A few months ago we reported that Sony was internally developing a new e-reader and it looks like it has just hit the FCC. The Sony PRS-T3 will be the brand new model that will be released by September. There is no word yet on specs or the exact hardware semantics, but we have been told a few things from sources close to the situation.
The Sony PRS-T3 will have the same HD screen that they developed in conjunction with E Ink. This is the same screen that was found in the 13.3 e-Reader that we extensively tested at SID Display Week. At the time, E Ink told us that Sony had six months of exclusivity with the technology, in order for them to release commercially viable products. The 13.3 inch screen had a massive resolution of 1200×1600 and blows away anything else currently on the market. We have been told that the PRS-T3 has the exact same HD screen technology that was cut to a smaller size.
One of the reasons the T3 was delayed was because of the firmware issues and ironing out all of the new features. The Sony 13.3 inch e-reader was basically the testing device that they solicited feedback from the festival circuit in North America and Japan. We have been told that the new Sony PRS-T3 borrows heavily from the new PDF features found on the larger model and it will also come with a Stylus.
There are a few very strong likelihoods of the Sony PRS-T3. First of all, it will continue to run Android, the version number is currently unknown. It will also have WIFI to purchase books directly from the Sony Reader Store. I was told that the Overdrive app will continue to be bundled into the device, that will allow users to borrow and read ebooks directly from the library. Sony has prevented the FCC from showing many of the specifics when it comes to the hardware, RAM, CPU, and everything else. I am very excited to see Sony releasing two new devices this September.
Michael Kozlowski is the editor-in-chief at Good e-Reader and has written about audiobooks and e-readers for the past fifteen years. Newspapers and websites such as the CBC, CNET, Engadget, Huffington Post and the New York Times have picked up his articles. He Lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
