E-book sony prs t2. FAQ: General questions about Sony PRS-T1 and Sony PRS-T2. Software, settings
What did not like
Black and white screen, I don’t know about you, but after a month it began to glitch for me and did not work without a stylus!
What we liked
I have not found!
What did not like
No cataloging - from the normal structure of folders on the computer, you just get a heap on the reader.
Does not support FB2, cannot be re-flashed.
The display is gray, faded, flipping is infuriating with brakes.
What we liked
relatively cheap ...
What did not like
do not support djvu format,
What we liked
lightweight, comfortable. has everything you need.
What did not like
On pdf files sometimes freezes
- collections created in the "Reader for PC" software cannot be edited in the reader and vice versa, collections created in the reader cannot be edited in the "Reader for PC" (it is inconvenient to manage books).
What we liked
Responsive touch screen - you can draw pictures
What did not like
Difficult enough to pull out of the case. And also I could not download any books suitable for me. Since the format did not fit. As I understand it, it only accepts the fb2 format. Hope the tablet reads more formats, or at least you can change it. I bought it to read textbooks. But it was terribly broken off. On other books you can listen to music, read books, use the Internet. And here: or read the Internet on the Internet Mom set a condition: "Either read the textbooks, or I'll take it for myself." And besides a book on cooking and about architects, I could not upload anything. Charging only from a computer.
What we liked
Small size, which is very convenient. Good response to touch with stylus and finger.
What did not like
reads few formats and for some reason my copy does not read all TXT files = (
What we liked
nice to hold, comfortable, fast interface
What did not like
All the rest. Well, and a brake product. Just changing the font is a test of strength nervous system... Oh-oh-thinks for a very long time. Turn the page? Well, no problem. You give the command and ... maybe forget. Or score on your team. May freeze. Well, just like that. She became bored.
After two or three commands, it executes those that were before. Periodically gives errors, and you have to go to the main menu.
The TXT format does not understand. РDF slows down.
The more books, the more it slows down and takes even longer to load.
No case included.
What we liked
Lightweight. Nice to hold. Light screen.
What did not like
eyes hurt from him
What we liked
Compact
What did not like
After flashing, it was not detected.
What we liked
After flashing it reads ALL formats. Pages, for example, are scrolled almost instantly by Orion Viewer. Holds the battery for a very long time. Nice, high-quality case. The ability to connect to the Internet.
What did not like
A lot of editing settings functions unnecessary for a common layman!
It is inconvenient to read in the subway because of the different illumination of the cars!
Used 3 days CARAUL - I NEED A BACKLIGHT!
From this changed to PocketBook Touch 2
What we liked
Slim, Lightweight, Size and Screen Great!
What did not like
Menu in English, no screen backlight.
What we liked
Price, (bought 4000r)., Screen, update rate, battery,
What did not like
After a year and a half of use, a white square appeared in the upper left corner, partially covering the text at the top. And the warranty (one year) has already ended ..
Site about e-books ah and tablets
FAQ: General questions about Sony models PRS-T1 and Sony PRS-T2
What is the difference between the PRS-T1 and PRS-T2 e-book models?
You can compare these models on the Sony PRS-T1 and Sony PRS-T2 Main Features page. The main differences are the presence or absence of audio output (and support for audio format files), the set of dictionaries included in the delivery, the presence or absence of the ability to disable the full screen refresh every time you scroll through the built-in book reader. The shape, size, weight are very close. The devices use the same type of e-ink screen and infrared touch pad... The photo on the right shows both devices placed side by side (see also full size photo by Theonna).
I am going to purchase Sony PRS-T1 e-book (PRS-T2). What should you pay attention to in the first place when buying, what should you check? Is it possible to somehow find out whether you have used the device before or not?
When buying, check the integrity of the packaging, completeness, appearance device (no scratches, cracks). The frame of the new device must be covered with transparent protective film... Turn on the device. The battery level of a new book should be approximately half. There should be no stripes on the screen of the included book (for damaged screen gray stripes are characteristic). Check if the screen responds to tapas, check the functionality of the hardware buttons. You can also turn on Wi-Fi and check if the device can see any wireless networks.
There is no one hundred percent way to know if a book was used before the sale. Try to buy from trusted sellers: read reviews in forums, on Yandex.Market, etc. On the "Where to Buy" page, we also post links to reputable sellers.
Is the Sony e-reader compatible with computers running operating system MacOS?
Yes. Both Sony models can be connected by Mac (Apple) to download and delete books and other files of compatible formats. You can use the system file manager or install Reader for Mac. The PRS-T1 reader will need a PC connection to update the firmware. The firmware update for the PRS-T2 is available from Windows, MacOS X, and also from wireless interface Wi-Fi (in the latter case, no connection to a computer is required). All existing programs that install alternative firmware(at the moment - only for PRS-T1), work only under Microsoft Windows OS.
Do I need to install Reader for PC (Reader for Mac) on my computer?
You can do fine without this program, but it provides some additional conveniences and possibilities, for example, creating collections directly on your computer, buying books from the Sony store, exporting notes to a file, checking for program and firmware updates (proprietary firmware).
How to download books from computer to e-book?
This can be done by directly copying files to the connected software USB device... Create any convenient folders on the READER disk and copy the books there using the file manager. You can also use Reader for PC (only for epub, pdf, txt formats).
How do I delete previously downloaded books?
There are several ways to delete books previously stored in the memory of Sony PRS-T1 and PRS-T2 e-books. Here is some of them.
If the books you are interested in are displayed in the "Books" submenu (books in a format supported by the "native" reading program), open "Books", make a long tap on the book to be deleted and select "Delete".
Connect your device to your computer and tap on "Data Transfer Mode". Using your computer's file manager (Windows Explorer or any other file manager), open the READER disk and find the books sentenced to be deleted, mark them and delete them in your usual way.
If you have Cool Reader installed (currently the option to install additional programs implemented only in the PRS-T1 model), go to the "Open file" section and make a long tap on the book to be deleted. The Properties window will open and the keyboard will appear. Press the Back key to hide the keyboard from the screen. Tap on the top right button("Delete book").
