I have increasingly been experiencing the phenomena of the text gradually breaking up when exposed to direct sunlight. This does not occur with indirect or oblique rays, but seems to occur within 15-30 minutes of direct exposure and quickly deteriorates on subsequent page turns to the point where the text is illegible. Shutting off the unit and restarting cures the situation, only for it to return shortly thereafter.

My initial thought is that the substrate must be heating up in direct sunlight (outside temperature does not seem to be a factor as this has happened in 80F and 65F). It has not happened in bright artificial light.

Any thoughts? Anyone else experience this or is my unit unique?

I find myself shading the reader while enjoying the salubrious climate at the Beach.

Happened to me a few times when i took the reader to the beach. I was holding it over my head with the screen facing down when the contrast of the page I was reading suddenly dropped by 90 percent. I guess the added heat changes the properties of the fluid in the screen.

I've seen the same thing, although it refreshes quickly if you put it pack in the shade.

I have found that the display slowly fades if you leave the Reader with the screen on, but I've not experienced the sunlight thing. Perhaps it's never sunny enough in the UK for it to be a problem :grin:.

I have found that the display slowly fades if you leave the Reader with the screen on, :grin:.

I get that all the time too. click the next page and it's all nice and bright once again

Haven't noticed it...but then it's only spring here so I'll have to see what happens this summer!

I don't think the time of year matters...... lay the reader down and on and go do something for 10 minutes, come back and see how the screen looks sort of dull, then turn a page and notice how much more bright it is. :)

Hi,

I've just noticed the same thing, yesterday in Toronto. It was very warm (20c) and sunny, and the text fades and becomes less disctint from the background. It does not get better with a page turn, the only thing that fixes it is being in the shade, even just partial shade. I find it harder to read when it does this, I'm a little disappointed.

Andrew

Here in Germany the weather is exceptionally sunny for the time of the year. And yes, I experienced the same phenomenon: fading letters, when exposure to direct sunlight. My kingdom for UK's weather. ;-))
Friedhelm

Can't say I've ever taken mine outside to read...

Hi,

I've just noticed the same thing, yesterday in Toronto. It was very warm (20c) and sunny

Is 20c very warm for Toronto usually, or just really warm for May? Just curious.

Here in Germany the weather is exceptionally sunny for the time of the year. And yes, I experienced the same phenomenon: fading letters, when exposure to direct sunlight. My kingdom for UK's weather. ;-))
Friedhelm

Ha! :grin:

We're getting this hot weather too - it's been sunny and in the low 20s for about the last two weeks now.

They are forecasting a change in the weather today, though, with rain for much of the next week.

I've not experienced Toronto in May before, just later in the year, but it does get pretty warm in summer.

http://www.theweathernetwork.com/weather/stats/pages/C02017.htm

According to the above link 18c is the average maximum for May, today's forecast is for 25c!

I'll be outside testing my reader in sunlight! :-)

I just had my reader in the sunlight and it starts to fade very quickly. Have a look at the attached photo to see what I mean. Anyway, is there something that can be done about this?

I'm guessing the viscocity of the pixels thins as they heat and the white/black particles drifter faster than usual. My Sony gradually drifts in that direction until the one-hour shut-down. Anybody got experience with hot readers out of direct sunlight? Say, left in the car?

My CC & Grundig 350 radio displays do the same thing.

What I am wondering is if I was to purchase this screen protector for the Reader, would it kill the contrast too much? Would it allow me to read the Reader in direct sunlight without the text fading too much?

http://cgi.ebay.com/3-Screen-Protector-Sony-Reader-PRS500_W0QQitemZ170111390255QQihZ007QQcategoryZ561 67QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem


Jon

I'm guessing the viscocity of the pixels thins as they heat and the white/black particles drifter faster than usual. My Sony gradually drifts in that direction until the one-hour shut-down. Anybody got experience with hot readers out of direct sunlight? Say, left in the car?

I've left mine in the car while shopping a couple of times recently (over 25c outside temps) and the letters look darker and sharper afterwards. The unit itself gets warm, but not too much as I tuck it away out of sight and direct sunlight. I haven't noticed how long the display takes to fade afterwards.

No solution for this problem, then? It's very annoying.

I have increasingly been experiencing the phenomena of the text gradually breaking up when exposed to direct sunlight. This does not occur with indirect or oblique rays, but seems to occur within 15-30 minutes of direct exposure and quickly deteriorates on subsequent page turns to the point where the text is illegible. Shutting off the unit and restarting cures the situation, only for it to return shortly thereafter.

My initial thought is that the substrate must be heating up in direct sunlight (outside temperature does not seem to be a factor as this has happened in 80F and 65F). It has not happened in bright artificial light.

Any thoughts? Anyone else experience this or is my unit unique?

I find myself shading the reader while enjoying the salubrious climate at the Beach.

Just a grin for those of us able to remember thermal copying/printing technology. Yes they still use it in stores for printing some sales receipts. I guess that helps limit the time a warranty repair must be made. Maybe that is why some mail-in rebate centers are located in hot cities in Texas or Arizona-Some number of original receipts don't make it successfully. Paranoia?

No solution for this problem, then? It's very annoying.

What I do is taking off the cover and using it to cast a shadow over the screen... it works like a charm, I've no problems reading while sunbathing :)