Will Kindle ever do a touch-screen

Eastlondonboy · 11-22-2010, 04:59 PM

facility? It seems pretty counter-intuitive to use the arrows and the cursor to move around the screen. Is it only a matter of time before they release a Kindle with touch screen functionality?

Eastlondonboy · 11-22-2010, 05:01 PM

Oh, I've just seen that this question has already been asked and debated. Doh!

dorino · 11-22-2010, 05:08 PM

This is a popular topic, yeah.

The main issues with touch screen e-ink is maintenance (dust between the two layers, etc) and readability. The Kindle is, right now, still a "DEDICATED" e-reader, so readability and convenience are probably the two most important factors. Touch screens are counter-intuitive, in that regard.

boxcorner · 11-23-2010, 05:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dorino

This is a popular topic, yeah.

The main issues with touch screen e-ink is maintenance (dust between the two layers, etc) and readability. The Kindle is, right now, still a "DEDICATED" e-reader, so readability and convenience are probably the two most important factors. Touch screens are counter-intuitive, in that regard.

Really? I haven't noticed any dust between layers of my 650's screen, nor do I find there to be any greater need to maintain it dust free than is the case with any other surface on which dust settles. As I understand it, the readability of the current generation Kindle and the three Sony devices is essentially the same. I find my 650's touch screen is perfectly ergonomic in use and think I would find having to use a keyboard counter-intuitive.

pendragginp · 11-23-2010, 07:33 AM

Agree. I have both a Kindle and a 650 and though I love the Kindle for many reasons the form is really beginning to look outdated. The 650 is IMO less clunky to use.

boswd · 11-23-2010, 08:30 AM

Ialways thoght the kindle has used outdated hardware. We now 3d tvs, phones that can do anything and with the kindle you are still using a joystick or a directional pad?
Really?

ManosHandsOfFate · 11-23-2010, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boswd

Ialways thoght the kindle has used outdated hardware. We now 3d tvs, phones that can do anything and with the kindle you are still using a joystick or a directional pad?
Really?

Amazon could really kick things up a notch with thought-driven commands. You'd just think "Kindle, turn to location 500" or "Kindle, find the passage where the dude realizes joy is found in family relationships". The Kindle would do it!

D-pads are for suckers. Thought commands are the future.

ProfCrash · 11-23-2010, 10:05 AM

I think that Sony's new e-readers show that a touch screen can be made for an e-reader that does not lead to massive glare. With the recent price drops on the Sony's, it could also be that the touch screen technology is moving into a price point that Amazon might be more willing to consider a touch screen.

Bezos's objection, which means Amazon's objection, to the touch screen was that it lead to glare on the screen and interferred with the ability to read a book easily. So who knows, maybe the K4 will have a touch screen.

I would be fine with that as long as it also has the directional pad and buttons because I don't like touch screens. The finger prints on my cell phone drive me crazy.

daffy4u · 11-23-2010, 10:16 AM

Amazon did buy a company that had developed some new touch screen technology. No idea about how long it will take to make it to a Kindle.

Edit: Link to story.

Quote:

One fairly big news item to hit today involves Amazon’s purchase of Touchco, a 6-person startup company with a new multitouch-capable, completely transparent touch-screen overlay technology.

charonme · 11-23-2010, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boswd

a joystick or a directional pad?

Not even that, it's actually just the good old four arrow keys

elemenoP · 11-23-2010, 11:09 AM

I'm certain that they will have a touchscreen in the future, probably the next one. For one thing, it's the only way to make the form factor smaller now.

eP

SCION · 11-23-2010, 11:20 AM

Lack of touchscreen has prevented me from buying another Kindle. I was hoping they offered one this holiday season.

Want something to supplement my NOOKcolor but it must be touch. Considering the Sony 650 to replace my 900, but would prefer a Kindle (many ebooks I'm interested in only available in Kindle / dreaded Topaz format). May have to wait out another year.

Marcy · 11-23-2010, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dorino

This is a popular topic, yeah.

The main issues with touch screen e-ink is maintenance (dust between the two layers, etc) and readability. The Kindle is, right now, still a "DEDICATED" e-reader, so readability and convenience are probably the two most important factors. Touch screens are counter-intuitive, in that regard.

The new Sony's don't have 2 layers. The touch "screen" is actually a series of IR beams that are sent from the side and top of the screen. You are supposed to be able to use a feather and have it work, because the amount of pressure is irrelevant, only breaking the beam matters.

As a result there is only one layer and no effect on readability. My PRS-650 has a beautiful clear screen with no glare. The screen's mildly rough texture even seems to prevent most fingerprints. I can see a few if I angle the screen just right into a light source, but otherwise they aren't visible, not like the tons on my iPad.

I find a touch screen intuitive, not counter-intuitive. For me they're the easiest way to turn the page and nothing beats double tapping on a word to look it up in the dictionary.

-Marcy

boxcorner · 11-23-2010, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcy

The new Sony's don't have 2 layers. The touch "screen" is actually a series of IR beams that are sent from the side and top of the screen. You are supposed to be able to use a feather and have it work, because the amount of pressure is irrelevant, only breaking the beam matters.

