Epub dictionaries - Page 3

=X= · 05-19-2009, 05:21 PM

Dictionary lookup is one of those features people don't know how much they want it until it is used.
I use to think it was neat to have "for my children" but now I realize I use this feature as much as they do if not more.

=X=

=X= · 05-19-2009, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

So you'll stick with Amazon when the rest of the world is going ePub?

Mind you I'm starting to like ePUB more and more. But Mobi/Amz is still the defaco standard here in the states.

=X=

Tattncat · 05-19-2009, 05:42 PM

Dictionary support would be nice, but I don't consider it necessary, I keep a dictionary on my Touch which is also always with me. On the rare occasions when it is not available I have several dictionaries available in my study.

JSWolf · 05-19-2009, 05:58 PM

How many people here actually NEED a dictionary. Not just want, but actually NEED. I bet the numbers will be a lot different when you vote just based on NEED. So if you want a dictionary but do not NEED one, then you'd vote no.

ankayeb · 05-19-2009, 06:32 PM

The dictionary feature is not something that I use very often, but I do like that it's available for the occasional word that I don't know. Usually I can figure out the meaning from context, so if the dictionary lookup was not available, I wouldn't waste the time looking in a paper dictionary. By using the dictionary on my Kindle, I can find out the actual meaning of the word without feeling that I'm being distracted from the book.

Studio717 · 05-19-2009, 06:44 PM

Definitely voted 'yes' but I'm a word junkie.

I own fourteen dictionaries (at last count) including two second edition Websters, the OED on CD and the original Johnson dictionary, also on CD. Also have three paperback Webster's stashed around the house that have their covers taped on because I used them so much (not counted in the fourteen since they are copies of the same dictionary).

Unfortunately, the Adobe person is probably right.

pking36330 · 05-19-2009, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

How many people here actually NEED a dictionary. Not just want, but actually NEED. I bet the numbers will be a lot different when you vote just based on NEED. So if you want a dictionary but do not NEED one, then you'd vote no.

Nobody here NEEDS an ebook reader. I think we are trying to help determine the level of potential customer support that would justify Adobe investing the manhours to provide dictionary support.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

So you'll stick with Amazon when the rest of the world is going ePub?

I like the idea of ePub support, but it is far from being the ubiquitous standard that becomes a deal-breaker for passing on buying an ebook reader and ebook provider that otherwise meet the majority of my requirements. In other words, applying numerical values to ebook reader attributes on a 10 point scale with 10 points as highest:

Inline Dictionary Support (like Kindle's) = 7
ePub Support = 4

Not everyone shares your same all-encompassing dread and abhorrance of DRM works. Some folks prefer great system integration over complicated but comprehensive user control, even if that brings DRM restrictions in a semi-closed environment. Look at Apple's iTunes model, their early closed system with flawless execution (compared to the alternatives) gained them a 96% market share, and so now they have opened the system so you can purchase and download non-DRM music. Again, that's why they build Fords and Chevys, not everyone has the same priorities of what makes a desireable product.

tompe · 05-19-2009, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

How many people here actually NEED a dictionary. Not just want, but actually NEED. I bet the numbers will be a lot different when you vote just based on NEED. So if you want a dictionary but do not NEED one, then you'd vote no.

What do you meen by need? The book I am reading now use a lot of archaic words. I had for example to look up "picaroon" today.

I also seems to need the dictionary to tell me when I have guessed wrong what a word mean. I just happened to look up "moribund" today and realized I had guessed a bit wrong about the meaning.

puffergeek · 05-19-2009, 07:04 PM

I would not have bought a Kindle 2 without it!

I used to use this a lot with eReader as well...

Jack Tingle · 05-19-2009, 07:09 PM

I've used a variety of ebook readers over the years, some with, some without. It's never been a deal maker or breaker either way. I seldom use it, but it's not a bad idea. You left off "Indifferent" so I voted not used.

Regards,
Jack Tingle

zelda_pinwheel · 05-19-2009, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by =X=

Dictionary lookup is one of those features people don't know how much they want it until it is used.
I use to think it was neat to have "for my children" but now I realize I use this feature as much as they do if not more.

=X=

i completely agree (although i already had a long-standing dictionary habit from well before my ebook days).

the integrated dictionary support on my eb1150 is one of my favorite features. the touchscreen navigation made it practically instantaneous to look up a word and i used it all the time. yet another thing the ebookwise did right 10 years before all the others... i love the 700 but i still can't understand why sony didn't integrate dictionary lookup to take further advantage of the touchscreen. i've made my own dictionaries which i keep as reference (one french, one english) from old dictionaries available in the public domain and i use them when necessary, but it's not nearly as practical as integrated lookup. i will be VERY happy the day that feature gets added to adobe's epub software and i really hope they realise how important it is soon. if they have any doubts even after this poll there are other threads requesting dictionary support for sony devices for instance and users even go so far as to make their own dictionary hacks when they can. it seems pretty short-sighted of them to assume that dictionary support is unimportant.

ondabeach · 05-19-2009, 07:19 PM

Hi Guys,

Dictionary fuctionality is like most things in life.... It's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.

I will be adding dictionary lookup to ZuluReader very soon, it's been on my short list since I started wrting ZR. The epub format support is going extremely well, Steve Jordan's books come up beautifully, also epubs created with Calibre. I am currently working on books from Harlequin, almost finished that now.