If your device has file manager- Root Explorer, Total commander etc. (currently, the ability to install additional programs is available only in the PRS-T1 model), start it. Find books that need to be removed (from the point of view of these programs inner memory your device, allocated for placing books, is called "sdcard", Micro card SD - "extsd"), make a long tap and select "Delete".
How do I switch the built-in browser screen to landscape orientation?
Go to your browser. Click the button. Tap on the "Orientation" icon at the bottom left.
How do I use the built-in software to switch the screen to landscape orientation for e-book readers?
Open the book in the built-in reader (Sony Reader). Click the button. Tap on the "More" icon and select "Orientation"
Can i install additional applications for Android?
Currently, the ability to install programs for Android is implemented only for the PRS-T1 model. Before installing additional applications, you need to flash your reader with an alternative package. For firmware versions 1.0.00.09010, 1.0.00.09270, 1.0.02.10280, 1.0.03.11140 or 1.0.04.12210, take a description of installing alternative packages, for versions 1.0.00.11041 or 2.0.00.14070 read this manual.
Prompt a converter for translating books from fb2 format to ePub format.
The most common converter is Fb2ePub. Runs from command line, has many options, in particular, allowing you to embed the font. If there are not many books, then it is convenient to use this online converter. You can also convert files famous program Caliber.
Please note: reader models intended for Russian consumers can read files in fb2 format, so it is quite possible to do without a converter.
The e-book kit does not include a charger. Any device with a Micro USB output suitable for charging?
If only the pages rustled ...
01.05.2015
INSTEAD OF A FOREWORD
I remember that in the elementary grades of school, a literature teacher tried to convey to us - young lovers of big changes - the fact that a monkey made a work, and a barbarian will turn out to be an intelligent, educated and intelligent person only if he reads a lot. This is the culture of reading. Moreover, the teacher somehow did not even specify the topics of the books needed to get out of our barbaric state. Probably, in those distant times, all books were smart, meaningful, informative, interesting, and so on (by "etc." only positive epithets are meant). Then the grass was greener, and there were fish in the rivers - you can't go in without panties ... And then books by the mere power of words could change a person, his worldview and even in some way his character. What now? Now it is not worse and not better, now everything is just different and different.
Now the book is no longer the standard of literacy and this is probably bad. They write everything and everything. They write in spite of the pianos in the bushes and other graphomania. And publishing houses publish. Even with mistakes. This is the scourge of our time - flawed quality for the sake of profit and profit. And books that have not passed the crucible of at least some publishing house, but published on the Internet, are generally ... pip (obscene word), although there are glimpses of thought, nuggets have not yet disappeared. And now we have already found a huge plus of our time: the Internet, digital and technology.
It is no longer necessary to read paper books; on the Internet, you can find almost any book in digital form for free or for a nominal fee, while paper carriers smoothly turn into the category of gift ones: it was always pleasant for me to receive a book by my favorite author as a birthday present in a bright cover and rustling pages that still smell of typographic ink ... And read it. And put it on the shelf with the others. And with pride to look at the bookshelves, filled with if not rare, but my books. Let the book not tell you the latest news, show you a film, or give you the opportunity to talk with a person on the other side of the world, but this book! It allows you to plunge into the world of incredible adventures or a bright sea of theorems in mathematical analysis; if only fantasy and imagination did not fail.
So the book is sacred, away from dirty hands from it, an unholy barbarian looking for kindling for his fire in his cave! But seriously, I myself have not read a paper book for several years, and I love to read. The city library quickly exhausted its resources of domestic and foreign fiction, and buying books in stores is expensive and risky (a great chance to buy pulp fiction, from which even eminent writers are not immune). Now I read books on a tablet or smartphone, and a little earlier I read from a computer screen. But the closest thing to the atmosphere of an ordinary paper book is an electronic reader with an e-ink screen (Sony PRS-T2 in my case). E-ink is electronic ink or electronic paper.
In short and without going into abstruse details (electrophoretic indicator and van der Waals forces), then e-ink forms an image in reflected light, like ordinary paper. An image on electronic paper can be stored for a long time without consuming electricity and spending it only on changing the image. The technology is based on microcapsules filled with black and white microgranules. To form an image (or text) on the e-ink screen, an electric field is applied to each capsule, which, depending on the polarity of the voltage, causes black or white granules to float on its surface, providing a color change of the capsule.
So, preliminary conclusions: readers with e-ink screens do not glow or flicker, consume electricity only during image change (swiping) and are mostly black and white (from 16 shades of gray, to be more precise). Not so long ago, color e-ink readers appeared on the market, but the brightness of the colors leaves much to be desired. And preliminary reviews: e-paper is awesome! And most of the reviews of other people about e-ink are just such - enthusiastic.
As one person put it in their Amazon Kindle Paperwhite review: “Those who follow my graphomaniac work are aware that I am a longtime fan of“ ink ”(that is, e-ink) screens. I read, of course, not only on them. I read in general on everything that I can get my hands on - smartphones, tablets. What I'm testing in this moment- that's what I read. But the more devices pass through my hands, the stronger my conviction that people have not yet invented anything better for reading than e-ink "... Here's how he took it off the tongue.
THE SMALL FLOUR OF CHOICE (a look into the past)
And two years ago I took care of buying an electronic reader. And he was concerned - this is still poorly said! At this time, there was a lot of electronic paper on the market in all its variety. And the prices were also varied - from one and a half thousand rubles and up to six or seven of the same thousand. Well, and, as expected, completely different reviews, coinciding in one thing: e-ink is amazing, but the assembly, software, ergonomics and control - from "not very" to "slag". It seems that e-books are riveted on the wave of readers' enthusiasm for new technology, not caring at all about quality. In addition, unlike the same smartphones, readers received frankly weak processors and a minimum of RAM. And if the first did not particularly upset me, then the memory in the reader is simply necessary for comfortable reading. Well, the batteries were somehow weak, because "e-ink practically does not consume electricity"!
And when I saw the Sony PRS-T2 on the Citylink website, at first I thought it was a little expensive (five and a half thousand rubles), but then I became interested in the characteristics, and then in the reviews. The latter were few, but all positive.
