader launch heralds new era of portable electronic books

Breaking News for Friday, December 05, 2008 Exclusive Video from Generation Rx Film Features Dr. Julian Whitaker on the Drugging of Children GM Crops Climb to Nearly One-Tenth of Global Crop Production Consumer Product Safety Commission Sued Over Allowing Toxic Chemicals in Children's Toys Acidic Diets Cause Bone Loss; Alkaline Diet Protect Calcium in Bones Big Brother DNA Database is Illegal, Rules EU Court      See all Breaking News... FREE Natural Health Newsletter Receive natural health product reviews, recommendations and alerts. Instant download of 20+ free health reports and exclusive interviews. Join over 1.2 million monthly readers. Unsubscribe anytime, email privacy guaranteed Products Related to This Article* • Revealed: Natural Health Solutions (free) Free summary of book by Mike Adams for learning censored natural health remedies * Recommended by the Health Ranger. See more recommendations on right → Articles Related to This Article: • Review of Sony DVDirect: A standalone DVD burner and video capture device that works flawlessly • Sony develops eco-friendly battery powered by carbohydrates • Media giants want to criminalize personal copying of movie DVDs to portable electronic devices

In a departure from the design of traditional e-books, the Sony Reader screen isn't backlit and doesn't flicker, so there is no risk of eyestrain associated with these issues. The unit is about paperback-book sized, around one-third of an inch thick, and retails for about $350 on Sony's web site. Borders bookstores plan to start carrying the reader in October.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology spin-off company E Ink Corp. developed the technology for the display, building it out of tiny capsules with particles of white and black ink. When the sides of the capsules facing the reader are exposed to a static electrical charge, the white ink particles are attracted to the face, turning the pixel light grey. Reversing the charge attracts the black pigments, and turns the pixels dark grey, which makes up the text.

While the display is readable from any angle, just like paper, a review of the unit at ThisIsLondon.co.uk notes that the contrast of the screen does not compare to paper, because the "paper" isn't actually white and the text isn't actually black. The review also said the letters are a bit jagged despite the screen's 800 x 600 resolution. Photographs displayed on the Sony Reader look like "black-and-white photocopies," according to the review, but the writer acknowledges that it is still the best electronic reading medium currently available.

Another positive feature of the Sony Reader is its power efficiency; Sony claims it can display up to 7,500 pages when its lithium battery is fully charged. This is because the reader only really uses power when the user turns an electronic page; just displaying a page only uses the trace amount of power required to keep the device turned on.

The reader has an internal memory capable of storing around 100 books, depending on their size, but it can be expanded with SD cards or Memory Sticks.

###
Get articles like this delivered to you FREE in our popular email newsletter

Related CounterThink Cartoons:

Related Articles: • Review of Sony DVDirect: A standalone DVD burner and video capture device that works flawlessly • Sony develops eco-friendly battery powered by carbohydrates • Media giants want to criminalize personal copying of movie DVDs to portable electronic devices	Take Action: Support NaturalNews.com Email this article to a friend Share this article on: NewsVine | digg | del.icio.us Permalink to this article: http://www.NaturalNews.com/020579.html Reprinting this article: Non-commercial OK, cite NaturalNews.com with clickable link. Embed article link: (copy HTML code below): <a href = "http://www.NaturalNews.com/020579.html">Sony Reader launch heralds new era of portable electronic books</a>