The IT Nerd

The news from Sony doesn’t end with their latest e-reader. The Sony Internet Player With Google TV which I have discussed previously has two new apps available on it. One is the TVO On Demand app which gives you various TV Ontario current affairs and lecture programs, point-of-view documentaries, documentary series, and popular dramas whenever you want to see them.This is a big deal for TV Ontario who had this to say via a press release:

“TVO is pleased to be working with Sony to bring our content to a Canadian audience,” said Lisa de Wilde, Chief Executive Officer of TVO. “As part of our aggressive digital strategy, TVO is always looking to leverage new technology and increase our impact by offering our educational programs on a variety of platforms.”

Canadian content is the number one thing that sets the Sony Internet Player apart from similar devices seeing as it ships with the National Film Board app. That’s one big reason why this device has my attention.

The second app is the Cineplex app which allows you to browse showtimes, enjoy exclusive trailers, footage and interviews, buy tickets, and access you SCENE card directly from your TV. Both apps are available from Google Play.

On a related note, The Sony Internet Player With Google TV is now in stores. So if you’ve been wanting to get your hands on one, now is your chance.

Sony has been a player in the e-reader space for some time and when you’re in a market that has competition from Amazon and Apple, you have to find ways to be different. To that end, Sony Canada introduced the Reader PRS-T2 which sets itself apart from the competition in the following ways according to Sony’s press release:

It now features intuitive touch, more paper-like page turns, improved continuous page turns and a smoother zoom in and out. The new device features an improved default book layout and makes it easier to organize and find books. The device has two English and four translation dictionaries built-in (including French), and provides up to two months battery life (with wireless off), and 2GB of storage. Readers can swipe a finger to turn a page, zoom in and out by pinching fingers together or apart or write notes on the page or highlight text with a finger or the supplied stylus. Users can also choose from eight font sizes and seven font styles.

Okay, that sounds good so far. But there’s more:

The device includes new Facebook® and Evernote® features. 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.
 
For the first time, Reader is combining features from Evernote to allow users to save their favourite web content to enjoy any time. Evernote’s Wed Clipper allows saving content with a click, and pages saved with Evernote Clearly are optimized for Reader’s crips E-Ink display. Favourite passages can also be annotated on Reader and saved back to Evernote for viewing later on any smartphone, tablet, or PC.

If you’re a social media butterfly, that’s a feature you’ll love. But here’s something that got my attention:

With built-in Wi-Fi®, the Reader PRS-T2 offers readers more access to books anytime and anywhere. Sony continues to offer its popular and critically-acclaimed public library lending feature by offering patrons with a valid library card the ability to easily and conveniently borrow free e-books wirelessly from participating public libraries in Canada via an intuitive, simple-to-use dedicated icon on the device.

Now that means something to me as many library systems offer e-books as part of their lending catalog. That’s a big way to be different than the rest of the pact. The PRS-T2 s Windows and Mac friendly and goes for $139 at Sony Stores, online at www.sony.ca/reader and other authorized retailers nationwide.