Whats new with kindle?

ps249 · 04-10-2011, 12:22 AM

No one ever hears much about whats going on with the newest kindle product. Kindle is lagging way behind big time- they are the only major ebook company that does not offer touch screen.

kranu · 04-10-2011, 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ps249

No one ever hears much about whats going on with the newest kindle product. Kindle is lagging way behind big time- they are the only major ebook company that does not offer touch screen.

Actually, no touch screen might be better. I would hate to have fingerprints all over my screen that I'm trying to read on.

kindlekitten · 04-10-2011, 12:52 AM

*yawn*

Mortis · 04-10-2011, 01:07 AM

The funny thing is they always pick the same point to poke, you would think with all the time they waste they could at least be interesting.

Zarich · 04-10-2011, 01:25 AM

First off kindle is not the only one that doesn't have a touch screen. Secondly touch screens are not always a good thing. Most people like the keyboard and the simplicity of its operation. The keyboard also allows the kindle to work much quicker than most competitors. It allows the unit to be lighter, and allows for a longer battery life. Amazon made the decision to not use a touch screen for very specific reasons.

speedlever · 04-10-2011, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zarich

snip
Amazon made the decision to not use a touch screen for very specific reasons.

And very good ones, I might add.

If I want a touch screen, I'll use my iPad. But I digress.

ywen · 04-10-2011, 11:26 AM

OP: to suggest that touch screen is essential in an ebook reader is missing the point.

Fingerprint on the screen is a major disadvantage for a device where display characteristics is key. Given the little need for a touch based UI on a B&W e-reader, the trade-off for the screen to acquire finger prints is simply not worth it for the minute convenience it might bring for certain features.

The only feature where I can see would benefit from touch UI is the dictionary look up. Instead of navigating to the word with the directional pad, simply touching on it would be more convenient.. Then again, that would not work too well for fat fingered folks and when the word spacing is condensed.

Mortis · 04-10-2011, 12:20 PM

To bother replying to this thread is really pointless, all of these comments have at one time or another been covered elsewhere on the forum, but if you wish to keep discussing it here, all the power to ya

reech · 04-10-2011, 12:33 PM

Had touch screen in my Sony eReader. Wasn't any use whatsoever, plus the screen quality was poor.

Xiaopangzi · 04-10-2011, 01:22 PM

I have a convertible tablet pc (wacom touchscreen) that can accept input from (1) keyboard/touchpad, (2) stylus, (3) finger (multi-) touch. I would estimate the relative use fractions of these input techniques to be about (1) 85% keyboard/touchpad, (2) 15% stylus, (3) 0% finger touch. The very concept of smearing around on the screen with my fingers while obscuring it with my hand makes no sense to me whatsoever. Even when in tablet slate mode, where the keyboard/touchpad is not accessible, I use the stylus rather than the fingers. I could imagine using finger touch only in emergencies, like when the stylus were lost. I follow the development of upcoming small tablets but would consider one only if it came with a stylus.

bZkindle · 04-10-2011, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ps249

No one ever hears much about whats going on with the newest kindle product. Kindle is lagging way behind big time- they are the only major ebook company that does not offer touch screen.

Yeah! and they don't play movies either.
Come on Bezos - get it together!

jbcohen · 04-11-2011, 08:24 AM

Ok, I will tell what I have heard in terms of Kindle eveolution. From what I am told a lot of the evolution of the Kindle is dependent on the development of the micro-processor by companies such as Intel, AMD and Motorola. I believe on a hardware level the Kindle is run by an AMD mobile processor, and from what I am told the recent work in mobile processors have been in speed. So in the future you can look foward to a Kindle thaat is two to three times faster at processing your electronic books. There has been some work in speed in the memory areas but not as successful as the processor speed so you can not look forward to a Kindle that gets your books on the screen faster but one that can process things faster.

DiapDealer · 04-11-2011, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbcohen

There has been some work in speed in the memory areas but not as successful as the processor speed so you can not look forward to a Kindle that gets your books on the screen faster but one that can process things faster.

I remember when I was first learning to read; how I used to practice (for hours on end) finding a book on the shelf, grabbing it and getting it open to a bookmarked page in the shortest amount of time possible. I got rather good at it. In fact, I won several regional "Book Draw" speed competitions (teen class). But even as fast as I was then, the slowest ereader today can now beat my fastest "manual-draw" times.

Alas, the day of the book-slinger is long gone.

6charlong · 04-11-2011, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbcohen

Ok, I will tell what I have heard in terms of Kindle eveolution. From what I am told a lot of the evolution of the Kindle is dependent on the development of the micro-processor by companies such as Intel, AMD and Motorola. I believe on a hardware level the Kindle is run by an AMD mobile processor, and from what I am told the recent work in mobile processors have been in speed. So in the future you can look foward to a Kindle thaat is two to three times faster at processing your electronic books. There has been some work in speed in the memory areas but not as successful as the processor speed so you can not look forward to a Kindle that gets your books on the screen faster but one that can process things faster.