And the characteristics? Here they are:
CPU: FreeScale i.MX508, 1 core 800 MHz.
Screen: 6 inches, E Ink Pearl 16 shades of gray, 800x600 resolution, 166 ppi density.
Sensor: yes, infrared sensor, Dual Touch, stylus support.
The weight: 164 g
Dimensions (LxWxD): 173x110x9.1 mm.
RAM: 256 MB.
Built-in memory: 2 GB.
Communications: Wi-Fi 802.11b / g / n.
Memory card support: microSD up to 32 GB.
Book formats: ePub, PDF, TXT, FB2.
Image formats: JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP.
Camera: no.
Microphone: no.
Speaker: no.
Synchronization with a computer: yes, via microUSB.
Battery: Li-Ion 1000 mAh, up to 2 months without Wi-Fi, up to 6 weeks with Wi-Fi, up to 14,000 page views.
Yes, 256 MB random access memory... Two years ago, manufacturers of such devices put 64 and 128 MB on e-ink screen readers, so 256 is a lot. "Resolved!" - I decided and made an order at Citylink.
CONSTRUCTION FEATURES
The reader included a microUSB cable and a stylus, plus literature and a warranty card. A separate case for the PRS-T1 model was purchased and it fits perfectly. A pocket for the stylus was also found in the case, in which the stylus almost always stays, since there is practically no need for it.
Let's pay attention to the parameters of the device.
CPU. Some unknown (to me) processor, single-core, with a frequency of 800 MHz. On my tablet Digma idj7 (even when the hero was able to work) there was a single-core processor with a frequency of 1200 MHz, and it coped with all the tasks assigned to it. So the processor is a test.
Screen. The most important thing in the reader. A 6-inch (most common size) screen is installed, made using Pearl e-ink technology. It differs from the previous generation of e-ink screens (they are called Vizplex) in that it consumes even less energy, 50% more contrast, and also reduces the harm to environment in the production of the screens themselves. What kind of harm is this - I could not find anywhere, but, apparently, it is: trees are not cut down, so something else was invented for pollution.
The screen of the device in question has a resolution of 800x600 pixels and a density of 166 pixels per inch; screen contrast 10: 1 (the ratio of the lightest point and the darkest point) - for electronic paper this is quite a sufficient value, you can believe me, I checked it myself for two years. 16 shades of gray are actually only needed for displaying pictures; text is always black and white, although you can make it lighter or darker. Pixel density is a moot point. For a TFT matrix, this density will be striking in most cases. On the reader, due to the lower contrast, these pixels are almost impossible to see. The fact that the pixel density is only 166 ppi is noticeable only when you make the smallest font - it seems blurry, indistinct.
In general, the e-ink Pearl screen behaves like regular paper, only better. In the dark, both electronic paper and ordinary paper are poorly readable, with room lighting they are almost equally comfortable, but in the sun, and in direct light, ordinary paper reflects the light very strongly - the eyes begin to water. There is no such thing with e-ink; The reader's screen begins to delight with excellent (and in normal conditions - not bad) contrast: White background it becomes even lighter, and dark letters - even darker, it is very comfortable and pleasant to read. In photographs, the color of the light part of the screen is obtained depending on the camera and the lighting from light white to dark greenish; in fact, it is a light light gray, most accurately captured by the Canon EOS 1100D.
To a large extent, the price of the device is influenced by the infrared sensor. It is expensive, but due to its design, it does not reduce the screen contrast at all, and it is not too high anyway (but, again, sufficient). It is precisely because of the IR sensor that the reader's screen is recessed into the body to make room for a grating of infrared rays that reads the touch. And from the technology of the IR sensor itself, it follows that the sensor will work with gloves, and with any stylus (and not just the complete one), and in general even with a rusty nail (if only it blocks at least one beam).
Control buttons. They are very comfortable. And they are stylish. It is convenient to turn pages with buttons both in portrait orientation of the reader and in landscape orientation. There are five buttons in total: three more buttons - "Home", "Back" (or "Cancel") and "Settings", have joined the scrolling buttons located on the left. Doesn't it look like anything? Exactly! Android control buttons. And this is no coincidence, since the reader has a very heavily cut and modified Android system. The buttons are pressed easily, with a barely audible click. Each button has its own individual shape along the outline of the symbol painted on the button in shiny silver paint.
By the way, controlling the device using only hardware buttons will not work, as well as using only one sensor. The buttons and the sensor complement each other, practically without colliding in their spheres of influence. In the exceptions - page flipping, and this, I want to tell you, is cool (in the sense that you can flip through both buttons and a sensor).
The body is plastic, matte black. More options are available in white and red. They have a glossy front panel and, as has been the custom since olden times, tirelessly collects fingerprints like an experienced fingerprint specialist. My reader is all black and all made of soft plastic, it seems that it is covered with a thin layer of black velvet, pleasant to the touch. Imprints do not remain on it, but traces of greasy (unwashed) fingers still remain, but they are easily erased (again with a sleeve, because handkerchiefs are history, and not everyone will carry a specially trained cloth). There are no sharp edges on the case, the reader lies comfortably in the hand (at least one, at least two), does not try to slip out. Large bezels on the side of the screen allow you to grip the reader very firmly and hold it the way you want; Well, in fact, this is not a smartphone, where for every extra millimeter, the main developer tears his quickly graying hair.
The top and side faces are empty, and on the bottom one is absolutely asymmetrically located (from left to right): a recessed Reset button, a microUSB connector and a power button. To be honest, I paid attention to the emergency reset button only now, while writing a review, because there was never a need for it, there was not a single glitch or freeze. And the reader has been mercilessly exploited for two years; I have also been in free fall from hands, from a table or other surfaces (without a parachute, please take into account), followed by landing on the surface of the floor. And nothing bad happened to the reader. Almost never happened. Recently I noticed a small defect in the screen, a small dark speck in the shape of a spider.
