Sony Reader PRS-T2 (black)

The Sony PRS-T2 comes in 3 colors and costs $129 (click to enlarge).

(Credit: Sony)

Thanks to an accidental leak by an online retailer last week, it doesn't come as any surprise that Sony is releasing a new touch-screen e-ink e-reader. The new device, the Reader PRS-T2, has now officially gone on sale and you can purchase it today for $129, the same price as the previous model.

The 5.9-ounce T2, which comes in black, white, and red, looks very similar to last year's PRS-T1, but according to Sony, it offers some feature and performance improvements along with some tweaks to the button layout and design.

Here are the highlights:

• Sony says the "glare-free" E-Ink Pearl V220 touch screen has been enhanced for optimal long-term reading.
• There are new social features (Facebook and Evernote), a simplified home screen, and an improved default book layout that makes it easier to organize and find books.
• More "paper-like" page turns, improved continuous page turns and a smoother zoom in and out.
• Two built-in English language and four translation dictionaries.
• Double the battery life (two months instead of 1 month with wireless off).
• Matte black T2 includes free voucher for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone e-book, redeemable from the Pottermore Shop online. (That's right, only the black model).
• Redesigned buttons on the front of the device

In other good news, you no longer have to install any software on your computer to access the Reader Store; it's all done through a Web-based interface now that you can access from most browsers (Sony says any book purchased via web browser will be "waiting in the user’s Reader library, ready to be read"). Needless to say, Sony was just a bit behind Amazon and Barnes & Noble in this department (I say that doing my best Bob Uecker impression from "Major League").

As noted, the latest Reader now includes new Facebook and Evernote features. Sony says that, "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." You also get access to content you saved using Evernote's Web Clipper feature and pages saved with Evernote Clearly are optimized for the Reader’s e-ink display. And finally, favorite passages can also be annotated on the T2 and "saved back to Evernote for viewing later on any smartphone, tablet or PC."

(Click to enlarge).

(Credit: Sony)

In case you were wondering, this is a WiFi-only e-reader (there's no 3G option) and it comes with 2GB of internal memory but has an microSD expansion slot for additional memory (it accepts up to 32GB cards). There's no built-in light like with the $139 Nook Simple Touch with Glowlight, but Sony does offer a cover with an integrated light as an accessory for $50.

I can't say there's any killer new feature to get terribly excited about, but at least Sony's Reader is evolving with new features and some performance improvements.

While Sony's never released sales numbers for its e-readers or e-book sales, the prevailing opinion is that it only has a small share of the U.S. e-reader market -- but the Reader does have international appeal. That said, it's worth noting that as Amazon, Apple, and upstarts like Kobo expand their e-book offerings into fast-growing markets abroad, Sony's facing plenty of competition outside of North America. One of these days Barnes & Noble is also expected to take the Nook brand overseas, but there's been no official word on when and where that will happen.