Amazon Kindle goes international - Page 18

llreader · 10-09-2009, 03:41 AM

I think the dark horse in the content race is Google. If you take a peek at books.google.com, they have *millions* of books scanned. The agreement (on hold due to legal wrangling) to make out-of-print books available is just the start. They want to sell all of those books, and eat Amazon's breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Their public domain works are available in ePub format - you can bet they can produce any of their scanned docs in any format they like, as soon as they work out a deal with the publishers.

barrow · 10-09-2009, 03:48 AM

Quote:

One thing worth noting: although the Kindle IN THEORY allows you to change the dictionary, there are NO replacement dictionaries currently available for it. That, at least, was the position a couple of months ago; I don't know if it's changed since.

Thanks Harry. You're right, the Kindle does let you change the default dictionary, so in effect there are already "replacement dictionaries" in foreign languages. However, making this change does not allow the new dictionary to be the "lookup dictionary", that thing you do "on the fly" when picking a word in the text. So in effect, it doesn't really allow you to change dictionary at all.

You can only ever use the lookup function in English.

For the record, I don't deny the right of Amazon to make it English only if they choose. It is their company, their language, their product, they can do whatever the hell they want. Good luck to them!

Interesting that the European produced (is it french?) Cybook offers multi-dictionary/language support, but the equivalent Amazon and Sony products from the States do not.

HarryT · 10-09-2009, 03:52 AM

The CyBook has excellent dictionary support, but unfortunately the user interface for dictionary lookup is a little clumsy. You have to:

- Press the "Menu" button.
- Scroll down 4 items on the menu and select "Lookup". This puts the device into "lookup" mode with a "word highlight" cursor on the screen.
- Use the nav control to move the highlight cursor up, down, left, right until the word you want to look up is highlighted.
- Press the "Enter" key to search for the word in the currently installed dictionary.

Compare that to "double tapping" the word on the Sony's touch screen and seeing the definition instantly.

The Gen3 method works, but you wouldn't want to use it to look up dozens of words on every page.

Terisa de morgan · 10-09-2009, 03:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

No, that is incorrect. The Opus is most certainly an eInk device.

One thing worth noting: although the Kindle IN THEORY allows you to change the dictionary, there are NO replacement dictionaries currently available for it. That, at least, was the position a couple of months ago; I don't know if it's changed since.

Not exactly, I know people who has changed it and the lookup works. Sorry by not posting the link, but it's in Spanish. It works with any mobipocket dictionary.

Crowl · 10-09-2009, 03:59 AM

To be fair to the sony, their first device with dictionary support is only just starting to get released in non-english speaking countries so there's time for their dictionaries to also improve too.

LucasCorso · 10-09-2009, 04:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barrow

Thanks Harry. You're right, the Kindle does let you change the default dictionary, so in effect there are already "replacement dictionaries" in foreign languages. However, making this change does not allow the new dictionary to be the "lookup dictionary", that thing you do "on the fly" when picking a word in the text. So in effect, it doesn't really allow you to change dictionary at all.

You can only ever use the lookup function in English.

For the record, I don't deny the right of Amazon to make it English only if they choose. It is their company, their language, their product, they can do whatever the hell they want. Good luck to them!

Interesting that the European produced (is it french?) Cybook offers multi-dictionary/language support, but the equivalent Amazon and Sony products from the States do not.

Hello. I don't think that's true, if I understand correctly. I've built a romanian dictionary and when I put the cursor before a word the short definion appears, and if I press Enter the dictionary page with that word is open. Then Back takes me to the book. I don't have the Kindle with me but I can post a picture this week-end if you want. But it's true some dictionaries from internet are not built right (i.e. with inflections), so it is not working all the time like that. I have this problem with a French dictionary, I could build a better one but I don't have a database with definitions...
The only problem I see is when reading the short definition (using the 5-way cursor), the specific language characters don't display. This happens also if I put a specific language code in a book name.

HarryT · 10-09-2009, 04:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terisa de morgan

Not exactly, I know people who has changed it and the lookup works. Sorry by not posting the link, but it's in Spanish. It works with any mobipocket dictionary.

To clarify, I was referring to commercially published dictionaries. Is there any commercially published "big name" dictionary that you can buy, and install on the Kindle as a replacement for the supplied English dictionary? I was under the impression that there were none, but I would be happy to be wrong about that!

barrow · 10-09-2009, 04:12 AM

Quote:

Compare that to "double tapping" the word on the Sony's touch screen and seeing the definition instantly.

Couldn't agree with you more Harry (now that you've made me think about it!). The Sony double tap is incredibly efficient compared to all other options.

Quote:

To be fair to the sony, their first device with dictionary support is only just starting to get released in non-english speaking countries so there's time for their dictionaries to also improve too.

