Sony Reader's Edge: Free Books

"This morning Sony added to its line of ebook readers with a 7-inch touchscreen device they're calling the Sony Reader Daily Edition. At an announcement at the New York Public Library on 42nd street, Steve Haber, president of Sony's Digital Reading Business Division, presented the reader as a more open alternative to Amazon's Kindle, with just as many great specs. Its added benefit, however, is access to millions of free books via two services: Google Books, which is actively scanning out-of-print titles, and various public library partners which are undertaking efforts to digitize their collections. Sony's big bet is on an open-access content model that doesn't require Reader owners to purchase every book they load onto their device. (Though the device will still connect to Sony's ebook store.)..."