Sony Announces First Dedicated Ereader With Wireless Library Ebook Download Capability
By David Rapp Aug 31, 2011Sony unveiled its latest ereader device today, Reader Wi-Fi, which will be the first dedicated ereader—though not the first device—to offer wireless borrowing of OverDrive library ebook titles. The Reader Wi-Fi, which the company calls "the lightest touch screen 6" eReader device ever" in the announcement, will be available for purchase in October.
According to Sony Electronics spokesperson Maya Wasserman, the ereader will feature a dedicated icon on its touch screen's main menu to connect to the OverDrive system, in a similar manner as the OverDrive Media Console app currently available for other devices.
Sony has had a cross-promotion deal with OverDrive since 2009, but this is the first time that Sony has offered direct wireless OverDrive borrowing with its Reader device; previously, a physical connection and sync with a computer was required.
OverDrive enabled wireless library ebook borrowing with other devices starting in December 2010, when it unveiled its OverDrive Media Console app for Android, iPhone, and iPod Touch. Since then, it has released versions for iPad, BlackBerry, and Windows Phone 7, as well. All allow users to download library EPUB ebooks and MP3 audiobooks wirelessly.
Barnes & Noble's Nook and many other dedicated ereaders can be used to read ebooks borrowed via OverDrive, but require a physical connection to a computer to transfer the ebooks. Amazon's Kindle is scheduled to feature OverDrive library ebook borrowing functionality later this year; it has not yet been announced whether Kindle borrowing will be wireless or connected.
Pottermore promotion
As part of the launch, Sony also announced a promotion in connection with Harry Potter series author J.K. Rowling's Pottermore online ebookstore, in which purchasers receive a voucher for a free download of the first Harry Potter book in the series, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, when it becomes available on the Pottermore site.
As LJ reported in June, the Pottermore site will be the exclusive outlet for Harry Potter ebooks beginning in October, which will be compatible with a range of devices and be free of digital rights management (DRM). Although OverDrive will be providing Pottermore's platform, it is currently unknown how, or if, the ebooks will be made available for lending by U.S. libraries.