The microUSB connector allows you to connect the reader to a PC (to download the next portion of books or update the firmware of a new software version) or charge - from the same PC or from an outlet, but then you need to use a charger from another gadget, since there is no one included in the kit. I used the charger from the Explay MU220 phone, the reader is fully charged for about three hours. During charging, a bright red diode lights up on the right side of the power button, which you don't expect there - in appearance this button is just black and does not hide anything in itself.
The microSD card slot is located on the back of the reader on the rounded bevel of the side edge, and you can't see it from the front. The connector is covered with a plastic cap in the color of the case, which will not fall out by itself, but opens without titanic efforts. The inscription "microSD" on the cover is extruded.
SOFTWARE, SETTINGS
As I fleetingly noted earlier, the device is running an undefined version of the Android OS that has been changed to complete anonymity. The Android system is left with a pitiful stub and minimal settings, but, on the other hand, what such wide functionality should a book have? And the settings are good that there are not many, because the available ones are quite confusing. And if you are not thinking about buying this reading unit and you are only interested in the general impression of this reader, then you can safely skip this section.
And, as one likes to say ... more precisely, one cartoon heroine - Masha: "Maybe we'll turn it on already"? Let's not deceive her expectations (otherwise my daughter will not forgive me for this) and turn on the reader already. It turns on for 20 seconds, and for a few seconds the main screen (or the Desktop, as you prefer) is updated.
The main screen can be conventionally divided into four parts.
At the very top is the status bar. By default, the status bar on the right side of it displays a battery icon with a charge indication (5 states: 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%) and a wireless icon Wi-Fi networks(two states: ON and OFF, more precisely ON and OFF). When you press the hardware settings button, these two icons disappear, and the clock icon appears on the left side of the status bar for 5 seconds and displays current time; then everything goes back to normal and the battery and Wi-Fi indicators are approved in the status bar.
In the next part of the main screen (looking from top to bottom) there is interactive information about the last "read" book, entitled without any subtleties: "Continue reading". Here our attention is offered a picture from the cover of the book (if it is in the book file itself), in large text (bold) - the title of the book, in smaller text - the author (his full name). The page on which the reading was interrupted, the total number of pages and the date of the last opening of the book are also indicated.
To continue reading the book, you need to tap anywhere on this part of the main screen. Hardware buttons - nothing.
The third part of the main screen is called "Recently Added", and this again accurately reflects the state of affairs: this section displays 4 miniatures (book covers) with the names of the books that were added to the device's memory last. Miniatures of such books are marked with a medal with the inscription NEW.
The fourth part has no title and contains three icon buttons with captions: "Bookshelves", "All Notes" and "Applications".
"Bookshelves" are bookshelves and are. Calling everything by their proper names, this is a list of books available in the device's memory, presented in several possible forms, with sorting and searching.
"All notes" is also a list, but not books, but notes made by the user in books.
"Applications" is a large group of settings and applications installed on the reader.
Let's start with the most important thing - the shelves lined with books. It's actually just a list of books that can be displayed as a text list or as thumbnails. This list takes up most of the screen.
At the top of the screen there is a small panel with view settings; it is here that the "List / Thumbnails" switch is located, to the right of which you can see two more buttons - sorting and searching. Sorting is carried out according to the following parameters: Date, Book Title, Author, File Name and Previously Read.
Well, search is a search in Africa as well. Click on the button with a magnifying glass, enter part of the title of the book you are looking for in the search field, and voila! The book is found! Or it was not found, if it is not there, or the name completely flew out of memory.
To the left of the aforementioned switch is a drop-down list with a choice of display options for books: "Books", "Collections" or "Evernote".
By default, the "Books" option is used. The Collections option is analogous to Winamp playlists. All currently available books fall into the "Default Collection" system collection. This collection cannot be deleted or renamed, it is used to populate other collections. This is how the developers did not obviously do it. You need to do the following:
That's it, books have been added to the new collection, or rather moved. No duplication, a book can only be in one collection. Now, from the newly created collection, books can be added to another collection according to the same scheme: press the settings button, tap on "Organize collection", select another collection, and so on.
Why couldn't the "Add" button be made in the properties of the collection to add books from any other collection? I do not know. Japanese logic is probably different from Russian, iron logic. Or is it something wrong with my logic (self-criticism in moderation is always useful, like snake venom)?
When you select "Evernote", a button to sync with Evernote appears (you need an internet connection using Wi-Fi). Since I do not have an Evernote account, I will not tell you anything about this item. Yes, I have never used collections either, because I do not store books in my device. I threw in a new batch of books, read it, deleted it. I'm just lazy: in order to find ten new books among a thousand books (and only four are displayed on the main screen), you need to use the search, remember the name of the book, or, crushing laziness at the root, create a collection "Read" and throw the books there after reading. .. Nope, it's easier to delete it right away. And with a thousand books, the device will certainly dull when searching or sorting.
Okay, we're done with the shelves, let's move on to the notes. I would also call them bookmarks, since notes can only be made in the text of the book, and when you select a note, you go to the page of the book on which it was made. Notes can be drawings (or inscriptions) made directly in the text of the book. They are saved automatically, you can erase the tool "Eraser" using the appropriate button. Also, a note can be text entered using the keyboard. You can add a note while reading a book with a long tap in the upper right corner.
Also, bookmarks and selected sections of text can act as notes. A search is organized according to the list of notes, there is an alphabetical sorting and the ability to set a filter by type. A bookmark can be made with a long tap on the upper right corner of the screen, and a note can be made by pressing the hardware settings button and select "Pictures" in the menu that appears.
And now - "Applications". As I said, there are both applications and settings, both general and the applications themselves.
Once I already said that we are decent people and, therefore, we will consider the points of this large section in order.
The first is, of course, the most important and necessary application on an e-book - the browser (it is called that). I must admit that it works well, it loads web pages quickly, but animation on electronic paper is something! It hurts to watch. But nevertheless, if necessary, you can download the book. But it should be borne in mind that the reader is not friendly with the archives and does not perceive them at all, so you must also try to download the book not in an archived form.
Second to the browser is the dictionary, which is also a very necessary thing.
