Wed September 04 2013
![]() |
02:02 PM by ritoroy in E-Book General | Deals and Resources (No...
|
[ 8 replies ] |
![]() |
11:34 AM by Alexander Turcic in E-Book General | News
Launch date in Europe starts in September and varies by country. Update: Now also on display on various Sony Europe websites. |
[ 104 replies ] |
![]() |
10:26 AM by Alexander Turcic in E-Book General | News
E Ink Carta specifications in detail:
Source: spec sheet (PDF) Related: All-New Kindle Paperwhite V2 (accidentally) unveiled. So what's all new? |
[ 86 replies ] |
![]() |
10:04 AM by Alexander Turcic in E-Book General | News
While not granted (yet), the USPTO filing outlines an "e-book system" that would synchronize reading locations not only between e-books stored on different devices (perhaps even in different e-book formats), but also locations between audio/audio-video content and text content. For that purpose, the audio content is first transcoded into text and then compared to the original text version.
Source: USPTO |
[ 3 replies ] |
![]() |
08:54 AM by Alexander Turcic in E-Book General | News
In one variety of the implementation it's the responsibility of a remote "sound server" with a "sound database", which is connected via WiFi or 3G to the reading device, providing sounds in response to specific trigger points. In another implementation, trigger points don't need to be specified individually in every book; rather, a book would receive a unique identifier and a client could access a remote trigger point database to fetch the related sound information. The concept is simple enough that we wouldn't be surprised to find it in future reading apps. |
[ 51 replies ] |
![]() |
06:46 AM by Katsunami in E-Book General | General Discussions
I've read that there are some nice reading applications for tablets, and that some people prefer a tablet for readin because of the choice of apps and their customizability. Let's say, a manufacturer would do something like this:
But most important: It will run a completely stripped down version of Android, but you won't ever see the operating system. The reader itself would only provide the utter minimal stuff: WIFI connection, handling the front-light, setting page flash (between 0-10); basically, make the hardware usable. (Isn't that what an OS is supposed to do?) Everything, and I mean *EVERYTHING* related to reading would be left to the applications, from choosing reading fonts up to Facebook/GoodReads integration. The manufacturer of the reader will have a marketplace, but with only one type of applications: reading apps. Anything else is not allowed. Comics, books, PDF's, an internet browser, etc... whatever. People who have a reading app in the Android store could probably port it quite quickly to the e-reader. Not all reading applications may be free, and some could cost up to $10. The manufacturer itself will have a free reading application in the market, comparable to what a Kindle Paperwhite has to offer now; it won't be installed by default. If you have only one reading application installed, it will start by default when booting the reader; if you have more than one installed, you can choose which one to start by default, or start none and present you with a choice when starting the device. This way, you could be reading a book in one application, and read a PDF in another. Of course, this would be a high-end device, with a high-end price: the price will be between $150 and $300 depending on the size. Would you buy this "Uber E-Reader"? (People might say: But this is just an e-ink tablet, stripped of everything except a market to install reading applications? Yeah, you'd basically be right. That's why it's an Uber E-Reader, and not a generic tablet.) |
[ 64 replies ] |
![]() |
06:39 AM by Alexander Turcic in E-Book General | News
On the hardware side, McCracken experienced that the built-in light works indeed better than in the previous Paperwhite, without the unevenness of the light along the bottom edge of the screen. He cites Amazon saying that the flashing effect while flipping pages is reduced to "as rarely as once per chapter". Unfortunately he doesn't say whether he can confirm this statement in his hands-on test. He does confirm though that the touch screen is more responsive when opening books, turning pages, and performing other touch tasks. Software-wise, he mentions what we've already learned, the Smart Lookup via X-Ray feature allowing you to learn more about the books that you are reading, the Vocabulary Builder that lets you review previously looked-up words, and the new Kindle Page Flip, easing the process of skimming through the book:
What's not yet available in the current firmware is the Kindle FreeTime feature, allowing extra restricted profiles for your kids, and the GoodReads integration. Both features McCracken said are aimed to become available in a firmware upgrade by Thanksgiving. Owners of the first Paperwhite can rejoice, as at least some of the new software features may come to your device as well:
Related: All-New Kindle Paperwhite V2 (accidentally) unveiled. So what's all new? |
[ 16 replies ] |
![]() |
05:46 AM by Mort1997 in E-Book Readers | Barnes & Noble NOOK
The HD+ is selling for £129 for the 16GB and £149. I have both and they are lovely to use. |
[ 1 reply ] |