If the Sony had multi-dictionary support for different languages, I would buy it in a second! The dictionary/translation option is the only real feature I desire, aside from being able to read current doc types on an e-reader.

Quote:

I don't have the Kindle with me but I can post a picture this week-end if you want.

If you wouldn't mind Lucas, that would be wonderful. I'd love to see what you mean.

barrow · 10-09-2009, 04:29 AM

Quote:

And don't forget that, at this moment, if you have ePub you don't have dictionary.

Oh and Terisa, as far as I can tell, ePub and dictionary support are not mutually exclusive (the new Sony Reader Daily Edition uses ePub and offers a dictionary).

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/...52921665981151

karo02 · 10-09-2009, 04:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flub

Yup. I was having those thoughts too. Amazon seem to have done a very good job at getting US publishers on board. Hopefully they'll be able to do the same with the international Kindle.

Hopefully soon since the selection outside the US is pretty pitiful.

My thought exactly.
I'm french, I own a PRS-505 for almost a year now, I'm perfectly happy with it
except that there's almost no ebooks available in french (and the few available are quite expensive...).
Although I have no intention to buy an international Kindle, I'm thrilled with this announcement because I hope that Amazon will be able to boost the number of ebooks available in french, at a reasonnable cost.

Terisa de morgan · 10-09-2009, 05:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

To clarify, I was referring to commercially published dictionaries. Is there any commercially published "big name" dictionary that you can buy, and install on the Kindle as a replacement for the supplied English dictionary? I was under the impression that there were none, but I would be happy to be wrong about that!

Yes, you can buy them at fictionwise, Mobipocket or Amazon. Normal dictionaries in Mobipocket format.

HarryT · 10-09-2009, 05:41 AM

Thank you, Terisa. I had thought that they had DRM which prevented them from working on the Kindle. Glad to hear that's not the case.

barrow · 10-09-2009, 05:57 AM

Harry, could you report back and let us know if the dictionary you buy works as the default lookup dictionary? Oh and what kind of dictionary it is. Many thanks

ps...do you actually own all those kinds of devices as indicated under your name? Impressive!

HarryT · 10-09-2009, 06:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barrow

Harry, could you report back and let us know if the dictionary you buy works as the default lookup dictionary? Oh and what kind of dictionary it is. Many thanks

I don't intend to buy a dictionary. I'll be happy with the built-in English one.

Quote:

ps...do you actually own all those kinds of devices as indicated under your name? Impressive!

Yes

.

bbusybookworm · 10-09-2009, 06:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terisa de morgan

Yes, you can buy them at fictionwise, Mobipocket or Amazon. Normal dictionaries in Mobipocket format.

Uh, arent those dictionaries usually DRM protected (My chambers was) and with amazon not allowing you add the Kindle's PID in most stores, how doe you authorize it.

I Know you can DeDrm it but besides that is it actually an option?

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10-09-2009, 03:41 AM	#256
llreader Mesmerist Posts: 331 Karma: 506558 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Spain Device: PRS-600 Silver. Much nicer than I expected.	I think the dark horse in the content race is Google. If you take a peek at books.google.com, they have millions of books scanned. The agreement (on hold due to legal wrangling) to make out-of-print books available is just the start. They want to sell all of those books, and eat Amazon's breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Their public domain works are available in ePub format - you can bet they can produce any of their scanned docs in any format they like, as soon as they work out a deal with the publishers.

10-09-2009, 03:52 AM	#258
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	The CyBook has excellent dictionary support, but unfortunately the user interface for dictionary lookup is a little clumsy. You have to: - Press the "Menu" button. - Scroll down 4 items on the menu and select "Lookup". This puts the device into "lookup" mode with a "word highlight" cursor on the screen. - Use the nav control to move the highlight cursor up, down, left, right until the word you want to look up is highlighted. - Press the "Enter" key to search for the word in the currently installed dictionary. Compare that to "double tapping" the word on the Sony's touch screen and seeing the definition instantly. The Gen3 method works, but you wouldn't want to use it to look up dozens of words on every page.

10-09-2009, 03:59 AM	#260
Crowl Wizard Posts: 1,340 Karma: 1160346 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Southport, GB Device: Kindle Voyage, PW Signature edition	To be fair to the sony, their first device with dictionary support is only just starting to get released in non-english speaking countries so there's time for their dictionaries to also improve too.

10-09-2009, 05:41 AM	#267
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Thank you, Terisa. I had thought that they had DRM which prevented them from working on the Kindle. Glad to hear that's not the case.

10-09-2009, 05:57 AM	#268
barrow Member Posts: 19 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Sydney, Australia Device: Want: Kindle 2 / Cybook Gen3 / Sony Daily Reader	Harry, could you report back and let us know if the dictionary you buy works as the default lookup dictionary? Oh and what kind of dictionary it is. Many thanks ps...do you actually own all those kinds of devices as indicated under your name? Impressive!