As a result there is only one layer and no effect on readability. My PRS-650 has a beautiful clear screen with no glare. The screen's mildly rough texture even seems to prevent most fingerprints. I can see a few if I angle the screen just right into a light source, but otherwise they aren't visible, not like the tons on my iPad.

I find a touch screen intuitive, not counter-intuitive. For me they're the easiest way to turn the page and nothing beats double tapping on a word to look it up in the dictionary.

-Marcy

I concur. What's more, for me, having a dozen such dictionaries is bliss!

New Oxford American Dictionary
Oxford Dictionary of English
Oxford-Hachette French Dictionary (EN-FR)
Oxford-Hachette French Dictionary (FR-EN)
Collins English-German Dictionary
Collins German-English Dictionary
Oxford Spanish Dictionary (EN-SP)
Oxford Spanish Dictionary (SP-EN)
Collins English-Italian Dictionary
Collins Italian-English Dictionary
Van Dale Pocketwoordenboek Engels-Nederlands
Van Dale Pocketwoordenboek Nederlands-Engels

Eastlondonboy · 11-23-2010, 02:53 PM

I'm hoping if I keep touching my Kindle it'll develop artificial intelligence and become touch screen.

11-22-2010, 04:59 PM	#1
Eastlondonboy Banned Posts: 56 Karma: 160 Join Date: May 2010 Location: London, UK Device: kindle	Will Kindle ever do a touch-screen facility? It seems pretty counter-intuitive to use the arrows and the cursor to move around the screen. Is it only a matter of time before they release a Kindle with touch screen functionality? Last edited by Eastlondonboy; 03-11-2011 at 03:27 PM.

11-22-2010, 05:08 PM	#3
dorino I'm odd. Take note. Posts: 325 Karma: 779 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Montana Device: deceased PRS-600, Nook STR	This is a popular topic, yeah. The main issues with touch screen e-ink is maintenance (dust between the two layers, etc) and readability. The Kindle is, right now, still a "DEDICATED" e-reader, so readability and convenience are probably the two most important factors. Touch screens are counter-intuitive, in that regard. Last edited by dorino; 11-22-2010 at 05:08 PM. Reason: is -> are

11-23-2010, 08:30 AM	#6
boswd Banned Posts: 2,391 Karma: 1001781 Join Date: May 2010 Device: The Nook, Nook color and Droid X	Ialways thoght the kindle has used outdated hardware. We now 3d tvs, phones that can do anything and with the kindle you are still using a joystick or a directional pad? Really? Last edited by boswd; 11-23-2010 at 08:32 AM.

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11-22-2010, 05:01 PM	#2
Eastlondonboy Banned Posts: 56 Karma: 160 Join Date: May 2010 Location: London, UK Device: kindle	Oh, I've just seen that this question has already been asked and debated. Doh!

11-23-2010, 07:33 AM	#5
pendragginp Guru Posts: 985 Karma: 4567263 Join Date: May 2009 Location: The End Of The Earth Device: Several	Agree. I have both a Kindle and a 650 and though I love the Kindle for many reasons the form is really beginning to look outdated. The 650 is IMO less clunky to use.

11-23-2010, 10:05 AM	#8
ProfCrash Tea Enthusiast Posts: 8,554 Karma: 75384937 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Somewhere in the USA Device: Kindle1, Kindle DX Graphite, K3 3G, IPad 3, PW2	I think that Sony's new e-readers show that a touch screen can be made for an e-reader that does not lead to massive glare. With the recent price drops on the Sony's, it could also be that the touch screen technology is moving into a price point that Amazon might be more willing to consider a touch screen. Bezos's objection, which means Amazon's objection, to the touch screen was that it lead to glare on the screen and interferred with the ability to read a book easily. So who knows, maybe the K4 will have a touch screen. I would be fine with that as long as it also has the directional pad and buttons because I don't like touch screens. The finger prints on my cell phone drive me crazy.

11-23-2010, 11:09 AM	#11
elemenoP Wizard Posts: 1,717 Karma: 3790058 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: NYC Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Sony 650	I'm certain that they will have a touchscreen in the future, probably the next one. For one thing, it's the only way to make the form factor smaller now. eP

11-23-2010, 11:20 AM	#12
SCION Séduisant Posts: 4,706 Karma: 2107018 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Texas, USA Device: Boox Note Air2+; Kobo Libra2; Kindle Scribe, Oasis3; iPad Mini6	Lack of touchscreen has prevented me from buying another Kindle. I was hoping they offered one this holiday season. Want something to supplement my NOOKcolor but it must be touch. Considering the Sony 650 to replace my 900, but would prefer a Kindle (many ebooks I'm interested in only available in Kindle / dreaded Topaz format). May have to wait out another year.

11-23-2010, 02:53 PM	#15
Eastlondonboy Banned Posts: 56 Karma: 160 Join Date: May 2010 Location: London, UK Device: kindle	I'm hoping if I keep touching my Kindle it'll develop artificial intelligence and become touch screen.

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