Translates only one word, but gives all possible translation options. Dictionaries are switched using the settings menu, suspended on the hardware settings button. In the same menu, you can change the font size and view the history of searching for words in the dictionary. Switching the language from Russian to English (or vice versa) occurs by long pressing the button located in the lower left corner of the keyboard. Pressing this button normally toggles between alpha and numeric keyboards.
I used the dictionary a couple of times in two years, so why hide it?
The third - the bronze medalist, according to the developers - is "Drawings". By the way, there is one dynamic element in the name of the application: the number of pictures available at the moment is indicated in brackets. The initial screen contains thumbnails of pictures (there are several "pre-drawn" ones - a diagram of a passage, a cup of coffee), by tapping on which pictures can be opened for editing; by clicking on the picture icon with the "+" sign, a new picture is created (blank canvas). Also, a new picture can be created by clicking the "Create" button of the same name in the editor of any other picture. You can draw with your finger, stylus, nail (as already mentioned), or anything, even a brush. There are only two software tools: a pen with a constant thickness and an eraser. Switching between them - using the corresponding icon buttons.
Now comes the fun part! Almost always, a submenu is suspended on the hardware settings button, which allows, depending on the application being used, to perform any actions or settings. Everything is like in Android, everything is real. So, in the picture editor, when you click on the hardware settings button, two submenu items appear: "Delete picture" and ... ta-d-m-m !!!"Take Screenshot" !!!
The screenshot created can be viewed in the Images application, which we'll get to in a moment. And here one more confirmation is hidden that this is not mine with the logic of troubles, but from the Japanese developers: nowhere else, in any application, not in reading mode or any other mode, you cannot take a screenshot. And how much easier it would be for me now to make pictures for this review. Okay, enough about the sad, the camera will help me make screenshots.
We pass to the fourth application - "Text. Memo". This is the abbreviated name. And, according to the established Japanese tradition, after the name of the application in brackets, the number of available memos is indicated. Everything here is similar to drawings, only memos are typed using the keyboard, and drawing is completely impossible. There is nothing more to say. Just a reminder without notice. I used this application once.
The fifth appendix is called "Pictures". This is a simple graphical viewer. On the initial screen, as always, thumbnails of non-system graphic files available in the device's memory and buttons for switching the view (list or thumbnails) and sorting by name.
The selected image opens in full screen without borders. When you click on the hardware settings button, the submenu items that appear overlap the image. The submenu items here are as follows: "Slide Show" - allows you to view pictures in a slide show; "Settings" - allows you to set the display duration for each slide (from 3 to 60 seconds); "Orientation" - allows you to rotate the image 90 degrees (and not only the image is rotated, but even the submenu); "Upload Evernote" - I am assuming that this is where you can add an image to Evernote.
That's all the apps. Remained only "Settings".
We see 7 groups of settings with understandable names and the last, eighth item, "Turn off the device".
I will list all the settings with brief explanations.
1. General settings.
Here you can configure page turning - from left to right or from right to left, as it is more convenient for anyone (for example, it is more convenient for me to turn to the left, but for you?). You can also select the menu language (Russian or English) and the keyboard (Russian or English - is it a coincidence?).
2. Wireless network settings.
This is about Wi-Fi. Here you can turn on / off Wi-Fi, as well as turn on the wireless network standby mode, that is, Wi-Fi goes into standby mode (turns off for a while) if this same Wi-Fi is not used for more than 10 minutes. When you turn on Wi-Fi, another group of settings becomes available, which is called " Wi-Fi setup"(why philosophize?). And again three points: search for networks, automatic WPS setup and manual addition of a network. Found networks with a signal strength (strength) icon are also displayed here.
3. Application settings.
What applications? Yes, all the same that we have already described: books (reader), dictionary, images and browser.
In the reader, you can adjust the default font size and force the display to refresh every time you turn the page.
Small digression. By default, the display is updated automatically approximately every tenth swiping, and at first, when you first got to know the reader, it was a little annoying - you read without bothering anyone, and suddenly the screen blinked black for half a second! Horror! But this is an innate property of electronic paper; without such a cleaning of the screen, artifacts accumulate on it over time - "stuck" microcapsules that do not respond to electrical impulses. There is no manual update mode on the Sony PRS-T2 reader, only automatic; maybe that's why for two years I have never seen a single artifact. And I got used to screen updates already in the second hour of reading.
For the Dictionary application, you can select a dictionary: Oxford Russian Dictionary (EN-RU), Oxford Russian Dictionary (RU-EN), Oxford Dictionary of English, New Oxford American Dictionary.
In the Image application, you can adjust the duration of the slide. But for the browser, as many as 19 settings are available. This includes scale, encoding, JavaScript resolution, clearing cache and history, and much more - just like in adults.
4. Date and time settings.
And here the developers have opened the face of their system, and we can recognize our beloved Android:
Only scrolling here is not with a swipe, but poke on "+" or "-". The date and time are set, as well as the date format, 24- or 12-hour time format, and time zone.
5. System management.
This group contains the setting for locking the device (you can set a four-digit pin code), setting the standby screen (you can turn it off completely, or you can choose the cover of the last readable book, or an image from the device memory; you can also set a text message), setting the download location (internal memory or memory card), setting the update (if you have a Wi-Fi network, you can check for new firmware) and setting the demo mode (on / off).
6. Initialization.
I would call these settings system settings and move them to the previous group. But ... let it be as it is, but there is the following: you can restore the default settings, clear the input history and format the memory (internal or memory card).
7. About the program.
The most common stuff: device information, legal information, and end user license agreement.
Well, as a finishing touch to the general software picture of the reader, I will mention the Evernote and Facebook applications. They are. I am not registered either there or there. And in the latest firmware (I still have the old one - 1.0.01.11080) Facebook was removed altogether, leaving only synchronization with Evernote. Whether it works or not, I have not tested it, and I am not planning to test it. So there is a dark spot in the light image of the Sony PRS-T2.