Another technology expected to mature in late 2010 or early 2011 is the plastic logic 10-inch screen. It's lighter and can flex a little without breaking. The color version was expected early this year. And it's potentially cheaper than glass screens.

http://www.plasticlogic.com/news/video.php

Amazon has always tried to provide the latest technologies with the Kindle. A faster, lighter, cheaper, flexible DX would be a logical next step. As to touch screen interfaces, they do permit greater flexibility in interface design at a lower cost and with less weight.

It's almost time for a new (K4 DX) release too. I'm looking forward to see what they make.

Histerius · 04-11-2011, 05:33 PM

Nothing new with Kindle, it's still a great device

Why to change it?

04-10-2011, 12:22 AM	#1
ps249 Banned Posts: 21 Karma: 1156 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: nook, ipad 2, ipod touch	Whats new with kindle? No one ever hears much about whats going on with the newest kindle product. Kindle is lagging way behind big time- they are the only major ebook company that does not offer touch screen.

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04-10-2011, 12:52 AM	#3
kindlekitten Professional Adventuress Posts: 13,368 Karma: 50260224 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: The Olympic Peninsula on the OTHER Washington! (the big green clean one on the west coast!) Device: Kindle, the original! Times Two! and gifting an International Kindle	yawn

04-10-2011, 01:07 AM	#4
Mortis Canucklehead in Malaysia Posts: 1,633 Karma: 3127774 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Device: iPhone, Kindle	The funny thing is they always pick the same point to poke, you would think with all the time they waste they could at least be interesting.

04-10-2011, 01:25 AM	#5
Zarich Zealot Posts: 129 Karma: 1202 Join Date: Feb 2011 Device: Kindle 3 Wi-Fi	First off kindle is not the only one that doesn't have a touch screen. Secondly touch screens are not always a good thing. Most people like the keyboard and the simplicity of its operation. The keyboard also allows the kindle to work much quicker than most competitors. It allows the unit to be lighter, and allows for a longer battery life. Amazon made the decision to not use a touch screen for very specific reasons.

04-10-2011, 11:26 AM	#7
ywen Member Posts: 14 Karma: 126 Join Date: Apr 2011 Device: kindle 3 3g	OP: to suggest that touch screen is essential in an ebook reader is missing the point. Fingerprint on the screen is a major disadvantage for a device where display characteristics is key. Given the little need for a touch based UI on a B&W e-reader, the trade-off for the screen to acquire finger prints is simply not worth it for the minute convenience it might bring for certain features. The only feature where I can see would benefit from touch UI is the dictionary look up. Instead of navigating to the word with the directional pad, simply touching on it would be more convenient.. Then again, that would not work too well for fat fingered folks and when the word spacing is condensed.

04-10-2011, 12:20 PM	#8
Mortis Canucklehead in Malaysia Posts: 1,633 Karma: 3127774 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Device: iPhone, Kindle	To bother replying to this thread is really pointless, all of these comments have at one time or another been covered elsewhere on the forum, but if you wish to keep discussing it here, all the power to ya

04-10-2011, 12:33 PM	#9
reech Connoisseur Posts: 97 Karma: 132 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: Sony eReader PRS-600	Had touch screen in my Sony eReader. Wasn't any use whatsoever, plus the screen quality was poor.

04-10-2011, 01:22 PM	#10
Xiaopangzi Enthusiast Posts: 29 Karma: 16912 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: kindle k3, prs-t2	I have a convertible tablet pc (wacom touchscreen) that can accept input from (1) keyboard/touchpad, (2) stylus, (3) finger (multi-) touch. I would estimate the relative use fractions of these input techniques to be about (1) 85% keyboard/touchpad, (2) 15% stylus, (3) 0% finger touch. The very concept of smearing around on the screen with my fingers while obscuring it with my hand makes no sense to me whatsoever. Even when in tablet slate mode, where the keyboard/touchpad is not accessible, I use the stylus rather than the fingers. I could imagine using finger touch only in emergencies, like when the stylus were lost. I follow the development of upcoming small tablets but would consider one only if it came with a stylus.

04-11-2011, 08:24 AM	#12
jbcohen Wizard Posts: 3,025 Karma: 11196738 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Piper College Device: Samsung A21	Ok, I will tell what I have heard in terms of Kindle eveolution. From what I am told a lot of the evolution of the Kindle is dependent on the development of the micro-processor by companies such as Intel, AMD and Motorola. I believe on a hardware level the Kindle is run by an AMD mobile processor, and from what I am told the recent work in mobile processors have been in speed. So in the future you can look foward to a Kindle thaat is two to three times faster at processing your electronic books. There has been some work in speed in the memory areas but not as successful as the processor speed so you can not look forward to a Kindle that gets your books on the screen faster but one that can process things faster.

04-11-2011, 05:33 PM	#15
Histerius Zealot Posts: 126 Karma: 7922 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Zagreb, Croatia Device: Kindle 3 - Galaxy Tab 10.1	Nothing new with Kindle, it's still a great device Why to change it?