Wired (or someone) altered this EZReader picture - Page 2

purl4peace · 07-09-2009, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abecedary

Wired needs to be taken to task for this. What's funny is that over on the right side of these screens is a link to a Wired article titled "Faked Screenshots Show Google Chrome Frenzy". How about an article titled "Faked Screenshots Show Wired in the Pocket of Amazon"?

Ohhhhh, the Irony!!!

I would post comments on the review threads but don't feel like signing up for yet another bulletin board membership. Readers should be told that they are doing this.

I suspect it is an "ease of photography" image but if that is the case, they should add some disclaimer that images may not be of the actual and for illustrative purposes only or some such thing.

As I said, it casts doubt into the quality or integrity associated with any of their reviews.

rrburton · 07-09-2009, 03:14 PM

Interesting that RobertB hasn't yet commented in this thread......

lilac_jive · 07-09-2009, 03:18 PM

If I wasn't mistaken (the webpage froze up for me), the Iliad also is shooped.

bwaldron · 07-09-2009, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abecedary

How about an article titled "Faked Screenshots Show Wired in the Pocket of Amazon"?

Don't see how it shows that -- in that case, wouldn't they want to make the other devices have screens that looked worse than the Kindle, rather than identical?

Seems like a very bad case of laziness, and Wired should rightly be called out on this shoddy work.

garthoid · 07-09-2009, 04:07 PM

Never attribute to maliciousness what can easily be explained by stupidity. I would vote on the laziness factor. Wired lost me years ago for their editorial incompetence which bordered on arrogance.

Abecedary · 07-09-2009, 04:14 PM

I'm not so sure I buy the laziness excuse, since it takes more effort to put the Kindle screen image onto the pictures of the other readers. But I also agree that it's not necessarily malicious. It's likely just some poorly conceived workflow where they have a stock "ebook reader" screenshot that gets used on everything, similar to how flyers/catalogs always have the same image on laptop/computer screens or TV sets.

Daithi · 07-09-2009, 05:04 PM

I'm guessing that ereaders with their glass screens have a tendency to produce glare when photographed and this results in lousy photos, which is why they may be Photoshopping the screens. So I too think Wired was being lazy and not maliciousness, and I think it's funny.

As a side note, when the Kindle first came out I remember looking at some of the images on Amazon's website and thinking that Amazon was Photoshopping the contrast a little. Now wouldn't it be ironic if Wired is Photoshopping a Photoshopped photo.

purl4peace · 07-09-2009, 05:38 PM

What I don't understand, though, is if they are having a hard time getting a decent picture of the screen for whatever reason -- glare etc... why not just use the stock photo from the vendor. For example, what was wrong with the picture of the EZReader that was posted on Page 1? I'm sure Sony has plenty of images of the 700 that could be used. And why do it for some (like the Sony, the Iliad, and the EZReader) but not the Cool-er?

I don't think it is malicious. However, as someone pointed out, if I were Amazon, I would be none-too-happy that every eReader screen out there is being made to look like the Kindle.

forkyfork · 07-09-2009, 06:13 PM

This reminds me of the Okami - IGN artwork fiasco (see here: http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/20/uh...rtently-adver/)

Although, that was printed on many boxes and distributed worldwide. This image is just something on a website that can be changed easily. But still

Robertb · 07-09-2009, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rrburton

Interesting that RobertB hasn't yet commented in this thread......

Dear All:

I have no idea what wired did. They ARE presently doing a review but we sent them a stock EZ Reader. I have to look into this more before I can comment; but I am completely at a loss here.

AlfonsVH · 07-09-2009, 07:26 PM

The photos seem to have been edited now... they show a blank screen on the wired page.
http://www.wired.com/reviews/product/pr_astak_ez_reader

Robertb · 07-09-2009, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robertb

Dear All:

I have no idea what wired did. They ARE presently doing a review but we sent them a stock EZ Reader. I have to look into this more before I can comment; but I am completely at a loss here.

Yes, the photo is doctored and I have no reasin why. They HAD a real EZ Reader for the review. The EZ Reader has incredibly sharp and highly resolute picture and needs no doctoring.