READ MODE
So I decided on a work of art, threw it into the device's memory and turned on the reader. On the main screen, I found my book in the recently added ones and tapped on it. Two seconds later, the cover of the book appeared - read it! The default font is very similar to Times New Roman. The font size corresponds to the one selected by default in the settings. You can increase or decrease the font using the menu suspended on the hardware settings button by clicking the "Font" button and choosing the required size from a visual plate with samples of the "aA" type. Or you can change the font size with the usual pinch (after all, the sensor is dual touch). Here you can also select the font type from the available ones.
Fields on all sides by about half a centimeter - the very thing. I do not like it when the text rests against the frame of the screen, and large margins on a six-inch screen are not a luxury, but a waste of useful space. More on fields later.
With a long tap on the upper right corner, you can add a note - using a picture or type some text using the keyboard, this will be analogous to bookmarks. A long tap on any word in the text is used to highlight this word.
The highlighted word with the help of the accompanying menu can be searched in Wikipedia or in this book, you can simply select (and then select a couple more words, then a whole sentence, etc.), you can send to Facebook or Evernote, you can, again, make a note using the keyboard or picture, or you can translate using a dictionary.
Secondly, the "Crop Page" mode allows you to manually set all four fields or remove them altogether (in fact, one and a half millimeters still remain).
Thirdly, the "Customize View" mode allows you to make the screen lighter or darker, richer or more detailed, as well as adjust these parameters manually.
After some experimentation, I realized that the default ("Initial") settings are the most optimal.
The "Pictures" button allows you to draw directly over the text, being a special case of notes.
The "Advanced" button gives us tools for searching the text of the book and changing the orientation of the book (portrait or landscape), the ability to post to Facebook, as well as settings for notes (show or not show) and information about the book: title, author, format, copy date ( download) to the device memory, size in megabytes, location (internal memory or memory card) and the path to the book file.
That's all, nothing complicated. In practice, out of all the settings, only three are used: the type and size of the font is selected once, and the screen orientation changes periodically.
STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF THE DEVICE
So, we met with you a wonderful e-book with Pearl e-ink screen called Sony PRS-T2. What can I say good and bad about her?
Well, firstly, the Pearl e-ink screen has a pretty strong resemblance to ordinary paper. It is believed that reading in reflected light is much safer, but is it? My opinion is that when reading from the e-ink Pearl screen, the eyes do not get tired, but subject to several conditions (familiar from the school desk): good ambient lighting, a comfortable position of the body in space and books in relation to the eyes and a comfortable font size. If these conditions are met, a book with an e-ink Pearl screen is just magic, allowing you to completely immerse yourself in reading and enjoy the artwork to the fullest. The advantage of the screen is something that is not in a paper book: the ability to store many books in memory, the ability to change the font settings, compactness.
Compared to other similar gadgets, the strengths of the Sony PRS-T2 reader include a long (very long) battery life on a single charge, an attractive and convenient body, lightness and simplicity of synchronization with a PC. Among the minuses and minuses, I would like to include the fact that they do not rustle when turning the page. Well, there is no flipping animation, for example, the view of a flipping page gives me some aesthetic pleasure when reading.
The dimensions of the reader can be judged by the following photos (comparison with Samsung 3 Lite SM-T 110 and LG G3 S):
Additional fact about Sony PRS-T2. I was looking for a review or description of this book on the Internet at one time and did not find anything sensible. But the information on firmware and flashing - the sea! Everything suits me in the reader and I did not even update the firmware version. And if nothing suited me, then I could flash an almost full-fledged Android on the device, the advantage of which would be the ability to install any android applications, for example, my favorite reader (with flipping animation).
And a little more theory about e-ink technology. With a very long or intensive (or all together) operation, the aging process of the screen can be observed: some of the microcapsules forever cease to respond to electrical impulses and, as a result, the contrast of the screen decreases. In addition, in places where the same image is constantly present (for example, the outline of a battery indicator), dark microcapsules hang at the surface and form dark spots. E-ink Corporation claims Pearl e-ink screens have a lifespan of 10 million screen updates, or 5 years of use. With regard to my device, I can not accurately (and approximately also) indicate the number of screen updates, but in two years I have not found a single symptom of screen aging, and this cannot but rejoice.
In general, there was not a single breakdown, not a single glitch or freeze.
T3. Now one full charge the battery is enough for 30,000 turns (the battery capacity has not changed), and in the first 3 minutes of charging, the battery receives enough energy to read about 600 pages, that is, about half of an average book. Further, complete with now there is a cover; not even included, but included. The cover is made in the form of a front cover and is fixed on the end of the reader under the back cover. To remove the cover, you must remove the back cover.The cost, respectively, differs from upwards. So, if you have a Sony PRS-T2 reader, then there is not much point in buying. If you do not have a reader at all, then, in my opinion, it is better to buy a cheaper one and enjoy reading, because this fascinating process is exactly the same on both devices.
In addition, there are good readers from other manufacturers, for example, PocketBook - models Touch 626 and Touch 2 626; but I am not familiar with them, I did not hold them in my hands, therefore I will not say whether they are better or worse.
Great e-book! And that's it. Score 10 out of 10. Actually, I took five points for the lack of a microphone, speaker, headphone jack, music player and camera, but I initially gave 15 points: total, 15 - 5 = 10. This is the arithmetic.
Seriously: how the Sony PRS-T2 e-book justifies its cost and functionality 100%. I recommend for purchase, and even more so for daily use as intended!
evgeny egorov
Of course, the stray stylus and the location of the power key spoil the impression a little. But it is important to understand that if there was a slot for the stylus, the body would have to be made thicker, or the stylus itself would have been more compact. In both cases, it would only get worse. Well, then ... if you have a cover, the problem of transporting the pen is solved by itself - there is a corresponding mount.
Screen
Compared to previous model Sony screen The PRS-T2 hasn't changed a bit: 6 inches, 800x600 pixels and an infrared sensor. In general, 6-inch E-Ink Pearl have become the de facto standard for mass reader models in recent years. Well, why something else, if it is affordable and good. The image is quite good in quality, but still it is inferior in contrast to paper media. Pages turn quickly, in just a split second. Swiping artifacts hardly appear. But the screen is still very poorly suited for working on the Internet.