I would love to receive more DRM free epubs for testing purposes, and I am keen to get some more beta testers for ZR.

Cheers,

Steve.

Lee Crocker · 05-19-2009, 07:21 PM

I use dictionary support, but I'm generally disappointed with it--the only words I look up are the really obscure ones that aren't likely to be found in any but an unabridged dictionary. I'd like to see the standard extended so that books could supply their own glossaries for unusual words they use.

zelda_pinwheel · 05-19-2009, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ondabeach

Hi Guys,

Dictionary fuctionality is like most things in life.... It's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.

I will be adding dictionary lookup to ZuluReader very soon, it's been on my short list since I started wrting ZR. The epub format support is going extremely well, Steve Jordan's books come up beautifully, also epubs created with Calibre. I am currently working on books from Harlequin, almost finished that now.

I would love to receive more DRM free epubs for testing purposes, and I am keen to get some more beta testers for ZR.

Cheers,

Steve.

that's good to hear !

and you know, you can get more drm-free epub books than you can shake a stick at on feedbooks and in our upload section... just saying.

carld · 05-19-2009, 07:43 PM

A dictionary isn't vital, but it's a very handy feature. I generally use it at least once per book, sometimes more. So, I'd definitely rather have a dictionary than not.

View Poll Results: Do you want/need dictionary support in your reader?
Yes.	303	78.50%
No.	79	20.47%
Other (please explain)	4	1.04%
Voters: 386. You may not vote on this poll

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05-19-2009, 05:21 PM	#31
=X= Wizard Posts: 3,671 Karma: 12205348 Join Date: Mar 2008 Device: Galaxy S, Nook w/CM7	Dictionary lookup is one of those features people don't know how much they want it until it is used. I use to think it was neat to have "for my children" but now I realize I use this feature as much as they do if not more. =X=

05-19-2009, 05:42 PM	#33
Tattncat Bookworm Posts: 673 Karma: 1029391 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah, USA Device: Nook Tablet, Samsung Galaxy Tab3, Sony PRS700, Sony PRS505	Dictionary support would be nice, but I don't consider it necessary, I keep a dictionary on my Touch which is also always with me. On the rare occasions when it is not available I have several dictionaries available in my study.

05-19-2009, 05:58 PM	#34
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,835 Karma: 128597114 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	How many people here actually NEED a dictionary. Not just want, but actually NEED. I bet the numbers will be a lot different when you vote just based on NEED. So if you want a dictionary but do not NEED one, then you'd vote no.

05-19-2009, 06:32 PM	#35
ankayeb Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2008 Device: Kindle 1	The dictionary feature is not something that I use very often, but I do like that it's available for the occasional word that I don't know. Usually I can figure out the meaning from context, so if the dictionary lookup was not available, I wouldn't waste the time looking in a paper dictionary. By using the dictionary on my Kindle, I can find out the actual meaning of the word without feeling that I'm being distracted from the book.

05-19-2009, 06:44 PM	#36
Studio717 Addict Posts: 208 Karma: 575 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: California Device: Various Kindles, iPhone, iPad, Galaxy 10.1	Definitely voted 'yes' but I'm a word junkie. I own fourteen dictionaries (at last count) including two second edition Websters, the OED on CD and the original Johnson dictionary, also on CD. Also have three paperback Webster's stashed around the house that have their covers taped on because I used them so much (not counted in the fourteen since they are copies of the same dictionary). Unfortunately, the Adobe person is probably right.

05-19-2009, 07:04 PM	#39
puffergeek Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2009 Location: AZ Device: Kindle 2 and iPhone	I would not have bought a Kindle 2 without it! I used to use this a lot with eReader as well...

05-19-2009, 07:09 PM	#40
Jack Tingle Punctuation Fetishist Posts: 557 Karma: 1070000 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: The Bluest Commonwealth In East America Device: Kindle PW, Nexus 7 (2013), Galaxy S5 phone, Galaxy Tab 4 8.0	I've used a variety of ebook readers over the years, some with, some without. It's never been a deal maker or breaker either way. I seldom use it, but it's not a bad idea. You left off "Indifferent" so I voted not used. Regards, Jack Tingle

05-19-2009, 07:19 PM	#42
ondabeach Groupie Posts: 193 Karma: 192 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Vanuatu Device: HTC touch Diamond, Ipaq 3115	Hi Guys, Dictionary fuctionality is like most things in life.... It's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. I will be adding dictionary lookup to ZuluReader very soon, it's been on my short list since I started wrting ZR. The epub format support is going extremely well, Steve Jordan's books come up beautifully, also epubs created with Calibre. I am currently working on books from Harlequin, almost finished that now. I would love to receive more DRM free epubs for testing purposes, and I am keen to get some more beta testers for ZR. Cheers, Steve.

05-19-2009, 07:21 PM	#43
Lee Crocker Free Software Developer Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Sacramento, CA Device: Kindle 2	I use dictionary support, but I'm generally disappointed with it--the only words I look up are the really obscure ones that aren't likely to be found in any but an unabridged dictionary. I'd like to see the standard extended so that books could supply their own glossaries for unusual words they use.

05-19-2009, 07:43 PM	#45
carld Wizard Posts: 2,698 Karma: 4748723 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Kindle Paperwhite	A dictionary isn't vital, but it's a very handy feature. I generally use it at least once per book, sometimes more. So, I'd definitely rather have a dictionary than not.

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