Vox Reviews

[cypherslock]

Hey, JCK will I be able to download the Kindle App onto the vox? If I can, I can read all my mobi books. I started out on a kindle a couple years back. but this Vox is making me change my mind!

[taming]

I'm not JC, but yes, you can download a kindle app on your vox.

[emilikins]

There was an update on the Vox review stating it was indeed raining, so they couldn't test outside, but the screen seemed to have less reflection than LCDs indoors.

[graycyn]

Originally Posted by Psyke

antiglare or not, it's still an LCD screen and will never compare to e-ink in its current form. Glare isn't the only thing that' s a problem using LCD outside, it's the fact that the light outside can over power the back lighting of an LCD screen, washing out visibility. Glare only adds to problem. IF they've been able to overcome this, I'll be highly impressed.

Out of curiosity, why can't LCD screens not have glare? My Dell 24" IPS monitor has a matte screen and NO GLARE AT ALL. Is it that matte screens can't be touchscreen? That seems odd, given that my Sony touch readers aren't glossy.

I just don't get why tablets all have to have a high glare glossy screen. Surely we have the technology to make a matte screen tablet?

At any rate, the main interest the Vox has for me is the screen. My eyes HATE glare and so far, there is no tablet I've found that they can be comfortable with. As for the Pulse feature that the review went on and on about, meh. Could care less. Glad to know it can be shut off. I hope the weather improves so they can tell us more about the screen.

[Psyke]

Originally Posted by graycyn

Out of curiosity, why can't LCD screens not have glare? My Dell 24" IPS monitor has a matte screen and NO GLARE AT ALL. Is it that matte screens can't be touchscreen? That seems odd, given that my Sony touch readers aren't glossy.

I just don't get why tablets all have to have a high glare glossy screen. Surely we have the technology to make a matte screen tablet?

the short answer your monitor and e-ink screens are plastic screens, or at least plastic overlay that provides the anti glare properties, while tablets are all glass. If your monitor happens to be glass (which isn't very common, not even with the high end ones we have at the office), then because it isn't a capacitive touch screen, they probably can put something on it to reduce the glare.

If they used a different type of touch screen on tablets, could it reduce the glare? Possibly, but would it be as effective/sensitive? As we've seen with the kobo touch and others like it that use infra-red touch screen, it works well for it's application, but it's not as sensitive as a capacitive touchscreen, which requires an insulator such as glass (plastics could be use, but Glass is much better). To be totally honest, I don't know why they couldn't add a proper anti-glare to a glass screen, but I'd have to guess that it has to do with the properties of the capacitive screen, else someone probably would have done it by now.

[graycyn]

Originally Posted by Psyke

the short answer your monitor and e-ink screens are plastic screens, or at least plastic overlay that provides the anti glare properties, while tablets are all glass. If your monitor happens to be glass (which isn't very common, not even with the high end ones we have at the office), then because it isn't a capacitive touch screen, they probably can put something on it to reduce the glare.

DOH! You are right, my monitor is plastic! Of course, glass can be made in matte/non-glossy formats, e-ink proves that.

If they used a different type of touch screen on tablets, could it reduce the glare? Possibly, but would it be as effective/sensitive? As we've seen with the kobo touch and others like it that use infra-red touch screen, it works well for it's application, but it's not as sensitive as a capacitive touchscreen, which requires an insulator such as glass (plastics could be use, but Glass is much better). To be totally honest, I don't know why they couldn't add a proper anti-glare to a glass screen, but I'd have to guess that it has to do with the properties of the capacitive screen, else someone probably would have done it by now.

Thanks for explaining, I'm seeing why it hasn't happened yet, though I personally could live with a less sensitive touchscreen if I could get no glare! Because otherwise, I simply can't use a tablet easily, it bothers my eyes too much. I've also noticed how many laptops have a gloss screen, and again, can't understand the reasoning. Those aren't touchscreen, so that excuse is lacking.

I'm really hoping the Vox is a screen improvement over most tablets. But I won't buy one until I can see in person, just because that's the only way for me to know if I can tolerate it.

[taming]

Review on mashable. Not all that much new about the reader, but they sure seem to "get" Kobo's philosophy/POV. Nice pictures, too. http://mashable.com/2011/10/27/kobo-...allery_box2869

[seajewel]

Damn but kobo pulse sounds like it could be really cool. For some books I would love to have a built in reading group. After a particularly shocking or thought provoking scene.. Look up comments right then and there? It's made me dust off the Kobo app on my phone. Id been trying Bluefire to replace Stanza but Kobo's not bad and bluefire has weird quirks. Kobo doesn't give the option of Displaying time though.. Something I sorely miss from Stanza.

[pokee]

Originally Posted by seajewel

Damn but kobo pulse sounds like it could be really cool. For some books I would love to have a built in reading group. After a particularly shocking or thought provoking scene.. Look up comments right then and there? It's made me dust off the Kobo app on my phone. Id been trying Bluefire to replace Stanza but Kobo's not bad and bluefire has weird quirks. Kobo doesn't give the option of Displaying time though.. Something I sorely miss from Stanza.

OH, I know! I might even re-read some books I've read recently that I've been DYING to talk to people about, but nobody else I know has read! I am ready to do some PULSE-ING!

[TonyToews]

Very nice review. I'm definitely in lust.

[seajewel]

Originally Posted by pokee

OH, I know! I might even re-read some books I've read recently that I've been DYING to talk to people about, but nobody else I know has read! I am ready to do some PULSE-ING!

Me too. I'm curious as to whether it will have to be a Kobo-bought book or whether the app can distinguish books, no matter where it originated, and pages and comments and such, as long as a Kobo app or device is used to read. It just has so much potential and really excites me. With some of my favorite books I spend a lot of time looking up forums (A song of ice and fire for example) and discussing reader reactions to stuff, or trying to analyze prophecies that come true in later books.. I guess the only bad part would be to get spoiled on accident, which would probably be easy to do.. but I'm still excited.

[novou]

Originally Posted by graycyn

DOH! You are right, my monitor is plastic! Of course, glass can be made in matte/non-glossy formats, e-ink proves that.

Thanks for explaining, I'm seeing why it hasn't happened yet, though I personally could live with a less sensitive touchscreen if I could get no glare! Because otherwise, I simply can't use a tablet easily, it bothers my eyes too much. I've also noticed how many laptops have a gloss screen, and again, can't understand the reasoning. Those aren't touchscreen, so that excuse is lacking.

E-ink isn't glass though.. it has a plastic surface. The Pearl spec sheet says it's 1.2mm thick.
As for laptop screens, the stupid glossiness is just a compulsion to make a device shiny for the showroom, even if it's heavier and less useful IRL.

PS: I'm sure the Vox is an interesting device, but I wouldn't trust goodereader's reviews since they sell the products they review. Their incentive is to cheer anything they sell.

[jiminrussell]

Originally Posted by seajewel

I guess the only bad part would be to get spoiled on accident, which would probably be easy to do.. but I'm still excited.

You should be able to prevent most spoilers. From the user guide "In Pulse, if you tap "no spoilers", all comments made further than your current position in your book will be hidden."

[gabriel-knight]

[beautifulsoup]

Originally Posted by taming

I'm not JC, but yes, you can download a kindle app on your vox.

That's it. I'm in.