The infrared sensor is a proprietary feature of Sony's touchscreen e-books. Despite the fact that in real life this technology is more often found in intercoms than in consumer electronics, the screen is quite obedient. Plus, the technology does not reduce contrast at all, which is an important criterion for an E-Ink display. Of course, if you are used to a capacitive sensor, then at first you may experience slight discomfort until you adapt. The sensor supports two touch points. On the other hand, the interface is designed so that 99.9% of the time, you won't need more than one touch.
Software, reading, network
The fact that the book is running a modified Android gives practically nothing to ordinary users. But enthusiasts have already learned how to install third-party software on it. But these are all life hacks, we will not focus on them. Compared to the first version, the interface has become more streamlined. Applications are arranged on the screen in a 3x4 table, due to which their icons are quite large, easy to read and clickable.
In the segment of e-books, a seasonal cycle of updates has been established for a long time. The three undisputed leaders, setting the tone for the global market, present their new products in a strict order: at the end of spring, Barnes & Noble presents their developments, the end of summer is reserved for Sony, and finally, in the beginning of autumn, Amazon is holding its event. Naturally, for each update, companies try to prepare something “like” that will force the owners previous versions readers reach out for wallets. The current 2012 was no exception, in the spring Barnes & Noble showed, from the fall announcement of Amazon, fans of the company are looking forward to the updated ones. But the Japanese seem to have decided to take a timeout, presenting an almost complete copy of last year's Sony Reader PRS-T1. Thus, fans of the brand will have to wait for the next generation E Ink Pearl HD screens and built-in backlighting for at least another year, or turn their attention to more progressive competitors.
Equipment
Sony Reader PRS-T2 comes in a thin cardboard box, which makes it easy to guess the specific design option. We got the brightest red reader; for lovers of classic colors, we also offer white and black versions. Pay Special attention that the red and white versions of the reader are finished with glossy, and the black ones are finished with matte plastic, so for those who like practical solutions the choice is obvious.
Reeder Sony Reader PRS-T2 with a complete set are stacked in an unpretentious pallet made of ordinary cardboard. Here you will find short instruction manual, USB / micro-USB cable and plastic stylus with curved top. This detail allows you to attach the stylus to clothing, because the corresponding hole in the reader's body is not provided. A full charger and cover will have to be purchased separately if you need them.
Design
Judging by the materials, dimensions and weight, we have practically the same last year's Sony Reader PRS-T1, stubbornly defending the title of one of the lightest 6-inch readers in the world. In fact, popular Amazon Kindle 4 weighs just 6 grams heavier, and the flexible WEXLER.Flex ONE is a whopping 54 grams lighter than the 164 gram Sony Reader PRS-T2.
The only, and at the same time not very successful change in the design was a different design of the control panel. The stylish metal panel with a spindle-shaped strip of thin Sony Reader PRS-T1 buttons has been replaced by a set of free-standing plastic icon buttons with a silver coating.
Not only do these buttons look not very pretentious (and according to some aesthetes, they are quite clumsy), but also the absence of a cover plate visually makes the lower part of the case heavier.
Front panel and upper part of the sides of the red and white version Sony Reader PRS-T2 made of easily soiled glare plastic. But the black version was deprived of this dubious decoration, using perhaps not so attractive, but much more practical matte plastic. The base of the body of all three color versions, including the lower part of the sidewalls, is made of grippy soft-touch plastic. Closer to the side faces, there are fillets, and the top face is characteristically sharpened.
The upper and right sides of the case are free, at the very bottom of the left side there is a slot for microSD memory cards, covered with a non-removable plastic flap in the color of the case. A special panel on the bottom edge contains: a hole for a forced reboot, a micro-USB connector for charging the battery and transferring data and a button for turning on the reader with a charge level indicator. But the standard audio output, and hence the built-in music player, which were present in the previous model, have disappeared.
Thus, compared to its predecessor, the design Sony Reader PRS-T2 almost unchanged, but the only noticeable innovation will not please everyone. But the appearance of the black matte version can only be welcomed, not everyone likes the gloss.
Ergonomics
The device is light and thin, the case is perfectly assembled and balanced, so it is quite pleasant to hold it in your hands (special thanks for the soft-touch coating on the back panel). When using the cover, the feeling of Sony Reader PRS-T2 somewhat different, primarily due to the significantly increasing thickness and weight.
It is unlikely that anyone would argue with the fact that the most frequently used operation in any reader is turning pages. In case of Sony Reader PRS-T2 this can be done as a characteristic movement along touch screen, and with the help of hardware keys, both methods are good in their own way.
Despite the complaints about the design, from the point of view of ergonomics, the new solution to the control unit turned out to be quite successful (in the photo above you can see how this unit looked in the Sony Reader PRS-T1). So, moving the buttons closer to the screen allows you to more conveniently press them, to hold the reader securely with one hand. Well, the unique and at the same time easily recognizable by touch shape of each button allows you to use them blindly without any problems. The moment of the membrane deflection and its return to its place is felt very clearly, the tactile clarity feedback many keyboards can envy. As a result, the buttons Sony Reader PRS-T2 firm enough not to accidentally press them, but light enough not to cause finger fatigue during prolonged reading.
The infrared touch module supports two-touch recognition, which allows for a convenient "Pinch-to-Zoom" zoom mode. The full page refresh does not occur until you finally decide on the required magnification of the image. In text formats, this happens quite quickly, but in heavy PDFs, the result will have to wait.
Functionality
Most interesting and useful feature for enthusiasts Sony Reader PRS-T2 is that it works under Android OS, for which it is quite easy to create custom firmware with significantly improved functionality. To understand how seriously you can expand the capabilities of the reader in this way, we recommend reading the material "".
The most annoying change in basic functionality is the abandonment of the built-in audio player. Perhaps in the target markets for Sony, this opportunity is not used, but in Ukraine and neighboring countries, listening to music and audiobooks using a reader is quite common. The rest of the characteristics remain the same, the Wi-Fi module is fully used, while most of the services and the online Sony Reader Store are useless for domestic users.
