Accidents aren't always a bad thing. Thanks to an unintentional leak by an online retailer last week, we now know that Sony is releasing its new touch-screen e-ink e-reader. In fact, it's out today.
The new device, the Reader PRS-T2, has now officially gone on sale and you can purchase it today for $129.99, the same price as the previous model.
The 5.9-ounce T2, which comes in black, white, and red, looks very similar to last year's PRS-T1, but according to Sony, it brings some feature and performance improvements along with some tweaks to the button layout and design.
Here are the highlights: Sony says the "glare-free" E-Ink Pearl V220 touch screen has been enhanced for long-term reading. There are new social features (Facebook and Evernote), a simplified home screen, and an updated default book layout intended to make it easier to organize and find books. Smoother zoom in and out, "paperlike" page turns, and improved continuous page turns are designed to improve the reading experience. There are two built-in English-language and four translation dictionaries. Battery life has been doubled from one month to two with wireless off, and the device's control buttons have been redesigned.
Finally, the matte black T2 model includes a free voucher for the e-book of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," redeemable from the Pottermore shop online.
Other good news: you no longer have to install any software on your computer to access the Reader Store. It's all done through a Web-based interface now that you can access from most browsers. Sony says any book purchased via Web browser will be "waiting in the user's Reader library, ready to be read."
The latest Reader also now includes new Facebook and Evernote features. Sony says, "Consumers now have the ability to post a short passage from books purchased from Reader Store to Facebook directly from the device along with the book cover, author, and title." You also get access to content you save using Evernote's Web Clipper feature, and pages you save with Evernote are clearly optimized for the Reader's e-ink display. And finally, favorite passages can also be annotated on the T2 and saved in Evernote for later viewing elsewhere.
The Reader T2 is a W-iFi-only e-reader (there's no 3G option) and it comes with 2GB of internal memory, but has a microSD expansion slot for additional memory that accepts up to 32GB cards. There's no built-in light as on the $139 Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight, but Sony does offer a cover with an integrated light as an accessory for $50.