We do know that WIRED is doing a second review now of the EZ Reader after I went on a tirade telling them that lack of WIRELESS is NOT a defect; and they had many misconceptions in their first review. They agreed with me and a new reviewer is now doing a story.

purl4peace · 07-09-2009, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlfonsVH

The photo's seem to have been edited now... they show a blank screen on the wired page.
http://www.wired.com/reviews/product/pr_astak_ez_reader

Looks like they have also changed the Sony screen as well. Someone must have tipped them off as to their "mistake"...

griffonwing · 07-09-2009, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robertb

Yes, the photo is doctored and I have no reasin why. They HAD a real EZ Reader for the review. The EZ Reader has incredibly sharp and highly resolute picture and needs no doctoring.

We do know that WIRED is doing a second review now of the EZ Reader after I went on a tirade telling them that lack of WIRELESS is NOT a defect; and they had many misconceptions in their first review. They agreed with me and a new reviewer is now doing a story.

That's good to hear. To me Whispernet is a defect.

DixieGal · 07-09-2009, 07:53 PM

RobertB, this just hasn't been your week. But on the sunny side, next week is surely going to be better!

07-09-2009, 05:04 PM	#22
Daithi Publishers are evil! Posts: 2,418 Karma: 36205264 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Rhode Island Device: Various Kindles	I'm guessing that ereaders with their glass screens have a tendency to produce glare when photographed and this results in lousy photos, which is why they may be Photoshopping the screens. So I too think Wired was being lazy and not maliciousness, and I think it's funny. As a side note, when the Kindle first came out I remember looking at some of the images on Amazon's website and thinking that Amazon was Photoshopping the contrast a little. Now wouldn't it be ironic if Wired is Photoshopping a Photoshopped photo. Last edited by Daithi; 07-09-2009 at 05:09 PM. Reason: I knows knot how tu uze gramar

07-09-2009, 07:26 PM	#26
AlfonsVH Addict Posts: 253 Karma: 2113226 Join Date: Jun 2008 Device: BeBook Neo	The photos seem to have been edited now... they show a blank screen on the wired page. http://www.wired.com/reviews/product/pr_astak_ez_reader Last edited by AlfonsVH; 07-10-2009 at 04:46 AM.

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07-09-2009, 03:14 PM	#17
rrburton Connoisseur Posts: 58 Karma: 942 Join Date: Apr 2009 Device: iPad	Interesting that RobertB hasn't yet commented in this thread......

07-09-2009, 03:18 PM	#18
lilac_jive Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,870 Karma: 27376 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Device: PRS-505	If I wasn't mistaken (the webpage froze up for me), the Iliad also is shooped.

07-09-2009, 04:07 PM	#20
garthoid Enthusiast Posts: 47 Karma: 66 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Ottawa, Canada Device: axim, bebook, BPDN	Never attribute to maliciousness what can easily be explained by stupidity. I would vote on the laziness factor. Wired lost me years ago for their editorial incompetence which bordered on arrogance.

07-09-2009, 04:14 PM	#21
Abecedary Exwyzeeologist Posts: 535 Karma: 3261 Join Date: Jun 2009 Device: :PRS-505::iPod touch:	I'm not so sure I buy the laziness excuse, since it takes more effort to put the Kindle screen image onto the pictures of the other readers. But I also agree that it's not necessarily malicious. It's likely just some poorly conceived workflow where they have a stock "ebook reader" screenshot that gets used on everything, similar to how flyers/catalogs always have the same image on laptop/computer screens or TV sets.

07-09-2009, 05:38 PM	#23
purl4peace Mommy of Many Interests Posts: 139 Karma: 660 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Wake Forest, NC Device: Kindle DX, Sony PRS-505, Cybook Gen3	What I don't understand, though, is if they are having a hard time getting a decent picture of the screen for whatever reason -- glare etc... why not just use the stock photo from the vendor. For example, what was wrong with the picture of the EZReader that was posted on Page 1? I'm sure Sony has plenty of images of the 700 that could be used. And why do it for some (like the Sony, the Iliad, and the EZReader) but not the Cool-er? I don't think it is malicious. However, as someone pointed out, if I were Amazon, I would be none-too-happy that every eReader screen out there is being made to look like the Kindle.

07-09-2009, 06:13 PM	#24
forkyfork Zealot Posts: 145 Karma: 1664 Join Date: May 2009 Device: It's a long story ;)	This reminds me of the Okami - IGN artwork fiasco (see here: http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/20/uh...rtently-adver/) Although, that was printed on many boxes and distributed worldwide. This image is just something on a website that can be changed easily. But still

07-09-2009, 07:53 PM	#30
DixieGal Hi There! Posts: 7,473 Karma: 2930523 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ft Lauderdale Device: iPad	RobertB, this just hasn't been your week. But on the sunny side, next week is surely going to be better!