New Sony Reader PRS-T2 Based on a conventional 800 x 600 pixel E Ink Pearl monochrome 6-inch screen with up to 16 shades of gray. Those who hoped to see a backlight a la Barnes & Noble GlowLight or a better E Ink Pearl HD matrix with a resolution of 1024 by 768 pixels in the new model from Sony will have to wait at least until next year. A Clear Touch infrared system with support for two simultaneous touches is installed around the perimeter of the reader screen, providing touch control without deterioration in image quality.
The declared amount of data storage is 2 GB, in fact, only 1.35 GB is available to the user. This volume is enough for many, but if necessary, it is easy to expand it using microSD memory cards. Support for formats is standard for Sony readers, this is standard TXT, as well as common EPUB and PDF. Devices officially supplied to the Russian market will have a special localized firmware that supports the most popular FB2 format.
Full charge time Sony Reader PRS-T2 takes only 2.5 hours from the USB port of a computer, using a network charger will allow you to win another half hour. Just like its predecessor, the new reader is equipped with a built-in 1000 mAh battery, from which, according to the assurances of the creators, it can work up to two months, provided that it reads half an hour a day and the Wi-Fi module is turned off. By using the wireless module, you will reduce the predicted time autonomous work up to 6 weeks. When turning one page per second, the battery will run out when it reaches 30,000 pages (PRS-T1 is returned at 14,000 pages).
It is not entirely clear how the developers managed to achieve a twofold increase in the autonomy of the Sony Reader PRS-T2 compared to its predecessor, which was equipped with the same 1000 mAh battery. It was not possible to objectively assess the autonomy of the novelty for a rather short time of testing, moreover, the results will largely depend on the use model, so we can only take the company's word for it.
Interface
The American version came to our test Sony Reader PRS-T2, it is on it that we will consider the features of the interface. In sleep mode, the screen displays a user choice: the cover of the last opened book, a skin saver based on one or a group of images, or just a blank sheet.
The main screen is divided into three main areas. The top line displays service information about the status of the Wi-Fi module and the state of charge of the battery; all parameters of the active book are shown in the center, including the cover, title, author, number of pages read and the time of the last reading session. Below the covers and titles of the last four books are displayed, and finally, at the very bottom of the main screen, there are large icons of the library, the online Reader Store and the Applications section.
In library Sony Reader PRS-T2 you can choose to display content as rows or tiles, sorting them by date, title, author, filename, or time of last activity. If there are too many books, it will be easier to find the required volume using the search. Folders are not supported, but you can try organizing your digital library using Collections or using Evernote. A long tap on the cover calls context menu, which allows you to get acquainted with the full information about the book, as well as delete it, or vice versa, protect it from accidental deletion.
Reading mode interface Sony Reader PRS-T2 literally spartan - apart from text, you only have the page counter available, not the clock or battery level. You can turn pages using the keys or swipe-gesture, a simple touch on the edge of the page does not work. The text is aligned to the width of the page, so it looks pretty good even though there are no hyphenations. By default, a full refresh occurs every 15th page, however, in the settings, you can choose to force the refresh of each page. By holding down the arrow, you can scroll through the pages as quickly as possible, the final rendering will occur only after you release the key.
The settings menu is called up using the corresponding button. The most popular item Fonts allows you to choose the font size from 8 options and its type from 7 options. There is no line spacing adjustment. Unfortunately, it was not possible to change the font type in the Cyrillic EPUB file on the tested firmware, although the book in the same format is English language let me do it without any problems this operation... The More item hides, among other things, the option to convert the interface to landscape orientation.
Navigate Page section of reader Sony Reader PRS-T2 allows you to go to the previous page in time, enter a specific page number or use the slider to go to the desired place "by eye". The contents of the book with a list of chapters are also available here. In the Customize View item, you can customize the page display mode by choosing a layout from the options: original, two or three columns, and landscape. Column modes are useful when reading PDF, but for ordinary text EPUBs, the original layout is enough. The Crop Page item allows you to adjust the width of the margins to your requirements, and the Ajust View item allows you to adjust the contrast of the image using presets or manual mode.
Notes and Handwriting allow you to write, view, and edit handwritten and keyboard notes. It is especially convenient to do this with a stylus. So, by highlighting a word or a whole paragraph with a long tap, you can simply underline it, leave your note, send a quote of it to your Facebook or Evernote, or find it on Wikipedia, Google or on the pages of the same book.
In the Applications section of the interface Sony Reader PRS-T2 posted items Public Library, Browser, Periodicals, All Notes, Dictionaries, Handwritten notes, Reminders, Pictures, General and Evernote and Facebook service settings. The purpose of each of the items is obvious, we only note that in the Dictionaries menu you can not only find the meaning the right word, but also change the dictionary from the pre-installed ones. The settings menu is very rich, you will have to spend a lot of time to fully study it, but it is worth it, since it allows you to configure almost any parameter.
Video review of the reader Sony Reader PRS-T2
Outcomes
Sony Reader PRS-T2 Is the newest reader from a Japanese company, announced in August 2012. Unfortunately, there was no qualitative leap over its predecessor in any of the categories: design, ergonomics, functionality. We liked the minimum weight, stylish design and the presence of a microSD card reader, but the lack of an audio player disappointed, the updated block of buttons can be assessed as “an amateur”.
About the price Sony Reader PRS-T2 it does not make much sense to speak, since it is not a competitive advantage. In the United States, the cost of the reader is $ 129 at the time of the announcement, according to the experience of the predecessor, we will certainly expect a promotional New Year's reduction to $ 99, but in Ukraine, the novelty can already be purchased for $ 200. Recall that the subsidized Amazon Kindle 4 with non-disconnectable advertising costs $ 79 in the US, it can be found here for $ 100, and even the Amazon Kindle 4 Touch, which is comparable in capabilities, costs only $ 125.
Liked
+ availability of a practical black version of the design made of non-reflective matte plastic
+ thin and light design
+ ergonomics of the new keypad
+ well thought-out interface
Did not like
- no radical improvements (backlight, high-resolution screen)
- No music player found in the previous Sony Reader PRS-T1
- not everyone will like the redesign of the button block
- glossy plastic of white and red versions glares noticeably
