New touch-screen Sony Reader arrives

The Reader Touch Edition has a 6in touch-screen

Sony has unveiled two new models in its Reader family of devices for accessing electronic books.

Announced earlier this month, and available to order from 26 August, the Reader Touch Edition sports a 6in touch-screen display, while the Reader Pocket Edition has a 5in display and is designed to fit easily into a handbag or jacket pocket.

Sony said that users can navigate using the touch screen on the Touch Edition, key in text using an on-screen virtual keyboard and make handwritten notes with a stylus.

Available in black or silver, the Touch Edition includes a built-in Oxford English Dictionary that lets users look up definitions simply by tapping on the word. The device comes with five adjustable font sizes, and has slots for SD Card and Memory Stick Pro Duo Flash storage.

The Pocket Edition is available in pink and silver, and can store approximately 350 standard e-books. It lasts for up to two weeks on a single battery charge, according to Sony.

Prices for the new devices have still to be disclosed, but will be available soon on Sony's Reader web site, the company said.